Deer Gun for Youth?

Posted: 9/29/2012 9:01:57 AM EDT

My brother-in-law wants to take his 7 year old son deer hunting with him this fall and is asking about a good deer gun for children. I am not a deer hunter, so I have very little advice to give him. He has talked to some of the locals and they are recommending .44mag rifles, but this is a small kid and I am thinking this is not the best idea. If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Posted: 9/29/2012 9:05:50 AM EDT

[#1]

I've got a Ruger 77/44 rifle. It's short, light and has a good bit of recoil. I wouldn't recommend it for a small child.

My brother bought a 243 H&R Handi Rifle for his son who is 12. Something like that would be great.

Posted: 9/29/2012 9:22:10 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
I've got a Ruger 77/44 rifle. It's short, light and has a good bit of recoil. I wouldn't recommend it for a small child.

My brother bought a 243 H&R Handi Rifle for his son who is 12. Something like that would be great.

The ruger in 357 mag seems like a great fit

Posted: 9/29/2012 9:32:10 AM EDT

[#3]

I thInk that a rifle in .243 would be a good choice. The handi riifles are an inexpensive way to get the kid started. He can get a 223 barrel fitted to practice with. I think that most 7 year olds are going to have a difficult time with recoil. Get a rifle light enough to carry but heavy enough to handle recoil.

Posted: 9/29/2012 11:13:24 AM EDT

[#4]

Depending on how much he wants to spend, I would recommend an Encore or a Contender carbine with a youth stock. When he outgrows the youth stock, put a full size on. You can also get them in many different calibers.

Posted: 9/29/2012 11:33:56 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
I thInk that a rifle in .243 would be a good choice. The handi riifles are an inexpensive way to get the kid started. He can get a 223 barrel fitted to practice with. I think that most 7 year olds are going to have a difficult time with recoil. Get a rifle light enough to carry but heavy enough to handle recoil.

X2. .243 is an excellent deer cartridge and great for beginner, children, women and anyone.

Posted: 9/29/2012 4:41:21 PM EDT

[#6]

I'd buy a Sako 85 .243 and get a reputable smith to cut the barrel to 20" and have a custom AAA walnut stock made with a shortened (appropriate) LOP.

Oh, I thought you said you wanted to spend $3k. If you aren't loaded, I'd buy a youth model .243. Probably a remington 700.

Posted: 9/29/2012 4:49:46 PM EDT

[#7]

OP: will this be used in your home state of Indiana? If so, rifles may only fire pistol-caliber cartridges. Here is the short list of IN regs:
Indiana Deer firearms

If that is the case, a Handi-rifle in .357 or .45LC would probably be ok.
I think I would lean toward a semi-auto [loaded with one round] shotgun and shoot something like the Remington managed recoil slug.

Again, that is if we are talking about deer hunting in Indiana.

Posted: 10/1/2012 4:21:25 AM EDT

[#8]

357Mag rifle - which one - your choice. Maybe some day we will be able to use HPR's; but it won't be soon I'm thinking.

Posted: 10/1/2012 5:40:06 AM EDT

[#9]

.243 is a great choice as is 7mm-.08

Something like a Handi-Rifle single shot is a great starter for kids.

Posted: 11/20/2012 9:04:16 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Depending on how much he wants to spend, I would recommend an Encore or a Contender carbine with a youth stock. When he outgrows the youth stock, put a full size on. You can also get them in many different calibers.

Good advice!

I would probably get a carbine chambered in .357 Magnum.

Posted: 11/22/2012 6:32:00 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
.243 is a great choice as is 7mm-.08

Something like a Handi-Rifle single shot is a great starter for kids.

No go in IN for deer - either caliber.

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