Deer rifle for 12 year old

[LocoGringo]

ericuda, you realize they make 10 round magazines and you don't HAVE to load the magazine completely, right? You can always put 5 rounds in the magazine just like a magazine in most bolt guns. Heck, you can even put 1 round in the magazine and make it a single shot! Amazing what you can do with choices...

 

[ericuda]

Yep sure do, i use them myself. Was just a suggestion. I am bad myself when using an ar with multiple shots and with the nerves involved in hunting and taking a shot at a game animal I prefer a bolt. If I could swing it would be ruger #1's all around.

 

[dranrab]

Bob, no need to handload with the 223 if you don't want to. Fusions are lethal. I also scoff at the notion of outgrowing a 223. If you want to use that as an excuse to bring a new gun into the house, you have my full support! Our egos may outgrow the 223, but for deer hunting in the Southeast, it flat out works.

 

[horsey300]

.243 is great

There is nothing wrong with a .243, .223's are legal here with the right load (900 ftlbs @100 yds), but my 9yr old shoots mommy's .243 youth just fine and improving everyday! she prefers targeting with that .223 but when she gets her first tag next year, it will be the .243 with shots limited to under 200yds prone or under 100 in any other stance. we load 85 partitions, 95 partitions, 100 round noses and 100 flatbased sierras. LOVE IT have not tried the sierra hollowpoints but i HEAR great things and will be trying them soon. That said... we just purchased a .223 CVA hunter (break action) that i think might add a lil more recoil in a .243 because of the lightness of the rifle. Still a great gun period. If she might be shy...... a slightly (SLIGHTLY) heavier bolt gun might be in order. CVA does not have interchangeable barrels to my knowledge but they are 200 here. Rossi (i know not HIGH QUALITY, but functional) has interchangeable barrels so graduating calibers would be easier.... I THOUGHT Handi might but I'm not sure... If I were buying my girl a first time deer rifle, I would look for a bolt gun that fit her well and load it for the best round she could handle. If you don't handload, you can still find quality ammo in most places, still prejudiced towards an 85 partition at 250 yds and under. in bolt guns there are savage, ruger, weatherby/howa to choose from *EDIT* for quality price range reasons... obviously there are more options and these are just my picks*END EDIT*. I lean towards adjustable triggers and STOCKS when possible for a growing youth, my brother and I had to hunt with full size rifles growing up BUT we still use them regularly now! you can use either break action or bolt effectively, and with practice the break action can be loaded QUICK for follow up shots.... I would suggest starting with varmint loads for the target practice sessions and save the slightly more uncomfortable deer loads for deer season where (in my experience) she'll be too focused on watching that deer buckle to notice the recoil difference. Let us know how it goes, best of luck and wishes to another young hunter!

 

[BobTheTomato]

dranrab - I know I don't need to hand load but that is half the fun.

 

[SwaneeSR]

This has been an interesting thread. I have been reading since the OP.

I started deer hunting with a model 94 winchester in .30-30. Honestly, it is a light gun a has some recoil. Maybe too much for a 12-year old.

I purchased a Stevens 325B bolt action 30-30 a few years ago. It is a nice kids rifle, not worry about getting it scratched. Not expensive. I would think one of the entry level Ruger or other bolt guns in 7mm-08 or .243 would be todays equal and a good choice.

I will admit that shooting my Colt AR (.223) is fun and no recoil and with the adjustable stock, just perfect for a young shooter. However I am not convinced .223 is the right cartridge even if I hand load heavier bullets for use with the rifles 1:7 twist.

Swanee


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DDawg]

My daughter started deer hunting at 11. She uses my TC pro hunter .270. You can't get any safer than a break open single shot with an external hammer, and the way the hand grip on the stock is designed it fits her like a glove. I hand load all my ammo and I use a managed recoil load with a 100 grn bullet. With the recoil system built into the Pro Hunter stock there is very little felt recoil. She's dropped several deer in thier tracks.

 

[SchekRN]

CVA Scout V2

I recently purchased a CVA Scout V2 in 44 Rem Mag. I'm a smaller man. It comes in a compact youth size, but I wanted the 22" barrel so I bought the full size. They sell an easily added 13 LOP stock, which I purchased. I used Barnes ammo and was pleased with the results at 100 yds. Recoil is moderate and the gun is compact and light. It comes with a solid Durasight one piece scope mount of medium height. CVA will swap it out for a low mount if desired. It comes in a number of calibers. I paid about $325. That's a five shot group and the flyer was the trigger mans fault. I used a Leupold VX3i 2.5-8x36, not the Trijicon written on the target. Sorry about the sideways photo.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

7mm-08