Swamphunter Posted December 24, 2011 Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 Need some deer rifle rifle advice for my boy who will be 12 in May. He has been shooting .22's and my .223 for a couple of years now. Chrismas morning he will open his own bolt action .22 cal rifle, and then want to move him up to a future deer rifle next year. I want to get him started with a centerfire caliber (prob .243), but not sure if I should get him a youth rifle or a regular rifle he can grow in to. At 11, he is currently 5' tall and weighs 120lbs. What are your recommendations on how to get him to make the jump to a centerfire next year? I would love to get him shooting a 20 gauge 870 express combo, so he can use the rifled barrel for deer, but prefer the accuracy of the rifle. I'm so confused.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 24, 2011 Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 Dunno Ken, can see where that would create some question. I got my oldest a browning A bolt micro hunter in .243 when she was 9, she was pretty small then. She won't hardly take her rifle anymore, she is 15 now and she always wants to take my .270 model 700 adl. She is only about 105 lbs and like 5'5" and she handles the full size model 700 with no issues at all. Might try out some regular rifles with Blade and see how they feel for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted December 25, 2011 Report Share Posted December 25, 2011 (edited) I remember when I was young that being sucessful on your first deer hunt was more about desire than the rifle. When we were actually trusted to go deer hunting, with the men we basically worshipped, it was a big deal. It was a time when money and new rifles were not plentiful so you learned to use what they gave you and we were desperate to prove ourselves. We used mostly cut down military rifles. The 6.5's and 7mm's being the easiest to shoot. I'm sure whatever you give your son will be fine if the desire is there. I killed a little spike that year with one shot with an eye witness and started a reputation for myself. God bless and Merry Christmas. Edited December 25, 2011 by m gardner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 (edited) Most rifles and shotguns are available with youth stocks. This in my opinion is the way to go. Get him comfortable right from the start. Later on you can purchase a full size stock once he has grown a bit more. Stocks aren't all that expensive, especially in synthetic from the mfg. Even many aftermarket stocks are reasonably priced and you have the option to customize the rifle. Check Revolution stocks out. They have some nice products at a reasonable price. www.revolutionstocks.com Lynn Edited December 26, 2011 by LETMGROW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted December 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Dang, those are some sweet stocks!!! I am going to purchase him a Remington 870... He could stand to use the youth model for a few years, but here is my question. If I buy the 870 Youth model, will the adult length stock bolt right in place without mod and will it have the Youth model stamped on the barrel? Should I purchase the regular 870 and add the youth stock before giving it to him and put the original away? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 The adult stock will bolt right on. Just be sure it's for the same gauge. There are no stampings on my wife's youth model to tell what it is. It comes with a laminated stock and a short barrel for the Rem Choke system. The adult shotgun has a plain stock and a long shot barrel for the Rem Choke system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I'd prefer a rifle myself too Ken. I'd pick the .308 Win. Recoil isn't bad at all. Dad has a BLR which only has a 20" barrel and weighs <7lbs. I'm pretty confident Blade wouldn't have a problem shooting that. There's a couple young lads in our group that shoot the same gun. One is 12 years old and took his first deer with his dad's BLR .308. We were blasting at a porcupine up in a tree by the farm and he took about 4 shots out of my BLR .300 WSM. Afterwards he was like "Dad, I want a short mag!!" Didn't have a problem at all. .243, .25-06 or 7mm-08 would also be a good choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 ok i have the perfect gun for you i have one of these myself a 30-06 spring field i know you think its too big but trust me it's not look for manage recoil 125 grain bullets. They have half the recoil of the original 125 grain bullets with the same knock down power. I killed my first three deer with this set up myself and the 30-06 will shoot any where from 50 grain bullets up past what i now shoot which is 180 grain bullets. Great gun. Make sure it's a remington though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 oh yea and by the way im smaller than he is im like 5-1 and weigh about 113 so this gun would be no problem for him and this gun has all the knock down power you need for deer mine is pump by the way with synthetic stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted December 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 Ok.. bowhunter97 made a good point. I want my boy to have 1 rifle, all around good caliber and st 43, I am starting to wish my 30-06 was a .270.. I am thinking about getting Blade the .270 with managed recoil loads and letting him just shoot away all summer... he is very good with a .223 and a .22 already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 31, 2011 Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 .270's a good caliber Ken, that's what my brother shoots. Not a lot of recoil either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted January 1, 2012 Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 It is a good caliber i've shot my dads and the recoil isnt bad at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 You could go with a 243 and use it for varmants and deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 You should also look at the 7mm-08. Its a very good little round with very managable recoil and makes a much larger hole than the 243. As for brands, I've got several H&R/NEF guns and they are very accurate and recoil is light. I've also shot a Rem. 700 youth gun in 243 and it was spectacular. The recoil felt like 1/2 of what it was on my NEF and the gun just feels great in your hands. I think you can upgrade to an adult stock on it. Mossberg has a Bantum gun that has an adjustible stock that can grow with the kid. Good luck in finding what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I bought my son a compact ultalight H&R 223 a couple of years ago. This year H&R offered a 20" 7mm08 light barrel in their barrel program. Sent my sons rifle off and recieved it back earlier this week. Have not had a chance to shot it yet though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 I bought my son a compact ultalight H&R 223 a couple of years ago. This year H&R offered a 20" 7mm08 light barrel in their barrel program. Sent my sons rifle off and recieved it back earlier this week. Have not had a chance to shot it yet though. I've got one of those little 223's with a leupold 2-7x32 on it. It shoots about 1.25" at 100 yards prone, no bags. I wouldn't shoot a deer past 50 yards with it, so that about as good as I think is necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WNY_Whitetailer Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 I've got the H&R Ultra Rifle in 7mm-08 with a 2-7x32 Mueller red dot scope. It is a sweet shooting setup without much recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 15, 2012 Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Ok.. bowhunter97 made a good point. I want my boy to have 1 rifle, all around good caliber and st 43, I am starting to wish my 30-06 was a .270.. I am thinking about getting Blade the .270 with managed recoil loads and letting him just shoot away all summer... he is very good with a .223 and a .22 already. Might let him try the .30-06 with managed recoil loads Ken. Honestly I don't know if you are using deer slugs in a lightweight shotgun that the perceived recoil is going to be any less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted January 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Def going to go with a rifle over the shotgun. I am settling in on either a .270 or 7mm-08, with managed recoil rounds. Now it's time to choose the make of rifle.... was thinking about a Rem 700 of course, but am going to gun shop today to take a looksee... Purchase won't be made til May, so I have plenty of time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 That 700 youth I shot was great in 243. I would bet the recoil of the 7mm-08 wouldn't be much more and that's a legit big boy round and I don't think you would have to do managed recoil with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Settled in on the Remington 700 SPS Camo in .270 caliber... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks everyone.... Now for optics.... Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Cool! Nice choice Ken. I love the 700s. If you want a nice scope I'd look at the Bushnell Elite 3200. I have a 3-10x40 on my deer rifle and it's never let me down. Even the more inexpensive Bushnells like the Legend, Trophy or Banner are good quality scopes for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Real good choice imo Ken. Eventually I am going to break down and get another 700, looks as though my 15 year old has decided my. 270 is hers. lol. Thanks everyone.... Now for optics.... Lol Lot of good options in optics, matter of preference. I would top it with a nikon monarch or buckmaster scope if it were me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I can't fault you for going with a 270, that's what I shoot. My wife however shoots a 25-06. Talk about an awesome gun. Shoot an 85 gr. varmint round to a 117-120 round for big deer. The ballistics are dang good, and the recoil is less of a 270. I'm actually debating on getting one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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