Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Deer rifle for 10 year old girl

My baby needs a big girl gun. She started with a red Ryder then a 10-22 and now its time for something capable of taking whitetail and occasionally, hogs.
she isn't tall or anything, a short rifle is what I have in mind.
I'm considering...
Ruger American compact, 77/44, contender seven, marlin 30-30.

I've always been of the opinion that you should buy a kid a gun that she would want to own later, and not just for sentimental reasons.

77/44 would be cool for anyone at any age I would think.

If you could scratch up an old Ruger 44 carbine, that would be a great gun too if you don't mind her holding a semi auto for the task.

There was a nice custom 25-06 in a shortened McM stock in the classifieds a couple days ago. Not sure if it's still available.

Make a fine rifles for a child with some light loads.

Does your state have a minimum caliber for deer? Why not a .223?

Edited to add: This is not mine, but I saw this in the classifieds: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...gonew/1/Remington_700_SPS_BDL_223#UNREAD

If you reload you could do reduced loads of most any caliber in a rifle with a cut down stock. Personally, I favor 25cal and up for deer so anything in the Bob or 250-3000 would be ideal. If you don't reload you could go down to 243 or 223 but those require a bit more careful shot placement.
You have a lot of options.

I do reload so I've decided on 243 or 7-08 if I go bottleneck.
Dad started me with a 1979 Browning BLR, I still own and use.
So... I'm looking to get a long term rifle, not a starter.

I started High Brass with a .243. You can go to Hodgdon's site and get youth load data. I've loaded .243 & 270 youth loads and both worked well.

For a short 8 y/o female with little or no upper body strength, how about a 16" AR15 with a collapsible stock. More than capable of deer or pigs with the right bullet.

Found an older seven UN 260, but, after reading about possible poor accuracy I decided to pass on it.
I might just get her a 336.
I wish that IMI PUMP 357 wasn't 1000 bucks.... or more

ringworm: ruger merican compact in .223.

77/44 has too long a LOP, and the recoil is noticeable with full-house .44's.

^^^This^^^

My youngest niece likes to use the AR. Winchester 64 grain Factory Hog load works great

My daughter's only 3 but I've already been thinking about her first deer rifle. I'm considering the CZ 527 in 7.62 x 39. I've handled one and it is very light and handy and I like that round for a younger child as it's low recoil but still throws a decent diameter bullet. I agree with local favorite that the thought of a "nicer" first gun she will be proud to own for years to come appeals to me. Only negative, or positive, to the CZ is that if I recall correctly for a gun that size it has a relatively long LOP. The Zastava M85s are similar but much less expensive. However, I have never seen one in person and the reviews are very mixed. I think the Rugger American Compact in .243 would be one of the more practical choices.

I just bought a Ruger American compact in .223 for my friends daughter - like the lighter weight, lack of recoil, shorter LOP. That said I would think that the Ruger 77 compact in 7.62X39 or 6.8 SPC would also be ideal.

Some of the single shot youth models would also be good.

Just my 2 cents,
PennDog

Started my kids and several grand kids on a couple .243's with youth stocks. Currently setting up a 15 y.o. grand daughter with a .270Win and 110gr starting loads. Comparable to .243 velocity / recoil. If she chooses to hunt bigger stuff later on, we'll dial up the bullet weight / powder charge / recoil at that time. Hopefully will be able to post a "success" photo this weekend...

I have a tang ruger rsi in 250 savage I'm saving for my girls. I started with a 99 in 250 myself

When my daughter was 9 I bought her a pencil barrel AR for her first deer rifle. It fit her perfect with the stock all the way in and the weight was distributed closer to her , rather than in the barrel. She had trouble holding up a lot of other rifles. Kids also do well with pistol grips which they can get their smaller hands on a lot better.

Others I considered were the Ruger 77/357
CZ 527 carbine in 7.62X39
Kimber montana 223

A lever gun in .30-30 would be hard to beat. That is what my daughter and son are starting with. That is what I started with and wouldn't change a thing. I believe they make reduced recoil loads for the .30-30 as well.

try her out with a bigger gun and a shooting stick set up for her height.

Balance is the bigger problem and holding up the gun comfortably. Some like setting the rifle on the stick, some don't like it.

A 7-08 would be a great choice since you reload. Reduced to start with, then on to full power when she is ready.

If you happen to end up with model 700 LA, BDL, mtn rifle contour, I have a youth B&C stock that I would shoot you a good deal on.

Just cut down that Hog Hunter if you still have it. I cut down my Stevens 200 .223 and my daughter has been whackin whitetails with since she was nine. 55 grain TSX bullets hammer OK deer just fine.

I bought my niece a Remington AAC Micro 7 last year in 300 Blackout and she killed 2 deer with it. Has almost zero recoil and does good on deer out to 200 yds. I took a friends 10 year old daughter that had never shot a gun of any kind.. and by her third shot she was cutting the x at 100 yds. She shot all the ammo I had and was wanting to shoot more. I have another Micro 7 coming tomorrow for when I take kids hunting this year. 125 gr Btip and 18.5 grs of W296 does good.

I got rid if the HH. too heavy up front.
going to look at a ruger ultralight 270 this morning.

Get her that, put a 6x36 Leupold on it and buy her four boxes of Rem Managed Recoil 115s. That oughta get her first few dozen deer.

Ya think she'll be ok with the recoil of a 270??

I could load anything... trailboss and 115's.
Up till now she's only shot 22lr, so everything is up.
my first centerfire rifle was .308, second was a 270WM

I don' t believe that I would go this route. I have a Ruger Ultralight, in .30-06, that I love but it is not a gun for kids. Heck, most adults don't like shooting it much.

How about a Zastava Mini Mauser? You can get her one in .223 or 7.62X39 for around $400 shorten the LOP and have her a nice light weight rifle. I bought my daughter one and she loves it but mine was a little more custom and a .250 Savage. The only down sides to my daughters rifle is limited magazine and tiny bolt handle, neither of these things bother her like they do me.

I'd get a Tikka T3 Lite in .243. Recoil is light, and it's large enough to ethically take deer. They're inexpensive and accurate.

Eric

If you find a gun that fits her right, I don't think she ever regret having a 270.
But like other have said..., 223 & 243 wouldn't be bad choices either.
If you have a rifle with similar recoil to a 270 why not let her shoot it and see how she likes it.

My seven year old is going for deer this year with a Ruger compact 6.8 fitted with a Leupold 1-4. I traded into it when he was a toddler with just this purpose in mind. He's been making his own (very supervised) handloads and we're both pretty pumped.

The AR is a good option with the adjustable stock but I want him to have a good foundation with bolt actions since he'll likely use them more often in life.

For anyone interested, I'd highly recommend the bog pod tripod for kids. My son is deadly with them.

The 270 will work.. but you have to realize the muzzleblast from that 270.. not the recoil mite bother your daughter. We started my niece out when she was 5 on a 243.. I loaded 85gr bullets at the lowest load data in the book. She would not shoot it due to the muzzleblast.. it scared her.. gave her a Marlin 218Bee and she proceeded to shoot it great and killed several deer with it.. then she was more comfortable and I moved her to a 7x30 waters carbine with a muzzle brake. I have been with a lot of kids when they took their first deer and something they are comfortable with is a lot better than a big round.

I was in your spot a few years ago for my 7yr old and thought long and hard about the choice. Then I sighted-in a rifle for a friend's grandson. It was a M700 ADL 7mm-08 Compact/Youth with factory Remington Reduced Recoil loads. Total pussycat.

"Built" my daughter basically the same thing, using a stainless model cut down to 20" in a youth stock we painted. Loaded 100gr bullets over 16gr of Blue Dot at first and the gun barely barked or moved. This was her at age 7 and her first day to shoot any centerfire.





She hunted with Ballistic Tips and a slightly higher charge of Blue Dot. It killed well.







When she needs more power than the Blue Dot loads offer, we'll likely bump up to H4198 and then eventually a full-house load. The great thing about this rifle is she will never outgrow it. There are stock spacers to increase LOP and alternate, good-quality stocks are plentiful. She can hunt with the same rifle for the rest of her life. If making the choice today, I'd go the exact same route.

Buy her a CAR-15 with pink furniture.

257 Roberts or 7mm-08

I bought my daughter a TC Encore 7mm-08 when she was 9 years old. I set out to buy a Rem model 7 but found this one used with a scope. She shot her first deer that year and I even ended up loving that little rifle and still use it a lot today when she isn't hunting.

Bought my wife an Encore in 260, as she is a lefty. I think I like it too and told her I might just have to take it hunting every now and then. (grin)

I passed in the ruger. It was a tang safety and I didn't want to roll the dice on possible accuracy issues.
Are the cz 7.62x39 .308 or .311.

It is hard to beat a lightweight AR15 build in 223, 300BO, or even 6.8 . The collapsible stock and scope mounting options work perfect. But I get it, not everyone is in too them...

I dislike cleaning the AR. Mainly because I was instructed by the USMC how to do it properly.
And i prefer her first real rifle to have some class.
I just finished negotiations on a Hawkeye 77/44...
They ended, fruitlessly, at 750 dollars.

Obvious that most are suggesting rifles for themselves and not a 10 year old. Start and stop on a 223 Montana. Or same/similar 243 at most. Those that say a 7/08, 260, etc have "no" recoil are clueless and have not taught many children or woman. Yes, some are stubborn and will muscle through anything that you give them, but it is about FUN and lay'em all out on the ground and watch them burn barrels out of good 223's and 243's.

Reduced 270, 30/06, etc loads are about retarded. Yes, take a V8 and start yanking plugs as someone has oft stated. A full house 223 with 75gr AMAX or 243 with 95gr NBT will crush a "reduced" anything and be way fun to blast.

Have gotten MANY children and woman absolutely addicted to shooting and it always happened with 223's and 243's. AR's and bolts.

CZ says designed to shoot .311 bullets. I might call them and get a clarification but reports are that they shoot well. There is also a bolt that has a lower lift sold at CZ.

Of the choices listed, I'd go Ruger American in 223 or 243.

The 44 and 30-30 are too much for a young girl/beginner.

A Rem 7 in same would be good. They may still even make a youth model......

I am not sure I agree a 100gr 260 would have any more recoil than a 95gr 243. Maybe there is some physics there I don't understand? I would much rather hunt deer+ with a 260 than a 243 once I got all grown up but just personal preference.

A 223 with a 62-70gr TSX or a 243 with an 80gr TSX, more specifically, would be my top 2 choices.

Either bullet will shoot through a deer, lengthwise.

If I had to go "on the cheap" a 64gr Win PP and 80gr Win PP, respectively.

Anything with more recoil is too much, IMO, and not needed......

I'd say it is you who is clueless, thinking there is only one way to skin a cat. Run the recoil numbers on Blue Dot 7mm-08 or 260 loads versus a standard 223 or 243 load. Better yet, shoot some and get back with us.

7 years old. Something light with low recoil. A bolt gun in .223 would be the best. I would not go above a .243 myself, as there is really no need.

I dislike kids hunting with 223's.. I have never been on a trail of a deer shot with a 223 that bled well at all. The last one shot on our farm was shot with a 223 and a 60 gr Partition (I loaded it for her) she shot it at 90 yds perfectly behind the front shoulder.That big doe ran a long ways and bled very little. I have seen them run off after the shot like they are not even hit. I would like to find a good 260 for the kiddos.

I have never had to blood trail any deer shot with a 223. Ever.

When you describe "a perfect behind shoulder shot that bled little as if never hit", I gotta question how "perfect" that shot truly was..........

I would say you are very lucky!! It had a small caliber hole in each side.. I would have shot the deer in the same spot. I have loaded a lot of 223's for buddy's kids. Some drop in their tracks.. others are track jobs..and in the evening that is not much fun in clear cuts.

No luck involved. Any caliber hole can result in tracking, if not placed accordingly.

A 60gr Partition will kill deer 1000/1000 times if you place it correctly.

Sounds like maybe the shot was angling toward the brisket. Just a hunch. Angling at vitals, its a dead deer, every time.....

270

My son killed two WT bucks in Fall '05 w a 12.5-in. Barrett M468 & original weak-azz 115 OTM Rem. Died really fast. One at 60 yards &second @ 30. Looked as if they'd been popped w full power .270/130s

The Rem MR .270 (basically 6.8mm ballistics) loads will kill quite well within 250 yards.

270 has worked great my boys.

I have used H4895 with great success. A 85gr TSX at 1900 worked great on deer.

He is now on to 110gr NAB'S at 2600.

.243 for 75 pound girls.

My 9 year old daughter didn't have a problem with the 7mm-08. She certainly practiced many hundreds of rounds with various lighter calibers. She is 17 now and a very good marksman so limited shots with larger calibers did cause any issues with her. Each individual is different though.

How about a model 7 or a win m70 compact? Both are great rifles, pretty light, easy handling, and come in great deer/elk/black bear calibers. Both are quality guns that can be used for a lifetime if cared for properly.

Oh it's a safe bet I might a shot a 7/08 or 260 once. Do tell about all the reduced loads that hang with full tilt 223's/243's and all the "advantages" given that route.

I have rifles in .243 and fast twist .223 bolt guns /AR rifles. They are great fun and kids do like them also. I started out at age 10 with an M700 in .243win, as did my brother and my two cousins of the same age. Somewhere around age 14, we all moved up to 270/30-06 class rifles for deer hunting.

The OP was asking about a hunting rifle for his 10 year old. My point was that a rifle of the 7mm-08 class can be purchased as a "do it all" rig if a person handloads and intends for that rifle to be their child's primary big game rifle for years to come. Yes, a person can hunt a .243 for deer at any age, but our experiences have shown more reliable performance on game with the slightly larger chamberings. Dead is dead, but consistent blood trails are the shortcoming of the 6mm rounds.

A reduced 100-120gr load from a 260/7mm-08 will certainly not "hang" balistically with a full-power load from a 243win, regarding drop and wind drift. Then again, a .243win won't let a person launch 140-160gr bullets in later years. I find that kids/women can indeed have a good time with 100-250yd shooting and the lighter loads in the bigger chamberings. For many, the flatter trajectory and lower wind drift of the 6mm play bullets will never really be recognized as an asset, especially if the child/woman is not shooting 300-400yds. I don't have newbie hunters shooting game that far, for certain.

I asked my daughter yesterday if she wanted to shoot my 223 or her 7mm-08 today for the opener of youth season. She grabbed up her little red rifle immediately. She's got confidence in it and shoots it well, probably just as well as she'd shoot a smaller chambering. I agree with your notion of letting people burn through ammo to breed familiarity and confidence, I'm simply saying they can also do it with a larger chambering if a person handloads. Your portrayal of all the posters reccomending a 260/7mm-08 as "clueless" is simply incorrect in my opinion. Those chamberings are indeed up to the task for the handloader. My 9 year old daughter's whitetail from this morning would likely agree. (7mm-08 120's at 2,400-2,500fps: 2" high at 100yds, 2" low at 200yds) Also 30% less recoil energy than a comparable 243win sporter with full-house 100gr loads.

I am pretty sure I could load my 270's to 223 and 243 levels.

The advantage would be one gun to grow with and use for life. An advantage that is usually lost on us loonies.

Nice job JPro. Congrats to your little girl. You must be very proud of her. I dig her rifle.

I have a question. How did you figure out the "30% less recoil than a 100gr .243 thing? Thanks.....

IMO, it all depends on the kid.

The 12 year old girl coming hunting with us this year LOVED a .223 with 55g TSX bullets, didn't mind a single-shot 44mag Handi-rifle shooting mild loads, but hated a 30-30 shooting 150g bullets.

I have shot 7mm08s and my daughter will not shoot one it will only teach flinching. 223 to me is a little on the light side for Idaho mule deer. I've found 53gr triple shocks at 3600 ish kill deer as swell as anything

I've killed deer with 220s 2506 3006 300 win 264 win 270win. I always go back to my 2506 and have killed quite a few with 220s.

My daughter is 9 and I'm watching for a used ruger in 243 257 Roberts to run full house loads. 100 gr triple shocks work sweet as well as 110 acubonds. And 105 berger vlds are awesome deer killers.

I'm not a fan of partitions seems the didn't expand much for me. For a no frills hunting bullet the core locks work much better with much faster kills.

I'm currently running mostly only 115vlds in my 2506 and have for about 3 years and that many deer. I have 115 triple shocks loaded for elk.

I'm a believer the smaller the caliber the better the shot and faster kill. I have never ounce seen anyone produce better faster kills because they had a bigger gun. It's usually oposite due to flinching.

Thanks. Proud of the girl indeed.

I got the recoil figures here:

Calculator

I was using 7.5lb rifles. 3,000fps load for the .243win, burning 45gr of powder and a 100gr bullet is nearly 10lbs of recoil. A 2,450fps 120gr load in the 7mm-08, using 22gr of Blue Dot yields closer to 6lbs of recoil.

I will say that I've seen a 14-15yr old girl flinch with a 7mm-08. The gun was pretty light and the loads were Superformance 139gr stuff. She was intimidated and was yanking the trigger. She was not an experienced shooter and some time with a 5.56 AR really helped her get things going in the right direction. She was then okay with her 7mm-08. She should not have been shooting the full power loads to begin with.

I see adults flinch shooting 7mm08s. 270s and 3006's

My wife flinches shooting my 2506.

Just think how many deer ar wounded and never recovered by trigger flinching yanking shooters. I'd bet way more by big calibers then small ones.

The .30-30 is a bad choice as most leverguns have enough drop the kick is worse than a bolt gun. In the .30-30 class a Mini 30* offers the same power and much, much less recoil. Combined with the relatively light weight and easy ability to scope, it is a good choice out to maybe 200 yards.

*yea, yea I know, a Mini isn't very accurate. It is accurate enough for deer to 150-200 yards or so.

I was wondering about that. Somtimes I feel that calculators like that simplify things a bit too much based on powder charge alone.

Anyhoo, no matter.

I think it's great that your daughter has a kickass little rifle that I myself would have no problems happily using.

Everyone knows there is more than one way to skin a cat. And parents know their children best, and teach them accordingly. As this thread has clearly proven. Even us big kids have very different recoil tolerances. One cannot argue with results.

Enjoy your time together. I am having problems now coming to grips with the fact that m oldest will be moving out next summer and attending Michigan St. University. They grow up fast.

Congrats to you and your daughter.........

The problem with the idea of buying one gun forever and using a youth gun for a 10 year old, it needs to be a short LOP. They will outgrow it in 5 years.

Just plan on a youth gun for now, and know that if they get hooked into guns and hunting, they will want their own tastes and experiences for input into another purchase later.

.243 for now and perhaps other youths in the family or your kids offspring.

The Model 7 youth came with 2 stocks for this very reason, I believe.

Several makers have youth stocks that can later be replaced with full sized ones.

Proper stock fit is crucial here....

Lots of good advice given above. I would typically be partial to a 243, 257, 260, 7mm-08 for this situation and none are a bad choice. The AR idea is very sound as well. However, I think a 6.8 SPC might just be the perfect selection for a young shooter. I have a 700 in 6.8 SPC with an 18" barrel and Mt. Rifle stock cut down with a 1/2" pad and it hammers deer and hogs to 200+ yards.

My gun has been loaned to many young first timers as well as female shooters of all ages and each has absolutely loved the little 6.8. The lack of recoil, low blast, and easy handling of the rifle makes it a great selection. In fact, my sister used it yesterday to take a great, 180#, 17" 8 point in the low country of SC. The little rifle is very effective andn fun to shoot.

When my daughter and son get old enough to go hunting, this rifle will see much more use.

.270Win with reduced recoil loads:



A "Campfire" .270: SS Marlin XL7 from Folically Challenged, Boyd's Laminated stock at 12.5" LOP, Pink Paracord sling from 79S, .270 brass from Crod, 110gr 6.8mm Accubonds from Mule Deer. Bottom end load of Varget.

First shot at 263 yards went low (buck fever ). Second shot at approx 250 yards hit center of the shoulder. DRT. Second year deer hunting. First set of antlers. "Only" a fork horn. But the smile says it all... I asked her afterwards if she remembered the rifle "kicking" ? Her only recollection was a good old fashion case of "buck fever" (shaking) during the first shot...

My 10 year old son will be using a Ruger 77RL (a tang-safety, ultra light) in 250 Savage for his first deer hunt. He has done very well at the range with it. I've loaded 100gn Hornady Interlocks at 2750fps.

Even at his age, I'm a fan of the saying: "Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun".

JPro, you have a PM!

The biggest problem I have found in looking for a rifle for my young kids is finding a short enough length of pull. The route I ended up going was getting a second stock for my Encore and hacking it off and putting on a slip on limb saver. I then bought on a .243 barrel 24" sporter barrel. It's easy to put on the full length stock if I ever want to use it or when kids grow up. Given it's a single shot the length is short, fairly light, and get a full length barrel to not give up anything in velocity department. Can change caliber as needed as the blued barrels are pretty reasonable to buy and easy to resale. I already had an Encore so the expense was less than buying a bargain youth rifle. Good luck.

Lou

Here's my 8 year old daughter shooting her deer/hog rifle. It's a Remington 700 with a Brux 1:8" twist, No. 2 contour, chambered in the triple deuce, cut to 18" and running a Thunderbeast 223A.

Up top is a Leupold M8 4x with the heavy duplex reticle in a set of Talley LWs. I've loaded 64gr Win Power Points with some reduced velocity loads. With the can it's like shooting a 22lr.

That's the only rifle I've ever kinda, "wanted back." But seeing that smile lets me know it's in the right hands.

Congrats!

FC

I bought a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 for my daughter when she was 9. She was small for her age and now as a 22 year old stands 4'11" and weighs 98 pounds. She was and is deadly with that rifle. She has killed 5 whitetails, a bear, an impala and a blesbok with that rifle.

Perry

When my son was 10 I found a Winchester mod.70 in 257roberts that had a youth stock and the original featherweight stock with it. 10 years later he is still killing deer with it and it still has the youth stock on it. I keep asking if he would like to hunt with a bigger rifle or put the original stock back on it and he keeps telling me that he likes the gun just the way it is because it fits him. On the other hand he shoots a 7mm for elk.

Of the two, 7mm-08 would be my choice.

Sir, I thank you again for the smooth transaction. The rifle has been excellent for my grand daughter. I doubt it will come available again anywhere in the near future...

had a thought. since the 'youth' hunter is going to shoot less than 100 yards usually, why not a muzzleloader with a reduced charge. they need quiet and low recoil, could easily kill deer at 100 or less with 60 to 70 grains of ffg, and it's safe and a single shot, so would be easily controllable. don't prime until ready to shoot, etc.

I am a big fan of my marlin x7 in 308 with reduced loads with 30-30 bullets with a youth stock for kids . A 150 gr flat point at 1900 fps will do very well on deer out to 150 yards or so, with light recoil. You can load it up later with faster loads with bullets designed for those speeds, and get an adult stock if she grows enough to need it later.

Savage 243 model 110 or 10 (forgot which) with the accutrigger. They have good recoil pads and I hand load 55 grain noslers over a starting load of R15 for practice. No recoil hardly. You can find em in the used gun shops for $250 sometimes and always be able to get back out of it what you spent if you ever so choose.