Youngsters First Deer Rifle-opinions. d/l .243?

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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Fellas im really lookin into selling a gun or two and purchasing something smaller for the Fallow specifically but for my Son aswell to get to really know while he is around.

Im not sure what rifle yet so open to suggestions, not sure i will go complete compact rifle at this stage but its an option! short term especially an will likely move on in time.

factory rifle whats available?

Whats thoughts on downloading .243 win , which powder is suitable?
these seem to cover 55gr foxes to 100gr fallow deer and when older Sambar hinds with ease under controlled enviroment.. *with the old man of course* :)

Ruger is likely most common down here in a compact? any others to look into?

any other Calbres to consider- reloading- easy on the shoulder, heavy on the game :p i have a soft spot for 257 Roberts but hard to find

appreciate the discussion, likely been beaten to death but some specifics here
 
6.5 Grendel Howa is your huckleberry-if you can find it. It's a 400 yard deer and 150 yard moose cartridge.

Although it's easy to download a .243 or 6.5 CM etc if you use the H4895 60% formula
 
My 10 Yr old niece shoots a browning micro miDas in .243. She took a nice 4 Pont buck in the UP Michigan youth hunt last September.
 
.243 - 6.5. Nothing wrong with a .243. I'm a fan of 6.5 x 55; not as popular here as in Europe, but a good round for anything from ground-hogs to moose depending on how it is loaded. It out performs 6.5 CM with heavier bullets. High BC makes for a flat shooter; same goes for 6.5 CM; the Grendel is less common, and is OK for deer too, but is not as versatile. Recoil on all of them I could class as being light to moderate. Light in a standard sized rifle; moderate in a smaller, lighter configuration.
 
Meroh said:
.243 - 6.5. Nothing wrong with a .243. I'm a fan of 6.5 x 55; not as popular here as in Europe, but a good round for anything from ground-hogs to moose depending on how it is loaded. It out performs 6.5 CM with heavier bullets. High BC makes for a flat shooter; same goes for 6.5 CM; the Grendel is less common, and is OK for deer too, but is not as versatile. Recoil on all of them I could class as being light to moderate. Light in a standard sized rifle; moderate in a smaller, lighter configuration.
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Copy that- thinkin similiar lines. thanks
 
.243 Ruger American is a great rifle. My son has one. Although iron sights seem to be non existent on all the newer bolt rifles. Browning BLR pistol grip is sweet if you like levers. Good open sights. Both are great for whitetail. 55 grn perfect for smaller game. Easy to shoot both. Good luck. Spend as much time with your youngones! You both will appreciate it as time goes on.
 
I have a .243 Tikka T3, it's a nice calibre for a light rifle. Light to moderate recoil, effective on medium sized game with a well placed shot.
Barrel life isn't great, unfortunately.. if you like to shoot a lot consider 2000 rounds to be the useful life.
6.5 is a more versatile cartridge for varied game. It neatly bridges the gap between 6mm (.243) and .30 cal offerings. Slightly more recoil than a .243, more energy on the other end.
One thing to remember.. light, compact rifles kick more than heavier ones. Consider adding a muzzle brake. I dont like the added noise and muzzle blast, but they take the sting out of shooting a heavier calibre.
 
I would choose the 260Rem over the 243, but there is nothing wrong with a 243. I shot a lot of ground hogs with a 243 and have seen deer taken with it.

As for powder, 2209 would be perfect for either caliber.
 
Mossberg Patriot Youth .243 is a decent rifle if you can find it. Download using light bullets in the 60-75gr range to get them started. Once they get comfortable you can increase velocity in steps and use heavier bullets for hunting.

Really good ear protection is super-important for a kid's first centerfire experience. The noise startles them and might scare most kids worse than the recoil so make sure the ear protectors fit a kid's head.
 
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Our Savage 111 in 243 has been very accurate on coyotes with 55gr pills. The wife has shot very well with her Remington Model 7 in 243 also, shooting 100gr for Deer.
Recoil is not a problem.
 
The 243 is excellent for deer. The 87gr Hornady Varmint is actually quite popular for deer hunting at lower velocities. I plan to use it in a 6x45mm. You can use H4895 for reduced loads. Hodgdon says to take the maximum charge of H4895 for the bullet you are using and multiply it by 60%. That is your safe minimum powder charge and you can work up from there. This only works with H4895 because they've found that it ignites well at low charge density. I love H4895...I have more of that than any other powder :).
 
243, 6.5 cal something, 7mm/08, 7x57, 284. Weatherby S2's or HOWA's are excellent beginner choices. As I mentioned in another thread don't skimp on optics. Buying cheap will come to bite you in the bum.
 
Ganderite said:
I would choose the 260Rem over the 243, but there is nothing wrong with a 243. I shot a lot of ground hogs with a 243 and have seen deer taken with it.

As for powder, 2209 would be perfect for either caliber.
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I forgot about that one; yes, the 260 is another great 6.5 choice!!
 
8x68 said:
243, 6.5 cal something, 7mm/08, 7x57, 284. Weatherby S2's or HOWA's are excellent beginner choices. As I mentioned in another thread don't skimp on optics. Buying cheap will come to bite you in the bum.
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I like 7 x 57, but we can not hunt with these in Southern Ontario. 7mm and 280 or 284 are getting very close to 30 cal and are not exactly light on recoil; if you can use a larger caliber and want a reasonable rifle go with 30-30; lots of deer killed with those. Problem with larger calibers are they don't adapt all that well for smaller varmints.
 
While I certainly think that .243 would be a great choice (along with others in the 6/6.5mm group), I'm curious to know why nobody has suggested the .25-06. My son bought one (Savage Axis II) when he turned twelve and has used it quite successfully in the last three years.

I can understand that it has a little more recoil than the .243, but handloading for it (which I assume the OP is going to do since he asked the question on a reloading forum) can take care of that issue. It seems to me that the .25-06 offers more "upward mobility" (ie. capable of taking larger game with heavier bullets) as the young hunter grows into it.
 
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I’m going to use my 260 Remington for this falls deer hunting
In a T3 rifle. Hardly any recoil.
Nice short action. Accurate.
Lots of bullet choices.

Edit
And as previous mentioned buy the best scope you can afford and if necessary buy a cheaper rifle
Good glass on a cheap rifle is better than cheap glass on any rifle
 
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