What caliber for kids?

I started my 6 year old nephew shooting a 260 Remington youth rifle, with 100gr bullets and 10grs Trailboss powder @ 1350 fps. After a couple years we were shooting 33.0grs H4895 (2350 fps) and when he turned 10 he was shooting 33grs H4895 under the 129gr Nosler ABLR (2325 fps). Two mule deer fell to that load with good results. He's turning 12 in a couple days, now shooting 130gr Accubonds over 40grs Win760 for 2450 fps as he will be hunting elk and moose in 2018
 
Good thread. I have some young kids that I will be making this decision for soon. Was just gonna eventually get a .243, but now that I see this, maybe something bigger might be better.
 
I bought a husky 7x57 from why not for my son got a old Mauser stock shortened and cobbled up I used reduced loads for a while the slowly increased loading now at 16 he is back to the original stock and full power loads although he raids my safe a lot also
 
Tabacco Brook said:
I would say the Browning X-bolt Micro Midas 7mm-08 is the way to go,...Browning offers "Browning Growth Insurance" on their Micro rifles and shot guns,.. here is a link,..
http://www.browning.com/news/promotions-rebates/browning-growth-insurance---2018.html

The x-bolts design is very straight forward, user friendly and safe, making it a good choice for young shooters who are just learning,.. the "Inflex" recoil pad does an excellent job at dampening felt recoil,.. I have the Stainless Stalker in 30-06, (6lbs 9oz),.. and the recoil is very light,.... so the 6lb 1oz Micro Midas in 7-08 with "Reduced Recoil" ammo, or light handloads, should be quite manageable for a young shooter.

These rifles are of good quality, and if taken care of will last a long time,.. something your daughter can enjoy for many years, and make a lot of memories with.
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Same rifle I just bought my son and put 3500 Elite 4-12x40 DOA scope on it. I'm really impressed with it and it has a great looking wood stock.
 
I got savage 99 in 300 savage I do reload 125 g sierra spritzer bullet whit minimum charge I shoot target at 340 yards whit iron site very accurate on 10 inch gung savage 99 good for left handed and can purchase dose everyware good luck
 
I bought this Weatherby Vanguard youth in 7mm-08 for my 12 year old son.It comes with a spacer for the stock so as he grows you can add the spacer for length of pull. I got this gun from Prophet River. I handload 140m gr nosler A.B and he shoots the with no problem.He got a spice whitetail last year with it.
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I started my 6 year old nephew shooting a 260 Remington youth rifle, with 100gr bullets and 10grs Trailboss powder @ 1350 fps. After a couple years we were shooting 33.0grs H4895 (2350 fps) and when he turned 10 he was shooting 33grs H4895 under the 129gr Nosler ABLR (2325 fps). Two mule deer fell to that load with good results. He's turning 12 in a couple days, now shooting 130gr Accubonds over 40grs Win760 for 2450 fps as he will be hunting elk and moose in 2018
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I did virtually the same as bartell when my son was 5. Mod 7 youth in .260 with reduced loads of 120 ttsx over H4895.....slowly moved up the charge as he grew.By the time he was 10 and could hunt we were up to 2660fps. That reduced 4895 load accounted for a lot of black bears, deer, and even an elk.

60% loads with 4895 and light bullets make a lot of calibres very appropriate for kids. If I had it to do over again, I would probably go 260 again, but the 6.5 creed, 7-08, 6.5x55 would also be great options. .243 or 6mm rem with heavy for calibre bullets would also be on the radar with all the quality bullets these days.

Have fun and enjoy the ride....living all those hunting "firsts" again through your kids is the best time hunting you will ever have!

Chris
 
The title of this thread could be misconstrued in a very wrong context...

For example:

Let's eat grandma!

or:

Let's eat, grandma!

Punctuation can save lives..
 
I grew up with a 30-30 as my first deer gun. Then moved on to a 30-06 once i was 16. I think a 30-30 or 243 would be a perfect caliber to start.
 
Some good suggestions made already.

A Remington 700 LH SPS Youth rifle includes spacers to adjust length of pull as the child grows, and can easily be rebarrelled to larger catridges as she gets older and graduates from the deer you would like her to start with to the elk she wants to hunt. The rifle has a shorter stock and 20" barrell of lighter contour to keep weight and overall length down (factors my daughter enjoyed). Or get her a new rifle as you have suggested. (I happen to have one NIB for sale if interested)
You can start her off a 243 and then move her up to a 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, or 308, 338 Federal or 358 Win (suggestions limited to short action cartidges) as she gets older and more comfortable with shooting larger cartridges. (I love the 250 Savage, 6.5 cartridges, but this rifle isn't offered in these options, nor the 338 or 358, which are great bear/moose/elk cartridges!).
The Tikka LH in 6.5x55 is a great rifle, but the stock is not easily modified for those who need shorther length of pull.
I believe Savage is still making a LH ladies rifle as well.
As a fellow lefty, the leverguns have a special place too! Love the BLR, but you would need to modifythe stock to fit her.
 
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