Wanted: Kids hunting rifle?

Dirty E · 05-22-2002, 07:37 AM

Just sending out some feelers to see if anyone might have a good kids hunting rifle they may want to part with, 308, 7mm-08, 243 or something similar, thanks Erik

Jim · 05-22-2002, 10:00 AM

.243 in this family...12 deer and 3 elk.

Jim

Norm · 05-23-2002, 02:56 PM

I just went through this for my son, I found http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm was very helpful in making a choice. They claim recoil should be under 15 for kids. A couple of thought for you. A .308 might be a bit too much recoil, 7mm-08 is a good choice if you can find one in youth size. Bi-mart sells a new england single shot .243 with scope mount for under $200.00 . The Gun Broker in Tigard had a couple small frame bolt action 30-30's for ~175.00, good deer gun, OK for short range elk, lite recoil.

Grits · 05-23-2002, 06:49 PM

I'd make you a good deal on a 30.06 if you were interested. If you think your kid is going to hunt elk someday it makes a good all purpose gun.
I have a couple of .30.06 with scopes that never see the light of day. E-mail me if you are interested.

If not I would recommend finding a .308 the safety's on most .30-.30 can be tricky for a kid to use and have seen a few accidental firings when the hammer slipped out of someones hand. I used (and still do sometimes) my .308 for deer and elk.

05-23-2002, 08:58 PM

.243 is too lite for elk. :depressed:

Norm · 05-24-2002, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Grits:
[QB If not I would recommend finding a .308 the safety's on most .30-.30 can be tricky for a kid to use and have seen a few accidental firings when the hammer slipped out of someones hand. I used (and still do sometimes) my .308 for deer and elk.[/QB]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I agree you have to be really carefull with the single shot and lever action safetys. All of the newer exposed hammer guns have a cross pin safety that acts as a hammer stop, so they work just fine as long as you use them. The 30-30 I recomended was a bolt action savage with a standard safety. They don't make them anymore, but there are a few used ones out there. I know a lot of people don't like the 30-30 cartridge, but I think it's a great kids gun and a good brush rifle.

Capin' Dan · 05-26-2002, 12:55 AM

I do not recommend the 30-30 for elk. I have tried it on caribou about the same size and got almost no penatration or the knock down it is suppose to be famous for I had to litterally turn around a borrow another hunters 30-06 to finish the job and had hit him three times just behind the shoulder with no noticable effect with the 30-30.

Here is what I did for my 15 yr old daughter.

Browning a bolt 3006 from walmart about $500
Nikon 3X 9 scope
That works fine a little heavy but a lite recoil. If you want to lower that to about a 243 recoil get a smith to put a custom recoil pad and a muzzle break and you have the ultimate deer and elk rifle for youths and our female hunting partners. I have heard great things about the 7mm-08 being the ultimate youth rifle when big game is a target.

[ 05-26-2002, 01:58 AM: Message edited by: Capin' Dan ]

Flatfish · 05-26-2002, 08:26 PM

Until the kid can hit at long range then get him something that will help him hit at short range.7mm-08,260 Rem,6.5X55,270,280,7X57,25-06,and 257 Roberts come to mind.Until Elk are on the menu and the kid WANTS to learn to shoot more power,I say 25 or 26 caliber and moderate velocity.For what it's worth a 270 will kill anything in the lower 48 with good bullets.
Good Luck.
Mark.

THE KIWANDA KID · 06-16-2002, 09:10 PM

.257 Roberts is a dandy youth gun after that all you will ever need if you are a decent shot is a .270 with a nos. partiton. My wife who grew up hunting in a loggers family that had no boys has more horns on the wall than I like and they all fell to a .257. This includes SEVEN brach bulls rocky and rosies. I must say that alot of the best gun theory youth or adult boils down to being a killer and not a hunter.Have you had the chance to let your future hunting provider shhot a variety of caliburs? I would make that a must if at all possible because we all know that confidence is a big plus when it comes down to squeezing the triger

Fishplay · 07-04-2002, 03:49 AM

Dirty E
I've got three rifles that would work well for youth and or small frame women.
Remington model 742 6mm automatic, Savage model 99 300 lever, and one of those bolt action 30-30 Stevens (same as Savage) that Norm mentioned. I forget the model number of it. I don't really want to part with the first two but I'd let the 30-30 go for 150.00 and it is in beautiful condition.
It is enough gun for any big game in the 100 yard range, which is the shot you should be setting youth up for anyway. In my opinion young hunters should learn the importance of shot placement first and foremost. A well placed shot from within 100 yards with a 22 mag will bring down elk! No question!

Chukrchaser · 07-05-2002, 09:01 AM

If your shooting at elk with a 22 mag you are probably :

1. Breaking the Law.
2. Very hungry.
3. Very [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]
4. Have alot of time on your hands to try and find it -- 'cause if you didn't hit that dime sized spot or two that would actually bring down an elk with that caliber, that elk will die of an infection or old age--

OOPs sorry this thread is about a Kid's caliber not ethics --

257 is awesome for that -- but depends alot on the kid -- is he/she 75 lbs or 125 lbs, have they ever shot more than a 22? You could light load a 30-06 and be effective on deer then go to a heavier load in a year or two for elk---

[ 07-05-2002, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Chukrchaser ]

DAB · 07-14-2002, 11:09 PM

Dirty E
I bought my daughter a winchester youth ranger in .243. The youth ranger is just a down sized mdl 70. I don't know if Win. makes this one any more. It came in more than .243 I do belive. I liked it so well that when my daughter was in need of some quick money and since she didn't hunt anymore I bought it from her. Makes a great deer rifle and is very, very handy as a coyote slayer because it handles so quick and easy. Good luck in finding a good rifle .
DAB

[ 07-14-2002, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: DAB ]

fishchaser · 07-18-2002, 08:10 PM

I have a Marlin 30-30 lever action, with a repaired stock (that I would have replaced) that I'm willing to part with for $100.00 bucks. or O.B.O. I wish I had a picture of it, but my digital camera broke over the fourth. If you want more info E-mail me.

I know it is no good for elk, but, It is a good starter gun, and it will take down a deer on the THIS side of the mountain range. I do believe that I would throw in some brass and maybe even some rounds if I still have them.

Tracy

Thick-N-Thin · 07-18-2002, 09:12 PM

As far as buying new, You might look at the Ruger Compact .243 and .308. I bought the .243 for my youngest son who is small in stature and it fits him excellent. The nice thing about the Ruger Compact is that it shoot's extremly accurate and is not consider a youth gun. If my son would let me hunt with it I would use it over my 30-06. For weight and size you can't beat it. A great rifle for deer hunting.

fishlis 1 · 07-27-2002, 04:51 PM

i really like the .243 my brother bought one about 6 years ago and he let me shoot it and i ended up borrowing it indefinatley thank goodness he doesn't hunt much any more. i have over the coarse of the 6 years harvested 4 bucks 3pt or better and 3 does none of which have gone more than 30 yards. it shoots fast and flat with very little kick. for elk i bow hunt so i have no input for you good luck in your quest and have a great and fruitful season