What caliber for my 14 year old son?

Nester

Nester

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
141   0   1
Location
Been there; done that
What caliber for my 14 year old son? He will be mostly chasing mule and whitetail deer, maybe the rare moose.

I was thinking 7MM08 but the wife already has one, and do I really need 2? redundant redundant? It would make life easier for me as for when I head out to the cabin, there's less chance of forgotten bullets or rifle problems as he would have the exact same rifle as his mother.

Thinking of going with the .243 as he can also use it for coyotes and gophers, and the recoil is comfortable. Then again the .308 is a nice round but yet again the 30 06 can be toned down with it's recoil reducing ammo, then there's the 25- 06......


I'm sure I'll stick with either the 7MM08 (2nd in the house) or drop down to the .243, but then again........ :confused:


Help> :runaway:
 
Last edited:
I started my boy with a 257 roberts. Three one shot kills on deer in three years. Dont know how it would handle a moose though. Maybe with some 100grain Barnes X's at 2950fps. Outgrew it when he was 16 though, stole my 358 Win!
 
I would of said the .243, 7mm08, or .270
Having another 7mm08 would only be ideal if you only shoot factory through both. If you reload different for each gun, whats the point.

How about you compile a list of calibers he should decide between. Have him research each one, and let him make the choice. Good way to really get him involved. Nothing works like getting kids engaged.
 
Out of the few you mentioned I think 7-08 is the best choice. Otherwise a 6.5x55 or 7x57 would be my choice!
 
If moose are in the equation I'd stick with a 7-08 or something similar, not drop down to a 243. I'd personally find the rifle that fits/works for him, then look at the calibers offered.
 
there have been moose shot with 7mm-08 and between it and the .243 ,it's the choice .the .243 barely passes 2000 ftlbs at the muzzle with a 95 gr. accu tip bullet. the .308 will easily cover the game you mentioned. the recoil isn't too much and he'll get used to it.
 
260 or 6.5x55, mind you I like the find the rifle first then figure out the chamering advice, to many rounds will work Picking the rifle first will filter the list down. One thing that caught my eye was the weatherby youth model it comes with both a youth and adult stock.
 
Several choices

My 13 year old took a record black bear at 10 with a 30-30. Now shooting a Browning Medallion in 308, using 180's. It hasa muzzle breakand has a Limbsaver recoil pad. He also shoots a 270 also fitted with a Limbsaver recoil pad. He just told me he like the 308 best and he weighs about 95 pounds wet.:)
 
i got a 30-06 when i was 14, when i first started shooting it used to hurt me, then boomer loader me 100 rounds after i was fished with those i could shoot the thing all day, i'm quite happy with it.i would go with either .308, .30-06, maybe even 7x57 or 6.5x55
 
Last edited:
7-08 will do everything he needs and if you handload it will do fine on coyotes and varmits also, recoil is a new shooters worst enemy. Teach him to be accurate now and he will never need more gun.
 
My 13-year-old started shooting with a .243 a couple of years ago. Last year I bought him a 270 Win, and he shoots it pretty well. It was a used Sako A-V Laminate, so he's grown accustomed to a heavier rifle, and its tough to ignore how smooth that thing cycles the rounds. I bought a BRNO 7x57 a few months later, and he enjoys shooting it more than the 270. His 11-year-old brother received a Tikka M65 6.5x55, and that's a sweet little rig for a young shooter.

If I were to start over again, I'd probably go with the 6.5x55.
 
For mulies,whitetail and moose go with the 7mm-08.My 16 year old daughter has been shooting her little .243 for 4 years now this year she wants to use my 7mm-08 for whitetail.One of the most versatile low recoil hunting calibers
in my opinion.
 
Slapshot said:
I started my boy with a 257 roberts. Three one shot kills on deer in three years. Dont know how it would handle a moose though. Maybe with some 100grain Barnes X's at 2950fps. Outgrew it when he was 16 though, stole my 358 Win!
Click to expand...
Good choice. Load'r back a bit with lighter bullets untill he's used to it then step up to the deer capable loads which there are plenty of. Come time he's ready to shoot a moose he'll be ready for a bigger gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom