7-08 or 243 for kids first rifle

[ruffneck]

My boy is going to be able to hunt this fall and I have been looking at the stevens rifles but not sure what caliber would be better. All opinions appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by ruffneck

My boy is going to be able to hunt this fall and I have been looking at the stevens rifles but not sure what caliber would be better. All opinions appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

708 for sure!
It will handle the lighter bullets just fine, but you can also load the heveir bullets as well such as 140-150's.
Much more versatile than the 243.
Cat

[trooper]

Cats got a good choice there, I too would go for the 7MM -08. a Mild recoil and a good all around cartridge

[panwojciech]

I would vote for 7-08. Two years ago, I bought Remington 7 in 7-08 for my son.
Caliber 7-08 is pleasant to shoot and does the job as well as my 30-06. I like to shoot his gun too, so I didn’t have much choice and got LH Stevens for myself.

[PoppaW]

My seven year old doesn't mind shooting a 7-30 Waters. By the time he can hunt a 7-08 up to '06 should be good. Just make sure it fits him as even the lightest kicker can hurt if it fits poorly.

[ACKLEY ABE]

Hands down, no doubt about it.....The little 7

[timsesink]

7's got my vote to for versatiltity. Looks like you got a winner, now go and buy the rifle and tell us how it shoots

[sheepguide]

Originally Posted by ruffneck

My boy is going to be able to hunt this fall and I have been looking at the stevens rifles but not sure what caliber would be better. All opinions appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

Hey Ken we are in the same area and my wife has a 7mm-08 Rem. model 7 in a youth model if you would like your boy to try it out. I have a spot a guy can shoot here. Be able to see how he likes it. Let me know ill be home for a couple weeks after the 15th.
SG

[honda450]

Yup another vote for the 708. Bought one for my son a few years back. Remington 700 SPS Stainless.

[Twisted Canuck]

Yup, 7mm-08 for sure.

And never mind the low recoil for your son, I bought one for myself! Love it!
I Just don't get the comments that the 08 isn't a 'man's gun'......don't ruin it for you boy by giving him the impression that he's starting on a girly sissy gun, let him know he's getting one of the best all rounder calibres out there....TC

[Turtlewolf]

7-08 is hands down the best cartridge to come out of anywhere in the last twenty years, not a "girlie gun" it is effecient and easy on the shooter much like the good old 6.5x55 Swede. I may have to buy one just because.....

[Desert Eagle]

A few years ago I was looking for a rifle for my wife, she is a small framed shooter so I was looking at the youth rifles. We bought the rem model 7 youth in 7mm-08. I am very unhappy with that rifle. It jams all the time, it is way too loud for the performance that it has and it kicks like a mule. She has a hard time shooting it accurately because the recoil is quite brisk. 2 years later I bought a browning 25-06 with a slightly shortened stock and now she is very comfortable and very accurate. The 25-06 is a great caliber so my vote goes to it!

[sheepguide]

Originally Posted by Desert Eagle

A few years ago I was looking for a rifle for my wife, she is a small framed shooter so I was looking at the youth rifles. We bought the rem model 7 youth in 7mm-08. I am very unhappy with that rifle. It jams all the time, it is way too loud for the performance that it has and it kicks like a mule. She has a hard time shooting it accurately because the recoil is quite brisk. 2 years later I bought a browning 25-06 with a slightly shortened stock and now she is very comfortable and very accurate. The 25-06 is a great caliber so my vote goes to it!

Funny never had an issue with ours. Cycles perfect just like most 700 actions. Deadly accurate and has zero recoil. My 10yr old shoots it with no problem.
SG

[fitzy]

Don't get the .243, I have a mossberg that I love to shoot but it kicks harder than my 30-06 and it's very loud. so much so that found myself developing a flinch because of the noise.

[Turtlewolf]

Originally Posted by fitzy

Don't get the .243, I have a mossberg that I love to shoot but it kicks harder than my 30-06 and it's very loud. so much so that found myself developing a flinch because of the noise.

Thats odd, I recently got a Mossberg 100ATR in .243 to replace my trusty old Parker Hale Enfield and find it dosen't kick at all and dosen't seem loud either.

[lclund1946]

Originally Posted by Desert Eagle

A few years ago I was looking for a rifle for my wife, she is a small framed shooter so I was looking at the youth rifles. We bought the rem model 7 youth in 7mm-08. I am very unhappy with that rifle. It jams all the time, it is way too loud for the performance that it has and it kicks like a mule. She has a hard time shooting it accurately because the recoil is quite brisk. 2 years later I bought a browning 25-06 with a slightly shortened stock and now she is very comfortable and very accurate. The 25-06 is a great caliber so my vote goes to it!

Buy this gun for your son, if it is for sale. As he gets bigger , assuming that he is not already, you can buy a full size HS or Remington stock and he will have a rifle for life. If not take a look at the New Remington Model 700 XHR in 7mm08. Wholesale Sports Item#269458 if you can't find it elsewhere. http://ca.wholesalesports.com/storef...rod269455.html

If you are a hand loader email me and I will send you some tack driving loads.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

I went with a 243. I bought mine prior to our first child (happened to have a boy). Bought the rife 1 month prior to delivery not knowing what we were going to have - thats what I told my wife the rifle was for. I use it right now as my predator rifle I needed to add another Sako m75ss rifle to my collection.

Now I have 2 boys..so I bought a 22-250 last March, and maybe a 223 in a couple more years.

We purchased a 243 for my nephew a couple years ago....but 7mm-08 was also on the list. We went 243 route as I had one already and I reload for it.

[NINJABABY]

7mm-08 for sure......

I picked one from Wholesale sports today on sale. Actually, every thing is on sale 10% off for this weekend. I got 5% off on gun, scope and ammo. My wife will love her new Sako hopefully

[Noah-Tall]

Since nobody has mentioned it, why not go the 30-06 route? Shoot reduced loads for a couple years. That's what I am thinking of doing when my son starts to hunt.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by sheepguide

Hey Ken we are in the same area and my wife has a 7mm-08 Rem. model 7 in a youth model if you would like your boy to try it out. I have a spot a guy can shoot here. Be able to see how he likes it. Let me know ill be home for a couple weeks after the 15th.
SG

Take him up on that offer! Buy a box of ammo and take your son out and let loose. HE will be excited and you will know if he can handle it.

[noneck180]

7mm-08

[fordtruckin]

Well both the .243 and 7mm08 are derived from the 308. The 7mm08 is actually a better round than the 308. Beats it in downrange performance by 2-300 fps and 2-300 ftlbs of energy.(depending on the load) Although if one had a 308 I wouldn't consider that enough of a reason to go buy a 7mm08. but thats just me...

[Marlin xl7]

Now I know that the OP's original cartridges were they 7-08 and 243, but if I may suggest another caliber, the 257 Roberts. It has very little recoil, and flops deer hard, and elk within reasonable distances. I wouldn't trade mine for anything. When I take it out, I never feel undergunned at all.

Another vote for the 7mm08, great cartridge.

[ruffneck]

Well fella's thanks for all the responses and it looks like the 7-08 is very popular with this crowd. Thanks for the other thoughts as well as it gives us something to read on before we make the choice. The major thing will be finding a rifle that fits him well because I don't want him to develop a flinch or not be able to shoot well due to a poor fit. He shoots his 22 really well and is getting more excited all the time as we keep looking online at rifles.

Thanks again for all the responses,
Ken

[duffy4]

Some years back I bought a Rem. 788 in .243 for my kids to hunt with. They both shot deer and antelope with it and so have I. It is a very accurate little rifle and fun to carry and shoot.

However I wish I had gotten a 7mm08 or a .257 Roberts or a 6.5X55.

My son has graduated to a .308 but my daughter still uses the .243. But I think I will keep the 788 for a coyote gun and get something a little bigger for my daughter. She is married now and her husband wants to take up hunting after seeing how much fun his wife has at it. (and she has been putting meat in the freezer for them)

[huntin]

Originally Posted by ruffneck

Well fella's thanks for all the responses and it looks like the 7-08 is very popular with this crowd. Thanks for the other thoughts as well as it gives us something to read on before we make the choice. The major thing will be finding a rifle that fits him well because I don't want him to develop a flinch or not be able to shoot well due to a poor fit. He shoots his 22 really well and is getting more excited all the time as we keep looking online at rifles.

Thanks again for all the responses,
Ken

you'll save money if you don't buy it from Reg at caroline suplies trust me on this he has sold me lots of guns

[duffy4]

Originally Posted by huntin

you'll save money if you don't buy it from Reg at caroline suplies trust me on this he has sold me lots of guns

One thing I like about Reg's shop is he has a HUGE variety of ,sometimes hard to find, ammo. It may cost a premium dollar but it is there.

If one was hunting in the west country and ran out of just about any cartridge you could get a box at Caroline supply.

[shooter55]

I started l'il shooter on a 30-06 and he shot it very well, regardless of the recoil. looking back I would have started him with a 30/30 - he bought that as his first centerfire and loves it to death. Even the 308 might be a bit big for a youngster - now that I have a 243, I would have started a young shooter on a small centerfire like a 223 to get the shooting arts down...moved to a 243 and up to the 7mm -3006-308.....

[Dean2]

7MM-08. Both guns with 100 grain bullets kick exactly the same and you can use up to 160s in the 7. You can't get much above 105 with a 243. If the gun fits well your son will never know he is shooting it.