niet32 Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 I would like to start having my 5 yo daughter start shooting for next years deer hunt. She's been asking to go a lot this year and next year she will be 6 and old enough to hunt. What recommendations would you give for a gun that will put a deer down but have little to no recoil? Once I figure that out I need to find it in pink.... Thanks in advance for any info. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3whunt Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 Rossi .223. Some will say it is not enough gun for deer, but we shot three this year at our deer camp and none took another step. I like the 69 grain bullets from Black Hills. Shooting less than 1" groups at 100 yards with the little Rossi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 A NEF 7mm-08 with light recoil loads. I sighted in for my brother a few weeks ago... It's like shooting a .22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 Don't know that I would go with a .223 with a kid for deer, shot placement of course is always important, but you are really asking a lot of a kid with a .223 imo. Some states do not allow anything under a .24 caliber so the centerfire .22's may not be an option where you are anyway. This state made changes to the regs not too long back to allow any centerfire, used to be a .24 cal minimum here. My oldest daughter has been shooting a .243 since she was about 7, that would be my first choice for a kid for deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiobuckhunter Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 get her a muzzle loader you can adjust the powder grains and bullet weight to get a good load for her a good round is 50 grains of powder and a 295 grain bullet will be effective to 75-80 yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 I would look into the NEF handi rifle with a bull barrel,something loke a 223 or 243.Not much recoil from these loads and the heavier barrel would cut some more recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 26, 2009 Report Share Posted December 26, 2009 That's a scary thought ....... starting a kid hunting that early. The tendency and maybe even the necessity may be to use a gun that is under-powered. I can't think of a worse thing for a child to experience than suffering a 'wounding loss' on the first deer ever shot at. That could wind up to be a deal-breaker for her hunting future. Personally, I would start any child that young (and small) out with a .22 and small game hunting. Whatever you do, make sure that that early hunting experience turns out to b a happy one. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earnhardts12000 Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 wow just started my daughter huntin shes 12 turkey huntin but 2 more yrs be deer huntin with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocMort Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 The 243 for a kid that young would be good, also look at the 260 Rem, not much kick but more frontal area on the bullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Yep, .243 is the smallest I'd go, it's a good round. The .260 Remington, 7mm-08 are also good choices too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthehuntinman Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 The smallest for a whitetail I would go would be a 243 its a good gun shoots flat. Also the 260 is a good gun. I have had one for about 6 yrs now and I really haven't hunted with it much but the deer I have shot with it dropped where they stood. Its a great caliber shoots good and is very accurate. I have had my niece shoot deer with it and my gf shoot deer with it and they have not shot guns before and it didn't bother them. Hope this helps you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 I got an NEF 223 for my daughter and put a red dot scope on it. I've loaded some 60gr. Hornady sp. and it shoots about 1" at 100 yards. Don't be fooled this is no 100 yard deer gun IMO, but I took a 135lb doe with it last year at about 25 yards. The deer went down faster than any deer I've ever shot except for DRT spine shots. A good soft point heavy 55gr+ bullet put through the lungs will do the job. Don't use hollow point and you should be ok. I would make sure that she can shoot it consistently before you take her out. We also play hunting games on Wii to work on shot placement. You make think that's crazy, but they are realistic. When she makes a bad shot I make sure she knows it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHunter Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 .243 is a nice light round. but the .270 is also light. Depending on where you hunt and what strain of whitetail deer you are hunting the .223 is an ok round. Shot placement is key of course but the smaller southern strain deer will drop to the shock of a .223. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niet32 Posted December 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 Thanks guys!!! I appreciate the advice. My daughter was born in camo... She was at a birthday party when she was around 3-4 and a deer walked across the lawn and all he kids were admiring the deer when my daughter proclaimed, "My Daddy's going to shoot that deer...then we are going to eat it!" My wife shaking her head said she is all her Daddy... BTW Just so it's very clear for those concerned. I will be sitting with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 I like Rhine's suggestion. The 7-08 is a great round for kids, a little better than the .243 imo. My girls took their first doe with a 20ga when they were 7. I loaded it up with buckshot and taped a cheap laser level to the barrel so I could help them know when to shoot. Not much range, but I dont like it when folks turn their kids lose with a rifle and not enough practice and maturity to keep the crosshairs on the deer and squeeze the trigger. Now they have a Rossi .243, but I wanted a 7-08 and couldnt find one in time for Christmas last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted December 27, 2009 Report Share Posted December 27, 2009 A NEF 7mm-08 with light recoil loads. I sighted in for my brother a few weeks ago... It's like shooting a .22 Start her off with a borrowed 223 to practice and graduate her up to a 243 0r 7mm-08 before season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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