Gun for Youth's first Deer Season

[jlm]

That is correct, many of the new dirty 30's have one or more safety mechanisms on them. They are great guns for kids. I would NOT recommend a dirty 30 that uses the hammer as the safety. These guns are responsible for many deaths and close calls. Unloading them is usually when it happens in my experience. Be safe and hunt another day!

[Mark Christianson]

I started with a .243 and after over 20 years, I still have the same gun.

Tossed a Leupold on it many years ago, and it does a very nice job keeping the deer population in check.

[Whelen35]

If you reload, thr 308 is the right gun. The 30-30 type of recoil is about right for young shooters. If you reload, the 7mm/tcu is to me ideal for short range and young hunters.

[Cootz]

As Flashman can attest to how much I want one, I'd throw another caliber out there for another reason. The 25 WSSM. I don't have ape like arms so I like a shorter stock and shorter action. You can get one in a Winchester bolt action that is light, fairly inexpensive and having not shot one yet, just guessing not a whole lot of recoil. The shorter action for a kid I have to believe would be a benefit. My first gun was a Remington model 740 .244 and as my dad used to say to me, one shot he'd come and help. Anymore there's no need to hurry over and more times then not it was the truth.

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So many scientists, so few rockets.

[Guest]

What? No one going with the .25 wssm. It's set up to shoot the same as the .25-06 with alot less recoil. To new huh?

Go with the 308, 7mm-08 or the .243. It's the same brass just different boars. .308, .280 and .243. The 7mm-08 (.280) is a vary good middle ground.
I'm looking at a Tekka T3 in .270 win, for me. It's a bit stout for a wee-one and the 30-06 famly heats up fast. Not to mention meat damaged at shorter ranges.

[fishhunter88]

I started with my dads 30-30 marlin with the new safety button. So far it has worked well for me. this last spring I bought my own marlin 30-30 with a bushenel scope and weaver see through scope rings all for $250 not to bad. You could try a .44 magnum my cousin has one it's a ruger (rifle not pistol).

[leechlake]

fishermn, don't forget a very important point. A very light .243 or 7mm-08 will kick a lot more than a heavier gun in the same caliber. I know I read a good article in the American Hunter on this topic last fall. I'd have a gunsmith cut the stock down a bit on and "adult" gun before buying a youth model that is light and will kick harder than a heavier gun.

Remember this also, I always seem to sight my guns in on warm days when its uncomfortable to have a heavy jacket on. Pick a nice cool morning to sight the gun in so your kid can have a bit of padding on. Nothing like shooting a deer rifle with a tee shirt on when it's 70 degrees in September, good way to promote being afraid of pulling the trigger. Remember shooting glasses so any "scope rash" is negated a bit. Have fun, my oldest is five and I can't wait to be able to sit with him his first opener.