Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Which youth model?

Ruger American? Savage Axis? Mossberg?
Based on all aspects what's your pick?
This buy will be for my boy in .243 for deer

you could do worse than the CVA Hunter I recently picked up. Very accurate, weighs only 7 pounds with the scope and sling. Barrel is 20 inches, the OAL is just 34 inches. It was inexpensive.

You might also consider the Marlin XS7 youth gun. Neighbor kid has one and its a lot of gun for the money. Shoots great as well.

Dave

I sighted in one of those yesterday for a cousin's daughter. The accuracy surprised me. For $180 it is hard to beat, although the price indicates to me that Academy is discontinuing them.

Model 7 if you can find one

Something he can grow into. A change of the stock is all he needs to continue to hunt with his first rifle.

Personally, I like the accuracy of a Savage.

I paid $169. The old Redfield 5 Star 2-7X scope, sling and butt cuff I had in a box.
I don't believe Academy is discontinuing these. In 2011, I bought a .223 CVA Elite from the same store, for $179. It is easy MOA accurate with my handloads.

I like the Ruger 77 Compact.

Have one in .223 and had one in 7-08.

They're just the right length of pull for wearing a jacket.

Add 1" pad to lengthen the stock if needed.

Virgil B.

Marlin makes the X7 in a youth model that has a 22" barrel instead of the normal 20" barrel found on "youth" models. I think it's available is .243, 7-08 and .308 Win. I dont' understand why most youth models come with a 20" barrel. I understand the short stock. when the kid grows into it, you can get a bigger stock, and then he'll have 'big boy rifle".

Get the one that fits him best instead of which one is on sale for less.

He may keep it the rest of his life

I was in the same situation not too long ago, excepting my son is wronghanded, which turned out to be a real PITA. I ended up buying him a Rem 700 youth SPS in .243. That gun can really shoot, and it's a handy size with an action he can do a lot with over the years as he chooses.

Ruger american is the only one with a short enough stock and eye relief of all the ones i tried. Not sure of long range accuracy as the kids only shoot out to 100. Great buy at 350. And at 6 lb you wont find a lighter rifle.

As for bolt rifles, I'd take a Howa over every one that you mentioned.

http://www.legacysports.com/hogue-youth-2-n-1-with-scope-package

I have a Ruger American Compact in .243. It is as accurate as any factory rifle I've ever owned. It is the most impressive rifle (for the money) that I have seen in a long time. The weight and balance are good too, so recoil is manageable.

Just so happens I did just that unexpectedly. Came across one at a local pawn shop. .243 scoped and both open sites, in real good condition for $525.00 out tha door

after picking up them all(granted this was before the Axis and Marlin guns currently out there) my daughter loved the Rem Seven Youth....

700 sps topped with 6X42's and triggers adjusted where they should be.



I put more money into their rifles than my own rifle, and haven't regretted that decision for a second. It's amazing how setting them up with good gear will allow them to connect the dots and gain skills in precision marksmanship in the shortest possible time.



Load them up with quality ammo and keep them supplied.

While I'm a fan of Ruger rifles, I'm no fan of parking a kid behind a .243 with an 18" barrel.