First gun

[stan77]

I am looking at buying my 13 year old girl her first hunting rifle.
A few things looking for opinions on.

I am thinking about a browning, in there micro stalker line, but why would I get an x bolt over the AB3, they seem the same but AB3 is 300 cheaper???

Calibre????? 243. 6.5 cred. 7mm/08

[Tortex]

Not sure if her frame and experience, but if 7/08 is on the table, maybe .308?

What will she be hunting? What conditions? What distance? I personally think for a do it all rifle, 308 is a great (though unsexy) pick. No problems on amp availability/selection is also a huge perk.

[stan77]

Originally Posted by Tortex

Not sure if her frame and experience, but if 7/08 is on the table, maybe .308?

What will she be hunting? What conditions? What distance? I personally think for a do it all rifle, 308 is a great (though unsexy) pick. No problems on amp availability/selection is also a huge perk.

At first just deer but long term who knows, she is not the biggest of girls but still growing. She is a good shot with the 17hmr on gophers. lol

[lannie]

I have a Tikka in 243 that i have let a couple young ladies start out with and it worked out well for deer hunting. Light recoiling rifle that built confidence quickly.
More important than rifle and cartridge was getting them comfortable shooting from different positions and recognizing which one to use while on the hunt.

[Jordan_BHA]

Go .243 and get her shooting skills where they need to be..

If down the road she wants a bigger gun for a bull moose hunt... well that just sounds like a good "father/daughter shopping date"

[Fwee6]

308 would be my choice in that situation. As others have said, not very "sexy" but sure is an amazing calibre that shoots quite easily.

[bowhunter9841]

Originally Posted by stan77

I am looking at buying my 13 year old girl her first hunting rifle.
A few things looking for opinions on.

I am thinking about a browning, in there micro stalker line, but why would I get an x bolt over the AB3, they seem the same but AB3 is 300 cheaper???

Calibre????? 243. 6.5 cred. 7mm/08

The AB3 is brownings budget model. They are cheaper for a reason. Here’s a review on YouTube that might help you decide. They put the guns side by side and compare them.

https://youtu.be/ZZd1V5zrB3Y

[elkhunter11]

Light is good for small people, but light also means more recoil, so I would go with something in the 6.5 caliber cartridges. They are adequate for moose, yet recoil is very tolerable for most people .

[Nyksta]

A soft recoil pad can help make a painful gun quite comfortable.

[hookset]

243 would be perfect first rifle, low recoil and quite a few options for ammo. I use one in a rem 783 which is a cheaper model and it has become my go to deer rifle over my more expensive larger calibers. Extremely accurate out to 300 yards, good gun for deer and yotes as well.

[Boogerfart]

I've tried a variety of "youth" rifles for young people and a small framed sister, the 243 always wins. Don't try to buy a do all rifle, if she likes hunting you'll be buying another anyway. Focus on proper fit, don't go overkill. A 243 works.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Light is good for small people, but light also means more recoil, so I would go with something in the 6.5 caliber cartridges. They are adequate for moose, yet recoil is very tolerable for most people .

What elk said. Light rifles can pack a lot of recoil. Even the mild .308 can be a bruiser in a 6lb rifle. I started both of my kids on a .260Rem in a Ruger Compact and even then I downloaded it for practice.

[dmcbride]

I bought a Browning micro x-bolt with a wood stalk 7-08 for my daughter. She says it has less recoil then my Savage 111 243. I think a proper fitting rifle plays a part of recoil.

[58thecat]

Rem model 7 in laminent 7-08 put in a Burris 3-9x40....forever rifle.

[Deer_Hunter]

Tikka T3X Compact in .243

[GMX]

Quality bullet design now days makes all those cartridges a good choice. The biggest factor is to find a rifle that fits her properly Just my two cents. I’d take her to a shop and shoulder all the manufactures models in your budget.

[bubba300]

243 or 6mm creedmoor would be a great starter.I shot a browning micro in 7-08 and was supprised by how much kick it had,not bad but I think to much for a small girl.

[RancheroMan]

I'd be looking for a Ruger Compact in .243win

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by RancheroMan

I'd be looking for a Ruger Compact in .243win

Prophet river sells ruger hawkeyes, but none available in 243 for a long while. What other canadian dealers stock hawkeyes?

[6.5 shooter]

FIT, FIT and more FIT try every rifle in the store, try every rifle at a gun show on for size...fit is key, worry about the caliber later. A 6mm, or 6.5 mm is plenty big enough for most game in Canada.

[Dubious]

243 would be fine, just remember the smaller and lighter the rifle the more they kick, many well intentioned miss informed guys have purchased youth guns for there small framed wife/girlfriend just for the rifles to be so small and light they kick like a win mag. I would consider a full sized rifles with a proper fitting stock then when she grows you can just swap the stock to an adult sized rifle.

[Slvdout]

I've got a Tikka T3 .243 with a Bushnell 3-9 firefly That i never use. Its got less than 20 rounds through it. Probably sell it if you're interested.

[ROM]

I went through this last year. I ended up with a .308 and she shoots reduced loads. Two dead deer and a smiling daughter says it was awesome for her. When its moose time we can move to full loads. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

R

[aulrich]

I started mine with 7-08, but with low recoil rounds. Handi-rilfe and a youth stock worked like a charm. I think we used it all of 2 season before he out grew it and could handle a full sized 270. Because of that normally I would say don't break the bank but for a daughter who might not grow tons more, a better gun might be a good thing.

I know there are plenty of folks who disagree but I am not a fan of 243 just a hair too small especially for a rookie shooter.

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by aulrich

I started mine with 7-08, but with low recoil rounds. Handi-rilfe and a youth stock worked like a charm. I think we used it all of 2 season before he out grew it and could handle a full sized 270. Because of that normally I would say don't break the bank but for a daughter who might not grow tons more, a better gun might be a good thing.

I know there are plenty of folks who disagree but I am not a fan of 243 just a hair too small especially for a rookie shooter.

Pretty much what I did with my kids but they each got a 30-06 with those managed recoil shells.

My advice Stan is get the rifle in something you like. 13 year old girls will soon be 16 year old girls and pretty soon boys take over and they don't have time for the ol man anymore.

[fps plus]

2 things.
Make sure stock fits and is short enough
Choose a light recoiling caliber.

If one could find a bolt action in 250 savage that would be my first choice. I have had a few and I felt the recoil in the 100 gr bullets were lighter than that of 243 win with 100 gr

Finding one would be difficult so 243 win would work fine.
My neighbor hunts and he has a daughter now 19 and she started hunting at 12?
I found her a Remington 788 and I had an extra stock that I cut down for her . She’s big enough now we switched the stock back to the original. She s having better luck harvesting deer with that rifle than her big brother using his 300 win mag

[double gun]

Originally Posted by Boogerfart

I've tried a variety of "youth" rifles for young people and a small framed sister, the 243 always wins. Don't try to buy a do all rifle, if she likes hunting you'll be buying another anyway. Focus on proper fit, don't go overkill. A 243 works.

I agree. Who cares if they outgrow the rifle in a few years - you sell it and buy a different one. But at least it fits them now when it counts. Nothing more awkward than a puny kid trying to hold a full sized rifle - and they quickly get frustrated. My nephew started on a Ruger m77-Mark2 compact in 243, it served him well and now he is ready to buy a bigger (physically) rifle.

[Steelhorse Cowboy]

Excellent comments provided!
I totally forgot about the reduced recoil loads available today.
I do shoot a 243 on deer over 50% of the time but i do find the 18 inch barrel does produce a significant blast for new shooters and have seen deer walk a distance even hit well.
A 7-08 with reduced loads to start up a new hunter would be a great confidence builder and then move into to full loads.
I do like the 20 inch barrel on the micro to help with balance.

[Flatlandliver]

Originally Posted by Steelhorse Cowboy

Excellent comments provided!
I totally forgot about the reduced recoil loads available today.
I do shoot a 243 on deer over 50% of the time but i do find the 18 inch barrel does produce a significant blast for new shooters and have seen deer walk a distance even hit well.
A 7-08 with reduced loads to start up a new hunter would be a great confidence builder and then move into to full loads.
I do like the 20 inch barrel on the micro to help with balance.

The micro Midas is a really nice browning with a lop made for smaller folks. The wife has one in .243. I would of and should of have looked closer at a 7-08.
Don’t mess around with reduced recoil loads etc.
Get her a .22 for shooting practice.
The $ you will save in ammo will pay for the rifle and she can shoot it all day long.

[Quest206]

Originally Posted by Boogerfart

I've tried a variety of "youth" rifles for young people and a small framed sister, the 243 always wins. Don't try to buy a do all rifle, if she likes hunting you'll be buying another anyway. Focus on proper fit, don't go overkill. A 243 works.

I agree