Help picking a caliber and rifle for my son

[Redneck 7]

My vote goes to .243, my first centerfire I bought myself was a .243. Also my second centerfire was a .243 as well for coyotes in a bolt gun. I still take my first .243 out every year for deer, then after big game is done I use my bolt .243 and shoot coyotes. I even lent my coyote rifle to my brother one year and he shot a deer with it that year.

[Flight01]

243 is more than capable. My plan with my nephew is a few more deer with 243 then re barrel to 308.
He got his first deer last year. One more deer then switcaroo to the 308. I got him a lefty 243 savage axis. I’m thinking a buy a right hand 308 axis , switch barrel with lefty 243 . Bada bing
Lefty 308 for a growing man and a right hand 243 for my daughter in a few years.

In the case of the OP you could split the difference and buy a 7-08 which is a great cartridge for everything.
As for what rifle , try some on for size . A few brands offer spacers. Could even get a Boyd’s stock and have spacers to add in as needed too.

[Tronneroi]

I'll hop on the 7mm-08 train like most other guys have said.

My wife started off hunting with a 6.5CM and she and I both prefer the 7mm-08. Her Tikka T3X lite is one heck of a gun.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by shr970

My son turns 12 this year, he has been shooting with me for few years now building him up slowly 22, 223, 410 . This year I bought him a 20 Guage and he handles it very well. Borrowed my nephews 243 he shot it with no problems but I don't like 243 because I can't find anything over 100gr. What would be my next step up in caliber that won't be to much more in recoil? I don't want him to develop a flinch. Also any good quality youth rifles you guys can suggest would be great. Thanks in advance

.257 Roberts.. if you hand load? 6.5 anything, except the mags, no need for the extra recoil, barrel wear etc.

[Prairiekid]

I have killed a lot of deer with my 25.06, recoil is nil and it’s super flat shooting. But I would suggest a 7mm-08, purely because you said you want the option of going up in bullet weight.

[Glenn D]

6.5 creedmoor has little recoil, great ballistics and a deadly deer gun.

[shr970]

Thats why I love this form thanks to all for voicing there opinions and those for pming me to take me and my boy out to try a few different calibers. The suggestion of a proper setup is a key point a light rifle will make recoil felt much more. I'm kinda leaning towards the 6.5 because there seems to be alot of options available. They had the savage 111 on for a good price does anyone know where I can purchase aftermarket youth stocks? Any Canadian vendors or do I have to source one states side?

[mryimmers]

My pick would be 6.5x55 swede, nice and tolerable to shoot, comparable to a 30-30 I'd say. Tradeex has a ton of them, good for life.

[ram crazy]

Originally Posted by shr970

The suggestion of a proper setup is a key point a light rifle will make recoil felt much more.

This is not true! With some of the composite stocks out there, recoil isn’t that bad.

[DLab]

Might be easier to get a Compact/Youth model now and look for a take off full size stock over the next couple years.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/60807...t-action-rifle
or https://www.cabelas.ca/product/13427...er-strata-camo,use the $50.00USD Rebate towards a better scope.
I have rifles in both of these Calibres, the 7-08 would be my pick for a do all ,light to heavy bullets gun, but the 6.5CM. will more than suffice and it has a great selection of Factory ammo. If you can find some these days.
The Hornady White Tail factory ammo for the CM works great on Deer and it's reasonably priced.

[Dubious]

25-06, you can shoot elk with it 100 gr bullets at 3200fps are nothing to sneeze at. Hammer bullets are now shipping to Canada letting you go up to 128gr in the hammer hunter but you might need an aftermarket barrel for that.

[waldedw]

Well I think a rem 700 in 7mm rem mag with a timney trigger would be perfect, I have one for sale listed on here just kidding.

Seriously you need to get him something that fit's him in a caliber that doesn't boot the crap out of him yet still has enough energy to cleanly harvest animals, there are lot's to choose from and most have been listed already by other members.

Gun fit is first and foremost or he will develop bad habits from getting bashed around and may not ever want to shoot again.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by waldedw

Well I think a rem 700 in 7mm rem mag with a timney trigger would be perfect, I have one for sale listed on here just kidding.

Seriously you need to get him something that fit's him in a caliber that doesn't boot the crap out of him yet still has enough energy to cleanly harvest animals, there are lot's to choose from and most have been listed already by other members.

Gun fit is first and foremost or he will develop bad habits from getting bashed around and may not ever want to shoot again.

X 100!

Too many think I’ll get one he can grow into.... blah blah blah.

It’s about the here and now.

The buy sell has all manner of WTB’s and ISO’s for youth model rifles, re sale should be a no brainer, once the youth out grows the rifle. There’s no excuses for an ill fitting rifle.

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by shr970

Thats why I love this form thanks to all for voicing there opinions and those for pming me to take me and my boy out to try a few different calibers. The suggestion of a proper setup is a key point a light rifle will make recoil felt much more. I'm kinda leaning towards the 6.5 because there seems to be alot of options available. They had the savage 111 on for a good price does anyone know where I can purchase aftermarket youth stocks? Any Canadian vendors or do I have to source one states side?

The Savage 110 series no longer has a different model number specific to short vs long action, but they all come with adjustable length of pull stock inserts for fitting the stock to desired length. Savage 110 Lightweight is a decent price (not the ultralight with carbon fiber barrel) comes in about 5.6 lbs in short action. Kimber Hunter model would also be nice weight 5.6 lbs, depending which action you prefer. Both would be nice to carry.

in a 7.5 lb setup, 243 is about 10 ft pounds recoil, 6.5 creedmoor is about 13, 7mm08 is about 14, 270 win/308win is about 18

as stated earlier, a lighter rifle will move more with recoil than a standard weight rifle.

[7magtime]

Originally Posted by shr970

Thank you all for replying lot of great information and suggestions ya he is only 80lbs not the biggest kid but solid. For those who asked about the 243 I just want somthing he can move up in gr wait when he gets a little bigger. I was thinking of 6.5cr 7-08 or 270win. I like the 270 win but I have never shot it not sure if the recoil would be to much. For those who have shot the 6.5 and 7mm08 how is the recoil? Compared to the 243.
Also for rifle suggestions I went to look at the savage youth they only had them in 243. What other you models come in the above calibers. Thanks again for all the advise and help

My 13 year old daughter is around the same size as your son and used the Hornady Custom Lite reduced loads with 120 GR SST's in my wife's Savage 111 .270 Win this past fall. Recoil and muzzle blast were no issue for her and she was shooting good groups after her first range session. Recoil is similar to a .243, they'll reach out as far as she wants to shoot and she can step up to full loads in a couple years without having to change rifles for larger game like elk/moose....

My next choice would have been a 7mm-08 or 25-06 most likely, although I never really looked at the 6.5 CM.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/r...custom-lite#!/

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Nyksta

The Savage 110 series no longer has a different model number specific to short vs long action, but they all come with adjustable length of pull stock inserts for fitting the stock to desired length. Savage 110 Lightweight is a decent price (not the ultralight with carbon fiber barrel) comes in about 5.6 lbs in short action. Kimber Hunter model would also be nice weight 5.6 lbs, depending which action you prefer. Both would be nice to carry.

243 is about 8 ft pounds recoil, 6.5 creedmoor is about 13, 7mm08 is about 14, 270 win/308win is about 16

I don't now where you are getting your recoil numbers, but they are way out for that 5.6lb rifle. A lightweight rifle is easy to carry, but recoil is increased significantly due to the light weight.

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I don't now where you are getting your recoil numbers, but they are way out for that 5.6lb rifle. A lightweight rifle is easy to carry, but recoil is increased significantly due to the light weight.

I updated my numbers and specified in a 7.5 lb setup. The numbers are a generic comparison of the cartridges at mainstream loads.

[Dick284]

Where are these youth model .250/3000’s, .257 Roberts, .25/06’s and .270 Wins coming from?

Unless you’re getting something built, or hacking up something adult sized I’m not sure where all these youth models come from.
Yes the cartridges are up to the task, but let’s face most people aren’t looking to customize, but actually buy something for the task at hand.

[sns2]

Lots of good suggestions. I would just go with a 6.5 Creed. Factory ammo and rifle selection in this round is extremely good. I love this round. Will have another one at some point.

As for rifle, I like the Weatherby Vanguard Youth.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by sns2

Lots of good suggestions. I would just go with a 6.5 Creed. Factory ammo and rifle selection in this round is extremely good. I love this round. Will have another one at some point.

As for rifle, I like the Weatherby Vanguard Youth.

Does the youth model Cred come with a man purse and a man bun starter kit?

Asking for a friends son.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Dick284

Does the youth model Cred come with a man purse and a man bun starter kit?

Asking for a friends son.

Only the ones with the pink stock.


I owned a 6.5CM, but I really wasn't impressed , it really offered me nothing over my 6.5x55 rifles, and for hunting, I like the 6.5prc, and the extra 300fps much better.

[Iron Brew]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Only the ones with the pink stock.


I owned a 6.5CM, but I really wasn't impressed , it really offered me nothing over my 6.5x55 rifles, and for hunting, I like the 6.5prc, and the extra 300fps much better.

The 6.5 (regardless of the brass behind it) seems to be a great caliber. Whether it's x55, creedmoor, prc, whatever, it seems to be well supported, lots of choice and a good all round caliber.

But I'll go with the majority. Get one that fits. I KNOW how hard this can be. A lot of the newer rifles have stocks meant for the bench, not for the field. IMHO these stocks are generally too long. I am not a tall guy but finding a stock that fits, especially for field positions, sucks. Here's the way I show people. Put on a jacket suitable for hunting (say -15) and try shouldering the rifle fairly quickly. Watch how often the butt snags on the coat and how long it takes to get proper cheek weld/sight picture. Go shorter, and that goes down. This was really driven home to me when I decided I wanted a 308 semi auto carbine. Darned near impossible to find one for somebody shorter than 6', at least in the rifles I was interested in. I got a ruger gunsight scout instead. I can cycle it without breaking cheek weld, adjustable stock (within reason), had the ghost ring sights I wanted, and able to put a scope on it if I wanted.

[darren32]

I went with a weatherby vanguard youth in 308.
You can really get some light loads with H4895 and 125 grain projectiles.
My boy is 10 and about 60 lb and he can shoot it all day.
He will routinely shoot 50 at a time .... he shoots it until the ammo is gone.

https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploa...ifle-loads.pdf

Here is a video. The 60% H4895 load is like 223 recoil .. or less

https://youtu.be/kyOjG9P4Uxs

[Jayhad]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

go through the macho phases in life bumping up to must have powder burning snot knocking cartridges then when he gets over that he will go back to the rifle chambered in 7-08 that dad gave him many moons ago.

I can't agree more, I have several 308s, 7mms, a 7mmstw but if I'm not on a long range hunt I'm grabbing my 7-08 out of the safe for every hunt. It's nice to shoot.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Only the ones with the pink stock.


I owned a 6.5CM, but I really wasn't impressed , it really offered me nothing over my 6.5x55 rifles, and for hunting, I like the 6.5prc, and the extra 300fps much better.

And what exactly does this have to do with the OP's 80lb son that is about to get his first rifle?

Bizarre how you guys get sidetracked by your own wants and needs and man bun BS.

Stick to the OP's request or go to politics where rambling is the order of the day.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by sns2

And what exactly does this have to do with the OP's 80lb son that is about to get his first rifle?

Bizarre how you guys get sidetracked by your own wants and needs and man bun BS.

Stick to the OP's request or go to politics where rambling is the order of the day.

I guess it offers other options, such as the 6.5x55, or even the 6.5prc if he handloads, and reduces the odds to start with.

But don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your man bun , or about asking me what pink paint would work best on your 6.5CM.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I guess it offers other options, such as the 6.5x55, or even the 6.5prc if he handloads, and reduces the odds to start with.

But don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your man bun , or about asking me what pink paint would work best on your 6.5CM.

IIRC, at one point you were talking about stock fit. So, the boy is 80lbs and the only stock that is gonna fit properly is a youth model. Please post a link to a gun store in Canada that carries youth model rifles in 6.5x55 or 6.5 PRC.

There is no better choice for a kid than a 6.5 creed when you consider availability of both youth model rifles and factory ammo.

[darren32]

Originally Posted by sns2

There is no better choice for a kid than a 6.5 creed when you consider availability of both youth model rifles and factory ammo.

...except 308

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by sns2

IIRC, at one point you were talking about stock fit. So, the boy is 80lbs and the only stock that is gonna fit properly is a youth model. Please post a link to a gun store in Canada that carries youth model rifles in 6.5x55 or 6.5 PRC.

There is no better choice for a kid than a 6.5 creed when you consider availability of both youth model rifles and factory ammo.

Except in 7mm-08,

[DLab]

Originally Posted by Dick284

Does the youth model Cred come with a man purse and a man bun starter kit?

Asking for a friends son.

Man purse...that seems politically incorrect, I believe the correct term is Murse, Dick.