Youth Rifle Suggestions

BucCrazy1 · Mar 14, 2024

Hey all, looking to get my Daughter her first Deer Rifle. She's on the petite side and doing some research I'm leaning towards the Remington 700 .243. Are there any pros/cons between the 20" barrel vs the 24"? Any other options i should be looking at?

Thanks
Brandon

tailchasers · Mar 14, 2024

keep it short. She'll thank you later.

El_Matador · Mar 14, 2024

The last youth rifle I bought was a 20" 7mm-08, Remington Model Seven. I personally don't like skinny bullets for deer, and the 7mm caliber gives you better efficiency from a short barrel. Shoot the 120 grain bullets for low recoil. The Model Seven also has a shorter forend, shorter length of pull, and the trigger is closer to the pistol grip (good for small hands).

A short barrel is lighter and easier to carry/maneuver. A long barrel gives you better velocity and maybe a bit more steadiness while shooting. The extra 100-150 fps you'll get from 4" more barrel won't be very significant unless you're trying to push the limits of terminal performance, like at 400+ yards in the case of a .243, .260, or 7mm-08.

Wantabee · Mar 14, 2024

I have a used model Remington 700 in 243. my kids have all shot it. I’ve even taken it on an antelope hunt. I ended up purchasing an adult stock that fit on nicely, but I find myself going back to the youth stock for the kids. It’s been great. I know the limits of the gun and limits of the shooter. Bullets are easy to find.

Made this girl smile on her first hunt last fall.

tailchasers · Mar 14, 2024

My wife is small framed and she has a model 7 in 260. Nice gun.

Firedad · Mar 14, 2024

I bought my oldest a savage 6.5cm so I will repurpose it with a youth stock and will cut the barrel and thread for suppressor. They can shoot it short without or suppressed

Wantabee · Mar 14, 2024

I have a used model Remington 700 in 243. my kids have all shot it. I’ve even taken it on an antelope hunt. I ended up purchasing an adult stock that fit on nicely, but I find myself going back to the youth stock for the kids. It’s been great. I know the limits of the gun and limits of the shooter.

Made this girl smile on her first hunt last fall. View attachment 139882

AZGuy · Mar 14, 2024

Short barrel 6.5 with brake.

HntHrdr · Mar 14, 2024

Shorter barrel 6cm with suppressor

Stillwater165 · Mar 17, 2024

Weatherby Vangaurd compact…… have had a few over the years while the kids were hunting. All have been in 243 and every one has grouped well enough to really make me scratch my head as to why I purchase higher dollar rifles……..

Imnotlost280 · Mar 18, 2024

My daughter shoots a Savage 10 youth model in .243., 22" barrel. The rifle w/ Leupold Rifleman scope was just north of $600. She killed this antelope @ 260 yards with one shot in WY last summer.

Jim

BrowningRage · Mar 24, 2024

Bought a Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor for my wife back in 2021... my now 14 year old daughter shot it a lot in 2022 in preparation for her first deer hunt that year. She did very well with it. She's average height and athletic build.

Uttaxi1 · Mar 26, 2024

Check out the weatherby Camilla. It's has a stock design made for smaller frames. My niece shoots one, won't mention the caliber

. But is a tack driver. 20" barrel with a smaller brake. Shoots great and is easy to carry. We take this one for all new shooters as it almost forces the shooter to get into the scope properly with how the stock is designed.

MountainSqwabler · Mar 26, 2024

Getter a tikka in 7mm-08 Plenty of punch, and little recoil.

ElmerFudd · Mar 27, 2024

A good adjustable stock could fit a growing optimally kid every year. There are good aftermarket options for most current popular rifles, kind of depends on how much you want to spend.

eyeman · Mar 28, 2024

Do what you posted.
IMO keep it simple.
Like other replies its a good choice.

devobrodie · Mar 29, 2024

Uttaxi1 said:
Check out the weatherby Camilla. It's has a stock design made for smaller frames. My niece shoots one, won't mention the caliber. But is a tack driver. 20" barrel with a smaller brake. Shoots great and is easy to carry. We take this one for all new shooters as it almost forces the shooter to get into the scope properly with how the stock is designed.

Second to this my wife also shoots one, (probably the same caliber), she has taken a nice bull elk, antelope, and a desert sheep, prior to that she used a full size model 70 in 270, I cut the stock down for but it was always front heavy and she had way more difficulty getting on target, we also have a savage youth and ladies 110 in 243 that she and my son used it was also very accurate my son killed his first buck with it, my wife also took a buck with it.

pushin_30 · Apr 2, 2024

Start my daughters out with a browning hells canyon speed chambered in 6.5CM
oldest daughter was petite maybe 70 lbs when she started shooting it. 11 years old. She now shoots a 6.5 prc
Youngest now 11 has moved up to the 6.5 CM
243 or 7mm-08 are both great starter calibers also.
Good for deer, antelope and smaller sized elk (spike/cow)

heywouldya · Apr 4, 2024

I bought two of my daughters Tikka T3 Lite rifles, in a .270.
They shoot great of of the box, and little recoil.

toklat · Apr 6, 2024

Take a look at the Howa1500 superlite.
20” barrel, threaded barrel, 4pounds 7 ounces, .243, 7mm-08, 308, 6.5 CM.
Multiple reviews favorable.
$900 at Brownells!!

MrRogers · Apr 6, 2024

I bought my girls a savage in 7-08. 150gr. bullet will work on elk too.

StocknBone · Apr 7, 2024

Confidence in, and history with your rifle is valuable.I’d lean towards a rifle she can handle
now but build both of these for many years. My daughter @ 9 drew her first tag so I was up against this as well. We went with the WBY Camilla, it fit her then and fits her now @ 14 and I don’t see that changing, she loves Her rifle! I went with the 6.5 CM chambering and had a break added, I figured either way I’d keep her ears protected. The recoil is next to nothing, and managed to get a truly honest trigger pull out of her. She has seen bullet impact. She shoots a 129gr. ABLR @ 2850, the math works, especially with good bullet placement. These kids grow up fast, if I had to do over I may of bumped up just a hint on the cartridge size, but so far that CM has handled its Biz. I highly recommend you have her shoulder one, and they offer them at many price levels. I don’t feel sorry for the next critter in my daughters scope, once again most likely a good ethical kill. Good luck to you sir.

342weldor · May 29, 2024

.243 win is a great kids caliber. They grow up quick, so I went with a cheap savage axis ll because I knew they would grow into some family heirloom guns after a few seasons. The gun is accurate with Barnes TTSX bullets. The all copper bullets make small guns reliable killers. Shot placement is still key. That little thing has taken my daughters first bull elk, my sons first mule deer buck, my nephews first blacktail buck and my daughters first mule deer buck.

Tigers · May 31, 2024

.243 is good but lost a couple with it. Upgraded to 7mm-08 (with a suppressor) and it’s now 100% recovery rate. Heavier the rifle the better, imo, so don’t overlook wood stocks.

Tmac · May 31, 2024

The 6mm ARC makes a nice kids rifle. Less recoil than a 243 Win and enough umph to reach 350-400yards with more bullet weight than a 243 Win. I just got one for my grands to use, Howa Mini action. Affordable and nice for the $.

342weldor · Jun 1, 2024

Another great rifle if you can find one is the CZ 527 youth carbine. Probably the most light handy youth rifle I have handled. Mini Mauser action. Mine is in 7.62x39. It was discontinued a while ago and was also offered in .223. Not power house calibers but at 300 and in with all copper bullet is good medicine, at least for our California blacktails.

Soccerdude · Jun 2, 2024

My 90 LB boy shot a 6.5 prc with a brake last year. He handled it no problem and it's very accurate with it. When he turns 18 I will gift it to him.. I just bought another one for my 2nd boy and will do the same for him.

Polaris_Doc · Jun 2, 2024

For sure bullet availability will say a lot these days. And depending if you buy or reload could change that. A 257 Roberts is a fairly low recoiling gun that has stood the test of time. 250 Savage also another decent round. But I agree with most people on here that are 243 is hard to beat for most situations. The 6 arc is wonderful as well as the new 6 gt.

Blindnonresident · Jun 3, 2024

"Bought a Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor for my wife back in 2021... my now 14 year old daughter shot it a lot in 2022 in preparation for her first deer hunt that year. She did very well with it. She's average height and athletic build."

Do the above.
Pair it with the Hornady 143 ammo and it will 100% drive tacks out as far as you are capable of shooting.

It sounds dumb but this combo shoots as well or better than many "custom" guns.

Togwotee · Jun 7, 2024

Anyone can shoot a 270 featherweight. and it'll actually be useful when they grow up too.

DPBB1331 · Jun 8, 2024

Not fanboy type but went with a Savage Lady Hunter in 6.5 cm after a lot of research; a lot of ammunition options out there that lets my daughter shoot coyotes all the way to elk with success. shorter lop and 20" barrel

nfh · Jun 11, 2024

Savage .243. I won the gun on a raffle. Gave it to my kid. No complaints. Something to use a few years.

buckfever39796 · Aug 21, 2024

My son shoots a Remington 700 6.5 Creedmor. He is on the smaller side. He has had great success with the Barnes LRX each of the last two seasons. Cow elk at 300 yards and 2 deer last year, one in Utah the other in Ca.

Imnotlost280 · Aug 21, 2024

I have a never fired factory Savage barrel in 6.5 Creedmor, bought with the intention of re-barreling my daughter's Savage .243.
However, I recently re-barreled my Kimber Montana. It was an 30-06 that shot all over the place after the first two. The barrel contour and the weight of the rifle made it hard to shoot. I had Pac-Nor install a 22" fluted #2 contour in 6.5x55 on it. I started working up loads on it last night. I have 123g Absolute Hammers, 127g LRX's and 140g Berger VLD Hunting bullets to try. I'm pretty much set on the 140's if I can build an accurate load that'll shoot around 2800fps.

JPC6000 · Sep 30, 2024

Take a look at Browning, when I purchased for my son there was a deal / coupon to get an adult stock for the rifle in the future. Started with Browning Youth .243, then on first elk hunt he/we took a Savage MSR in 6.5CM (incredibly accurate, heavy, no recoil) with AR adjustable stock length of pull was no issue.

MountainSqwabler · Sep 30, 2024

JPC6000 said:
Take a look at Browning, when I purchased for my son there was a deal / coupon to get an adult stock for the rifle in the future. Started with Browning Youth .243, then on first elk hunt he/we took a Savage MSR in 6.5CM (incredibly accurate, heavy, no recoil) with AR adjustable stock length of pull was no issue.

You end up shooting an elk with that 6.5?

JPC6000 · Sep 30, 2024

Could have & should have, however when the opportunity presented itself, I looked over an junior had a stick in his hand drawing dinosaurs in the dirt. However, over on RS forum there is quite a post on elk kills with the 6.5 CM. I will be taking it this year, threw the Leupold scope with the 6.5CM reticle, I'm happy with the setup.