Help me out on youth rifles...
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
Rather than using the word "youth" I believe you are looking for a "small frame" rifle for your wife. Savage has a line of small frame rifles I think, just not sure. A Google of small frame rifles should get you some hits. Think I have seen advertising from Gander Mountain and Dicks Sporting Goods for the Savage line. I believe a retail store is a good way to go so she can at least hold and shoulder the guns and see what feels best and actually fits her well. The 243 and 7-08 are both suitable for deer and deer sized game, I like the 7-08 but that is just me.
Ron
Ron
Chuck R.
Member
When faced with the same question for my 11 year old son, I went with a REM MOD 7 in .260 Rem and mounted a Leupold 2.5-8X V3 scope. The rifle seems scaled perfectly for him. Currently I'm reloading 100 grn Nosler ballistic tips to create a "light .243" for his 1st deer season. Since the 6.5x55 has such a stellar reputation, the .260 should do equally as well in a slightly smaller package.
The whole package is capable, compact, and a joy to carry.
Chuck
The whole package is capable, compact, and a joy to carry.
Chuck
Reloadron
Contributing Member
When the band saw comes into play just about any rifle with a wood stock can become a youth or small frame rifle. 
While I have had a 1/4 inch gun or two I am not a big fan of the 25-06 for a deer rifle. Also in my opinion the 25-06 starts getting you back into the recoil you seem to want to avoid with the spawns of the 308 Winchester already mentioned.
All it really comes down to is the rifle fits the shooter well and comfortable in a caliber suitable for deer sized game I guess.
Ron
While I have had a 1/4 inch gun or two I am not a big fan of the 25-06 for a deer rifle. Also in my opinion the 25-06 starts getting you back into the recoil you seem to want to avoid with the spawns of the 308 Winchester already mentioned.
All it really comes down to is the rifle fits the shooter well and comfortable in a caliber suitable for deer sized game I guess.
Ron
Baba Louie
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Weatherby sells their Vanguard S2 (Howa) youth with spacers to increase stock length, as youth grows. You might use same to fit to spouse as required?
.243, 7-08 and .308. I suppose all would work on elk if you two hunt close and have placement down cold.
But I do like the idea of a Rem 7 size rifle in .260 as well. I think Ruger used to make a compact 77 in that chambering as well.
.243, 7-08 and .308. I suppose all would work on elk if you two hunt close and have placement down cold.
But I do like the idea of a Rem 7 size rifle in .260 as well. I think Ruger used to make a compact 77 in that chambering as well.
WestKentucky
Member
Ruger American is on my nephews christmas list...but he won't get it. He can keep shooting my 44 mag ultrawimpy loads through the contender. Maybe next year on his own rifle. I bet my dad makes a point of that.
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
Remington youth model 7. Eighteen and a half inch barrel. My children loved to shoot and hunt with the little 7mm-08.
Corn-Picker
Member
I always buy youth models even though I'm 36 years old, I prefer the short LOP. Here's the ones I've held (in order of increasing price). All are available in 243, 7mm-08, and 308.
TC Venture compact. Budget rifle. Felt fine in the hands. I've owned TCs; all are shooters and their customer service is excllent.
Weatherby Vanguard S2 youth. This is the one I bought, in 308. Accurate, great stock dsign, and the best trigger of any firearm I own (but I prefer two stage triggers).
Browning Micro Midas. Definitely the best looker. Beautiful wood and nice checkering. I didn't like the stock (YMMV), or else I may have bought it.
You may also want to check the Savage Lady hunter. It's more like the micro midas (pricey). I've never held one but it looks nice.
TC Venture compact. Budget rifle. Felt fine in the hands. I've owned TCs; all are shooters and their customer service is excllent.
Weatherby Vanguard S2 youth. This is the one I bought, in 308. Accurate, great stock dsign, and the best trigger of any firearm I own (but I prefer two stage triggers).
Browning Micro Midas. Definitely the best looker. Beautiful wood and nice checkering. I didn't like the stock (YMMV), or else I may have bought it.
You may also want to check the Savage Lady hunter. It's more like the micro midas (pricey). I've never held one but it looks nice.
Jeepergeo
Member
.243 seems insufficient for Elk except under ideal conditions which seem to be quite rare.
Consider a Weatherby in 30-06 and spring for the addition of a Weatherby Break. It will add about $200 to the gun plus time back in Paso Robles for fitment, but it should shoot like a .243 afterwards.
Consider a Weatherby in 30-06 and spring for the addition of a Weatherby Break. It will add about $200 to the gun plus time back in Paso Robles for fitment, but it should shoot like a .243 afterwards.
TwoEyedJack
Member
I got my son a Weatherby Vanguard youth model in 7MM-08 a few years back. It came with two stocks in the box, one for small people. He uses the longer stock now. It is a pretty nice shooter. One aspect of the Vanguard is that it is a little heavier than competing designs. The extra weight helps tame recoil. We hunt off horseback, so a little more weight in the scabbard is not really noticed.
If I were going to hunt elk with a .243, I would only use premium bullets like the nosler partition, and I would only take broadsides at less than 200 yards. I generally hunt on public land where those kinds of shots during rifle season are very rare, so I use a .338 win mag.
If I were going to hunt elk with a .243, I would only use premium bullets like the nosler partition, and I would only take broadsides at less than 200 yards. I generally hunt on public land where those kinds of shots during rifle season are very rare, so I use a .338 win mag.
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