Deer rifle for my daughter? (Page 2 of 2)
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Originally Posted By OldHenryRifle: They've shot fairly well for me, they kill white tails. That's what my sister shoots, she doesn't have any problems. Your rifle might just prefer another flavor. If you get a good one, I'm sure they are fine rifles. Unfortunately Mossberg is really bad at building rifles, and they produce more horrible rifles than any other brand I'm aware of. I agree trying different ammo is worthwhile, but it's not a rifle worth wasting more time or money on unless you are going to do as shown below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J54VfJizwd8 |
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: A lot of .243s off the shelf are made for little bullets, and don’t shoot 100gr worth a shit. I’d try some smaller projectiles. If they shoot well it’s the barrel twist. My Savage Striker shoots 100ge Remington soft points just fine. |
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Originally Posted By celticmarksman: Quick update, I ended up with a Mossberg Trophy Hunter in .243WIN as a crunch time deperation buy. She shoots it just fine and the recoil isn't an issue. The performance at 100yds was very disappointing the first time out. I'll have to buy another box of ammo and try again quietly by myself. It has that Lightning trigger and thats pretty nice but other than that I'm not very impressed. We used Hornady Whitetail 100 grain, I've never used these round before. Any feedback on those? I don't want to be buying $60 a box ammo for kids but we should be shooting something consistent. The soft points from most well know ammo companies usually do really well. Don't be afraid to try lighter pills. My dads family ran 87grn softpoints as their favorite deer load from the 60s up till the 2000s when I started loading 95Sst's. |
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Originally Posted By celticmarksman: Quick update, I ended up with a Mossberg Trophy Hunter in .243WIN as a crunch time deperation buy. She shoots it just fine and the recoil isn't an issue. The performance at 100yds was very disappointing the first time out. I'll have to buy another box of ammo and try again quietly by myself. It has that Lightning trigger and thats pretty nice but other than that I'm not very impressed. We used Hornady Whitetail 100 grain, I've never used these round before. Any feedback on those? I don't want to be buying $60 a box ammo for kids but we should be shooting something consistent. How much are you into the Mossberg for scope and all? Savage Axis |
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Originally Posted By dusty3030: Originally Posted By celticmarksman: Quick update, I ended up with a Mossberg Trophy Hunter in .243WIN as a crunch time deperation buy. She shoots it just fine and the recoil isn't an issue. The performance at 100yds was very disappointing the first time out. I'll have to buy another box of ammo and try again quietly by myself. It has that Lightning trigger and thats pretty nice but other than that I'm not very impressed. We used Hornady Whitetail 100 grain, I've never used these round before. Any feedback on those? I don't want to be buying $60 a box ammo for kids but we should be shooting something consistent. How much are you into the Mossberg for scope and all? Savage Axis That being said, my 11 year old did dump a button buck during the youth hunt over this past weekend. But I am sorely disappointed in the unit as a whole. I'm kind of at a loss here because I like the .243 for whitetail but there's no way I can come even close to breaking even if I could even find someone who would be willing to buy it. Any thoughts or recommendations on where to go from here would be appreciated. |
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Originally Posted By celticmarksman: I'm embarrassed to admit how much I have into it at this point.....let's suffice to say too much. That being said, my 11 year old did dump a button buck during the youth hunt over this past weekend. But I am sorely disappointed in the unit as a whole. I'm kind of at a loss here because I like the .243 for whitetail but there's no way I can come even close to breaking even if I could even find someone who would be willing to buy it. Any thoughts or recommendations on where to go from here would be appreciated. Either dump it for a couple hundred, or put a new barrel on it. There's no coming out ahead. I wouldn't waste my time doing anything else. |
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If you have an AR, the PSA bolt/barrel deal in 6.5 Grendel worked great for my son. $200, plus a $40 upper and cheap rail. 12" for $200 18" for $250 Attached File |
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How bad, exactly, is the rifle shooting? Some things to try: 1. Get a couple different kinds of ammo from different manufacturers with very different bullet weights. Don't tie the cost of the ammo to the age of the shooter. Kids need good ammo as much, if not more than, adults. Good centerfire rifle ammo is expensive. Shoot at least 7 shot groups to test it. 2. It sounds like you bought a rifle/scope combo. If so, make damned sure the scope rings are adequate and installed correctly. I thought I had a dog of a Savage before I finally figured out the rings that came in the package sucked. There wasn't any noticeable play, but the rifle shot all over the place. As soon as I switched the package's rings out for a one piece mount, the rifle started shooting well. In fact, I don't even use rings anymore. I only use one piece mounts now. 3. Make sure the scope is good. If possible, try the rifle with a scope/mount combo known to work. 4. Pull the action out of the stock, and reinstall it to make sure it's in correctly. 5. It's kind of obvious, but clean the barrel thoroughly if you didn't already. 6. Also, in the obvious camp, shoot off of bags. Get the front bag pretty far back so it's not flexing the stock. Don't squeeze the foreend of the stock. Some of these cheap stocks are pretty flexible. If it still won't shoot, sell it for whatever you can and start over. Don't buy a rifle/scope combo. Youth model Ruger or Savage or Grendel AR upper will all get it done. |
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Originally Posted By celticmarksman: I'm embarrassed to admit how much I have into it at this point.....let's suffice to say too much. That being said, my 11 year old did dump a button buck during the youth hunt over this past weekend. But I am sorely disappointed in the unit as a whole. I'm kind of at a loss here because I like the .243 for whitetail but there's no way I can come even close to breaking even if I could even find someone who would be willing to buy it. Any thoughts or recommendations on where to go from here would be appreciated. Originally Posted By celticmarksman: Originally Posted By dusty3030: Originally Posted By celticmarksman: Quick update, I ended up with a Mossberg Trophy Hunter in .243WIN as a crunch time deperation buy. She shoots it just fine and the recoil isn't an issue. The performance at 100yds was very disappointing the first time out. I'll have to buy another box of ammo and try again quietly by myself. It has that Lightning trigger and thats pretty nice but other than that I'm not very impressed. We used Hornady Whitetail 100 grain, I've never used these round before. Any feedback on those? I don't want to be buying $60 a box ammo for kids but we should be shooting something consistent. Savage Axis That being said, my 11 year old did dump a button buck during the youth hunt over this past weekend. But I am sorely disappointed in the unit as a whole. I'm kind of at a loss here because I like the .243 for whitetail but there's no way I can come even close to breaking even if I could even find someone who would be willing to buy it. Any thoughts or recommendations on where to go from here would be appreciated.  Case Closed! Mossberg Patriot 308, Can it Shoot? (original stock and barrel) |
"I think we should get a Machine Gun. We can use it to hunt game, spell out things, or ring in the New Year!" - Bart Simpson
AR platform, with adjustable stock. I’ve shot whitetail with 6.8SPC, 300BLK, and 6.5 Grendel, they’ve all worked fine here in N. Idaho. Up where I hunt it can be thick brush and relatively close shots or long distance in the clearcut (who are we kidding, they rape a mountainside and leave nothing when they are done logging  . This year, I switched back to a bolt in 270 WIN, just because 🤷🏼♂️ |
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So the daughter I bought the rifle for hunted three solid days in crap weather (40's and misty/rainy junk) and ended up with a fever so she had to sit out the last day of the youth hunt. But her sister, who really wasn't interested, decided she wanted to try sitting in a tree for a couple hours. The little bugger picked the only day that it was mid sixties and beautiful sunshine and within 45 minutes blew the top of the heart off a button buck. From parking the truck to loading the deer, t-minus 75 minutes  This is the first time I've ever butchered something shot with by a .243, I was really impressed by the performance. Beautiful entry and exit, not a lick of meat damaged. I'm going to work this gun over a bit more and try some different loads but even if that doesn't work on this particular unit I'm sold on the round. |
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Originally Posted By celticmarksman: What would the advantage be to a 7mm-08 over the .243 ? I've never played with the 7mm-08 either. It’s a fine whitetail killing cartridge too. Little bigger bullets, little slower, not as flat shooting (which usually doesn’t make much difference at normal deer shooting distance). Nothing wrong with either. IMO it’s just a matter of preference. Neither will kill a deer any deader than the other. |
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My 9 year old killed her first deer today. Single shot at 188yds with a Ruger American Predator in 308 in a compact stock. She said she didn’t even feel the recoil. The Deadair Nomad TI XC with brake helped a little but she’s not afraid of recoil. 
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Originally Posted By aleutianhunter: My 9 year old killed her first deer today. Single shot at 188yds with a Ruger American Predator in 308 in a compact stock. She said she didn’t even feel the recoil. The Deadair Nomad TI XC with brake helped a little but she’s not afraid of recoil. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/189640/42E1AF2F-045D-488B-BB15-8BD0C286AD97-3386931.jpg Nice! |
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H&R are fun to play with, and maybe you'd end up hunting with it instead of the Mossberg. I would not put anything hotter than a .357 or 30-30 on that cast H&R shotgun frame. I can help you out with a Boyd's thumbhole stock if the shotgun stock doesn't work for rifle use. But be warned that the thumbhole can get in the way when you're trying to thumb the hammer back. It bugs some people, others like me just slip our thumbs out and cock it as if nothing's wrong. Used to be able to get barrels on eBay. Sometimes they fit, sometimes they don't. I have five Handi-Rifles, three of them interchange barrels, the other two don't match those or each other. Here's a dedicated forum for you, I bet somebody there would sell you a barrel. Might be somebody local who can help you check the fit. https://www.go2gbo.com/forums/108-h-r-centerfire-rifles.html |
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Originally Posted By Bubbatheredneck: Me too with 120gr reduced recoil hand loads Originally Posted By Bubbatheredneck: Originally Posted By skich: I started my kids on a 7mm-08 with 120gr reduced recoil hand loads 7mm-08 is a fantastic choice! 120gr loads for reduced recoil and eventually you can bump up to 150 or even 160gr for harder hitting loads. It has lower recoil than a .308 but hits harder than a .243. It is a truly ideal deer round. |
I got a 243win Savage for my daughter. She got her 1st deer with it just before she turned 13. 
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Originally Posted By JLH3: Try a Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel. Sweet shooting cartridge, accurate rifle, light and sufficient up to cow elk within 250 yards. A friend got one based on my experience hunting with an AR Grendel. His granddaughter got her first deer with it. Soft shooting enough for a child can practice with it and not form bad habits. |
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Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: A friend got one based on my experience hunting with an AR Grendel. His granddaughter got her first deer with it. Soft shooting enough for a child can practice with it and not form bad habits. This is a great point. Grendel hammers game with minimal recoil. It really punches above its weight class. You could go Howa mini, AR or Ruger American. |
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Originally Posted By Clarinath: So, should these guys have walked away laughing at the 6.5 Grendel they got shot with? The one on the left was 195 and the one on the right was 178… https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/254555/IMG_5425_jpeg-3340218.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/254555/IMG_5423_jpeg-3340219.JPG left one was a high shoulder shot that dropped him in his tracks. Right one was a top of the throat patch shot that dropped him in his tracks. I have killed dozens of WI white tails with my Grendel and they rarely go more than a few steps. This doe was running toward me and did a complete summersault ending up with her hoof behind her head. Didn’t even twitch enough to dislodge it where she landed. Probably in the 150 range. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/254555/IMG_0162_jpeg-3340220.JPG And the bullet? 123gr Sierra Match King. It kills deer dead. Originally Posted By Clarinath: Originally Posted By Hasher1: In general Minnesota deer where the OP is are darn big on up to HUGE. To me this negates anything below 6.5 and it negates the Grendel. So, should these guys have walked away laughing at the 6.5 Grendel they got shot with? The one on the left was 195 and the one on the right was 178… https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/254555/IMG_5425_jpeg-3340218.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/254555/IMG_5423_jpeg-3340219.JPG left one was a high shoulder shot that dropped him in his tracks. Right one was a top of the throat patch shot that dropped him in his tracks. I have killed dozens of WI white tails with my Grendel and they rarely go more than a few steps. This doe was running toward me and did a complete summersault ending up with her hoof behind her head. Didn’t even twitch enough to dislodge it where she landed. Probably in the 150 range. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/254555/IMG_0162_jpeg-3340220.JPG And the bullet? 123gr Sierra Match King. It kills deer dead. I know this is an old thread but it is still alive so adding this: I've killed 3 now with a suppressed 10.5" 5.56 pistol. All in Southern MN corn country. Only downside is light or nonexistent blood trails but they dont go far. Good bullet in the right spot and done. Unless you're going to target bigger animals before a child grows into an adult gun, the .243 you got is awesome. For anyone else looking for their kid, do the Ruger American and call for the youth stock as others have stated. They're affordable, accurate, and grow with the kid. Predator model for threaded barrel, a good one piece mount and decent or better glass and they will be good forever. |
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Originally Posted By OldHenryRifle: They've shot fairly well for me, they kill white tails. That's what my sister shoots, she doesn't have any problems. Your rifle might just prefer another flavor. Originally Posted By OldHenryRifle: Originally Posted By celticmarksman: Quick update, I ended up with a Mossberg Trophy Hunter in .243WIN as a crunch time deperation buy. She shoots it just fine and the recoil isn't an issue. The performance at 100yds was very disappointing the first time out. I'll have to buy another box of ammo and try again quietly by myself. It has that Lightning trigger and thats pretty nice but other than that I'm not very impressed. We used Hornady Whitetail 100 grain, I've never used these round before. Any feedback on those? I don't want to be buying $60 a box ammo for kids but we should be shooting something consistent. They're usually loaded with InterLocks which are old tech that still works well. The bullets themselves have been very accurate for me (in .270), but every gun is an individual. Some are picky. |
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Originally Posted By Remman: Im going to start my girls with a 6.5 Grendel bolt gun. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, especially if you put a can on it. The only thing I’d worry about is length of pull, especially for small framed little girls (my niece had this issue, though she’s grown into a full sized rifle). If the stock is too long and they can’t get a good sight picture (or good view through an optic) it’s harder to get them to love hunting. |
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, especially if you put a can on it. The only thing I’d worry about is length of pull, especially for small framed little girls (my niece had this issue, though she’s grown into a full sized rifle). If the stock is too long and they can’t get a good sight picture (or good view through an optic) it’s harder to get them to love hunting. Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: Originally Posted By Remman: Im going to start my girls with a 6.5 Grendel bolt gun. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, especially if you put a can on it. The only thing I’d worry about is length of pull, especially for small framed little girls (my niece had this issue, though she’s grown into a full sized rifle). If the stock is too long and they can’t get a good sight picture (or good view through an optic) it’s harder to get them to love hunting. I have a Howa Mini 6.5 grendel for my 7 year old son. Using a MDT chassis with the AR15 buffertube, allows him to collapse the stock to fit him and will allow room for him to grow with it. LOP at 11.5ish inches Attached File |
| As others have said.....7mm-08. It is an absolute hammer on deer with a mild recoil. I had a 7mm-08 Browning A-bolt Stainless Stalker before my son was born. When I was searching a youth sized gun for my son, someone recommended that I buy another composite stock and cut it down to a shorter LOP. That's what I did and as my son grew (now 26yo) we put the original stock back on and he still hunts with that rifle. We have loaned that rifle to several of my friends for their children to hunt with and they eventually bought their own 7mm-08. |
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Originally Posted By d13s3l: what about a Savage Axis youth 243? My daughter hunts with this very gun. She has been hunting for 2 years with it and I bought it off of the EE here. She is almost 14.  
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I went with a 6.5 grendel upper. I have a 22 upper and I noticed the adjustability of an AR helps when mine shoots. I figure all shots will be within 100yrds. I also think there is less recoil with the ar system over other options. My buddy went with a 7mm-08 for his son as they want to get after elk soon probably next year. |
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My 13yr old daughter shot our 6.5cm solus obsidian in a manners pro hunter stock a bunch over the summer In preparation for deer season. She loves the rifle and recoil is no concern. She likes shooting steel with it, and I actually had to cut her off on one occasion. If I was going to buy her a rifle I’d probably buy a 6cm as that’s all you need for whitetail and it’s a little flatter. Will likely be the next build. |
| .243 or 7mm-08, dont overthink it, both are super underrated cartridges and honestly 98% of the hunters on this forum would have zero difference in success if they were using those cartridges vs the .270 or 30-06 they field. I alternate between a .270, 30-06, and 7mm rem mag but honestly there would be zero difference in the deer ive killed if i was using a .243 (which is a deceptively good killer) in the last ten deer ive harvested. the biggest issue is being comfortable and lower recoil and hitting your shots is the most useful tool in terms of killing animals. Get the kid comfortable in shooting and there will be no issue. |
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Older Remington M7, .223, they had a 1-9 twist and will shoot the Barnes 62 TSX just fine. Another option would be one of the Model 7's in .300 AAC, but they are getting up there in price. Attached File |
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