I you handload, you can load a 130 grains bullet 270 win to 2700-2800 fps, giving you a recoil similar to the 243 Win. This would be an excellent load for the woods. If you do not handload, the 243 is definitely easier to shoot. Within 200 yrds, the 243 is as effective as the 270 Win for deer. Beyond that, the 270 is preferable.
Looking at a lighter Caliber Hunting rifle for my son
- Thread starter Irishfathead
- Start date
Trust me a 270 win with a 130 HAS a much lighter RECOIL KICK then a 30-06 with a 180 gr in the same rifle . RJ
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
My two cents...go short action. 308, 7mm08, 7x57 (if the kid is cool enough), 6.5 Creed or Swede (similar caveat as the x57) or the 260. I probably wouldn't go 358, 8x57 or 9.3x57 but truthfully none of them are dreadful choices, though anything that ends in x55 or x57 requires that the young feller has significant panache. The 257 Bob and 243 are a little more specialized and being from Manitoba the kid has the chance of both deer, moose and black bear damn near out the back door so having a little more arse being the bullet makes more sense to me. If he was out here in the east and only ever likely to shoot a black bear or whitetail then a case could be made for the Bob, but to me the 243 will always be a coyote rifle, or the tool of a very talented deer hunter.
As to the best place to find such an animal, I always recommend the EE. Why limit yourself to just the guns shops within 90 minutes of home when you can cover the whole country? Plus, if you decide that he is cool and eccentric enough to go with a European metric, we are absolutely the people to hook him up or point him in the right direction.
The OP doesn't mention handloading vs factory ammo, and doesn't mention what the boy will be hunting, so...
First things first...
Have him try some rifles chambered in various cartridges to see what he can handle safely and comfortably. Buy some ammo and have him try your rifles, or those of friends so ha can see what he prefers first hand. He may surprise you and can handle the 30-06 just fine. If he hasn't fired it before, work him up to it with some less powerful cartridges first, or buy some lighter loads for him to try...150 gr ammo or reduced loads if your lgs has any.
If he is comfortable with the rifle and cartridge, he will enjoy shooting it more and practice more, which will build skill and confidence.
I did this for my daughter when looking to get her first rifle. We tried the 260 Rem, 7mm-08, 270 Win, 308, 338 Federal and 358 Win (BLR which she used for her first deer) in various bolt and lever action rifles, of mine and a friend's. We worked her up through the various calibers as she tried them all.
In the end, she chose the 270 Win as the rifle in a Rem 700 Titanium and cartridge as the one she preferred to shoot. And she could produce 1" groups with the 130 gr ammunition in this rifle. (While not an inexpensive rifle, I had the budget for it and it will last her a lifetime.)
She was happy with the felt recoil, as well as the weight of the rifle package itself in handling and shouldering it, and firing from the bench and other shooting positions. In the end, I think the weight of the overall rifle was also a determining factor for her (she is just 5'4").
It was available as a used rifle and scope (VX-3 3.5-10x40) at the lgs that they let us try, and I bought it at a good price after that. (She has now taken moose and sheep with this rifle).
But have him wear ear plugs and ear muffs...many inexperienced shooters "flinch" as much from the bark of the rifle as they do the actual felt recoil.
Pick an appropriate cartridge that will handle the targeted game that he is comfortable with...if only hunting coyote, black bears and deer, the 243/6mm will be just fine with proper bullets. If only up to and including Canada moose, the 6.5 in any flavour will work fine, given reasonable distance and shot parameters.
If adding elk to the picture, a 270/280/30-06 will work just fine if he is comfortable with them...and only he will be able to demonstrate and/or tell you if he is.
If not, hold off on longer shots on rutting bulls until he is older and can handle a suitable cartridge for this scenario.
Some small people shoot large magnums very well, where others cannot. Only practice will let you know where he is at.
Find a rifle that fits the lad and balances well for him, and isn't so heavy that he cannot handle it easily and safely. And if it doesn't have a good recoil pad, get one. And/or get him a PAST recoil pad he can wear on his shoulder.
For an inexpensive rifle, the Ruger American series rifles shoot pretty well. But it really depends on the OPs budget for this.
A good used rifle may also net him what he is looking for.
First things first...
Have him try some rifles chambered in various cartridges to see what he can handle safely and comfortably. Buy some ammo and have him try your rifles, or those of friends so ha can see what he prefers first hand. He may surprise you and can handle the 30-06 just fine. If he hasn't fired it before, work him up to it with some less powerful cartridges first, or buy some lighter loads for him to try...150 gr ammo or reduced loads if your lgs has any.
If he is comfortable with the rifle and cartridge, he will enjoy shooting it more and practice more, which will build skill and confidence.
I did this for my daughter when looking to get her first rifle. We tried the 260 Rem, 7mm-08, 270 Win, 308, 338 Federal and 358 Win (BLR which she used for her first deer) in various bolt and lever action rifles, of mine and a friend's. We worked her up through the various calibers as she tried them all.
In the end, she chose the 270 Win as the rifle in a Rem 700 Titanium and cartridge as the one she preferred to shoot. And she could produce 1" groups with the 130 gr ammunition in this rifle. (While not an inexpensive rifle, I had the budget for it and it will last her a lifetime.)
She was happy with the felt recoil, as well as the weight of the rifle package itself in handling and shouldering it, and firing from the bench and other shooting positions. In the end, I think the weight of the overall rifle was also a determining factor for her (she is just 5'4").
It was available as a used rifle and scope (VX-3 3.5-10x40) at the lgs that they let us try, and I bought it at a good price after that. (She has now taken moose and sheep with this rifle).
But have him wear ear plugs and ear muffs...many inexperienced shooters "flinch" as much from the bark of the rifle as they do the actual felt recoil.
Pick an appropriate cartridge that will handle the targeted game that he is comfortable with...if only hunting coyote, black bears and deer, the 243/6mm will be just fine with proper bullets. If only up to and including Canada moose, the 6.5 in any flavour will work fine, given reasonable distance and shot parameters.
If adding elk to the picture, a 270/280/30-06 will work just fine if he is comfortable with them...and only he will be able to demonstrate and/or tell you if he is.
If not, hold off on longer shots on rutting bulls until he is older and can handle a suitable cartridge for this scenario.
Some small people shoot large magnums very well, where others cannot. Only practice will let you know where he is at.
Find a rifle that fits the lad and balances well for him, and isn't so heavy that he cannot handle it easily and safely. And if it doesn't have a good recoil pad, get one. And/or get him a PAST recoil pad he can wear on his shoulder.
For an inexpensive rifle, the Ruger American series rifles shoot pretty well. But it really depends on the OPs budget for this.
A good used rifle may also net him what he is looking for.
If a young Hunter gets pounded with recoil, it won’t matter what calibre or cartridge they’re shooting! They won’t hit shxt or worse wound an animal’s and have that on their conscience. A well placed 85 gr partition will cleanly harvest any deer in North America. So an 8.5 pound rifle should have very low recoil and be tolerable by almost anyone. Confidence is the ticket with lots of trigger time.
ITS Not except it can shoot a little heavier bullet weight BUT then it has less Sectional Density . Pretty much a WASH . JMO RJ
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The .243 was born and bred for this job, a .270 is a lot more to a young shooter’s shoulder. I remember as a young teen the .243 and .30-30 having apparent kick.
If I had to pick a single favourite light recoiling centerfire, it’d be the .257 Roberts though the .250 Savage is growing on me as we speak. But it’s hard to argue the fact the .243 is the same damn thing ballistically that’s easier to support.
If I had to pick a single favourite light recoiling centerfire, it’d be the .257 Roberts though the .250 Savage is growing on me as we speak. But it’s hard to argue the fact the .243 is the same damn thing ballistically that’s easier to support.
A 7-08 has not much more recoil than a .243 and can handle larger bullets, it will do the same job as a .270. Last week my friend used her 7-08 X bolt micro to anchor a very nice moose. First shot went behind the shoulder and out the other side, staggered the moose, a follow up shot to the shoulder and he crunched to the ground. About 175 yards. She's 5'4" and about 125 lbs and has no problem with the recoil, although she does lots of shooting so isn't too recoil shy.
If only deer/black bear are in the future (no moose or elk) a 6.5 Grendel is probably the best low recoil cartridge for a small hunter. Not that the Grendel won't kill a moose but most people want a little more power.
If only deer/black bear are in the future (no moose or elk) a 6.5 Grendel is probably the best low recoil cartridge for a small hunter. Not that the Grendel won't kill a moose but most people want a little more power.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
A 270 with 110 gr bullets and a reduced powder charge doesn't recoil much either.
don't even need to reload, you can get hornady 125 gr 2600 fps reduced loads in 308 which is similar to a 6.5 Grendel, with average weight gun should be able to watch most of it happen in the scope, the 6.5 Grendel is about 3/4 scale 308 with 50% less recoil, also a good choice, some rifle options out there with adjustable length stocks or inserts etc. so can just move right up into full boat loads whenever he's ready, 6.5 Grendel is 21st century interpretation of what 30 grains of powder can do (triple effective range of a 30-30), and it meets the .243 factor ammo around 300 yards and then starts shining better than .243 at that point with a bigger heavier higher penetrating bullet to boot
regardless of choice of big game cartridge...just have him shoot a bolt action .22 lots for main practice, have it set up nearly same as the big game set up and only have him shoot the big game rifle at big game, this should avoid any flinch issues developing
regardless of choice of big game cartridge...just have him shoot a bolt action .22 lots for main practice, have it set up nearly same as the big game set up and only have him shoot the big game rifle at big game, this should avoid any flinch issues developing
