Hi all,
Just a starter post on my current interest to give some discussion opportunities
I said "Hi" on the NewGuy thread also.
I've been reading all night, and have searched up 10 or 15 good threads on this subject, linked below. I'm looking for a good rifle to get my 11 yo son to ease him into deer hunting. Hunt on family land in MI, stands near fields and some woods. Son is small framed, likely will remain so. From all my reading, I'm leaning towards:
1. 243Win with 95gr BT , or
2. 7mm-08 with 120gr BT or possibly lighter bullet if there's a good one.
Right now he's shooting left-handed in BB/pellet guns. However, I'm left handed too and shoot a right-hand Abolt, but just shoot either hand depending on the shot offered, without issue... so I'm not super convinced LH/RH needs to be a huge issue, particularly as LH youth guns are sparse.
I've looked at the:
1. Savage model 11 youth model, on sale with scope at Cabelas until last night (DOH!)
2. Ruger AmericanRifle compact, or their M77 compact
3. Browning X-Bolt Micro Hunter (I have one in .284Win Micro Medallion and love it)
4. I've seen Rem 700 SPS youth model, and Model70 compact mentioned, but never seen either
Other factors:
- I reload for my 284Win and have 7mm bullets and powders. All the powders seem they'll do well in either 7mm08 or 243Win though
- We'll likely only do MI whitetail hunting, don't have anywhere great to do else (Phoenix).
- Will probably do some range shooting with a couple good ranges close. I love accuracy!
- I like the idea of one rifle you grow to know and love, reloading as needed leaning me towards 7mm08 if elk considered, or 243 if small game considered (more likely).
So--
Which of these is a better starter cartridge / rifle for benchrest/learning, and whitetail?
Is there much if any difference between the kick/recoil? Could you really use a 20" barrelled 7mm08 for elk?
Does the 95gr vs. 120 gr make much difference to kick/recoil at deer loadings?
Which of these guns is anyone really enthused about for small shooters and future use?
Thanks for your opinions and thoughts!
Reference threads:
Easy shooting rifles, for deer viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26105&hilit=youth+kids
truck gun viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21096&start=50&hilit=youth+kids
youth rifle suggestions viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15223&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
minimum loads viewtopic.php?f=4&t=25551&hilit=youth+kids
7-08 youth load viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22584&hilit=youth+kids
latest youth rifle idea viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15952&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
savage 7-08 youth model viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15465&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
youth loads viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13290&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
In need of a new Caliber viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6263&hilit=youth+kids
Just a starter post on my current interest to give some discussion opportunities
I've been reading all night, and have searched up 10 or 15 good threads on this subject, linked below. I'm looking for a good rifle to get my 11 yo son to ease him into deer hunting. Hunt on family land in MI, stands near fields and some woods. Son is small framed, likely will remain so. From all my reading, I'm leaning towards:
1. 243Win with 95gr BT , or
2. 7mm-08 with 120gr BT or possibly lighter bullet if there's a good one.
Right now he's shooting left-handed in BB/pellet guns. However, I'm left handed too and shoot a right-hand Abolt, but just shoot either hand depending on the shot offered, without issue... so I'm not super convinced LH/RH needs to be a huge issue, particularly as LH youth guns are sparse.
I've looked at the:
1. Savage model 11 youth model, on sale with scope at Cabelas until last night (DOH!)
2. Ruger AmericanRifle compact, or their M77 compact
3. Browning X-Bolt Micro Hunter (I have one in .284Win Micro Medallion and love it)
4. I've seen Rem 700 SPS youth model, and Model70 compact mentioned, but never seen either
Other factors:
- I reload for my 284Win and have 7mm bullets and powders. All the powders seem they'll do well in either 7mm08 or 243Win though
- We'll likely only do MI whitetail hunting, don't have anywhere great to do else (Phoenix).
- Will probably do some range shooting with a couple good ranges close. I love accuracy!
- I like the idea of one rifle you grow to know and love, reloading as needed leaning me towards 7mm08 if elk considered, or 243 if small game considered (more likely).
So--
Which of these is a better starter cartridge / rifle for benchrest/learning, and whitetail?
Is there much if any difference between the kick/recoil? Could you really use a 20" barrelled 7mm08 for elk?
Does the 95gr vs. 120 gr make much difference to kick/recoil at deer loadings?
Which of these guns is anyone really enthused about for small shooters and future use?
Thanks for your opinions and thoughts!
Reference threads:
Easy shooting rifles, for deer viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26105&hilit=youth+kids
truck gun viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21096&start=50&hilit=youth+kids
youth rifle suggestions viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15223&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
minimum loads viewtopic.php?f=4&t=25551&hilit=youth+kids
7-08 youth load viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22584&hilit=youth+kids
latest youth rifle idea viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15952&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
savage 7-08 youth model viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15465&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
youth loads viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13290&hilit=kids+youth+rifle
In need of a new Caliber viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6263&hilit=youth+kids