Deer Rifle for a 11-12 year old

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lwolford

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Since this is my first post, Hi Everyone!

Anyway, my son is getting interested in hunting and wants to go through hunter safety and get his own rifle. He is 11 now. I'm thinking of a .22-250 H&R Handi-rifle. Nebraska states that it must be at lest .22 cal and make 900 ft-lbs at 100 yards. I like the single shot for safety for a new shooter. Has anyone found something better in a youth deer rifle? Thanks
 
Hello, and welcome to the forum.
That being said I think a 7mm08 is fine round for anyone, my 10 yo boy shoots my t/c encore with no noticeable problems.ymmv as always
 
A 22 caliber centerfire will kill deer just fine. I like the 223 a little better because heavier bullets meant for big game hunting are out there. Most 22-250 loads are meant for varmit hunting and most 22-250 barrels are designed for lighter varmit bullets even if you handload.

I'd hunt with a 223 or 22-250, but a 243 is a better choice with very little more recoil. Other options are 260 and 7-08 especially if bigger game is a possibility. But just for deer sized game a 243 would be fine.

A 30-30 is another option, especially if you already own one, but I has more recoil than 243 and I can't see it being any better.
 
I really like the 260 remington it has a bit less recoil than 7MM08 with 140's. The 243 win is a good choice as well but bullet weights are less than 120gr and energy loss is significant. The 22-250 and 60 grain partition should be excellent but shot placement with .224 bullets is more critical.

agaoodluck and shoot straight
 
i too would recommend a slightly larger caliber such as the .243, or 30-30. that gives him something to grow with for a while and still isn't too much to start.

best of luck, and good on you for getting him involved.
 
I was shooting a 30-30 Winchester and a 12 ga single-shot shotgun when I was that age.

The recoil won't hurt you if you want to shoot it bad enough!

BTW: A 22-250 bolt-action, with a short enough barrel for him to hold up, will be VERY loud.

And muzzle blast is a bigger filch inducing factor then recoil to a kid.

rc
 
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.357 Maximum Handi Rifle. He'll never out grow it.
+1 on a pistol caliber rifle, I didn't initially think about that, but a .357 magnum lever or bolt action would also be a fine choice.
 
Thanks. I had thought of a .223 but thought the extra oomph of the .22-250 would be a little better. If a .243 is not much more recoil than either, that might work well also. I have heard of .357 maximum but never tried it. Would you be able to shoot .38 special and .357 mag out of it also? That would be good for introducing him to more power gradually.
 
Either the 30-30 or .243/.270. The first deer rifle my father gave me at the age of 10 was a Marlin 30-30 and I still shoot it from time to time.
 
I have heard of .357 maximum but never tried it. Would you be able to shoot .38 special and .357 mag out of it also?
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Yes, but the .357 Maximum is an obsolete caliber you can hardly find brass or ammo for anymore.

For that matter, a .357 Magnum lever-action carbine will kill a deer as dead as most real deer calibers out to 100 yards or so.

You put a 158 grain JHP through their boiler room, and they won't run far before finding out they were dead when the bullet went though them.

rc
 
When I started hunting at about 10, I used a .410, however my son who is 12 uses my Marlin 30-30 that was passed down to me by my grandfather.

If you want a single shot and are sticking to about a 100 yard max range, Rossi makes "Rossi W" in .243 (single shot) for around $325 and has iron sights as well as a rail on top for a scope, weighs about 7lbs.

another option would be H&R Rifles for a little less $$ and has all kinds of options for calibers and stocks.
 
My 11yo son uses a Remington Youth 700 in 7mm-08. Currently he uses Remington reduced recoil 140gr ammo to deer hunt with. Incrediblely low recoil. He only shoots out to about 100 yards for now and it has plenty of energy at that range. I got it because it's a gun that he can keep well into adulthood and hunt just about anything with it using a variety of ammunition. Later he can restock it into a full size stock. Should last a lifetime.
 
You can shoot .38 spl and .357 magnum out of a maxi, along with .360 Dan Wesson.

It's a four caliber chamber.

Components are readily available for the Max, but I am not aware of any commercially loaded ammunition. (I haven't really looked being a reloader)

You can push a 180gr XTP to ~2000 fps. That'll knock the snot out of any whitetail at modest ranges.

Yes, you can train your son shooting mild .38's at the range, then let him hunt with hot .357's. Heck, carry a few .38 wad cutters in your pocket for rabbits. A couple of shot shells for snakes.

Here's mine. 16.5" barrel.
P1010307.jpg
 
Mossberg Super Bantum.

Yes, a 223 will kill a deer if the bullet is put in the right place. In the hands of a novice it can be a long, fruitless tracking job. Jittery nerves, an inexperienced shooter and rifle that is hard to cock and you have a recelpe for an accident. I have never seen a Rossi or a Handi Rifle that was easy for a kid to cock. In fact they are difficult enough for a grown man.

The Mossberg Super Bantum has a 1" filler that can be added as the child grows. Lenght of pull can be adjusted from 12" to 13". The gun can be had in 243, 7mm-08, 308 and, if you absolutely insist, 223.
 
My Granddaughter at 12 yrs old tried several bolt actions including youth rifles of the .223 cal. She plays basketball, so she's not a sissy, but nothing felt right for her until her Dad handed her an AR-15. She was elated after practicing with it. That's her style of deer rifle. :)
 
+1 on the Mossberg Bantam, my 9 year old son has the 243. Recoil is not bad and it has proven to be a good deer rifle foe him. While I know you originally stated you want a single shot, you may wish to consider getting an AR15 in either .300Blackout or 6.8 SPC. Felt recoil will be less than a bolt gun or single shot.
 
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Back when a couple of the daughters were small and recoil shy, they all seem to like my Rossi trapper (16 inch barrel) in 357 magnum. ( cost me $200 at a yard sale )
They took a few caribou with it..... Solid bullets worked just fine. And you can shoot 38 special from it...
 
My son got his first deer rifle when he was 7. It was a .243 bolt action. He turned 13 last year and got a .30-06.

That progression worked well for us. The .30-06 offers tremendous versatility. Shooting 125 grain bullets the recoil is not perceptibly different from his .243.

Whatever you get him...buy him enough ammo and make enough time to get him on the trigger until he's really comfortable with it. Most times when we go to the farm I'll bring two or three boxes of ammo for his rifle and let him bust targets all afternoon. He has a blast and is a tremendous shot because of it.
 
I truly can not heap enough praise on my .243 Handi Rifle. Anybody I've loaned it to agrees. It's topped with a KonusPro 1.5x5 scope with AimPro reticule. A ridiculously cheap, efficient, and capable deer slayer.

Very versatile round. Availability is excellent. Soft recoil.
 
I would say anything but a 30-30. I shot my first four deer with a 1910 vintage model 94. It seemed to kick the hell out of me when I practiced with it.

I have no experience with the single shots but they look like good options.

When I buy something for my kids it will be based off of the .308, 7x57, or the '06 case. Those three cases will give you more low recoiling options than you can shake a stick at. .243, 6mm, .257 Roberts, .260, 7mm, .270, 7mm-08, and more if you get creative. All common, all very flexible.
 
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