Well TX here goes. I have two daughters that love to shoot and burn ammo. First on the list is a 22LR. I bought a Ruger 10/22 & scope for that purpose. She needs to really shoot a lot of ammo and the 22LR is perfect for economical shooting. Second is a 308. Yea that's right. You mentioned handloading was in your future so the 308 is a great candidate for reduced loads. With the venerable 308 she can learn to handload her own, and increase load intensity as she develops. There is my answer 22 and then 308 with handloads.
Rifle for my little girl
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Jlr2267
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I started my youngest with a Marlin 1894C. Perfect size/weight, good for deer/hogs to 100 yds or so (around here a long shot is 70 yds). Lots of factory ammo for medium game in hot 357, all the way down to plinking with 38 specials.
I promise you, your daughter would LOVE an 1894C, and so would dad
I promise you, your daughter would LOVE an 1894C, and so would dad
two gun charlie
Member
how about you ask her what she would like
Badlander
Member
How about a lever action. The marlin 357s are crazy pricy. But the Rossi rifles are reasonably priced. .38s for plinking .357s for hunting. Marlin also has the336 Y A youth size 30-30. But then I am A lever nut. 
Kachok
Member
I would not think the recoil of a 6.5x55 would bother her if she has done any real shooting before, and that is one hunting rifle that she will never outgrow. I fell in love with the Swede when I was 9 and still use it as my primary to this day.
BCRider
Member
If she can handle the harder hitting .410 loads like slugs then I suspect she'd be fine with that Mauser. Especially if you get into reloading for it. That would allow you to tailor the loads to balance the power to something that she's OK with and that can take down the game well with no doubt about penetration.
That and the fact that it has family history attached should bring a gleam to her eyes.
Do you and her take part in any of the local club matches by any chance? If you do or if you think something like that could be fun then perhaps tour the scene with her and if something kicks both your funny bones buy a gun or two that fits within that event. It may end up being a pistol caliber carbine for Steel Challenge or it might end up being IPSC or IDPA or it might be that you both grin at the idea of Cowboy Action. Either way it would then require that you both go shopping for new guns. And isn't that part of the fun?
That and the fact that it has family history attached should bring a gleam to her eyes.
Do you and her take part in any of the local club matches by any chance? If you do or if you think something like that could be fun then perhaps tour the scene with her and if something kicks both your funny bones buy a gun or two that fits within that event. It may end up being a pistol caliber carbine for Steel Challenge or it might end up being IPSC or IDPA or it might be that you both grin at the idea of Cowboy Action. Either way it would then require that you both go shopping for new guns. And isn't that part of the fun?
Potatohead
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thx for your service
sargents1
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Personally, I would pass on the .243. Dad got one for my brother and I when we were youngsters and neither one of us could abide it. It was Not easier for us to shoot than the .308 and for what we were doing (deer hunting) a .308 is superior. Of course, both myself, and my brother were very much aware of the relative differences in ballistics between the .243 and the .308.
In any case, the .243 was not nice to shoot because that particular rifle was a shorter barrel, and it was Loud As F... all-get-out. The blast made it un-fun. Our .308 was a 22in barreled semi-auto that was heavier, but easier to shoot.
Naturally it depends on what she is going to do with it. If its just a range plinker, get her a 10/22. If you are out hunting whitetails, I would vote for a Rem 750 (full length barrel) with a lightweight scope, and a stock cut to the correct length. (note: This assumes you are doing a lot of hunting from tree-stands and you are not asking her to lug the rifle over a long distance)
If I were you, I would probably do a bunch of window shopping, but in the end I would ask her. If she is 11yrs old, she probably has an opinion. At the least, she will probably want some input. She may just want to use the 6.5 that was her Dad's.
For what it is worth, my Dad, my uncle, my brother and myself started out hunting with my Great Grandmother's 30-30 Half Magazine Winchester M94. A 30-30 is a great gun to start with. That thing still slays deer and holds a group under 3in at 100yds with open sights. When I shoot it, I know that there is a lot of family history tied up in that rifle.
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frankenstein406
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rem 600 in 6mm
Certaindeaf
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I'm sure its been said twelve times but I think every house should have a .223/5.56 semi-auto. They kick little.. I could go on and on but so could any one else. Heavens, you probably have one in your hands now.
Or just get her a .308 bolt gun. She'll either grow up fast, throw the dang thing down, or get her shoulder broke.
Or just get her a .308 bolt gun. She'll either grow up fast, throw the dang thing down, or get her shoulder broke.
Kachok
Member
I don't agree with that, I have a 308 with a well designed stock and good recoil pad, it is a rather light kicker with 150gr Speer/Varget loads. Not 6.5x55 light but it does kick a little less then my 7mm-08.
Blackcat602
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IMHO, even if your little girl can handle one of your rifles, they are your rifles. Get one she can call hers. If I were in your shoes, I would be thinking of something nice, something she can enjoy for years to come, and will remind her of times with Dad. I favor decent wood and blue steel over anything plastic, but that is just me. Looking at Chuck Hawks recoil tables, the 7mm-08 is not much of a jump from a .410 bore. There are folks I know who would use the 7mm-08 on elk at a decent range. Good luck, and come home safe.
Barr
Member
An M1 carbine is always a viable choice, Collectible, short, light, easy to handle, with light recoil. Ammo is cheap as well. I bought one for my 2.5 year old daughter and I am using it until she is old enough.
I have a niece who got a TALO handirifle in 357 mag. Her dad reamed it to 357 max and put on a youth stock. She can shoot 357 max, 357 mag, and 38 special out of that rifle no problem. Reloading or finding ammo is no problem. Scope mounting is no problem. Recoil is no problem. Adult stocks are no problem. Reaming is no problem. Finding 357 max brass is a small problem. Texas deer and Texas hog are no problem.
Total set up to include rifle, reaming, used scope, brass, powder, scope, boolits, adult stock, primers and Lee Loader ran to under $450. I did throw in reloading equipment and fixins along with some instruction but have figured in used and once fired price. Right now in Texas there is an 12 year old lady with hogs and deer she put on the table.
blindhari
Total set up to include rifle, reaming, used scope, brass, powder, scope, boolits, adult stock, primers and Lee Loader ran to under $450. I did throw in reloading equipment and fixins along with some instruction but have figured in used and once fired price. Right now in Texas there is an 12 year old lady with hogs and deer she put on the table.
blindhari
offthepaper
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I'm with Badlander.
I think a youth, or full size 336 in 30-30 would be a great choice.
If cash is still left, another lever Marlin 39A
would make a great team for both of you. Kinda cool. Big Lever-Little Lever. I've got many guns to shoot (50+), but when I go with my daughter, I always grab the '39. I may take others also, but I think we always have the most fun shooting cans with the lever action.
i bought my 336 for $250 and the 39A for $300. We've had a lot of memories for $550. Priceless.
TX, again thanks for what you do for this country and for taking your kiddo hunting and shooting. I think you should GIVE her your 6.5x55, not only because it is such a versatile cartridge with low recoil, but because it was what you hunted with. It would probably become her "never get rid of" rifle later in life. I know I have one of my dads rifles that I feel this way about. Every time I look at it or shoot it I think of what he did for me.
OP
OP
txcookie
Member
I think I am gonna take her to the gun store and let her pick somthing out. If I think she can handle it I will just have to pick it up. Still got a while to wait. I am of course gonna let her feel the recoil of a couple of my rifles and a ML with a 60-70 grain charge. Never thought about it but a ML would be awesome and can grow in power as her abilitie to handle recoil grows.
meanmrmustard
Member
I know its apples and oranges, but my 9 year old shoots 6.5x55. Quite well.
.243 in a youth gun isn't a bad choice, ammo isn't cheap, but you may reload.
I'd say, if she already shoots the Swede chambered rifle, no need to change.
meanmrmustard
Member
Problem with this sentiment is that I don't trust my children to know what's what and to make a decision that's sufficient with little to no experience. They've only shot what I've allowed them, so they're apt to pick something similar anyway.
I hear folks say to "let them pick", but I'm not in that camp. Not till they're older and have more brass under their belts.
meanmrmustard
Member
Not in the least bit. That's what I'm there for. Until they've had sufficient tutelage, "arming them" has very strict limits. Choosing the calibers with which they hunt and target shoot are not amongst those things I give children trust in.
As for the OPs daughter, if she's well versed, she's liable to pick something similar to what she has experience with. The only difference is it'll be HER gun. Gives them a sense of pride.
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