1st gun for 10 year old
 

Hi Everyone,

I've been doing research on what to get my son for a 1st rifle and into shooting and I'm hoping you can provide some comments, thougths and advice on my selection.

I've decided on a Tikka 7mm-08 compact. I think this will give a little more versatility with low recoil loads and something he can eventually graduate into a regular load. I chose this over the 243 for the above reasons and think the 7mm-08 will give him a little longer use with the wider range of ammunition loads available.

I'm thinking a limbsaver recoil pad and a muzzle break based on what a friend and I recently discussed. I want to make this rifle as "friendly" for him as possible, but wonder if the muzzle break will be to loud?? I dont imagine the muzzle break on a 7mm-08 would be as loud as one on a 300 win mag, or 30-06?? I could be wrong, but let me know what you all think. Thanks

I have a muzzle brake on my 6.5CM and I double up on my ears. Muzzle brakes are loud. Nice choice on the 7mm08 great caliber. He can learn lots with it and get good at shooting.

Muzzle breaks are not friendly. I suspect most people are like me, blast shy and not so much recoil. They just think they are recoil shy because of the blast.

This is very true, if you're handloading anyway just make up some light cast loads or something to practice with, you'll be further ahead and spend less money.

Depends on his size, I'd go 223 first for cheaper practice and coyotes. Then 243/6.5/7-08 when he gets to 12 y.

No break. No lightweight <7 lb guns, he should be shooting off a rest of some sort, and make sure the LOP is appropriate with the limbsaver. He will be a different size by the time he is 12 and able to hunt big game, so I don't think you are getting away with one rifle.

Caliber is not a substitute for shot placement. The 243 will kill everything that walks North America, except perhaps bison.

The Model 7 compact has a short barrel, which will make it even louder to the shooter when you add a brake. I would be looking for a 260 or a 7mm-08, and handloading some very mild loads for him to start with.

There is no mention of a .22 rimfire that I see.

Let the kid learn to walk before they run.

+1 for the .22

I think almost everyone should own at least 1. If for no other reason it should promote even more trigger time and they're super inexpensive to both purchase and shoot.

Plus if there's another shooter coming up in the family it'll give you another reason to purchase a new rifle for him and can pass down the .22.

Just my .22 cents :)

Everyone's first gun should be a .22

I'll jump on the .22 bandwagon. A good quality bolt action would be where I would start. My 10 year old daughter is learning to shoot with the gun I learned with.

My first rifle as an adult was a .22, and I think that's a good first rifle for anyone, and especially for a 10 year old. Get him shooting without any fear of a flinch, high cost of ammo, etc. You want to give him lots of practice. 7-08 isn't exactly the ideal gun to go out gopher shooting or harvesting a few rabbits. He really won't be able to use it much for a few years. Get him that gun when he's 12.

rimfire - tc hotshot, my kid is 7 has a marlin xt-22ysr single shot and its pretty cool but my wife would let me give it to him yet, lol.
Although he digs the 10/22, its got fire sights and i think that really helps the youngsters.

centerfire - if he wants to shoot lots maybe a howa mini action 223, if he wants to hunt a rem m7 260. My kids have m700 mtn rifles when they get bigger in 260 and 257bob, they do bouce around a bit on the bench but are really nice to pack around. the 260 is a handy round although the 6.5creed is more trendy nowdays.

shotgun - we use a single shot 410 snake tamer to get some chickens and he even helps us out with some skeets

he's also shot pops m700 varmit 22/250 but the gun is way to big for him currently

pic of his 10 shot group with the 10/22 last week @ 25yrds open sights, first shot was a bit off :)

Maybe start with a pellet gun and learn some good habits before moving on.

Grizz

I disagree, mostly because I started with one. Pellet guns don't provide the greatest training; poor triggers, typically unreliable accuracy, poor quality ammo, less consequence, no ear protection - yes you can solve these with $$ but a lot more than what a good 22 will cost.

A 22 rim fire with adult supervision is a better starting place imo, I assumed (and probably shouldn't have) that the op and his son were past that point by 10 years old.

I'm going to take this in a slightly different direction and suggest you get your young fellow a .410. Great little gun not a lot of range, and get the little guy into squirrels, rabbits, nuisance birds, and clay pigeons.

BW

I started my boy at 6 with .22 ,then he was shooting a lot of cheap ammo SKS 7.62x39 and he had a lot of fun with it .Not necessarily hit the target too often , but I think he got a good idea what a big BOOM from centre fire feels like.
Then I was not careful enough and gave him 30-06 and mosin 7.62x54 the same day.
BAD IDEA. He started to be a bit afraid of shooting it.
Had to get him .243 which he did not like , it was a right hand and too light for him , and by then I realised that the boy is lefty , but he stopped been afraid of big rifles at least .
All this time he was comfortably shooting .22 , thousand of bullets and was not bad at this.
He is 15 now and shooting 270 wsm , killed couple deers and cow elk with it in last years.
I did not bother with a muzzle brakes because remember at the begging he was not comfortable with the sound from the regular gun leave alone with a muzzle brake on it. Recoil seems to be a less issue.
Good luck!

Lots of good points here everyone.

Just a few extra tid bits of info I left out accidently that I didn't think were important at the time.

My little guy isnt that little (anymore) and has been shooting pellet guns, 22, and even a 410 once in a while. Recently shot my 17 HMR for the first time and a 223 this summer.

He's managing those okay, so I thought I's maybe introduce him to his first legal caliber hunting rifle. If he gets comfortable with this one over the next few years then he will be a happy 12 year old when he's finally able to hunt without recoil issues.

Get him a Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air rifle!

I'd say no to the muzzle brake and yes to a good recoil pad. Good ear protection is a must. Plugs and a decent pair of electronic muffs at the range have been a good combo for my son. My little guy has put hundreds of rounds down range with various .22lr rifles and developed good habits as a result.

Do you handload. If not some reduced loads are available. Maybe try them.
If you do there are many ways to deal with it.

My son was 6 when he started with a 22. loves to shoot always with ear protection and glasses. When he was 10 we got a youth Model NEF single shot in 7mm-08. I hanloaded some trail boss for him recoil is not an issue with that trail boss. I could not keep up with loading for him and the reduced load.
Shot very well and got to know the riffle. At 11 I loaded some 130 speer bullets with the Hogdons H4895 reduced loads and he managed very well.
120 TTSX was a very accurate bullet and he took his first deer with it.
He is now 17 shooting full loads and loves it. I offerd to buy him another rifle as we have extended the youth model with slip ons. He wont budge. I will need to extend the stock as he wants no other rifle. Dont really know whats wrong with him, turning down new riffle. LOL :snapoutofit:

MAC

Is this the young fellas first hunting rifle or first rifle?

Id second the idea of rimfire first but if you already have one the great.

The 7-08 is a great rifle and I'd say use a reduced load with 120gr Ballistic Tips. This will kill deer well at 2600fps and they dont kick hard.

Skip the brake frankly. Stupid idea unless you want to create a flinch right away. Its the concussion that he'll hate.

If hes smaller statured thwn dont down play a 243. We've been killing deer with them for years and with the TTSX, GMX and Partition i would shoot elk and moose this side of 200yds and not worry.

I have created a list of 10 year olds who would not be thrilled to own a 22LR. Here it is right here.





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The far side
 

When my son started at that age I bought him a 6.5 x 55 because it was cheap and I could re-load for it, he had been shooting a cooey .22 single for a few years and wanted something bigger.

Here is my point, a rifle designed for deer won't get used very much , but the noble shotgun on the other hand can get used a great deal. This will provide hours of entertainment for the lad and improve his shooting. On top of that you can go out together every weekend.

Don't get a 12 ga. he won't enjoy it or learn to shoot.

Bought a tikka 243 compact for my daughter and put a Limbsaver on it for comfort. Very nice little rifles, I think he'll be very happy :). I'd also say skip the muzzle break, use reduced recoil loads to start. Shoot the 22 lots more than the 7mm08, and increase range sessions gradually and you'll be fine.

If he has a 22 he can practice with, he doesn't need his own. If I could have found one in 7mm-08 that would have been my preference over the 243. IMO 7mm08 is a slightly better big game gun while 243 is a slightly better varmint/big game combo. Flip a coin, both great light recoiling rounds.

My first was a Lakefield Mk. 1 single-shot .22. Taught me how to shoot, clean\ care for, and handle a rifle properly.

I can show you a 10 year old who can drive a tractor and run most machinery that pulls behind. Ride a horse and rope a calf. Have an intelligent conversation with a likewise intelligent adult and debate wordly events. And then, I can show you a 10 year old who is brain dead and lies on the couch an plays silly internet games on the phone that his parents bought for him and talks with the " like, like, like, like. crap.

Now that you've provide the necessary filler info, shall we say, I can tell you that a reduced load 120 or 130 in a 7mm-08 will kill deer like nobodies business.(certain 120's only as varmint 120's are not game bullets) Both my kids accomplished that in their first years of hunting with such loads. Just keep the yardage to 250 and less, or within their skill set.

Just follow Hodgdon's reduced load guidelines from their website and you'll be fine.

No muzzle break!
Great calibre and rifle choice.

Thanks for all the info.......

....shoot lots with pellet guns and 22's. Got it and doing it. Need to do it more.
.....7mm-08 ...its on the way
....no muzzle break.....got it and not doing it.

Thanks again everyone and have a great weekend!

What I did for my daughter is got a savage bolt action 30-30 and I handload 96 grain sized 32 cal lead pistol bullets tuned to 1150 fps. No kick and she is getting familiar with a bolt gun.