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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: coonsaw]
#2189106
03/17/11 02:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 577
Elkman
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 577 |
I agree and disagree with coonsaw, they need to learn the proper mechanics, my son has started out with his bb gun since he was 5, he also started shooting a single shot 22 then moved up to a semi auto 22, we shoot about 1000 rounds a week twice a month, I let him shoot my ar-15 and the sks. As coonsaw said practice mechanics and SAFETY are of the utmost concern.
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: coonsaw]
#2189177
03/17/11 02:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 995
Gummi Bear
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Posts: 995 |
I've given a whole lot of thought to this for the last year or so, my daughter is about the same age as your son.
She's been shooting the Red Ryder for the last few months (the third generation to learn to shoot on that rifle), and I let her take some shots with my 17 HMR (once she figured out the scope relief, she was shooting eggs at 50 yards). I let her try my AR15, she didn't like it as much; which tells me she's not quite ready for the leap to centerfire.
Once she does though, I'm probably going to set her up with a .308 with managed recoil rounds. I am really interested in the .260 and the 7mm/08, but I think the .308 will prove more versatile as time passes. I even managed to find reloading data for reduced recoil .308 with a 115-125 gr projectile. According to the tables and articles I've read, the flight path and speed
are comparable to a full load 150gr round; supposedly even the zero doesnt hardly change either.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...”
Henry David Thoreau
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: Gummi Bear]
#2189190
03/17/11 03:00 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320
BMD
Silver Spoon
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Silver Spoon
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320 |
The 7/08 with 120gr TSX is awesome combo for kids as well if you load.
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BMD]
#2189415
03/17/11 04:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549 |
I would get a 243, plenty of power, cheap, easy to find a good gun and ammo.
I would try and get the kid to sight in his own gun, learning is always good. Starting with bb gun is great idea, but past that why move to a single shot 22 and then an auto and then a 22 mag? Get him a 22 auto and give him one bullet, as he learns load it up, when he masters a 22lr a 22 mag will be No different. Spend time on a range learning to shoot, use good bullets and practice for shot placement and he will do just fine.
matt
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: redchevy]
#2189436
03/17/11 05:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,175
texaspatriot.308
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the .243 is great, but when the kid gets to the next level or bigger game, something like the 7mm-08 makes a whole lot more sense, it is right up there with the .308 without the recoil, check out Chuck Hawks recoil table.
TexasPatriot.308
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: texaspatriot.308]
#2189445
03/17/11 05:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 657
DRT1
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 657 |
my 9 yr old hunts w/ a 308 in howa 1500,, i have a savage bolt gun 22 that he practices w/(he can shoot that 22 out to 100 yds and do pretty dang'd good).. he will never outgrow that 308 .. i am not a fan of the 243 personally.. i do have a 7mm08 that all my boys love to shoot, it is my truck gun
In God I trust.. all others are suspect. ;))
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: coonsaw]
#2189462
03/17/11 05:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320
BMD
Silver Spoon
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Silver Spoon
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320 |
i think 243 is too big for most kids to learn @ 8. for them to learn proper mechanics, breathing, steadiness, etc... i really think it is best with 22lr open sights, then 22mag. 22 mag hs plenty of killing power for small critters and hogs for that matter is shot placement is correct. cant shot deer with 22 mag by law but i dont see the hurry on getting them on a deer. i think it is better for them to go hunting for deer for at least a few seasons to learn how to hunt in the meantime shoot for smaller critters learning how to shoot at live targets with precision and respect for the animal.
everybody is different. 243 is too much for most young kiddos and will develop a flinch and jerk on the trigger method. if they shoot smaller guns for a while then when they
are a little bigger and more mature they can shoot any rifle.
another point. a lot of the kid sized rifles and too light which means more recoil. i bought a 223 single shot for my kiddos last year and surprisingly it kicks more than 30/30. i dont even like shooting it. not to mention it will be too small for them in just a few years.
proper mechanics is far more important in the long run then bagging a deer when they are 8 vs 11.
coonsaw I think there is a whole lot of  I assure you teach them to shoot and teach them safety but .243 is not gonna create a flinch, I guess I was just lucky with a 52lb little girl shooting lights out, each kid is different but it ain't about bragging, it's about making them proud of their accomplishments and keeping their interest in our passion!
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BMD]
#2189468
03/17/11 05:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489 |
and great hearing protection
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2189563
03/17/11 06:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320
BMD
Silver Spoon
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Silver Spoon
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320 |
and great hearing protection X2. You get the goat?
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: ParkCountyElkDestroyer]
#2190036
03/17/11 10:35 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,732
TxTechsan
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,732 |
.17 hmr  This is actually one of the best guns you can let your kids practice with. My kids shoot 100's of rounds with the HMR that is the same size as their .243 and 7mm-08 at a time. No recoil , little noise, and accurate out to 200 yards. They will shoot their deer rifles a few Times for practice too. .243 gets my vote. My boys have taken a dozen deer with it in the last few years.
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BMD]
#2190110
03/17/11 11:19 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 480
coonsaw
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 480 |
how is that bs? mechanics are not important? learning to hunt is not important? smaller youth sized guns are not lighter which means they have more recoil?
some kids think 22 lr is too much and others are on the front of hunting magazines. i dont assume this guys kid has grown up hunting with dad and been shooting guns since he could walk.
for my kids (10 and 7) 22mag right now is perfect. rossi single shot 223 is really light and kicks harder than my 30/30. they dont like it. have other buddies with kids who think 243 is too much for starting out. i have others who pick it up quickly.
it is great caliber with very low recoil but for a 7 year old to pick one up and shoot it without learning proper mechanics on smaller calibers i think is pushing it a little bit. i am sure there are plenty of old timers on here that would agree kids need to learn open sights before using a scope.
there have been plenty of threads on here of people asking what caliber they should get for their kids. and there are people who think because their kid can shoot like a champ with larger calibers that every kid can. that is just not the case.
and its not bs.
coonsaw
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BMD]
#2190931
03/18/11 05:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 264
brazman
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 264 |
i think 243 is too big for most kids to learn @ 8. for them to learn proper mechanics, breathing, steadiness, etc... i really think it is best with 22lr open sights, then 22mag. 22 mag hs plenty of killing power for small critters and hogs for that matter is shot placement is correct. cant shot deer with 22 mag by law but i dont see the hurry on getting them on a deer. i think it is better for them to go hunting for deer for at least a few seasons to learn how to hunt in the meantime shoot for smaller critters learning how to shoot at live targets with precision and respect for the animal.
everybody is different. 243 is too much for most young kiddos and will develop a flinch and jerk on the trigger method. if they shoot smaller guns for a while then when they
are a little bigger and more mature they can shoot any rifle.
another point. a lot of the kid sized rifles and too light which means more recoil. i bought a 223 single shot for my kiddos last year and surprisingly it kicks more than 30/30. i dont even like shooting it. not to mention it will be too small for them in just a few years.
proper mechanics is far more important in the long run then bagging a deer when they are 8 vs 11.
coonsaw I think there is a whole lot of I assure you teach them to shoot and teach them safety but .243 is not gonna create a flinch, I guess I was just lucky with a 52lb little girl shooting lights out, each kid is different but it ain't about bragging, it's about making them proud of their accomplishments and keeping their interest in our passion! 
Boom!
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BMD]
#2191220
03/18/11 02:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549 |
i think 243 is too big for most kids to learn @ 8. for them to learn proper mechanics, breathing, steadiness, etc... i really think it is best with 22lr open sights, then 22mag. 22 mag hs plenty of killing power for small critters and hogs for that matter is shot placement is correct. cant shot deer with 22 mag by law but i dont see the hurry on getting them on a deer. i think it is better for them to go hunting for deer for at least a few seasons to learn how to hunt in the meantime shoot for smaller critters learning how to shoot at live targets with precision and respect for the animal.
everybody is different. 243 is too much for most young kiddos and will develop a flinch and jerk on the trigger method. if they shoot smaller guns for a while then when they
are a little bigger and more mature they can shoot any rifle.
another point. a lot of the kid sized rifles and too light which means more recoil. i bought a 223 single shot for my kiddos last year and surprisingly it kicks more than 30/30. i dont even like shooting it. not to mention it will be too small for them in just a few years.
proper mechanics is far more important in the long run then bagging a deer when they are 8 vs 11.
coonsaw I think there is a whole lot of I assure you teach them to shoot and teach them safety but .243 is not gonna create a flinch, I guess I was just lucky with a 52lb little girl shooting lights out, each kid is different but it ain't about bragging, it's about making them proud of their accomplishments and keeping their interest in our passion! Exactly, you excel at what you enjoy, make it fun for him and he will do just fine.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: redchevy]
#2191308
03/18/11 02:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
depends on the attitude of the kid.. some kids shy away from loudness & recoil, others will have the mentality of "hand me anything, I will bow up".
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: rifleman]
#2191441
03/18/11 04:05 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489 |
depends on the attitude of the kid.. some kids shy away from loudness & recoil, others will have the mentality of "hand me anything, I will bow up". Not everyone grew up shooting ++++++p+++++ loads in a 50 BMG like you did at the age of 4
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2191455
03/18/11 04:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
must have been a converted 410 at that age.  In all honestly, the 8yr olds in the fam are shooting 25-06s
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: rifleman]
#2191467
03/18/11 04:21 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489 |
must have been a converted 410 at that age. In all honestly, the 8yr olds in the fam are shooting 25-06s I grew up shooting a 22 LR until the game wardern took it a way
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2191488
03/18/11 04:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
chargercody
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221 |
30-30 worked for me at 7 years old.
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: chargercody]
#2191494
03/18/11 04:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489 |
30-30 worked for me at 7 years old. bolt action savage here 
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2191500
03/18/11 04:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
chargercody
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221 |
30-30 worked for me at 7 years old. bolt action savage here Nice! Mine was plain ole marlin lever action....iron sights.
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: coonsaw]
#2191577
03/18/11 05:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,400
Play Maker
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,400 |
From my experience, most people buy their kids the biggest piece of junk at the least possible price. We take a lot of kiddos hunting and I have lost track of the number that have shot their first deer on our place. That being said, their parents, nor their grandparents usually hunt. The last two boys showed up with brand new Rossi single shot .243's with trashy scopes. We put the boys' guns aside and let them shoot our guns. Their was no way these two, inexperienced, boys were going to hit the broad side of a barn with their set-ups...single shots with 1/2" of trigger travel, 58 lbs. of trigger pull and fuzzy scopes. These boys were set up to fail. IMO, don't worry so much about caliber. Instead, purchase a quality gun and optics, teach them how to shoot and set them up for success.
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2191664
03/18/11 06:39 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
must have been a converted 410 at that age. In all honestly, the 8yr olds in the fam are shooting 25-06s I grew up shooting a 22 LR until the game wardern took it a way and yet you won't shoot over a road...what happened to you?
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: rifleman]
#2191779
03/18/11 07:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,489 |
must have been a converted 410 at that age. In all honestly, the 8yr olds in the fam are shooting 25-06s I grew up shooting a 22 LR until the game wardern took it a way and yet you won't shoot over a road...what happened to you? LOL that was in the the early 80's times have changed...well, in some places
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#2192015
03/18/11 11:16 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 191
hugedogleg
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 191 |
My son has a remington model 7 243 w/3x9 vari x II. He has killed two deer with so far and neither went more than 40 yards. The recoil spooked him at first. The rifle is so light that it jumps a bit. Once he got used to it though he loved it. Now he is sixteen and I have offered several time to up grade him to a larger caliber. He just keeps taking his 243. Tells me why fix it if it aint broke.
Hugedogleg
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Re: Rifle for 8 year old boy
[Re: hugedogleg]
#2195442
03/21/11 05:12 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,516
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,516 |
All this discussion on guns, a lot of good info nut do not forget the importance of scope fit also. Youngsters often will need a longer eye relief scoie than we larger adults require for full field of view. A 1.5 to 4 with a straight tube size objective can be set further back in the rings than some of the other scopes allowing the child better eye relief
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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