Hey guys. I have been searching around for a rifle for my 12 year old son for his first rifle as he begins his moose hunting career this next fall. I have a 300WSM and a 243, but I would like something in between those two that he can comfortably take moose up to 400 yards if needed. He has shot a 308 pushing a 180gr bullet and the recoil doesn't bother him. I have been really intrigued by the 6.8 Western or the 6.5PRC, but I am curious what recommendations might be out there for him. I also hand load so factory ammunition availability doesn't worry me.
New Rifle for Youth Moose Hunter
- Thread starter wolfetrapper
- Start date
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
30-06 Rem 700, stainless, synthetic stock, ADL blind magazine model.
Accurate in stock form.
20 MOA scope rail
Best 4-12 scope you can afford.
Best rings you can afford.
Customize in a few years with a Timney trigger
Easily available ammo in a large assortment of styles.
Since he's 12, a blind magazine will be way down the ban list, he'll keep it longer.
Accurate in stock form.
20 MOA scope rail
Best 4-12 scope you can afford.
Best rings you can afford.
Customize in a few years with a Timney trigger
Easily available ammo in a large assortment of styles.
Since he's 12, a blind magazine will be way down the ban list, he'll keep it longer.
A few years ago I bought my little siter a Browning youth/micro X-Bolt 7-08 from Nechako Outdoors. She was 20 years old, 5'4" and 120 lbs. She had shot all my rifles but when she tried that one she turned to me and said "I LOVE IT"
I think rifle fit is the biggest deal and a 7-08 is every bit as good as a 308/270 etc class cartridge. She has killed several deer, bear and a nice spanking moose with it, loaded with 139gr LRX bullets. 140 gr NAB would be excellent too. I would hunt anything in BC with a 7-08 and I wish my Ruger Scout was a 7-08 too!
I think rifle fit is the biggest deal and a 7-08 is every bit as good as a 308/270 etc class cartridge. She has killed several deer, bear and a nice spanking moose with it, loaded with 139gr LRX bullets. 140 gr NAB would be excellent too. I would hunt anything in BC with a 7-08 and I wish my Ruger Scout was a 7-08 too!
JohnnyCarlsson
Member
Another vote for 308, close second is 7mm-08 Rem.
Jess_misko
Member
- Location
- Kamloops BC canada
6.5 creedmoor. Have killed many moose and elk with the cartridge. Way less recoil, surpasses the .308 in every ballistic category once you pass 200 yards
Anything the lad would be comfortable shooting, anywhere between 6.5 swede and 30-06. It will all be fine moose medicine. If he's comfortable with 308, then none of it will be a problem.
I don't know how big he is, but to my mind's eye, rifle fit would be a bigger problem. That's the angle I'd attack it from.
I guess I am from an old school mentally where I grew up shooting whatever rifle my dad had(7mm mag) and we just made it work. He is about 5ft 4in and I fully expect a growth spurt in the very near future.
There are a few manufacturers that build youth rifles or models that come with the stock spacers that you can add as the youth's LOP changes so that fit remains proper as they grow. This will make a difference in their comfort and felt recoil levels and allow them to shoot the rifle better over the long run. Let him try a few different models to see which fits him best.
As for cartridges, there are a number of good cartridges out there that will work for moose. They are not overly tough or tenacious of life...but a mud caked bull in the rut after wallowing can make it tougher on a bullet to penetrate (as John Nosler found out and then designed the Partition bullet for controlled expansion and penetration). This is why they recommend a retained energy rating of 1500 ft. lbs of energy at the target for moose. And in the event that the bullet encounters heavy bone, there is enough energy to break bone and still get to the vitals. (Of course, there is a substantial difference in moose body size dependent upon the subspecies (Shiras, Canadian, or Alaska/Yukon) you'll be hunting in your local area.)
The 6.5s (6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem) would be a good starting point with 130-140 gr bullets (AccuBond, Terminal Ascent, etc.) out to about 300-375 yards, dependent upon bullet weight.
The 7mm-08 Rem (or 7x57/275 Rigby) is also a good cartridge, and the 140 gr bullets a good starting point, but you can go up to the 154 gr bullets too (up to 175 gr in the 7x57), out to about 375 yards, again dependent upon bullet weight.
The 308 Win will also work, either with a premium 165 gr bullet, or the tried and true 180gr bullets, out to 400 yards or so, again dependent upon bullet weight.
If you can arrange it, let him shoot some different rifles at the range on the metal gongs (if they have them at 100 and/or 200 yards) to see which he prefers. And have him try different shooting positions, to mimic field positions, not just from the bench.
Did this with my daughter (who is 5' 4") and in the end, she chose a Rem 700 Titanium in 270 Win; after shooting a 260 Rem, a 7mm-08, a 270 Win, a 308 Win, a 338 Federal, and a 358 Win in a variety of rifles. (She took her first deer with my BLR in 358 before this, as we were out hunting and it was what I had with me that day, and had tried it out to see how she managed it). She can consistently produce 1" groups at 100 yards with it, and has since taken moose and stones sheep with it.
As for cartridges, there are a number of good cartridges out there that will work for moose. They are not overly tough or tenacious of life...but a mud caked bull in the rut after wallowing can make it tougher on a bullet to penetrate (as John Nosler found out and then designed the Partition bullet for controlled expansion and penetration). This is why they recommend a retained energy rating of 1500 ft. lbs of energy at the target for moose. And in the event that the bullet encounters heavy bone, there is enough energy to break bone and still get to the vitals. (Of course, there is a substantial difference in moose body size dependent upon the subspecies (Shiras, Canadian, or Alaska/Yukon) you'll be hunting in your local area.)
The 6.5s (6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem) would be a good starting point with 130-140 gr bullets (AccuBond, Terminal Ascent, etc.) out to about 300-375 yards, dependent upon bullet weight.
The 7mm-08 Rem (or 7x57/275 Rigby) is also a good cartridge, and the 140 gr bullets a good starting point, but you can go up to the 154 gr bullets too (up to 175 gr in the 7x57), out to about 375 yards, again dependent upon bullet weight.
The 308 Win will also work, either with a premium 165 gr bullet, or the tried and true 180gr bullets, out to 400 yards or so, again dependent upon bullet weight.
If you can arrange it, let him shoot some different rifles at the range on the metal gongs (if they have them at 100 and/or 200 yards) to see which he prefers. And have him try different shooting positions, to mimic field positions, not just from the bench.
Did this with my daughter (who is 5' 4") and in the end, she chose a Rem 700 Titanium in 270 Win; after shooting a 260 Rem, a 7mm-08, a 270 Win, a 308 Win, a 338 Federal, and a 358 Win in a variety of rifles. (She took her first deer with my BLR in 358 before this, as we were out hunting and it was what I had with me that day, and had tried it out to see how she managed it). She can consistently produce 1" groups at 100 yards with it, and has since taken moose and stones sheep with it.
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For my friend’s daughter 11years
Old at the time I found a husqvarna 1640 308 carbine and made it fit her by shortening the stock making a nice cheek pad for a good fit of the stock to her face! The rifle is light, compact, and will last her a life time! Started her on some reduce loads, now she’s 13 and next hunting season she will be 14 and use regular loaded ammo! It was I think less than $1k all in with scope taxe and shipping!
Old at the time I found a husqvarna 1640 308 carbine and made it fit her by shortening the stock making a nice cheek pad for a good fit of the stock to her face! The rifle is light, compact, and will last her a life time! Started her on some reduce loads, now she’s 13 and next hunting season she will be 14 and use regular loaded ammo! It was I think less than $1k all in with scope taxe and shipping!
My moose rifle is similar. Stainless 700 BDL 30-06 in a Brown Precision topped with a Leupold 3.5-10 B&C in Weaver R&B with a spare scope for backup in Weaver rings.
Not sure how an 700 ADL would be lower on the ban list than a BDL.
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I was thinking the floor plate could be seen as some type of removable magazine.
The ones choosing which guns to ban don't seem all that smart.
My little 12 year old cousin planted her moose at 250 yards with her dad’s 270 and 130gr corelokt. Bang, took 2 steps and fell over stone dead. Moose aren’t hard to kill. Their hide isn’t as thick as elk. A good shot in the boiler room with a quality bullet will be just fine. I’d rather see a young hunter shoot a smaller calibre and learn to shoot properly and make the shots count then use a bigger gun and hit the animal in the ass 5x cause they have a flinch and don’t know how to shoot.
270, 7-08 are my top 2 recommendations. As much as I hate to admit it, a 6.5 creed or 260 rem would be up there too. Just use a quality hunting bullet like an accubond, Barnes TTSX, etc and enjoy the hunt!
270, 7-08 are my top 2 recommendations. As much as I hate to admit it, a 6.5 creed or 260 rem would be up there too. Just use a quality hunting bullet like an accubond, Barnes TTSX, etc and enjoy the hunt!
