Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What rifle for youth?

I purchased a Marlin model x7 youth at Academy for $249. It's a really nice little rifle with a dimensions that are actually suited for a youth. The rifle also has a trim 22 inch barrel so muzzle blast won't be much of a factor. It's very light, but well balanced. You might check it out.

I like the idea of the Marlin X7 Youth in 7/08..even better if you can get it at the above mentioned price of $249.

I started my daughter with a 7x57 carbine. I used light loads of Blue Dot for training (recipes provided by Seafire). With 120 grain bullets it kicked like a 223. For Deer season I loaded 120 grain Ballistic Tips at 2900 fps. She didn't feel the recoil of the hotter load in the field and connected with a nice doe.

Dan

There are reduced loads for the 7mm-08 that don't recoil any more than the 243. The rem factory loads with managed recoil are also easy on youngsters. My 9 year old started this way, and had zero recoil issues.

My daughter started with a 700 moutain rifle in a youth stock with the 243 and that worked just as well. Load it with Barnes 85gr TSX and it is an outstanding little deer rifle.

I would pick either round in a 700 youth rifle and start shooting. Swap the stock out with a Ti handle later and that rifle will be with them forever.

i agree with those who said either a rem 700 or savage bolt in 243. adult stocks (for when the young man grows a little) are easily located. the 243 won't scare him off the bench and will kill any deer in the woods. elk can be addressed when he grows up some more.

I'd go 243AI just so he could be different...

Otherwise, 243 because you can't find a .257 Roberts in a factory youth rifle...

+ another 1.

Another vote for the 243, I went with the model 7 but would go with the a youth and TI stock if I did it over.

Thanks for all the replies.

He has been working with the .22 and has also shot my AR, he likes shooting it the best.

My first thought was a just getting him a 243, but then I thought about just hand loading some reduced loads for a 7mm-08 and later he could use normal loads.

I might just get both, he has a younger brother that is not old enough yet and the 243 could be passed down to him.

I was more concerned with rifle fit and being able to restock it later.

Take this idea for as much as you paid for it! I read an article some years back about youth rifles. One that that I took away from it and that makes perfect sense to me, is that a first rifle should be a 'first lifetime rifle'. Get them something that will work now and always. I think Big Stick espouses a similar philosophy, but words it a wee bit different...

PS- What will he being using in his home state?

In IL for deer it's slug gun or muzzleloader only. I have an old remington 1100 youth 20 ga he will use. It was actually my first gun.

Being from and currently living in the neighboring state to the east, I figured something like that may be what he'd be using in IL. One reason I asked is that if he is handling that well, the recoil of a 7-08 should be no problem.

A 243 Win with a good load is perfect. My older brother killed his first 2 elk with a 243, neither one requiring more than 1 shot. That being said, teach shot placement!!

I wasnt real small when i turned 12 and could finally hunt. But my grandmother had an old Rem 700 ADL 270 with the stock cut down on it that I borrowed for a few years. Both of my brothers were pretty big too and started out shooting full size rifles. Of all things, when my youngest brother was 10-12 years old, he was shooting my 300 WSM and popping rocks at 300-400 yards and he started hunting with a 7mm-300Weatherby.

My dad bought my little sister a Marlin XS7Y 7mm-08 last summer for her first year of hunting. She shot it pretty well and ended up shooting a 130" 5x5 whitetail at 190 yards. She was shooting 120gr Federal Fusions. Dad shot a 5 shot group that was around .5 inches! He even used the rifle the rest of the season after she killed her buck! Note: Blood on deer is from exit hole.

Remington 700 youth would be a good rifle also

Goose,

Also been looking at rifles for my boy...and he also is small for his age.

First inclination was the Rem. Youth, as I like the idea of putting a Ti stock on it for later...But We found one locally and it's heavy for him. Wouldn't matter for just bench shooting or setting on a stand, but it will be packed and the country here is rather steep.

Would like to find a marlin youth (XS7Y) as they run around 6.5 pounds and marlin will sell you an adult synthetic stock for around $70/shipped for later on.

I'm thinking down the lines of 308 for caliber, as I can load it down to 30-30 levels for practice/deer and Elk are definitely in the mix later on.

Jerry

The best advice I've received is get your kid a good rifle, with a good trigger, good glass, and plenty of ammo.



I think I spent more on that rifle and scope than I'd ever spent on a rifle for myself. But it was well worth it as he was quick to connect to connect the dots on how to place shots, and thats were the best gear is priceless. He doesn't like shooting paper, but after a few range sessions, 12 ga hulls on the 100yd berm are his preferred target.

I've seldom seen guns shoot their best with reduced loads. I do know a .243 w/ full patch loads does not bother the shoulder, and shoots sub moa. If you can't kill it with an 85 tsx, more gun ain't the answer.

FWIW, I'd disagree with that. If you try to buy what will work for most kids (not all) when they're 30, it'll likely be a compromise for what will work for them now.

Set him up for success NOW and worry about 15 years from now, in 15 years.

The point is don't start your kids with junk, start them with something that will last them a lifetime. Swapping out a shorty kids stock for a full length in the future is a no brainer, but if start them out with something that is cheap, because they're just a kid, you'll be upgrading later.

A good gun and good glass is never, ever a compromise. I didn't go first class on their 22rf, and that was a mistake. I didn't repeat that mistake with their centerfires.

i love my kids too much to give them crap equipment! i'll go without before they do!

they start with this



then play with this



and eventually get one of these

Great last pict Paul