Kids first center fire rifle?

C

CCCLVII

New member
My nephew is turning 12 years old and will be taking hunters safety shortly after that. I have expressed interest in buying him his first center fire rifle. Because of there financial situation his parents have not been able to buy him a gun. I approached the father first and his is good with me paying for it. This kid has gone hunting with us since he was 6 years old but this will be the first year that he can actually carry a rifle.

Any way he is not a real big kid. He is probably a little over 5 foot tall and may be weighs 100lbs. His father would like some thing that can take a deer but will not recoil enough to scare him away from shooting.

I sujested letting him try a few guns at the range but his father wants it to be a suprise so I conseded to my brothers wishes. So the question is what round would work well for a skinny 12 year old to kill a deer? The only thing I have to go on is the kid does not like bolt actions...

as far as the law here in Idaho you can hunt big game with any centerfire round (even the 25acp). Most of the shots take place at less than 80 yards. The terrain where we hunt is hilly and forested with a fair amount of brush. We do a lot of walking so some thing really heavy is out of the question.

so what gun would you sujest for this situation.
 
Last edited:
So the question is what round would work well for a skinny 12 year old to kill a deer? The only thing I have to go on is the kid does not like bolt actions...
Click to expand...

What round would work well for a skinny 12 year old to kill a deer... humanly? And he does not like bolt actions?

OK... I'll bite, cause I think your sincere about this.

If he must have an auto, a Remington 750 in .243 or .308. In something other than an auto or bolt gun... A Marlin Model 336BL in 30-30.

I agree with Nine the Ranger's Rossi idea. Excellent if you're working a budget.

Cheers,
C
 
Doesn't like bolt actions :confused:

.223 or .243 will do the trick. Some will complain about .223 but if you put the bullet where your supposed it will be fine.
 
Well I would have said .257 Roberts, cause that is what I started on, being about of the same height and weight as he was when I started deer hunting. But, if the kid doesn't like bolt actions, then crap!!! I'm out of ideas.

A 30-30, perhaps? I'm only 3 years into hunting myself, so I'm not to sure on what to use. I shoot what I am given, as long as it is reliable.
 
CCCLVII... would you be kind enough to elaborate on the boy's dislike of bolt actions. What has he been using?

The dislike of bolt guns has weird'ed out more than myself I see.

Cheers,
C
 
Don't want him loaded down with a heavy rifle, at that size.

I'd like to know how much shooting he's already done. Hunting is a wonderful thing, but there is indeed a learning curve to shooting.
 
Since he doesn't like bolt actions, I will say +1 to the Savage M-99, but as you live in a state that is home to elk herds I will say "nuts" to the .243, and recommend a 7mm-08 or .308.

Better still might be a Remington pump in .308, .25-06, or 270 or .280. In fact...Yes! I'll say Remington 7600 in .270 win. Light loads for deer are available, as are adequate elk loads. Also, this caliber could defend against a lower 48 Griz, should he blunder into one. The Remmy pump-gun is known for bolt-like accuracy, and IMO are easier to shoot well than a Savage M-99.
 
I won't push the bolt action too much.....but its a bit like a kid turning 16 and rejecting the old pickup.....

It rejects something like the CZ small bolt action in 7.62x39.

Myself,I would not set a kid up with a semi-auto.

Most pumps and lever actions in 30-30 and on up aren't really set up as good kid rifles.Might be a few,but most aren't.

That leaves single shots.Which,might cause him to reconsider on the bolt.

I would not argue with the .250 Savage,257 Roberts,etc,.243.

I'd approach a .308 with caution.

Just,please,if it will be scoped,get a good scope with decent eye relief and set it up so the rifle fits and the scope is away from his eye enough he does not get cut.That is a tough one to get over.And,its dramatic...blood,mom and dad,etc.
 
When I was that size, I found my stepfather's 32 Win to be annoying, LOP was too long and the kick was made worse by that long stock. So I would say NO to a 30-30.

However, a 44 mag. would work well as a 100 yard deer gun. And with down loaded rounds, he can practice and get used to the gun with much less recoil and build up to full power loads. Choose, lever or Ruger semi auto*.

*Downloading not an option with this gun.

A SKS is also an option. The usual complaint of the too short stock is now a desirable feature for the young man.
 
like

The heck with what the kid likes or dislikes, he's being given a rifle.

Either a single shot as described, or a bolt, more practical to me cause he won't out grow it.

The CZ 7.62x39 carbine has been discussed elsewhere and is a great youthrifle.

+1 to thelearing curve comment. If he's not squared away on a .22, that's where he should start.
 
Faced a similar issue with my oldest grand daughter several years ago. She, also, is 5' tall.

I solved the problem by getting her a TC Encore in .243 [hey, they have a zillion calibers] with a spare barrel in .22 LR. That rifle is short, and easy for a small framed human to handle. It is super safe. The rifle cannot fire unless you pull the trigger. She practices with the .22 barrel, then for hunting season has the same manual of arms for deer hunting.

Sarah has an additional issue that led me to the TC. She is right handed and very left eye dominant. It was not possible to get her to shut her left eye and shoot right handed. So, a rifle that could be used left handed was required.

I was really supprised to find that the TC Encore shot CCI .22 hollow points into 1" at 50 yards, and shot 100 gr Federal soft point .243s into 1" at 100 yards.Sarah has taken 2 nice deer with her rifle and has become an excellent shot.

Good luck in doing a great thing for a kid,
 
If he dont like bolts it is probably cause he has been at ranges when the 'spray and pray' crowds were out.

Let him use a bolt if available or set home.
 
ill add my two cents. I also do not like both actions. I prefer levers or single shots.

I would recommend a 357 magnum lever action with a trapper barrel. its a light gun and will kill a deer at short ranges.

There are lots of light weight single shots as well.

*edited* In bushy area the accuracy advantage from a bolt action is negated.
 
I think its a shame that every one assumes that if a kid does not like bolt actions he is in to spray and prey shooting.

His father owns a pump action Remington 30-06 and a lever action 450 marlin and a chipmunk 22lr. As far as I know there are no video games in his home ;)

I think the kid just wants to be like his dad.

How much does a lever action 44 magnum kick? I know that Rossi makes one, are they decent guns. This kid is not picky at all and would probably be happy with a bolt action but he still looks up to his father and wants to be like him, i want to support that.

This kid has shot alot of 22LR. He is a pretty good shot for some one his age. He has tried his fathers 30-06 but its too much gun for him. I am leaning toward a lever action in a 44 magnum or a 357 magnum. I dont know how much recoil he can handle but I would be surprised if the 357 was too much.
 
Depends....on the load, the fit of the gun, and the butt pad (thin hard plastic or vented rubber).

In fighting shape before middle age set in around my midsection I came in at 5'4" and 125 lbs. That said, a 44 with light / mid level loads doesn't kick that bad at all even with a solid plastic butt pad. And those loads will drop a deer no problem. A 240 gr. SWC at 1000-1100 is much like a 45 Colt out of a rifle over 100 years ago; they did the job then and the deer haven't got that much tougher. He can turn it up from there if he is fine with the kick.

Recoil tolerance is subjective; it really depends on the person and what they can or are willing to tolerate. I know people who are substantially taller / bigger than me who won't fire a 12 gauge 3 1/2" shell or my two big rifles. But at 12 YO 5' and 100 lbs. he can easily grow into a 44 lever, LOP can be adjusted with a pad change. And to top it off, he gets the cool factor of a 44 magnum. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top