woodshed Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I have the great opportunity to expose my nephew to deer hunting for the MO youth season this weekend. There is no opportunity at this point to buy a new gun. 1. I have a model 94 30-30. Do you think this would be manageable for him? 2. I will have him on Friday to go shoot it first to show it to him. If it is border line on recoil, do you think shooting it first at the range would do more harm and spook him when he's looking at a deer? I was thinking that if I just handed it to him the adrenaline rush would make it a non factor to him when facing a deer. But that doesn't seem right to me. He lives out of town. The only shooting he has done was in the past with my .22. I also have a 50 cal ML and a 20 gauge double barrell we could put slugs in???? My 270WSM I know is out. I'm thinking the 30-30 would be best,,what do you think? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think you could try it and see...he may not have any problem with it. Another alternative is going with a light load in the ML. I have my Wife shooting my ML with a load of 90grains and she says it hardly kicks at all;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aujack Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 i have been shooting my 30-30 since i was 11. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I would let him build his confidence of the shot at the range. Also some practice shows ethical hunting behavior and responsibility of accuracy. I don't believe a 30-30 would be too much recoil for a 12 year old though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Swamphunter, I agree 100 %. It doesn't seem right to him or the deer to have him go at it cold turkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Just be aware that the (older.......without crossbolt safetieis) Model 94's are some of the most dangerous guns for anyone........let alone a 12 year old. De-cocking the gun requires that the trigger be pulled while holding the hammer back over a live round. Also.......the unloading process requires that the hammer be back with a live round in the chamber time after time. You will have to take extra super safety precautions to avoid an accidental discharge. Recoil-wise, you should be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Strut, thanks, I'll go to the range and give him a thorough safety lesson for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry264 Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 My nephews started out with 30-30 win. when they were young but they used an old bolt action model and also used the 125 gr. bullet for less recoil. Worked fine. The ammo. makers have a 125 gr. factory load for the 30-30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Strut, thanks, I'll go to the range and give him a thorough safety lesson for sure. Not only that......but you will have to intensely supervise any de-cocking or unloading events. You may even want to just do it for him. Cold hands, little hands, gloved hands or excited hands can cause troubles with a Model 94. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Strut, Yes, mine is the older version. I plan to give it to him with one round in it and cocked by me only after he is set up and I know finger and muzzle in the right direction.. Then I will take it back from him an do any unloading and decocking if need be. I am going to brief him on how it will be done before he holds the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Sounds like you've got a good safety plan in the works. Good luck with the boy and the good ol' 94 (I love 94's!!!!). That old "thutty-thutty" should do a fine job for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I would build him up at the range. His fear of that gun could come from what you say. Once he shoots give him an "Atta Boy" and dont even mention the recoil. I think if you play up his shooting more than the recoil he wont even noticed the kick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHunter Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I would do what i did with my girlfriend, Give him the .22 100 rounds and just let him blast away, give him another 100 rounds and help him with technique, then jump him up the the bigger gun and u dont need to give him 100 rounds but a box of ammo just to get use to the gun and learn how to shoot that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grady269 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 MR You may want to pick up a couple of boxes of the Remington managed Recoil Loads before you go to the range. My buddy has an 11 yo and he is shooting a Remington M-7 in 7mm-08 with the Managed Recoil loads and it is awesome. I could not believe the difference and they kill deer great. I think the worst thing you can do to a kid is give them too much gun too early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 My son is 13. He weighs about 85 pounds soaking wet. He is shooting a 30-30 Marlin 336 with 150 grain Remington Core Lokt just fine. Says the recoil is less than his 20 gauge 870. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clrj3514 Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 just do what my daddy did. give me the gun and dont worry bout shootin it before hand. if his adrenaline starts pumpin, that kick wont matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 just do what my daddy did. give me the gun and dont worry bout shootin it before hand. if his adrenaline starts pumpin, that kick wont matter That's kinda like teaching someone to swim by throwing them in deep water. Never, ever, EVER allow anyone to hunt with a gun with which they are not familiar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redgreen Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 Take him to the range and get him comfortable with the 30 30. He will no doubt be as happy as a clam, and will probably surprise you. I was shooting a 45 70 when I was 12 or 13, and loved the recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 That was my first rifle and she works well when starting out. (30-30) Good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetucker Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 My boy is 11 and weighs 142 lbs!!He is quit a big boy!!To the point though!!He started hunting last yr(in maine you got to be ten)!!When i was thinking of a rifle for him to use i was going to borrow my uncles 243!!So my uncle,me,and my son went off to the range!!I took my 30-30,270,and the 243!!While we were there gary(my son)thought he could shoot dads rifle!!And let me tell ya he did!!He shot that 270 just as good as i did!!As i watched him shoot all the rifle it appeared to me the 30-30 had the biggest recoil!!I am balisticly challenged so i don't know what it's supposed to be!!I would say try the 270 in a light load and see what happens!!I bet you'd be suprised!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 School the boy well like Strut10 advised, and the 30/30 will be the perfect deer gun for him. good luck to you both. hunt safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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