bets caliber for youth
- Thread starter rkr
- Start date
thats the same problem with 6.5x55 and 260, very uncommon ammo unless you have a larger older local gun store near by...308 is everywhere, 7-08 is semi common and 6.5 creedmoor is now showing up pretty much everywhere too.
If I was getting a young person a rifle it would be a Howa mini in 6.5 grendel. Sure ammo isn't that available but components are. Minimal recoil, great bullet selection, pretty darn impressive performance with a 129 gr sst or 130 gr for how small the case is and how much powder it uses (very efficient case). Light bullets like the 95gr vmax are spectacular performer's on varmints.
I've had a 243 6.5 creedmoor 260 rem 7mm08 308 and most of the others listed but the 6.5x55. I'm 6'2" 200 pounds and I cant stand the recoil on a hunting rifle weight 7mm08 or 308. I hated shooting mysavage axis in 243, tikka t3 7mm08 and howa 1500 308. Even my sps rem 700 6.5 creedmoor I couldn't comfortably shoot all day long. I am recoil sensitive.
I know none of those calibers are consider heavy recoilers but still enough for a young shooter to possibly develop a flinch or other bad habits.
That's just my $.02
I've had a 243 6.5 creedmoor 260 rem 7mm08 308 and most of the others listed but the 6.5x55. I'm 6'2" 200 pounds and I cant stand the recoil on a hunting rifle weight 7mm08 or 308. I hated shooting mysavage axis in 243, tikka t3 7mm08 and howa 1500 308. Even my sps rem 700 6.5 creedmoor I couldn't comfortably shoot all day long. I am recoil sensitive.
I know none of those calibers are consider heavy recoilers but still enough for a young shooter to possibly develop a flinch or other bad habits.
That's just my $.02
I was just going to post this exact thing.
I shot 2 deer in the Regular season in Ontario with a MDI in 6.5 Grendel...low recoil, and deer dropped pretty quick. Used the Hornady Factory 129 gr SSTs....am going to reload for it next year though, and use the 123 gr Barnes TSX's.
New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
^^ this... why this perfect option is uncommon and rarely made anymore is a sad testament to the marketed "need" for a product that boasts nothing new.
I grew up being recoil sensitive because I shot what we had (therefore was in budget) and got beat up: Every new shooter I have taught enjoys calibers appropriate and I'll shoot the heavier guns so they get the chance to observe the increased recoil... until they grow or experience is gained. Charles Newton ticked all the boxes back in 1915 in his cartridge design for Savage's 99 and has yet to be topped by whatever the information age can muster.
Flinch plagued me for years and took a long time to beat: I see no value in failing to pass on that lesson.
Off the shelf, a modest budget and with abundant supply of factory ammunition I'd just opt for the 7mm-08. Personally, a model Seven in 250Sav would make an optimum package for a young hunter for <500lb game. (Take it and run Remington... that niche is currently unfilled except by the high end Cooper. It'd cost nothing reverting to production of timeless classics, but marketing the latest ...)
Just wait until the 25 creedmoor catches on. It's exactly the same thing as a 250-3000 savage improved 30°. Its identical.
Again, 6.5 X 55 ; load what you want, for what you want to shoot; when you want. Brass is easy to get; the selection of bullets is amazing! 6.5 X 55 outperforms creedmoore with heavy bullets; outperforms the 260 remington with light bullets in old (but great) surplus rifles; by a new CZ or TIKA and you can load to European pressures and the performace will easily exceed both the Creed and the 260.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
243 is an excellent deer calibre.
Im buying one for my daughter. And me to use when shes not
Im buying one for my daughter. And me to use when shes not
You didn't mention if you reload. If not, I'd go 308. There is a very good chance a healthy 12-year old kid can handle a 308. I was using one at 9, and my son at 11, with regular loads. I'd make sure he was wearing good hearing protection (a good idea either way) because sometimes, noise causes flinching as much as recoil does. And if he finds that a bit too much, you can always get the Remington Managed Recoil, which is still enough for medium game, but a lot less recoil.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'd start a kid at 6.5mm (fill in the blank) and run up to 7mm-08 or 7x57 in a rifle that fits them. I'm not a big fan of the 243...I think it's more of a specialist rifle that is better suited for light game and expert shot placement. That being said, it all depends on the kid. A slight of stature kid that is 12 is not the same as a filled out 16 year old. I'd stay with a short action and a commensurately short barrel (20" or less) but still with enough heft that it settles down when the time comes to shoot.
I've got a little custom 7x57 with a featherweight 18" barrel which is a real beauty but it might prove difficult for a kid with less experience to get the rifle to settle down for a shot under field conditions. When I was 16 my dad let me choose any of his rifles for my birthday. I chose a Sako L579 30-06. Perfect rifle for a 6 foot tall 180lb kid. My brother picked Dad's A-bolt Stainless Stalker 30-06. The Sako was a tad longer and heavier. It wouldn't have been the best rifle for my brother but the Browning was just right.
That's the long answer. The short answer is: It depends.
I've got a little custom 7x57 with a featherweight 18" barrel which is a real beauty but it might prove difficult for a kid with less experience to get the rifle to settle down for a shot under field conditions. When I was 16 my dad let me choose any of his rifles for my birthday. I chose a Sako L579 30-06. Perfect rifle for a 6 foot tall 180lb kid. My brother picked Dad's A-bolt Stainless Stalker 30-06. The Sako was a tad longer and heavier. It wouldn't have been the best rifle for my brother but the Browning was just right.
That's the long answer. The short answer is: It depends.
