Youth Deer Rifle

[bmars]

Looking for youth rifles for my 8 & 9 year-olds to deer hunt with. They've been shooting .22 for a couple of years now and my older one is ready to go along with me on next year's youth hunt.

Looking for .243 or something not much bigger.

I have seen the Remington 700 ADL Youth Synthetic in .243 online, listed for about $365 to $410, but haven't found it locally.

I'm hoping to have something for Christmas.

What other options do I have for $350 to $500?

 

[Legionnaire]

My kids started with a Remington Model Seven (youth) in .243. Might be hard pressed to find one new in that price range, but I see them second hand now and again. Handi-Rifle would be the least expensive option probably.

 

[avs11054]

my dad got me a model 70 winchester in .243 when I was 11. It'll kill a deer out to 400 yards with no problem. And here we are 15 years later, and I'll be taking the same .243 deer hunting with me this weekend.

 

[slow55]

For simplicity, functionality and safety, I like single shots for a kid.
The H&R or New England Handi-Rifle youth size is a great starter.

 

[Kachok]

Remington 700 is a pretty safe bet, I have owned 3 remmies now and only had issues with one of them, and they refunded my money so no hard feelings. I like the Rem much more then the other "youth" rifles that I have seen. Weatherby has a great action/barrel, but the egronomics are garbage IMHO. Ruger makes a youth rifle but they cost much more then several much better rifles. 243 is a good youth caliber though for feather light recoil and great killing power I perfer the 6.5x55 it kills like the hand of God and kicks like a gental breeze. Sadly the only short LOP rifle I know of that is chambers in the 6.5x55 costs around $800.

 

[kaferhaus]

More likely than not, even a "youth" model bolt gun is going to have a LOP too long for 2nd and 3rd graders.

I didn't let my kids hunt until the rifle fit them properly... think they were 11 or 12.

An ill fitting rifle begs for poor shooting and on a child, even a .243 that's ill fitting will cause pain and bruising from shooting it. They tend to either have to hold the bottom of the butt to the top of their shoulder or even under it.... or their eye ends up being 7-8 inches from the scope.

I'd check fit very carefully. Nowadays everyone seems to be "rushing" their kids to the deer fields... sure the kids want to, but is the time really right?

 

[wgp]

I started one with a .243 and another with a Ruger Ultralight in .257 Roberts. The latter is a very good caliber with low recoil, but not every store or gun show will have one lying around.

 

[pikid89]

my mom uses a M77 MKII Compact in .243. It is one of the shortest hunting rifles I have ever seen
My sister uses a Rem. M700 ADL youth in 243. It is longer than the ruger but it is lighter

you cant go wrong with either of them

FWIW i dont think the NEF rifles make stellar youth guns. learning to safley let down the hammer is not something i think younger kids are ready for, if only from a strength and hand size standpoint

 

[SpeedAKL]

You can look for a nice preowned Rem 700 or Win M70 for that price range. A 700 BDL for examine is a fine-looking rifle with a high-quality stock, and I've seen them available at local shops for under $500 particularly once hunting season is over.

For new guns, the Marlin XS7 and Weatherby Vanguard seem well-made for the money.

 

[TonyAngel]

My local range starting carrying the Marlins. I looked at one and actually liked with I saw. I almost looked like a child that a Savage and Remington might have if they got together. They were inexpensive and my friend at the range told me that he was really surprised by how well they shoot. One of those in .243 might be the ticket. If you handload, it would defnitely be the ticket.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

sure the kids want to, but is the time really right?

Absolutely! If they don't get to go when they want to,then it may soon be that they don't want to. Cultivate the interest while it is there. It may not always be.

 

[dodge]

You can look at a Savage Stevens or the Edge/Axiom. Of the two I would go for the Stevens 200 which I feel is a little better quality.

 

[dirtyjim]

i would also consider the remington 799 mini-mauser in 7.62x39.
it small enough to work well with kids but still neat enough for us geezers

 

[Armored farmer]

Another vote for NEF Handi-rifle.
At less than $200 you can shorten the stock if necessary, and not feel too bad about it.
The break-open design is great for beginners too.

 

[jsj127]

The first time I carried my oldest son hunting I had a bag full of diapers and bottles. 20 yrs later that boy would rather fish and hunt than eat and sleep. Lol.
If you're wanting a bolt action I'd say marlin xs7y. Here they've been on sale for 299 adda decent scope for 150-200 and they're set for several years. Also don't forget the old favorite 30-30. For my youngest son I came across a deal on a youth model 7 Remington in 243. When he outgrew that I bought him a reg size rifle and "traded" him for the youth model. Now the youth model is put up waiting on my grandsons to get big enough to hunt with pop. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[kludge]

More likely than not, even a "youth" model bolt gun is going to have a LOP too long for 2nd and 3rd graders.

Fact.

My 11 year old is getting close. Not quite though. When they are over 5' tall it might be time to start looking.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Another vote for an NEF Handi Rifle in .243.

 

[wnycollector]

One of the 16" Rossi/Puma or Winchester 94 Ranger Compact 357 lever actions would make great youth sized deer rifles that they would never outgrow.

 

[lloveless]

I can't believe all the votes for a .243. "featherlight recoil" Maybe I didn't shoot the right gun! It gave me whiplash from a scoped Rem 700. I'd say 30/30. In the platform of your choice.
ll

 

[ritepath]

I can get down to a 10.5" LOP with my ARs for my kids to shoot it. 223 not the greatest deer cartridge. I plan on getting a 6.8 for next season.

 

[kludge]

ritepath - I like that idea - 6.5 Gremlin or 6.8 SPC, but you have to make sure the kids eye is far enough away from the scope when the stock is shortened.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

As far as deer capable cartridge and kid sized stock length. It would be hard to beat a Ruger Mini-30. Cheap practice ammo to get a lot of trigger time. No recoil to develop a flinch. For a beginner,it can be loaded one round at a time.

 

[Bear2000]

.243 is a great choice, but you could also look into a 7-08 or 6.5x55mm (what I hunt with). Tikka makes a fine rifle for around $550 (check Gunbroker).

 

[bpl]

We currently use a Rem M7 Youth in 7mm-08 with 140gr Managed Recoil ammunition, which I think is a great combo. Its similar to a 30-30 energy-wise, but with a bit flatter trajectory. Unfortunately, Rem is no longer offering the M7 Youth model, and it was over your budget anyway. I'd probably go with the Marlin XS7 Youth model and put a new Redfield scope on it, 2-7x or 3-9x probably.

 

[Kachok]

+1 for the 6.5x55 I know I have said it before but it stomps the .243 for killing power. With its 140gr bullets it just has more bone breaking momentum and the recoil is ZILCH I would let a 6 year old shoot it with factory ammo. My modern pressure handloads pack more punch then you would ever need on a deer and the recoil is still less then a 7mm-08. Termainal ballistics of the high SD 6.5mm are devestating and consistant no matter what you hit, I have yet to see a 140gr fail to pass completly through a deer or hog even with the super fast opening SSTs, and the very mild factory loads. The 260 rem is another top notch choice you can get remington reduced recoil 120gr loads and you would probably be around the same super mild recoil with decent killing power.