Good Hunting Rifle for 13 year old

[Heavyhunter]

Take your boy shopping.. let him handle the guns, see what he likes, see what fits him..
as for a caliber, a 7mm08 is a great all around gun. I have a savage axis stainless synthetic, bought an aftermarket adjustable trigger, and upgraded the scope..
It's very light recoil, will knock down anything in North America, and available in a youth size.
I highly recommend a high quality of shell though.. It is a very fast round, last year I shot my 3 white tails with it, all lung shots. and all of them ran for 80+yards..this year I switched to the Berger HSM gold trophy shells, $40 a box,
Filled both my supplementary white tail tags and got a bull moose..both deer dropped on the spot. The moose took about 10 steps and dropped.. Just something to think about, great all around gun, highly recommend it!!

[trapshooter]

I got a tikka T3 7mm-08 for my birthday at age 12m it has shot black bears, 4 deer, yotes, badgers and a couple other things!

[Bolete]

Remington model 7 in .243.

[Atex]

My vote goes for the mighty 7-08 any day. Got one for my daughter a few years ago, she had no problem shooting it from the first day ( petite, 4' something ). And boy, it kills like no tomorrow !

[Jeron Kahyar]

How is there no votes on here for the .257 Roberts yet? Got a Ruger M77 Standard in this when I was 14 and still use it, has taken numerous deer. This gets my vote (in a winchester model 70 fetherlight) low recoil and is a great deer/antalope caliber for years after.

[Mohr74]

Another vote for 308.

[score]

For your son, he should be able to get into a full size LOP? I wouldn't go with anything over 7mm-08, but if you reload I guess you could roll up some light loads or, go with the Rem. managed recoil ammo. The .250 Sav. may be a good one to consider. The Savage model 14 classic is nice. Chambered for .300 Sav. as well and all the other's suggested. About $700.00. For a scope, I would look for the largest eyebox you can. Every little bit helps. Alot depends on how much he has shot before. I tried to get my son to agree with a fixed powered uncluttered scope, but he wouldn't bite. He has shot alot and wanted a variable. Anyways, as I'm sure you know and has been said, get it to fit him well. Go somewhere where the staff are knowledgable and will spend time with you. This is critical. You may have to push your point to get the right salesman, but you and your son need to take as much time as you need and want. Also, to me, the worst thing you can do is get something with too much or even borderline recoil. The absolute minimum is always best. If it's fun he will enjoy shooting it and shoot it well. Lots of time for other cals. in the future. Good luck. I bet you are both really excited.

[score]

Originally Posted by Jeron Kahyar

How is there no votes on here for the .257 Roberts yet? Got a Ruger M77 Standard in this when I was 14 and still use it, has taken numerous deer. This gets my vote (in a winchester model 70 fetherlight) low recoil and is a great deer/antalope caliber for years after.

It was suggested and yes a good choice. Fewer rifle options though and a cartridge that pretty much has to be reloaded for. Too bad so many good cartridges are hard to find in terms of gun and ammo.

[helluvahunter]

243 or 25-06

[TUFFBUFF]

Mine got a 7-08 marlin xs7s, 700 lss mtn in 260 and a 700 mtn blued in 257 roberts.

I'd try a remington model 7 in 260 rem with a nikon prostaff II 3-9 bdc.......your welcome.

[score]

Originally Posted by TUFFBUFF

Mine got a 7-08 marlin xs7s, 700 lss mtn in 260 and a 700 mtn blued in 257 roberts.

I'd try a remington model 7 in 260 rem with a nikon prostaff II 3-9 bdc.......your welcome.

The Marlins are great rifles for the money for sure. Trouble is, limited chamberings thus far, but sufficient for a youth. Hard to find the Rem. model 7 in .260.. Where have you seen them or is it a special order deal?

[Bobby B.]

Most kids will kill there deer at fairly close range, under 200 yards and probably under 100. Therefore, a 243 is an excellent, as is the 257 Roberts and 250 Savage. Nothing wrong with the 260 or 7/08 if the kid doesn't mind the extra recoil.

I now shoot all my deer with the 260 and will probably shoot my moose and bear with it as well. The 7RM won't see much use unless I'm after elk.

Bobby B.

[timsesink]

It really depends on your budget. Browning, Ruger and Remington all have readily available youth rifles, anything in the .243, 25-06, 7mm-08, etc.. family will work great. Get him out shopping and he'll be one excited boy!

[gitrdun]

My 8 year old grandson is of light stature. He shoots his very own Stevens 200 chambered in 7mm-08. I've loaded up some 140gr Sierra Gamekings using the 60% H4198 load published on Hodgdon's website. The load is capable to hunt deer out to 200 yards. Recoil is mild enough that the 'lil fellow can shoot it comfortably. If you reload, than you can tailor the loads to manage recoil but remain effective on game within reasonable range. The 7mm-08 definitely gets the nod from me. As far as the gun goes, you've got lots to pick from and I'll leave that up to you and the young man.

[7mm08]

I would have to jump on the 7mm-08 or .308 in a youth rifle , or full sized rifle. Whichever one fits him best. Add to the purchase a "wearable" PAST recoil pad for his range sessions, because as was said in an earlier post.." If the kids gotta get comfy with his hunting rifle, that takes ammo and a fair ammount of it". We all know he wont feel any recoil when he pulls the trigger on his first game animal, but the range is where they develop a flinch.
Another great caliber I heard mentioned in an earlier post was the .257 Roberts. I have one that my 15 year old daughter shoots occasionally at the range. Makes me proud when I see the bug hole groups she produces at 100 and the tight clusters at 200 yards.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[krthegunslinger]

Originally Posted by Redneck Renagade

243 all the way.

Deffinately a .243 great for deer antelope and I've shot moose with mine you just need to use the right bullet(solid copper). He can also use it for coyotes when shooting 55 grain ammo.

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by score

It was suggested and yes a good choice. Fewer rifle options though and a cartridge that pretty much has to be reloaded for. Too bad so many good cartridges are hard to find in terms of gun and ammo.

I was really pleased to see that they brought back the .257 Roberts chambering for the Model 70 this year. Been wanting one ever since I was 14

[Faststeel]

Originally Posted by Jeron Kahyar

How is there no votes on here for the .257 Roberts yet? Got a Ruger M77 Standard in this when I was 14 and still use it, has taken numerous deer. This gets my vote (in a winchester model 70 fetherlight) low recoil and is a great deer/antalope caliber for years after.

I voted 257 bob or 250 Savage, but as I said tough to find these calibers at most gun shops. FS

[Thunder/FX]

7mm08!
My son started with it at 12 and still loves it!
Kills stuff dead!

[Tactical Lever]

Whatever he's comfortable squeezing off a box or 2 of shells with. Even if they say they want something bigger, it's best to start off with something with light recoil and minimal muzzle blast. A magnum sized racket can induce flinch just as easily as a painful thump.

Size and age seem to have little to do with recoil handling ability, I was surprised (although I shouldn't have been) to hear a fairly large guy tell me that a large lever action in 45-70 (with a Limb Saver) was too much for him.

I would lean towards a 30-30, or .257, or 6.5x55. Or even a 7.62x39.

[Tactical Lever]

Fit of the rifle is important as well. If the rifle is too long the recoil will land on a bony part of the arm and be more painful.

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by Faststeel

I voted 257 bob or 250 Savage, but as I said tough to find these calibers at most gun shops. FS

Sorry not sure how i managed to miss your OP. Seems there was already one vote for the .257

[sevenmil]

7mm-08 without question! Here are the reasons why: (Not necessarily in order of importance.)

#1. Mild recoil.

#2. Good availability of factory rifles chambered in this round, including youth models.

#3. Good availability of factory ammo.

#4. Wide selection of bullet weights to choose from, giving you the capability to hunt everything from coyotes to moose provided the proper bullet weights are used and premium bullets are used on the larger game.

#5. The 7mm diameter bullets boast excellent ballistic coefficients, and excellent sectional densities, especially in the heavier bullets. This translates into flat trajectories and deep penetration.

#6. The 7mm-08 is a short action cartridge, and can be chambered in short, lightweight rifles.

#7. It is simply more potent than it's dimensions would suggest.

Yes there are are more powerful, flatter shooting cartridges available. But the 7mm-08 is in my opinion the most versatile, potent, practical round you could buy for a beginning shooter.

[gitrdun]

That's a very good summarization sevenmill, I especially like your closing statement. To that I would add:

The discussion around the 7mm-08 are usually initiated by a need for a youth or a lady shooter or perhaps someone sensitive to recoil. Although those individuals would do well to choose this caliber, big burly guys that are insensitive to recoil shouldn't discount it's capabilities either. The caliber lends itself well to a short and light little carbine that swings into action at lightining speed when needed. And it has the capability to deliver a quick humane kill. Of the choices in my arsenal, definitely a favourite.

[tony d]

My kids are 10 now and I started them out on a 7x57 when they were 6 with light loads of trailboss which is the powder for this sort of thing they are now bothup to full power loads if I was doing it all over again I probably would go 7-08 as component are a little easier to get but I have 2 7x57s now so no point deviating from the plan now
Cheers Tony

[buckmasterjr]

When i was 12 i started out with my dads ruger 30-06, and now i shoot a browning x bolt in 270, both have similar recoil and are great for deer and moose. As for a scope they both have bushnell elite 3200's on them, they work great and not to expensive.

[Dick284]

Both my kids are still using 7mm-08's. Only they don't have to share anymore, they each have their own.

[Lefty]

Started both my kids on the 308. My wife started with a long heavy barreled 25-06 and much prefers the 7-08 which she now has. Both the 308 and 7-08 are easy to load light and reduced loads are available commercially. Either one would be a good choice. If I had to choose between the two for a kid I'd take the 308 if I didn't handload, and use the 7-08 if I reloaded.

[roadkill]

My daughter's only 15 moths old, so she won't be shooting for a while yet, but I'm already pondering her first rifle. I'd narrowed it down to ... well okay, only the .243, but now I'm wondering about the .308. I've always been intrigued by the .308, but I've never fired one.

But what I'm wondering is, who makes a really good youth model without blowing my bank account?

I know it can't be a full-sized rifle because even *I'm* practically too short for a full-sized rifle. Not a lot of youth boomers in the local shops, so I'm unsure what to look at more closely.

I know; who knows which companies will still be making good guns at all in 14 years, but thoughts like that ruin the fun I have planning this stuff.

Actually, if I could find one of those scrappy old Winch Ranger youth models, that'd be awesome. I really like those ugly-a55ed things.

[aulrich]

Started my boys with 7-08 handi with a youth stock and reduced loads, worked like a charm.

The rifle is key, the handi is light and oddly enough handi, easy and safe for a beginner to operate.