I would try to get him into a 243, 7mm-08, or 308; whichever his maximum recoil tolerance is willing to take him. If it's a semi-auto, some of the recoil will be absorbed by the action. The 308/243 will be a bit less for ammo, but the 7mm-08 is a very nice round. I can't speak for much other than bolt guns though, I have three Marlin X7's, one being a 7mm-08 in a youth and it is a nice shooting gun in a very good price range.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Kids first center fire rifle?
- Thread starter CCCLVII
- Start date
pabuckslayer08
New member
Whatever you buy dont get a single shot, they kick like a mule, Semi guns are illegal in alot of states, get a good bolt gun. Easy to use and really safe as well. My first rifle was a Rem 700 243, I shot that since I was 6 so he can easily handle that . 243 is big enough for deer/antelope, its fun on the range, and very accurate. I would look at the TC guns, Remington 700s, Tikkas and the Browning A Bolt. All around 500-600 dollars, add a decent scope and your set
sc928porsche
New member
Just get him a lever action 30-30. Its light weight, moderate recoil, and is a proven deer cartridge. A lot of youngsters first deer rifle is a 30-30. Ammo is inexpensive and easy to come by. Seem like most people have one in their arsenal. Although it is not a long range cartridge, it is quite capable of bringing down deer at 150 yds. The most popular round seems to be the 150 gr.
aarondhgraham
New member
I've turned into my parents,,,
I don't want to sound too much like an old fogey,,,
But this is exactly my thought as well.
At his age he may know what he wants,,,
But he doesn't know what he needs.
He's a 12 years old boy for crying out loud,,,
Get him what he needs to hunt with,,,
Not what he wants to be cool with.
Savage Axis or a Stevens 200 in .243 will do him just fine.
Aarond
.
The heck with what the kid likes or dislikes, he's being given a rifle.
I don't want to sound too much like an old fogey,,,
But this is exactly my thought as well.
At his age he may know what he wants,,,
But he doesn't know what he needs.
He's a 12 years old boy for crying out loud,,,
Get him what he needs to hunt with,,,
Not what he wants to be cool with.
Savage Axis or a Stevens 200 in .243 will do him just fine.
Aarond
.
Edward429451
Moderator
I sort of understand why to go ahead and buy him a bolt gun even if he doesn't want it (right now)...but OTOH, why not get him what he wants, it'll be his rifle? Later on he may want a bolt.
From what I've read, I think you may be describing a Ruger #1 in 243. It is short and light and does not recoil much. My friends Wife has a #1 243 and I got to shoot it. It is not bad recoil or weight and shoots like a ray gun.
I think he'd be real proud of a #1. It's upgrade, a very fine firearm, and I do not think he would ever outgrow it.
Don't shove a bolt down his throat if he doesn't want one. It may turn him further against them.
From what I've read, I think you may be describing a Ruger #1 in 243. It is short and light and does not recoil much. My friends Wife has a #1 243 and I got to shoot it. It is not bad recoil or weight and shoots like a ray gun.
I think he'd be real proud of a #1. It's upgrade, a very fine firearm, and I do not think he would ever outgrow it.
Don't shove a bolt down his throat if he doesn't want one. It may turn him further against them.
Another suggestion I like is to get him a Rem 7600 pump with a shortened stock. As he grows, a longer stock can be purchased at minimal cost.
How about, instead of buying him a rifle, how about "lending" him a Rem Model 7 in .243 or .260 with a low-powered scope? If he likes it, after a while, give it to him. If not, take it back and get something else.
How about, instead of buying him a rifle, how about "lending" him a Rem Model 7 in .243 or .260 with a low-powered scope? If he likes it, after a while, give it to him. If not, take it back and get something else.
Basement-Gunsmith-Z
New member
Kids can handle a lot more than you give them credit for. When i was 9 i got my first .22 rifle. I shot it a good bit, but we didn't live in an area where we could shoot much. I didn't shoot for around 2 years after that. When i was barely 13 i started really getting into guns. I was a skinny 120 pound 5' 2" kid. My first new gun that i shot was a 1911, i was nervous, but i did it, and after the first shot i really begun to enjoy it. After that i shot a .357 mag. I shot one with a long barrel and to my dismay it had almost no kick. After that i got real confident i shot an ar15, an ak47, and a .308, I was expecting the .308 to have a lot more kick. When i went shooting the next week i decided to shoot the Win. 94 in 30-30 and i thought it had a good amount of kick, but nothing i couldn't handle, nor was it painful. Then i shot my first 12 gauge shotgun, i thought it had quite a kick, but it didn't hurt but i felt like i could handle the more powerful loads, so i tried them, and they had a good kick, but i could handle and enjoy shooting it. Then i wanted to shoot a .44 mag, I felt like i could conquer the world so i decided to shoot it with the magnums not the specials to start, It had a kick, it hurt a little bit to shoot, but the feeling of "being a badass" outweighed the kick, so i decided to shoot it with one hand... Even if i was 3 inches and 25 lbs smaller i feel like i could of handled most of what i shot.
All of this is to show that a kid can handle a hell of a lot more than a .22 or other small calibers. I would say how about a sks, or if you really love him a sig 556 in 7.62x39 or a rock river lar47. or heck even an ak, but for a younger person the primary concern shouldn't be recoil, it should be weight. Also for a good lightweight ak a cz vz68 sporter. 7.62x39 Is a good caliber for him (in my opinion) because it doesn't kick hard, it is designed for the ranges you are hunting deer in, and it's cheap to shoot.
All of this is to show that a kid can handle a hell of a lot more than a .22 or other small calibers. I would say how about a sks, or if you really love him a sig 556 in 7.62x39 or a rock river lar47. or heck even an ak, but for a younger person the primary concern shouldn't be recoil, it should be weight. Also for a good lightweight ak a cz vz68 sporter. 7.62x39 Is a good caliber for him (in my opinion) because it doesn't kick hard, it is designed for the ranges you are hunting deer in, and it's cheap to shoot.
You want low recoil, something other than a bolt action, and shots are mostly inside 80 yards...
My first thought is .357 lever action (which I saw only one other person mention so far).
This article from gunblast also supports .357s as a youngster's deer rifle.
30-30s and 44 magnums probably aren't bad choices either, but they will tend to be heavier and still have more recoil (recoil between those two is about the same).
The fact that a .357 carbine could also shoot 38 specials would allow the boy to practice cheaply and with even less recoil (and use the same gun for small game hunting if so inclined).
If you worry about .357 magnum not being potent enough for deer, Buffalo Bore makes some loads that are about halfway between typical .357 ammo and 30-30 ammo in terms of energy.
My first thought is .357 lever action (which I saw only one other person mention so far).
This article from gunblast also supports .357s as a youngster's deer rifle.
30-30s and 44 magnums probably aren't bad choices either, but they will tend to be heavier and still have more recoil (recoil between those two is about the same).
The fact that a .357 carbine could also shoot 38 specials would allow the boy to practice cheaply and with even less recoil (and use the same gun for small game hunting if so inclined).
If you worry about .357 magnum not being potent enough for deer, Buffalo Bore makes some loads that are about halfway between typical .357 ammo and 30-30 ammo in terms of energy.
Last edited:
If the budget will allow I'd suggest an AR-15 in 6.8 SPC or maybe even an AK-47 with a rail and a scout scope.
I know the AK is not thought of much as a deer rifle, but we should re-think that.
I have 2 that hold under 3" consistently at 100 yds and more often it's closer to 2MOA. (with good ammo)
That's as good or better than most lever action 30-30s and when you fit it with a 5 round mag it's a legal hunting rifle in most states. The power of the 154 grain soft point ammo is about the same as the 150 grain 30-30.
And of course it kicks a LOT less than a 30-30.
The AR in 6.8 is outstanding as a deer rifle, but the rifles themselves cost over $1000 and if you scope them they can run up to $1500 pretty fast. But they will shoot about MOA and sometimes better, are nearly identical to the old original 257 Roberts in power, have no more kick than the AR in 223, and can be had with tele-stocks so they fit about everyone.
Anyway, if the kid doesn't like bolt actions, I believe most other options are going to get a bit costly.
The above post about a Marlin 357 Mag is also a good idea. The 357 has less range then the AK or the AR, but to about 150 yds it's a fine deer gun with a low level of recoil. Be sure to use the correct bullets however so you get good penetration.
Or a Browning BLR in 243 would fill the bill well too
I know the AK is not thought of much as a deer rifle, but we should re-think that.
I have 2 that hold under 3" consistently at 100 yds and more often it's closer to 2MOA. (with good ammo)
That's as good or better than most lever action 30-30s and when you fit it with a 5 round mag it's a legal hunting rifle in most states. The power of the 154 grain soft point ammo is about the same as the 150 grain 30-30.
And of course it kicks a LOT less than a 30-30.
The AR in 6.8 is outstanding as a deer rifle, but the rifles themselves cost over $1000 and if you scope them they can run up to $1500 pretty fast. But they will shoot about MOA and sometimes better, are nearly identical to the old original 257 Roberts in power, have no more kick than the AR in 223, and can be had with tele-stocks so they fit about everyone.
Anyway, if the kid doesn't like bolt actions, I believe most other options are going to get a bit costly.
The above post about a Marlin 357 Mag is also a good idea. The 357 has less range then the AK or the AR, but to about 150 yds it's a fine deer gun with a low level of recoil. Be sure to use the correct bullets however so you get good penetration.
Or a Browning BLR in 243 would fill the bill well too
Given the situation you have described, I think a lever action in 44 would be great. My personal preference would be a Marlin 1894. As far as recoil, I can't see it kicking very hard. I have a Winchester 94 in 357 and it is an absolute pussycat. It kicks a lot less than a 30-30 and even less than my heavy barreled 22-250.
I like
The contender carbine as it ways 4 Lbs or so.
A 223 with heavy bullets or a 30-30 with Remington "Managed recoil"
loads are a good starting point and he wont out grow the gun or round.
Add a 410 barrel and some mini skeet targets for both rifle and skeet shooting.
You can cover the bases for years I now I have 4 two sets of 410 30-30 one in blue and one in stainless. As well as a 375 win and looking for a carbine barrel in 357 Mag or Max.
Being a gunsmith I will probably have to make one.
The contender carbine as it ways 4 Lbs or so.
A 223 with heavy bullets or a 30-30 with Remington "Managed recoil"
loads are a good starting point and he wont out grow the gun or round.
Add a 410 barrel and some mini skeet targets for both rifle and skeet shooting.
You can cover the bases for years I now I have 4 two sets of 410 30-30 one in blue and one in stainless. As well as a 375 win and looking for a carbine barrel in 357 Mag or Max.
Being a gunsmith I will probably have to make one.
My grandpa loaned me this new gun he had just got when I was 12 in 1991 the day before gun season for deer opened. He said he got it because he heard it didn't kick much and he was greeting to old to handle a lot of recoil. It was an SKS and I shot a buck through the heart with it the next morning. Then the next day shot a doe. So he ended up giving me that gun and getting himself another.
To bad we can't still get those SkS for $89. I can say with assurance that it is one of the lightest recoiling guns out there that is suitable for deer.
I too agree with the learning curve philosophy. At 12, for me, the SKS replaced my dads 303 enfield that I would have been using. My first year being allowed to carry a gun in the deer woods was at 10 with a browning light 12. Then at 11 I used the enfield. When I got the SKS, I used that rifle exclusively until I was about 20 I think and moved on to a rem700 270. So my learning curve was maybe fast (or backwards) compared to others, but I was taught to handle guns safely from an early age by my dad and grandpa. Safety must always come first! I'm assuming this child will be under close supervision at all times for now even when handling his own new rifle, so I would at least consider the SKS. Similar ballistics to 30-30 in a less than mild recoiling rifle.
All that being said, I am a huge fan of family traditions and following in daddy's footsteps. I don't know if y'all are like this, but the guns I have that were given to me by my dad or grandpa or that are even similar guns to what they had that I've purchased mean a great deal to me in sintimental value. For instance, I always wanted a sweet 16 because that's what grandpa had when we rabbit and squirrel hunted when I was a kid, and when he passed in 2004, another of the grandsons got that gun. Well, I finally got one last year and every time I look at it I think of him.
Good luck!
To bad we can't still get those SkS for $89. I can say with assurance that it is one of the lightest recoiling guns out there that is suitable for deer.
I too agree with the learning curve philosophy. At 12, for me, the SKS replaced my dads 303 enfield that I would have been using. My first year being allowed to carry a gun in the deer woods was at 10 with a browning light 12. Then at 11 I used the enfield. When I got the SKS, I used that rifle exclusively until I was about 20 I think and moved on to a rem700 270. So my learning curve was maybe fast (or backwards) compared to others, but I was taught to handle guns safely from an early age by my dad and grandpa. Safety must always come first! I'm assuming this child will be under close supervision at all times for now even when handling his own new rifle, so I would at least consider the SKS. Similar ballistics to 30-30 in a less than mild recoiling rifle.
All that being said, I am a huge fan of family traditions and following in daddy's footsteps. I don't know if y'all are like this, but the guns I have that were given to me by my dad or grandpa or that are even similar guns to what they had that I've purchased mean a great deal to me in sintimental value. For instance, I always wanted a sweet 16 because that's what grandpa had when we rabbit and squirrel hunted when I was a kid, and when he passed in 2004, another of the grandsons got that gun. Well, I finally got one last year and every time I look at it I think of him.
Good luck!
Hmmm.. lotsa good answers here.
One thing never mentioned was the $$$$ maximum.
Going with:
- no- bolt action
- 80 yard typical max yardage
- deer-size game
- small person
- inexperienced person
- unknown, but likely limited $$$
two possibilities jump out at me.
(1)
I'd consider an H&R ultra, single shot, in .308. For practice, get a .308 -to- .32acp converter from MCA sports. Easy to use in a single shot. Accurate to 50 yards. Get used to the rifle going bang & the trigger. Cheaper than .308
When the moment of truth arrives on hunting day, .308 is not so bad for that one kill shot.
(2)
Speaking an SKS rifle - (with which I, too shot a nice 8 pointer)...
How about one with a synthetic, adjustable-stock (for pull length).
For a first timer, remove the gas piston. Turns the rifle into a straight-pull, release, bolt-action rifle.
I know, no bolt guns. But this is different. Super easy to use. You have to cock a semi anyway, right? Same motion.
-a bit more felt recoil (compensator?), but still a medium-power cartridge.
-Very good open sights - particularly for 100yds or less.
-7.62x39 is a decent short-range deer round. Similar to .30-30.
-Light (w/synthetic stock & bayonet removed -if equipped).
-undeniable cool factor for a young 'un.
-When he's older, more experienced & ready - put the gas piston back in.
Both of the above can be accomplished for under $500. Maybe well under that.
One thing never mentioned was the $$$$ maximum.
Going with:
- no- bolt action
- 80 yard typical max yardage
- deer-size game
- small person
- inexperienced person
- unknown, but likely limited $$$
two possibilities jump out at me.
(1)
I'd consider an H&R ultra, single shot, in .308. For practice, get a .308 -to- .32acp converter from MCA sports. Easy to use in a single shot. Accurate to 50 yards. Get used to the rifle going bang & the trigger. Cheaper than .308
When the moment of truth arrives on hunting day, .308 is not so bad for that one kill shot.
(2)
Speaking an SKS rifle - (with which I, too shot a nice 8 pointer)...
How about one with a synthetic, adjustable-stock (for pull length).
For a first timer, remove the gas piston. Turns the rifle into a straight-pull, release, bolt-action rifle.
I know, no bolt guns. But this is different. Super easy to use. You have to cock a semi anyway, right? Same motion.
-a bit more felt recoil (compensator?), but still a medium-power cartridge.
-Very good open sights - particularly for 100yds or less.
-7.62x39 is a decent short-range deer round. Similar to .30-30.
-Light (w/synthetic stock & bayonet removed -if equipped).
-undeniable cool factor for a young 'un.
-When he's older, more experienced & ready - put the gas piston back in.
Both of the above can be accomplished for under $500. Maybe well under that.
Last edited:
Saltydog235
New member
The old standby Marlin Lever Action 30-30 comes to mind. Mild recoil, relatively inexpensive, and has probably accouted for more deer than any other cartridge out there.
The other option is the Handy Rifle in .243.
Why anyone would shy or dislike a bolt gun is perplexing at best. Its a gift, I was always taught to accept a gift with grace and thanks.
Another caliber to look at is the 7mm08, my personal favorite.
The other option is the Handy Rifle in .243.
Why anyone would shy or dislike a bolt gun is perplexing at best. Its a gift, I was always taught to accept a gift with grace and thanks.
Another caliber to look at is the 7mm08, my personal favorite.
idnative1948
New member
Another vote for 30-30. Tons of kids have started with them. Still have the one I received for my 12th, some 50 odd years ago.
Ranges around 80 yards? A 30-30 is a good option. I would say .243 but If the range is 80 yards and less then it's abilities aren't needed. I think a handgun round is what you're after. In a rifle, they have very little recoil. A lever action is probably the easiest to locate. A 357 mag, .45 colt, or .44 mag is the best options. Pumps and revolving rifles are out there but uncommon. Rossi makes the Circuit Judge (revolving) which now comes in a handful of calibers. Uberti sells a .45 Colt revolving rifle based off of the 1873 SAA. And I've only seen one pump rifle in a handgun catridge, it was a Taurus .45 Colt and it was $800. So I'd stay away from pumps in handgun rounds, they are pricey.
Uberti sells a .45 Colt revolving rifle based off of the 1873 SAA.
IMHO that is a bad choice for almost anyone. The cylinder gap will allow gas to escape and can cause a huge amount of damage to the hand/arm EXPOSED to that escaping gas..
Try putting a revolver in a paper bag with the end cut out and fire a round.
The gas escaping will tear that bag to shreds.