Ohio deer rifle for 8 year old son

[Jasstech]

My soon to be 8 year old son loves shooting. So far he has shot a .22 rifle and a .410 shotgun. I plan to start taking him hunting next year. We'll start with squirrels and rabbits but I also want to let him use a rifle for youth deer gun season.

I had been looking at getting myself a 45-70 instead of using the shotgun. Now I'm planning to put that aside and get something with less kick for him. Ideally it will have a range up to 100 yards.

Ohio requires straight walled cartridges for deer and has to be at least .357. What is the best option for a young hunter not used to kick? Used are fine so it doesn't need to be currently in production.

 

[Axis II]

44mag. I own a handi rifle in it and hand load 240gr xtp for it and i would say the recoil is on par with a 20ga bird shot maybe lighter.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

By rolling your own you can make a 45-70 whatever you want it to be. I have loaded light charges of Unique behind 405 grain cast bullets for my wife to shoot, she is quite small.
If you don't currently reload, the 45-70 would be a great round to start with. It would add another facet to your father/son hunt as well.

 

[Starter52]

I have worked with a lot of young shooters and for an 8-yr-old I would recommended a .357 rifle rather than a .44 magnum or .45-70.

 

[horsey300]

.357 or .44mag, run specials for practice and full house for the hunt, from revolving rifles to lever guns to single shots to bolt guns, you can probably find SOMETHING that suits you both. I'd lean towards .44, as it will be quite adequate out to your given ranges, but the .357 is no slouch either.

 

[Axis II]

By rolling your own you can make a 45-70 whatever you want it to be. I have loaded light charges of Unique behind 405 grain cast bullets for my wife to shoot, she is quite small.
If you don't currently reload, the 45-70 would be a great round to start with. It would add another facet to your father/son hunt as well.

We have to remember length of pull for the kid. 8yo IMO wont be able to shoulder or sight a 45-70 rifle, they would have to have a smaller lever action or single shot.

 

[redneck]

The rossi carbines in .357 are very mild in recoil and easy to handle, and you could break him in on .38 specials which has about as much recoil as a .22 with slightly more noise.

 

[mcb]

Before Ohio change it laws I would have suggested staying with the 410 and using Brenneke slugs if recoil was a big issue. When I live in Ohio I spent several years hunting with a Winchester 9410 and took two nice bucks. It can take a bit of effort to get a 410 to shoot slugs accurately and even then its a very short range deer gun you must be willing to limit yourself to. But there is negligible recoil.

But with the addition of straight wall rifle cartridges I would go with a nice pistol caliber carbine. Far more effective than 410 slugs. Many of the carbines come with a short length of pull to help fit a kid and you can adjust the power levels down to as much recoil as you son can handle without hurting him. If you reload that is real easy. If not you can still find quite a variety of power levels in pistol cartridges. Especially 357, 41 and 44 Mag where you can always step down to the same caliber Specials to lower the recoil even more if really needed. A lot of the firearm selection is going to be bases on just how big he is and how recoil tolerant he is.

Another interesting budget option might be the new Hi-point 10mm carbine. The semi auto action would mitigate some of the already modest recoil and 10mm with heavy for caliber bullets works really well on white tail.

 

[FL-NC]

Probably a 357 carbine.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

We have to remember length of pull for the kid. 8yo IMO wont be able to shoulder or sight a 45-70 rifle, they would have to have a smaller lever action or single shot.

Finding something that will work in a youth model can be a challenge. I got a CVA Wolf muzzle loader for my wife and shortened the stock. They are less than $200 and very accurate.
We can use muzzle loaders during any of the gun seasons in Iowa.

 

[Axis II]

Finding something that will work in a youth model can be a challenge. I got a CVA Wolf muzzle loader for my wife and shortened the stock. They are less than $200 and very accurate.
We can use muzzle loaders during any of the gun seasons in Iowa.

Same here. My buddy is small and he got the wolf and its a shooter. I think even a cva scout might work but when i think 8yo i think chipmunk 22lr. Maybe if the father put the rifle on a field pod or sticks for the kid in a blind.

 

[Patocazador]

If your 8 y.o. can handle a .410 OK, I'd suggest using a .44 mag and shoot .44 specials in it to start off. Most .410s are light weight and kick like crazy so he should be good with the .44.
You don't want him to develop a flinch so loaded down .44s might be the best bet.

 

[Armored farmer]

By rolling your own you can make a 45-70 whatever you want it to be. I have loaded light charges of Unique behind 405 grain cast bullets for my wife to shoot, she is quite small.
If you don't currently reload, the 45-70 would be a great round to start with. It would add another facet to your father/son hunt as well.

^^^ this ^^^
A great reason to get geared up to reload/ get the rifle you want.
Win/win. (.45/70 is a great deer getter too)

 

[mcb]

Trailboss is another good light load powder for 45-70 if you go that direction.

 

[Iroquois]

My 12 year old son started using the Ruger 77/357 rifle when he was 8. He had no problem shooting it and has taken a few decent bucks with it the last 4 years. We’ve been shooting the Hornady 158 gr XTP custom ammo and it has performed well.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I agree with those above, that rifle size and LOP will be your biggest concern. I also suggest a 357 magnum with 38 special for practice.

Two things to note, I'm 6'0" and I use a Youth 30-30 with a 12.5" LOP just fine. My 5'0" girlfriend also is able to use it just fine. I don't know how tall your 8 year old is, but it is easier for you to shoot a smaller LOP than for him to shoot a larger LOP.

Last thing: this may be the only time I recommend looking at one of those 44 mag or 45 colt revolving circuit judge carbines from Rossi for a practical purpose! The plastic stocked ones are tiny.

 

[444]

You can buy a new stock and cut it down for a kid.
Then replace it later with the original or another aftermarket.

From a place like this: https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/

If it was me, I would strongly consider the .45/70 with handloads. But, I would probably do the handloads and let him shoot my rifle and see what happens. I also load a lot of cast bullets for my .45/70 and Unique powder.

 

[Jasstech]

Thanks for all the advice. The 45/70 is out. I will get that later for myself! Right now I'm looking for something that will work for him. I don't like to use a gun for more than one mission so I don't lose an excuse to buy another gun!

That Ruger 77/357 does look like a good option. I'll see if I can find a good price for one.

 

[Axis II]

Thanks for all the advice. The 45/70 is out. I will get that later for myself! Right now I'm looking for something that will work for him. I don't like to use a gun for more than one mission so I don't lose an excuse to buy another gun!

That Ruger 77/357 does look like a good option. I'll see if I can find a good price for one.

I'm pretty sure they quit making them and used might run a lot of money.

 

[Speedo66]

Rossi .357 Carbine, if you can find one. Short stock with very little recoil, even with magnums.

 

[Iroquois]

Jasstech,

All the information posted has been very good, especially the LOP info. Please feel free to ask me any other questions, or concerns, you may have if that will help you make a more informed decision.

 

[Starter52]

The Ruger .357 bolt gun is too long for an 8-yr-old in my experience, plus they have become pricey.

The Rossi lever gun is the better choice. The LOP is fine for a smaller shooter. No need to cut the stock.

 

[Jasstech]

We looked at a Rossi today. It was a little long for him but he should grow into it by summer. Nothing fancy but it looks like it will definitely serve the mission.

The only hesitation I have is the top eject. I want to put a scope on it but have never used a scout scope.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

One of the new hi-points in 10mm would be a good choice, in addition to any of the 357 lever guns. The hi points come with aperture sights and a rail for mounting a scope, and they are made in Ohio.

I don’t think anyone has them in 10mm yet though, they should arrive sometime in January. MSRP is supposed to be somewhere around $380, so you may be able to find one for less.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have to agree with the .357 magnum lever action. LOTS of ammo choices from plinking with light .38 specials up to soft tipped 180 grain magnum loads, not to mention even greater versatility with hand-loads (if he ever wants to get into that sub-hobby of the shooting sports ) A light rifle, carry it all day, and a replica '92 from Rossi should shoot well and you can mount a scope if you wish. With a top eject you can do a side mount like the original method used on Winchester '94's OR, as you mentioned, a "scout" style set up. Mounting a pistol scope or an actual "scout" scope forward of the receiver works fine, and the Weaver scout scope in a fixed 4X is plenty for that rifle. I tried a "scout" set-up on a bolt gun, before companies marketed an official "scout" version of a scope, so it was a pistol scope, and found that keeping both eyes open so my weak eye acted as a "spotter" to help me bring the scope onto the target with the dominant eye, then closing the weak eye to take final aim through the scope with the dominant eye, was a quick and efficient method of acquiring the target.

LD