Help finding first youth rifle

[Jimmy Newman]

I started deer hunting at 9 or 10 years old with a full-size synthetic stock Rem. 700 in 7mm-08... it never bothered me. I was not a big kid at all. It had and has the stock recoil pad on it, which I actually think is a pretty decent one.

The 7mm-08 is my favorite "light-to-medium" caliber.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

For deer hunting,I started my older daughter on a Ruger Mini-30 in 7.62x39 and my younger daughter with a .30cal M1 carbine.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

A .243 or a 7-08 would be perfect. Just be sure the rifle fits him. I bought my son who is 17 and bigger than I am a mossberg .270. It's an ok rifle except for the horrible trigger. If it had a good trigger it would be a heck of a value.

 

[ECVMatt]

First of all, hats off for getting a new hunter started...

I vote for the .243. It is a great round and is very easy on the shoulder. You might want to look at the Steven's 200 and the Howa Youth model. I also have a Remington Model Seven Youth that shoots really good.

The Mossberg ATR looks like a great starter gun though...

I would try and take him to a store that had a couple of different models and include him in the picking process. This might get him even more fired up about shooting the rifle.

Thanks again for starting a new hunter. It is something we should all try and do.

Matt