Rifle for an eleven year old.

triton

triton

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Looking for caliber ideas for my son. He has .22's, .410 etc. I want to get him something with a little more bang. I don't want to surprise him with to much recoil, and scare him. I was thinking .223, or .357 mag rifle for a couple years, then slowly work up. What do you guys think?

Dave.
 
With great muzzle brakes these days, you can definitely up the ante on this. Personally, fun low recoil round is the 6.5x55, no muzzle brake necessary. I'd pick up a used M96 sporter from Tradex.
 
x2 on the 6.5 if you reload. A little more expensive to shoot than the .223 with factory loads. If he wants to get into varmint hunting and the like the .22 centerfire might be a better choice though. Personally I would bypass the .357 magnum rifle, not nearly as versatile as the .223.
 
If you reload, then the size and fit of the rifle is what matters.

I had my five year old shooting a Lee Enfield using cast bullets at about 1400 fps (I'm thinking the load was 9.0 gr of Trail boss and 200gr cast), shooting clay pidgeons at 15 yards. The rifle was too big for him, but he absolutely loved it.

Any youth sized rifle in most commonly available calibers could be downloaded to recoil like a .22 and then worked up to more powerful loads, as the boy gains confidence and experience.
 
My son started with a .22, then played with a .223, 44/40 and .243 a bit. By the time he was 11 he was shooting .257 Weatherby, 20 gauge and 50 cal muzzleloaders with 3 pellet loads. The last one may have been pushing it a bit, but the others were/are mild choices and what he hunted with. When he grew into a 12 gauge my daughters got the 20 gauge pump.

My daughter went .22, .223, .243, 7/08 at the same approximate ages. Looking back on it, we could have likely skipped the .243. I don't think that there's anyone that could handle a .243 but not be able to shoot a .270 or 7/08 with starting loads at regular bullet weights, or light bullet handloads.
 
to my shoulder, a 410 single kicks about the same as a scoped 243 without a recoil pad. which is to say hardly at all. a marlin xs7 would be my choice. the 7-08 kicks close to 308.
 
Depends on what you're hunting or planning on hunting with your son.
We set my buddies son up with a Ruger American in 308win.
Bought some 120 grain bullets and lightened up the powder charge.
His wife sent me a photo of their son at the range.....my goodness how
shooting brings out Kodak moment smiles.
 
7-08 kicks close to 308.
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Well a .308 won't flatten a kid either. Since the .243, 7/08 and .308 all use the same case, loading 100 gr + or - bullets in any on them will produce similar results at the butt.Reduced loads will lower that to still lower levels. The difference is with a ammo change the second two just keep on going.
 
When I started shooting centerfire rifles I used my Dad's 219 Donaldson Wasp and 22-250 then stepped right into the 30-06 when I was 14. I would say that a properly sized 22 centerfire would be the best way to go. You could always restock it in future if he outgrows a 12" LOP and it will still be a great fun rifle.
 
I'm in the .243 bandwagon for first centerfire, for a little guy it still has a pop to it. I remember thinking the .243 kicked when I first shot it way back when, it was likely the noise that surprised me most. It requires the littlest finagling or hand loading to find / make ultralight recoiling loads, and is just so damn versatile from varmints to deer. Also a very respectable mountain hunting cartridge if you live in these parts, and legal in every province and territory for big game.

The one thing I'd urge you to do is buy him a nice rifle from day 1, and just restock as he grows. I was always envious of the guys who had their first hunting rifle still when they were 30 and still used it. I have my first .22, and my grandfather's .30-30 and they are my favourite guns. I doubt an Axis or Ruger American would hold that appeal in 20 years.
 
Ardent said:
The one thing I'd urge you to do is buy him a nice rifle from day 1, and just restock as he grows. I was always envious of the guys who had their first hunting rifle still when they were 30 and still used it. I have my first .22, and my grandfather's .30-30 and they are my favourite guns. I doubt an Axis or Ruger American would hold that appeal in 20 years.
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This. When I was in my teens my family hit hard times and I wound up selling off my guns to help out, otherwise I'd have kept them forever. Nothing ever truly replaces your first .22, shotgun and hunting rifle, get him something that's going to last.
 
Unless he desperately needs a centerfire.. I'd stay with .22 for a few more years - but if you want to spend some money now - find him a full size Remington 541s -- find a good one and pay the premium .. he'll keep it forever and it will be like money in the bank. Unless he decides to get into some very stiff competition - the 541s will more than suffice.

Later on, around 15 yo, I would get a .270 for him - a Sako 75 blued wood is going to be accurate, strong and attractive... that will fix him for life .. after that it would be whatever he fancies.
 
CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39 - small, light, short length of pull, very comfortable recoil wise. Micro mauser, nicely done, magazine, irons and rings for scope. Surplus ammo and factory new loads widely available at fine gun stores near you.
 
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lol!
 
Savage axis youth .243
I helped sight in my friend's kid's (age 12) first hunting rifle and it was sub moa right out of the box after 20 rounds.
 
My daughter was shooting my full stocked Swede M96 6.5x55 at 12.

Of course the full wood absorbed some recoil.
 
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