Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .223 or .243 for Youth Deer Rifle and Adult Varmint Rifle

I was in this exact boat last year. My daughter was 13.
Got a tikka 223 and never looked back.
I also got a youth stock for when time is right for my 7 and 4 year old.
The fact I can buy cheap ammo and my kid can get a lot of trigger time is better than higher powered rifle she might shy away from. And I got a coyote gun out of it at he same time.
My tikka has 1-10, but seems like new ones have 1-8 so you can shoot heavier loads.
I plan on tsx anyways.
Painted our stock in desert tan.

I am a .243 fan that said when I started my nephew shooting and hunting it was a no brainer for the .223 because he could shoot it a ton. Mine are 1/9 twist so we shot 55gr anything for practice and hunted with the 70gr Speer and the 55gr TTSX.

Something to ponder...this little dude is 8 yrs old. Has a T3 22-250 that I worked on the stock to make it usable for him. He isn't in love with the recoil so as to not give him any early bad habits I hooked him up with a RAR .223 and below are his spoils from this year...oh yeah, he loves his fixed 6 super chicken as well!

Are the youth stocks readily available?

I don't know, but I posted a wtb add here on 24 and had some one sell me a brand new one.
Turned out my 13 year old prefers the regular length stock and I'll just have the youth for later.

243

I believe PA has gone to a "any centerfire" minimum for firearm deer season. I think the 223 or 243 would serve just fine with proper placement of course. I had an uncle use a 22-250 for the same situation.

There needs to be a sticky thread of .22 CF big game kills, starting w the ark scenarshooter filled with his .220 Swift.

Cool picture and tell the young man good job!

Like I said earlier if it's legal start with a .223, if not .243 (or 6X45 if you don't mind the custom route).

I started my daughter with the .223 because that's all she could handle at the time and she wanted to hunt. So I had the LOP cut down on a cheap Stevens 200 and put a Redfield 2-7X33. I didn't get her a deer at eight but had to wait until she was nine and get some help from my friends.

Age 9, popping PD's with "Uncle" tedthorn.


Age 9, first Oklahoma whitetail with 55 grain TSX, dang near bigger than her! Missed this hunt because of being called back from furlough, so "Uncle" imgoofy got to be with her for her first deer.


Age 10, second OK WT to fall to the mighty "Bruiser" and 55 grain TSX. I got to be there for this one.



Age 11, she moved up to the .300 Savage and 125 grain Nosler BT. Hoping to hunt elk at age 12 she decided it was time for a bigger rifle. She pulled a hat trick in one day! I had to remove the picture of the first deer a small button buck to get the last picture to show.



Age 12, no elk had to settle for another Oklahoma whitetail since dad broke his leg and couldn't take her elk hunting. The trusty "The Savage" and 125 grain NBT do the job again. "Uncles" imgoofy and Snellstrom took her on this hunt.



So that's why I say start them with a .223 if legal. Let them shoot what they're able and mentor them well. Kids grow fast and it won't be long until they grow into something bigger. They'll be better shots and hunters for it.

223 is more practical....

once again, considering you can get a Howa for $329 at Whittaker guns, add $12 for shipping and $10 for insurance.. and then whatever your FFL charges...

but with that price, you can pick up a 223 and a 243, or a 6.5 x 55 or a 7/08 for the price that ONE rifle would cost ya at many places...

out west where we varmint hunters can run thru 3 to 5,000 rounds of ammo in a summer... for economy the 223 is king...

Way to go, Taylor!

Think you guys have me sold on the .223, with three up and coming hunters, it will get used. As they mature, I'll move them into more age appropriate calibers (swede, creedmore, etc.) The cost of a dedicated rifle is cheap when considering how precious the time can be. Thanks all.

FWIW I started two kids with .223s Both had a straight 2.5X Weaver attached ( if it looks too far away to shoot in the scope...then it is....) Made them practice from positions till they were nearly sick of the guns.
Bottom line- both killed their first three deer with one shot apiece, no losses.

Taylor, Gansettx: great job with the youngins'!


I've used 223 and 243 for several head of big game and varmints. There is nothing wrong with a .223 and good bullets for deer. I've used 65 SGKs the most.

With that said, I do prefer 243 because I hunt states where 223 does not meet the minimum caliber requirement. I hunt in my home state of Virginia over the holidays every year and travel to several states. My son grew up shooting whatever he wanted to try. He ended up killing his first deer with a 260 Rem model seven, but he shot a 243 as well and liked it.

You may want consider the 243 if there is a chance of traveling to a state with a 24 cal minimum.

Good point, and the only reason I don't have a .223 set up for deer hunting--that .23" requirement.

Recoil is not a young shooter's friend, especially if Dad is wanting them to get in some trigger time prior to the hunt....

Another vote for the .223.

Partition = 60 grains

Bonded Solid Base = 64 grains



P

IME, the 60 NPT is more accurate than the 64 BSB.

The BSB may be accurate enough, both have good terminal performance.

DF

I put together a little CZ 527 carbine in 223 as my predator rifle. It will also be my sons first deer rifle. I took a nice fat doe a few years back with the 223 TSX 55 grain. It was 125 yard broad side shot and put her down. I am impressed with the performance of the TSX 55 grain as a deer round. It will do anything a 243 will do on a deer under 200 yards. Ammo is cheap and more important, the 223 is fun to shoot all day.

I don't have any experience with the .223 on deer as Kansas just recently dropped the .24 cal. and above requirement, but our son (now age 9) started with his .243 last year using reduced recoil loads and enjoys shooting it. I am using 25.0 gr. of IMR4759 and loading 70 gr. Ballistic Tips for practice and 90 gr. Accubonds for hunting.

Whichever you decide on, have fun and enjoy getting out with your new young hunters. They certainly add to the fun!