Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 243 for kids first deer rifle/ dog town rifle?

is the 243 too big and loud for dog towns?
is the 243 a good caliber in youth model for a first deer hunting rifle?

Or would it be better to get a 243 or 7mm-08 for my daughters first deer rifle and a separate varmint rifle in 22-250 or 204 ruger?

I do have a 17 hmr, but it just isn't reliable past 100 yards with the non-stop wind here.

.243 is not "too big" for varmints, but if you're buying a sporter rather than varminter to deer hunt with, the recoil may get objectionable on p-dog volumes of ammo. Also, cost is going to be up there.

IMHO you're considerably better off with a 7mm-08 for deer hunting and a .204 for prairie dogs if you're serious about shooting them.

I bought my boys a Handi Rifle compact in .223. I like the .243 and also have one of them in a Model 7 youth but I thought it was to much for them to began with.

Dink

I started my oldest boy with a .243, and my youngest with a 223. If you handload, the .243 will easily do it all, and with very tollerable recoil.

If you can afford both a .223 and 7-08 that is an outstanding pair that will last her lifetime. However, I'd say put the money into a top quality rifle and scope with a stock that fits her and a properly adjusted trigger vs. getting a pair of cheapy guns.

It's amazing how quickly a kids shooting skills will improve when plunk them down behind a good gun and give them an ample supply of ammo.

As mostly a deer rifle the .243 is great, but I distinctly remember developing a bad flinch with one when I was a kid.

I was just starting to hand load at around age 10 and shooting a savage with a sharp ridged metal butt. After about 100 rounds I had a flinch that was really hard to get rid of. So a light weight .243 can be too much for a young shooter.

If you or the kids are semi serious varmint shooters then get a varmint rifle for sure. A 204 or 223 would be a great start and both can take deer. The 7-08 would be a good life time rifle that hopefully the grand kids can enjoy.

... a .204 for deer? I am not doubting it, but of all the .22 type the .204 is one I have yet to hear mentioned. Interesting!

I gave my eldest son a 243 for Christmas when he was eleven. He has killed everything from prairie dogs to deer and hogs with it. I can't get him to hunt with any other rifle.

This was taken in South Dakota July, 2000.



Here's a doe and a hog from a couple of years ago.


He shoots 70 grain Sierra matchkings for varmints and 95 grain Ballistic Tips for big game.

.204 for deer? Yes I was a bit hasty and should have qualified that for shorter ranges and controlled hunting situations like supervised stand hunting. I have used a .17 Remington on a number of deer, hogs and Javelina, enough so I know it will do the job and know it is far from ideal for a regular all around deer cartridge. That and similar numbers with the .223 with the same reservations only less so.

Also some qualifier for the .243. With reduced recoil loads it becomes even a better choice for an all around varmint to deer cartridge for smaller and not so small shooters.

Dude was a skinny 6 yr old with his first tag with a .243. Use Partitions and rock on�..

If your daughter is going to shoot a lot of pdogs, a 243 is a little much.

If you daughter is going to shoot a deer or 2 annually and may occasionally shoot a few pdogs, a 243 would be a great choice.

I've become a fan of the 22-250 with a quick ROT barrel, 1-8" or 1-9", coupled with the 60 grain Partition for deer or the 60 grain VMax for varmint and punching paper. Light recoil, flat trajectory, easy to shoot, what more could you ask for?

Jeff

223 and see with like it then ho my.

Is that English? If so, I don't understand what it is that you were trying to communicate.

Jeff

Home Brew or store bought? You ain't driving tonight are ya?

243 for kids first deer rifle/ dog town rifle?

You betcha. Not too bad for grown-ups either!

Yes
Yes
.223

My guess is she'll find the .243 to be a little much for longer range sessions or shooting on a dog town. So I'd split it out with one rifle in .223 or a .204 Ruger for dogs/fun shooting and reserve the .243 for checking zero and hunting.

250 savage or 6x47

Can't say too much in terms of dogs, but the .243 is the caliber my boy is getting for his first whitetail hunt this fall.

Wow, thanks for all the great replies. It would be mainly used as a seasonal deer rifle with some varminting. I was thinking I could use it for dog towns, but the rifle may be a little small for me.

I have heard good things about the 25's, 6.5mm's for big game and light recoil

Yes, .243 is perfect for all of the above... Use lighter loads for pdogs/varmits, heavier loads for deer. My first rifle was a 243, and I started my son out with the same gun years ago, he then moved up to a 270 in his early teens, and now shoots a 300 win mag most of the time at 18. We both smile when we get that little 243 out of the safe and take her out to the range or field, she's a hoot to shoot!

It's not too much gun for a kid, in my opinion... and is a good general purpose caliber for what you've described.