max nix, either way.

I would take a hard look at the 6.5 Creedmoor. Find someone who has one and shoot it if you haven't. My 7 yr old shoot's my Howa 1500 really well. I was in the same situation a year ago and I was going to get a .243 for the kids but after shooting the 6.5 and I started looking at the different bullet weights for the Creedmoor it didn't make sense to me get the .243. You can shoot a 129-143gr vs 90-105 deer loads. The recoil is about the same or maybe a little less than the .243.

I hear ya, I’m 43 and haven’t shot one that big either but now I get more pleasure and joy out of watching them grow and watching him shoot them.

"I would take a hard look at the 6.5 Creedmoor." Geez . . . , please don't turn him into that kinda guy.

.243 with a stock that fits him.

Same here. I had an opportunity. I missed that deer at 10 years old. Didn't see another outside the ears 8 point until I was in my 30's. A few years ago, my son shot his first Buck. A really nice 9 point. He was 9. He'll be 12 this upcoming season. I three years, he has taken 3 Bucks. An 8, a 9, and a 12. 2 of which are bigger than my first wall mounter that I took in my early thirties. It must be great to be a kid these days. They just have the opportunities that we didn't get!

What's the 6.5 creedmore??

Model 7 243, you can use it for other stuff later

243 is perfect for kids but an AR I think is a little better because of the adjustable stock. My daughter is small framed and she shot my AR-15 and said "That was easy Dad" and had no problems or worry about recoil. I wanted to start her out there then move her to the 243 short barrel rifle I used as a kid. A little heavier and will kick a little more. The adjustable stock on the AR really helped make the rifle fit her though. But if you have a 243 available I would try that out 1st with lighter loads.

The 243 that your mom has also has memories attached to it, a heritage that you can pass on to your 7 year old.

My son was much better of a shot with my AR than my model 7, I put more importance on getting your kid something they can shoot accurately vs. a specific caliber, as long as its legal.

Since my son was 5 he has shot deer with a TC Pro hunter in 6BR. I cut the stock down to fit and it has little to no recoil.


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I put a 6.8spc ar together for my 12yr daughter last fall, she loves it but has no real basis of comparison since my bolt guns are either too long and heavy, or recoil more than I know she'd tolerate. I am keeping an eye out for the bolt gun that screams "buy me", to get her next. .243 is definitely a caliber on the list of possibilities.