Perfect Youth Deer Rifle?

[Coyote Hunter]

First, I'm going to suggest forgetting about the muzzle brake.  They are effective in reducing recoil but are hard on the ears, especially if shooting i an area where sound can be reflected back to the shooter - an enclosed stand, trees, steep hillsides, beside big boulders, etc.  I cut loose with my .357 one day while standing on a 45 degree slope.  Hearing in the ear on the uphill side took over a day to return to normal and even then I think there was permanent loss.  Let your kids shoot firearms they can handle and if they can't handle them, let them grow a bit.

Never been a fan of the .243 Win for large deer, preferring the heavier bullets available in the .257 Roberts.  Generally I recommend a .30-30 over a .243 Win as it is more than adequate for ranges most kids should be shooting.  Beyond that, anything up to a .30-06, with reduced loads if necessary.

[no guns here]

I'm looking for 700 SPS Youth model in .308.  Seems like it used to be in the inventory but isn't now.  Everything online is listed as "out of stock".  I may end up getting a Hogue overmolded stock and cutting it back an inch and then sticking a short action .308 action and barrel in it.  I'd cut the barrel back to 22" (or maybe 20").  I really like the .308 due to the capabilities and ammo availability.  Plus I already have one so I wouldn't have to stock another cartridge type.  The 7-08 is really just about the same but it doesn't have the commercial reduced load availability that the .308 does.  This would be for my daughter, my younger son or my wife to use as needed.  I have others for the older boy and me since he is about my height now.  Maybe I can get one put together by 1 April when we get home on leave. I just don't like the Model Seven or any of the other compact rifles.  The barrels look like pencils and they just don't look right to me.  My Tikka T3 Lite Stainless .308 fills the bill expect it's about 4 inches longer than what I want to end up with.  An inch off the stock and two or three off the barrel should work fine.  I really like that Hogue stock with the rubber on it too.


ngh

[JerryKo]

Going back to the muzzle brake, I think on the Savage youths they can be turned off.  That makes it great for the hunting aspect.  But again for the blast during practice if may still be an issue.

I see your point for the 308 having FACTORY reduced loads and the 708 not.  I guess if one dosen't reload that is an issue as well.  As far as the pencil barrels, at 16 1/2 inches they shoot very well on the frontiers and compacts..   Not really concerned with looks myself.  You should see me!!

The Houge stocks are just wonderful to the touch.  Little cold hands still get a good reliable grip on those.  If those are avail for the compacts, it is a possiblity I would replace.  Probably make the setup a little lighter tho.

I still think it goes back to what the child can reasonable handle comfortably for stock fit and feel.  Reduced loads help, but for smaller less experienced shooters it is still pretty noticible.  I just don't think you can beat reduced Hand Loads, myself. 

Some just cant get those hammers back on the single shots, especially with cold little fingers.  So its good to have the shooter along to check these things out before you buy.  Just some thoughts.  Been there still doing it!

Good Luck again,

Jerry

[mcwoodduck]

What I would like to see is the Sig bolt action be made into a kids rifle.
the two things that were cool about the sig rifle was that it could change calibers and barrels.  With a bolt face and magizine to go fron 308 to 30-06 base is a mag change, to go from 06 to belted mag is a bolt face change so only one rifle is needed and barrels, mag wells and bolt faces could be added as needed.
So as a kids rifle it would come with an 18 to 20" barrel, 308 based round(243, 260, 7-08, or 308)
and have a snap fit plastic kids stock.  I know they don't make it now but someone like hogue could easily make it for any and all rifles they currently are making stocks for.  The back end would just have to be worked out.
Just aft of the pistol grip there is a hole that you would be able to snap in different plastic pieces to give you the lenght of pull needed for your kid and the recoil pad would snap into the different length plastic pieces.  As the kid get bigger un snap and snap in a longer piece.
As the kid becomes an adult an adult stock would be bolted to the gun as well as longer barrels in what ever caliber they want from 243 to a belted mag like 338 win.
The only down side the the sig design is the scope mounts stay with the reciever and not with the barrel.

[basdjs]

The .243 is a very good deer round for any hunter, but especially for young hunters, because most shooters feel at ease shooting it due to its low recoil and fairly mild report.  I think you're right in considering a youth model for the shorter stock if she needs a shorter pull.  But go full size if the rifle fits her. It's important to get a scope mounted rifle that fits properly so that when she brings it up, she keeps her head down on the stock to shoot well and minimize felt recoil. Low rings on the scope will help with that. Savages are known to be very accurate out of the box and you don't have a lot invested if it gets knicked up. Every Savage I've owned has been a shooter.  The Vanguard would be fine also, but as someone said...a little heavy. For some kids (and even me) loud noise is just as big a deterrent to staying with the shot as fear of recoil.  I'd go with a good recoil pad like the SIMS LimbSaver and skip the muzzle brake.  The other nice thing about the .243 is that it is a year-around rifle that can be used for groundhogs, varmints, or just practice at the range in the summer when light clothes are worn. Great fun and practice for kids with no pressure. If you handload, you could go with reduced loads for the .308, .260 Rem., or 7mm-08, or buy Remington Managed Recoil loads for these calibers but the Managed Recoil loads are expensive.  I'm pretty certain you won't regret getting the .243 for your daughter and you might even find you want to hunt with it yourself.

[*ROCK-MAN*]

My Daughter started out with a bb-gun moved on to a 22 and at the age of 8yrs started deer hunting with her own rifle.This was a Rem Mdl 600 Mohawk in 243 That my Dad gave her.She is now 16yrs and fights with her Mother over the 270.I sneaked out the 243 this year and took four deer with it.Two buck and two doe.No telling how many deer Dad took with this rifle.It's perfect for beginners because of it's length and weight.They also come in 308.Good luck with whatever she gets.