Good Hunting Rifle for 13 year old
 

I was just wondering what a good first hunting rifle and scope for 13 year old would be. My son is interested in going hunting for white tail deer this year and I am not sure what would be a good starter for him. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

7mm08 is just the ticket. Low recoil, and hard hitting enough for anything you want to hunt. Also readily available in a youth model with a shorter length of pull, you want something that fits him, IMO that is more important than the cartridge you chose. I believe Remington packages a 700 SPS with scope in a youth rifle.

Edit: Yup, here you go:

http://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?page...=1952&ID=36188

If you don't like the scope that comes with it look at the Vortex Diamondback, a great scope for around $250. Also nice that this rifle has a detachable mag, easy and safe to unload.

.243 gets my vote. What I started on when I was 14yrs old. Shot my first deer and many more with it.

.270win thats what i used starting out good all around rifle..still use it and nearly 16

choices
 

dog

What caliber rifles has your son been shooting. A bud of mine just went out and bought his boy a 270 with factory 150gr bullets and never gave any thought to his son's previous shooting experience. Sure a 7mm-08 is a lighter recoiling rifle round, but some fellas make it sound like its hardly much of a step up from 223. A hard rifle to locate perhaps but a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage are much easier for a beginner to shoot. IMHO. FS

I agree that his level of shooting experience will dicate but if he is experienced with centrefire rifles then I think I'd throw a nod to the 7mm08. If not, or even if he has, perhaps a 260. I'd worry way more about getting a rifle that fits than how much recoil the cartridge has. If he is of smaller staure, there are a few youth model options out there.

708 gets my vote. A rifle for a lifetime. Not only for deer. Great cartridge.

My Ruger 2506 sits now, dang heavy. Great shooter though. Its mad since the new kid on the block showed up. hehehe

I would not go with the youth model as my son outgrew his in 2 years. Now he is taller than me. I learned on an old Model 1917 Remington. Still got it too. Grandpas then my Dads now mine. That old rifle has not seen duty for a while.

7-08 is probably a good choice if he can handle the recoil. If not I'd go with a 30-30.

243

My 13 year old Grandson shot a 243 at his AHIEA camp this summer and loved it. Confident and accurate with this caliber so that is what I bought in a youth size and he loves it....

I understand your theory but Id say go with the youth and have a rifle that properly fits him at the time when he outgrows it just sell the youth rifle and buy a different one as he may be ready for a more powerful round by then, not that the 7-08 is not enough I love mine but peoples tastes change. JMO

IMHO.. i think you all are underestimating what kids can shoot .. allthough all are differn,t ....take them shooting before you buy something that they can shoot like a 22.. ask them what they feel they can shoot and watch them shoot .. see if they can group at 100 yards .. i had a 10yr old shoot 270 Short Mag and have no problem grouping and no issue with pulled shot etc he shot his WT this year with his dads 300 Mag at 12 yrs old.. he also can do 300yds np.. his sister(17) did the 270 Short Mag at 100 yds and grouped very nice np

David:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3k97GKnZw

Was no youth Model when I was a pimple assed kid. Ya make do with this 12 pound rifle boy thats all we got.

Dang I am Scottish and a cheap bastard. Who did ya think bought his skates too big? Best backwards skater on his hockey team. hehe............He does play defence, hehehe

Weatherby used to sell a vangaurd model that came with two stocks, now I think it comes with stock shims but the concept is a same, rifle that grows with the kid.

Another vote for the 7-08. Son loves his full sized rifle and he is 12 years old.

Fit would be the deciding factor if I was choosing for a beginner. If you reload you can always start them with reduced loads and lighter bullet weights as an option and build up later on.

I never got a youth rifle for my first gun either but if you can swing it I say its a great idea helps them to shoot properly and comfortably not make do with what ya got but if its all ya got then definately make due or you aint going hunting.

Speaking of hockey skates my first pair were my older sisters hand me down figure skates I would have dreamed for a real pair even if they were 4 sizes to big. LOL

I bought my daughter a 7mm-08 when she was 13 and she has no problem shooting it

I would go with the 'ole 30-30 in a lever. Unless you are doing some long range hunting. No need for anything bigger and he will love it.

First choice = 7mm-08

2nd choice = .243

Another vote for 243 or 6mm.

x2

I'll add another vote for the 243 and a vortex scope

.308... Ain't never gunna out grow it, no more recoil then the 7-08, hell of a lot less then the .270, more oompah then the .243, easier to find then a .260, lighter to pack then a 30-06 and .270, further reaching then the 30-30.... Etc etc etc...

Bought a box of 7-08 blue box federals tonite, $36 out the door... That's $12 a box more then I pay for 180gr .308 ammo.... If the kids gotta get comfy with his hunting rifle, that takes ammo and a fair ammount of it.... Consider the economics.

What ever you choose,just make sure it fits him. Lots of the cartridges sugested from 25-06 on up will be just fine

ruger compact in 243,7mm-08,or 308 really short rifle for kids and light recoil.

I agree with you for the most part, particularily the cost of ammo, but having shot both cartridges extensively from rifles that were virtually identical, the .308 does kick more than the 7, particularily with 180 gr vs 140 gr....not so much with the 150s. For an adult, the difference is probably negligible (or however you spell that damn word!), but for a youth or smaller woman who may be more recoil sensitive, the 7-08 is going to have less flinch effect I believe. Don't get me wrong, the .308 (with reduced loads) would be my for sure second choice to the 7-08 for a young shooter, I love both rounds dearly....I just love the 7 a bit more. :)

My son uses a 270, 130 grain bullets, loves the gun and already shot his first buck with it, easy recoil and not to heavy, plus its a gun that never has to be upgraded, perfect for all animals, just my thoughts , if it was to much for him to handle my second bet would be a 243

Hmmmm I suppose.... I was shooting a 7-08 with 150 gr bullets tonite back to back with my 11fcxp .308 with 180's and I found very little difference between the 2 besides the gremmlington weighing a bit less and the salvage had a softer rolling thump to it then the 7-08 snap....

Both rifles are kittens even with heavy factory loads....

For a rifle I would suggest to the OP it's really hard to beat the accuracy and price point of a savage axis... The stainless versions are actually quite sharp looking and I haven't seen a savage that won't shoot MOA or better with ammo it likes.... Prices range from 3-4 hundred with a cheap but useable bushnell 3-9

Barring that I really like the remmington model 7 but hear its discontinued and the internal mag is a bit of a pain when truck hunting