Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Youth longer range hunting caliber?

I'm looking to find a good caliber/gun for my son (11 years old) to start deer and antelope hunting with that we can reload for and allow for the gun to "grow" with him.
My son is a prairie dog killing machine with his 223s and 22-250 out to 350 yards and he took his first deer this year with his 223.
I'm just looking for something that he can use now and then I can reload a bit stouter as he grows.
Any suggestions? I'm considering 243 win, 6x284, 6xc, yet any other good considerations
Thank you for the help in advance.

Ruger American in 6mm Creedmoor. Shoot it until the barrel is toast then throw it away.

Or better yet build him a quality rifle that he will never outgrow. In 6mm Creedmoor

243 with 100 gr. Class bullets

6.5 Creedmoor, he is getting bigger every day. Bought my son a 7mm 08 when he was 11. Used light bullets, he hunts with it 20 years later.

6.5 CM in an AR10 style with a tele-stock (it grows with him)

Or a 6.5 Swede on a nice Mauser action.

Or a M70 Winchester, or M77 Ruger in 270 Winchester.

He's 11. Long range work requires practice. A 243 or 6 Creed would be my choice, and I go with a Tikka T3x or, better yet, a Barret Fieldcraft.

I hunt deer and antelope every year and guide for antelope. I have seen a LOT of hunters succeed and fail. A 6mm is fantastic for deer and antelope.

I can hunt them with any cartridge I want and use a 105 bthp from a 243. I may switch to the 6 Creed when my 243 barrels are gone.

Practice, bullet choice, optics and optics mount are just as important.

6.5 creedmoor , I can't think of a better cartridge - nothing can run with the Creedmoor , from varmints to big game to LR steel NOTHING can run with the Creedmoor ..

GOD I love the Creedmoor !!!

If you don't buy him a Creedmoor - I'll buy him a Creedmoor ...

6.5 CM or perhaps a 7-08?

I started both my boys shooting long range with my custom 243. I bought my youngest who is 11, a tikka t3 x 243. He bought his own SS 3x9 scope with money he worked for. That combo with 95 grain nosler ballistic tips shoot well under an inch. He dings my small! 6" x 12" steel pretty easily at 500yds. You want to make sure that recoil and noise don't cause a flinch. Both of my boys shoot my 222 a lot prone to work on form and trigger pull. Again, no recoil and good ear protection. My oldest boy now shoots a 308. Still not much recoil. Due to good form,no bad habits, and shooting a lot,they shoot better than most men.

I'd lean towards a 6.5mm. The 6mm's are more fun to shoot, yes, but when you are talking 300-400yds with some less-than-perfect angles, I prefer the extra assurance of a 120-140gr bullet that is designed for the job.

6.5 "something" is the sweet spot for BC and low recoil.

What’s the twist rate on the 22-250? If it will stabilize a 75gr ELD, load some up and press on. I shot my buck this year at 410 yards with my 8” twist 22-250 barrel pushing a 75gr Amax. DRT. Shot this 5 shot group at 710 yards with same load.

John

I would like to have a 1 in 8 Tikka 22-250. Just for the hell of it.

Ruger RPR in 6mm Creedmoor. The rifle will easily adjust for growth.

Teach the kid to “hunt”..... shooting should be a given

I’ve got a daughter coming up now and after my experience with my 6.5 Creed, that will be what I’ll start her hunting deer with. They are cheap to shoot, buck the wind, and recoil is soft.

260 Remington in.a savage model !cdnnsports.com has them for $299 after rebate .I have two of them and kids love them .It shoot one hole groups with.lapua bullets .Every kid and woman that shot.mine loved it and shot them awesome .You.can.make brass from 308 or get new brass at starline .It's way better than the 243 ! I am reboring my 243 rifles into 260s !

Interesting.... In what way is it "way better" than the 243?

.243 or a 6.5 Creedmoor. You couldn't go wrong with either.

7 -08 . Big enough for elk, moose, but very mild recoil.