Recs for 8 yr old first hunting rifle????.

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

So, the boy wants to hunt with me this year and I shoot lefty, he's right handed. (Though I'm questioning his eye dominance)

The only RH hunting rifle I have left is a .270 feather weight Win mod 70. Love the rifle but not a gun I really want him shooting just yet, it kicks pretty hard.

Id like to get him his own rifle but I really don't know how much he's going to be into it, so I'm not forking out custom action money just yet. He'd rather play ball than anything else and has always been that way. He's 8 years old and about 55 lbs., so I'd really like it to be a 6cm (I already load and shoot a lot of this), but I suppose a 6.5cm would work too (I load this too a lot).

Any recs for a solid rifle that will be good for hunting but could also reach out there when he goes to the range with me? I'm guessing Tikka will be a common rec but is there anything I could get that wouldn't suck for say $500-$700?? I havent bought a factory rifle in quite a while, so I am pretty apprehensive about it, and would love some info. Used is also on the table very much but its hard to find a hunting type (not super heavy) 6cm. I have a scope I can put on it. I'd hate to get him a rifle that has a crappy trigger and isn't accurate but I also don't want to fork out big bucks for this.

Thanks

powdahound76 · Nov 26, 2024

Dont overlook 6.5 grendel or 6 arc.
.223?
300 BO with 110 supers?

My daughter ended up with a chassis and AR buttstock to get LOP right for her.

Howa 1500 can be had for a deal I am pretty sure.
Ruger American maybe? (Pretty sure they make a youth model stock).

Bsnyder · Nov 26, 2024

Ruger American gen 2 6 arc.

FNG1001 · Nov 26, 2024

Model 94 in 30-30, or M70 243 would pair up nicely with that M70 270

DarinC · Nov 26, 2024

Absolutely agree with the above ARC recommendations.

powdahound76 · Nov 26, 2024

Do you have an accurate 16” AR?

Im fixin to try some of the AAC 556 with 70 gr barnes in one of mine.
That should work fine on AL deer.
Or 77 TMK.

One of the 16” ARs here is set up with a MLOK arca section for tripod use.
Now sports the magpul DT PR stock with a riser (really nice fit, easy to adj LOP).
My daughter has claimed it as her own…..

XP1K · Nov 26, 2024

My brother picked up a stainless t3x in 223 and dropped it in an mdt chassis and I was pretty impressed with how it shot factory aac 77gr ammo so I bought one myself.

Probably going to give it to my son next year. But I went ahead and got it this year.

It's a tikka t3x lite compact in 223 that I cut down to 16" and threaded. It's a little shorter lop than the standard lite model and it almost fits my son now. He turned 6 in October.

Scope is temporary. I didn't have anything to put on it so my brother loaned me his atacr. Way too much scope for the setup.

The recommendations for the gen2 ruger american in 6arc are pretty sound as well.

I have a ruger american ranch in 300blk that is a pretty handy cost effective option. Pretty deadly with 110gr varmegeddons too. It shoots way better than I figured it would.

ggmanning · Nov 26, 2024

I use any chassis that has the ability to use adjustable AR stocks. Right length of pull at any age, grows with them. Last one I did for a nephew was a Howa mini 6.5 Grendel in a MDT chassis. For my son I did a 16" 6.5 Creedmoor in an XLR chassis when he was 7. He is shooting the same gun today at 22.

whatsupdoc · Nov 26, 2024

FNG1001 said:
Model 94 in 30-30, or M70 243 would pair up nicely with that M70 270

94 in 30-30 will beat the crap out of an 8 year old.

hlee · Nov 26, 2024

My son took his first deer, a nice size 10 pt, with an AR15 chambered in 223. I hand loaded some 62gr Barnes TSX for it, and would not feel under-gunned for white tailed deer, anywhere legal for the cartridge.

A collapsible stock means it is easily made to be shootable by a child or an adult in seconds.

vortexyz · Nov 26, 2024

My son got his first deer at 6 with an ar I built shooting 75gr Hornady factory match BTHP. Hit her high shoulder at 80 yards, dropped right there.

He missed last season because we were stationed in Nebraska and you have to be 10 to hunt deer (lame), but he shot his first buck a few weeks ago back home in Texas at 8 years old with the same rifle and ammo.
185 yard shot, slightly quartering away, heart shot and he skipped 10 yards before wobbling and falling over.

If .223 is legal in your state and you have one already, they do pretty good on whitetail with heavier bullets. The ar platform is also nice because the stocks are so easy to adjust for your kiddo and you, so you can both use the same rifle. Grendel or Arc would be great options too if you can’t use .223.

Obligatory proud dad pics.

hlee · Nov 26, 2024

That’s some cool character for a first deer. Back in my day, a first deer was a spike that dad didn’t want to tag, but wanted off the property…

vortexyz · Nov 26, 2024

hlee said:
That’s some cool character for a first deer. Back in my day, a first deer was a spike that dad didn’t want to tag, but wanted off the property…

Yeah he got lucky that this one walked out, we were going for a spike, but this guy walked out and fit the very small “not big enough to save for all the adults who hunt here, but old enough he probably won’t get much bigger” category.

BCP · Nov 26, 2024

Hunting from a stand or blind? A heavy barrel 223 using hunting ammo, there's several good off the shelf loadings that will work. Shouldn't kick too hard for an 8yr old if it has a little weight to it.

hlee · Nov 26, 2024

vortexyz said:
Yeah he got lucky that this one walked out, we were going for a spike, but this guy walked out and fit the very small “not big enough to save for all the adults who hunt here, but old enough he probably won’t get much bigger” category.

“Legal cull.” Both of my boys have benefitted from the rather lax “rules” of my deer lease. We get a “good buck” and a spike. They shoot my deer and the other guys on the lease are cool with the arrangement.

M_R_Woodard · Nov 26, 2024

My daughter just killed her first buck with a remington 700 223 shooting 73 grain eldms. Youth model stock and suppressed. Rifle was less than $600.00 plus chopping and threading.

Andrew863 · Nov 26, 2024

I would go Ruger american in 6.5 grendel.

wvfarrier · Nov 26, 2024

My 7 year old daughter hunts with a Rem 700 Tac in 300blk.

LuvDog · Nov 26, 2024

6 creed would be a great caliber, and as much as I like Tikka my concern would be LOP on a stock rifle, which means you’d need a chassis. And there are less used options for Tikka chassis than R700 clones. And resale on Tikka chassis isn’t quite as good either.

I think I’d be looking at Bergara and then find a chassis that goes really short. XLR goes really short.

And if it doesn’t work out for your son then it would be easy to sell

fdkay · Nov 26, 2024

Howa mini action, 6 ARC.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/155131/lsi+howa-legacy+mini+hti+6mmarc+20+hb+black

Charger442 · Nov 26, 2024

im going old school for my 8yo girl hunting rifle, back to an old uncles first rifle in 30-40 Krag.

gotta love the classics

ma smith · Nov 26, 2024

77 TMK + in a .223.

Franko · Nov 26, 2024

There have already been all kinds of good suggestions so I am going to go at this from a different direction. Have you considered letting him use your .270 with some reduced recoil ammo?

sandhiller · Nov 26, 2024

My boys are long grown but they all started out with the same Remington Model 7 Youth in .243.

It sits in my safe waiting for my oldest grandson to use on his first deer hunt.

I'm kind of a traditional caliber guy and I think the little .243 is an excellent starter caliber.

stello1001 · Nov 26, 2024

I am also going to suggest grendel, 6arc, 22 arc, or even 300BO.

I'm sure you can find some ruger Americans or even a howa.

EXSOCAL · Nov 26, 2024

I've built a few youth rifles for customers in 6CM, 6 Dasher, 243 Win and 22 Creed. The customer's son I built the Dasher for just anchored a big cow elk at 280 yards with it, dropped in its tracks, kiddo is a helluva shot.

Any of the 6's are a great choice. I'd step up from .22 cal centerfires if possible. The Grendel would be another good one.

jetjock07 · Nov 26, 2024

My son was 7 and his first deer was with 223 using TTSX. Next year he was shooting a 6.5 Grendel. I would think 6ARC would be good too.

longrange772 · Nov 26, 2024

sandhiller said:
My boys are long grown but they all started out with the same Remington Model 7 Youth in .243.

It sits in my safe waiting for my oldest grandson to use on his first deer hunt.

I'm kind of a traditional caliber guy and I think the little .243 is an excellent starter caliber.

I second .243 or at least the calibers in the 9-12 ft/lb of recoil range.

Rifle Recoil Table: Updated for 2024 with all popular cartridges – Backfire

backfire.tv

I bought a .223 for my son and quickly grew past it in terms of handling recoil. Going with those slightly larger calibers gets you more solidly in the middle size game territory. If you handload, they can be loaded for lighter recoil until he grows more. Also, I have seen some lower recoil ammo available for various calibers if you buy off the shelf.

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

Bsnyder said:
Ruger American gen 2 6 arc.

I really don't want another caliber to load for though. Thats why I haven't looked at 6arc

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

powdahound76 said:
Dont overlook 6.5 grendel or 6 arc.
.223?
300 BO with 110 supers?

My daughter ended up with a chassis and AR buttstock to get LOP right for her.

Howa 1500 can be had for a deal I am pretty sure.
Ruger American maybe? (Pretty sure they make a youth model stock).

Trying to stay in a caliber I already load for

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

powdahound76 said:
Do you have an accurate 16” AR?

Im fixin to try some of the AAC 556 with 70 gr barnes in one of mine.
That should work fine on AL deer.
Or 77 TMK.

One of the 16” ARs here is set up with a MLOK arca section for tripod use.
Now sports the magpul DT PR stock with a riser (really nice fit, easy to adj LOP).
My daughter has claimed it as her own…..

Yeah I've got an AR he could use with a 16" barrel and right handed. I'm a little unsure about a .233 for deer hunting though. I'm not apposed to it but pretty sure he will quickly want a bigger caliber anyway so I hoped he could shoot this for 3 or 4 years then little brother could. I have thought about that and it's a last resort at this point.

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

whatsupdoc said:
94 in 30-30 will beat the crap out of an 8 year old.

Yeah that's way to much for now

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

hlee said:
My son took his first deer, a nice size 10 pt, with an AR15 chambered in 223. I hand loaded some 62gr Barnes TSX for it, and would not feel under-gunned for white tailed deer, anywhere legal for the cartridge.

A collapsible stock means it is easily made to be shootable by a child or an adult in seconds.

Yall may convince me of this. If he didn't have a Christmas list already that doesn't include a rifle, I may be more inclined to get an origin action and barrel and put it in a chassis so I could swap barrels later for 6cm but the ar may be the way for now. Need to swap trigger in that one but no biggie there.

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

BCP said:
Hunting from a stand or blind? A heavy barrel 223 using hunting ammo, there's several good off the shelf loadings that will work. Shouldn't kick too hard for an 8yr old if it has a little weight to it.

Yeah he shoots 223 now. It will be from a blind so not carrying it a long way, but I'd like for it to not be too heavy for future use and not only for hunting deer her in AL, if possible.

Franko · Nov 26, 2024

BuildingConceptsllc said:
Yall may convince me of this. If he didn't have a Christmas list already that doesn't include a rifle, I may be more inclined to get an origin action and barrel and put it in a chassis so I could swap barrels later for 6cm but the ar may be the way for now. Need to swap trigger in that one but no biggie there.

If you need any convincing on 22 caliber bullets for deer you can take a look at some of the photos in this Rokslide thread. It's huge but worth it.

.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET. “Bullets matter more than headstamps.” “Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”. I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened. The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223...

rokslide.com

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

Franko said:
There have already been all kinds of good suggestions so I am going to go at this from a different direction. Have you considered letting him use your .270 with some reduced recoil ammo?

I did think about that but I don't really know what that would look like. Again, I also would like to keep it to rounds I load for so he could shoot more later with it but of course I could load .270 too. Are there decent factory options for reduced recoil ammo in
270? I also haven't bought factory ammo in quite a while.

Franko · Nov 26, 2024

BuildingConceptsllc said:
I did think about that but I don't really know what that would look like. Again, I also would like to keep it to rounds I load for so he could shoot more later with it but of course I could load .270 too. Are there decent factory options for reduced recoil ammo in
270? I also haven't bought factory ammo in quite a while.

Not sure on the reduced recoil factory as I reload as well. A quick google search shows that Barnes and HSM makes some.

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 26, 2024

Franko said:
If you need any convincing on 22 caliber bullets for deer you can take a look at some of the photos in this Rokslide thread. It's huge but worth it.

.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET. “Bullets matter more than headstamps.” “Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”. I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened. The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223...

rokslide.com

Yeah I've seen it before. That may be my best bet and not have to buy another rifle. I'd much rather him hunt with a bolt gun just for accuracy but I'm reasonably sure he can be consistent with my ar and of course I have everything I need to load for it, just need to get a good 75gr hunting bullet for it. I already shoot a few 75gr bullets in all my ar's so that would be an easy button for sure

powdahound76 · Nov 26, 2024

BuildingConceptsllc said:
Yeah I've got an AR he could use with a 16" barrel and right handed. I'm a little unsure about a .233 for deer hunting though. I'm not apposed to it but pretty sure he will quickly want a bigger caliber anyway so I hoped he could shoot this for 3 or 4 years then little brother could. I have thought about that and it's a last resort at this point.

223 works dandy.

16” CLE barrel with 77 SMK and 1-4 lpvo did this work.
Her first time hunting. 2 deer in 2 seconds.

Now wears an LRHS 3-12 and offset red dot.
And that new magpul DT PR stock.
That buck made it 25 yds and stumbled and fell over.
Doe was a ventricle heart shot and still made 60 yds like a rocket.

Will swap to 70 gr or lighter barnes and use the AR again.

or Origins are on 15% off on Brownells.

BCP · Nov 26, 2024

223 with 55gr soft points will kill deer, if he needs a larger caliber rifle a few years from now you can always loan him one (or buy another).

TheJeanyus · Nov 27, 2024

I believe it was Euro Optic that had Tikka T3X Compacts in 243 on sale in their email ad a few days ago. I was tempted to get one for my sons even though they already have plenty of other options. If we didn't have those options I would have jumped on the little T3X Compact for sure. The great thing about the Tikka is that when they grow up they can choose from a variety of stocks/chassis and slap a prefit barrel on it if they want something other than a short 243. Not many rifles in that price range (I think it was $649) with an action that nice that you can do that with.

rd_kng · Nov 27, 2024

Since you seem to want to stay with a caliber you currently load for, I would suggest the Ruger American Gen ll in either 6CM or 6.5 CM. If you go with the 6.5 CM you can get the Ranch version with a shorter barrel if that hel[ps him. Not a lot of money and great resale value if he isn't into it. Good luck. Enjoy the time with him. They grow up fast.

DeathBeforeDismount · Nov 27, 2024

BuildingConceptsllc said:
Trying to stay in a caliber I already load for

Buy 5 boxes of ammo and you will have enough for him to hunt until he is 18.

dk17hmr · Nov 27, 2024

BuildingConceptsllc said:
I did think about that but I don't really know what that would look like. Again, I also would like to keep it to rounds I load for so he could shoot more later with it but of course I could load .270 too. Are there decent factory options for reduced recoil ammo in
270? I also haven't bought factory ammo in quite a while.

IMR/Hodgon has Reduced recoil 270 win loads listed in their online load data. 110gr and 120gr going about 2500fps.... Turn that rifle into a 6.8spc they work great on deer.

My son used a 16" 300blk for his first deer when he was 8. At the time the only 6.8 upper I had was an 11.3" and it was a last minute trip so I didn't have time to file paper work on my SBR or he would have used that.

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 27, 2024

DeathBeforeDismount said:
Buy 5 boxes of ammo and you will have enough for him to hunt until he is 18.

Yeah but since almost all my other rifles are now lefty, I'd like for this one to be a rifle he can go shoot with me at the range too. The rugar American may be my best bet or a Tikka if I can find one in 6cm

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 27, 2024

TheJeanyus said:
I believe it was Euro Optic that had Tikka T3X Compacts in 243 on sale in their email ad a few days ago. I was tempted to get one for my sons even though they already have plenty of other options. If we didn't have those options I would have jumped on the little T3X Compact for sure. The great thing about the Tikka is that when they grow up they can choose from a variety of stocks/chassis and slap a prefit barrel on it if they want something other than a short 243. Not many rifles in that price range (I think it was $649) with an action that nice that you can do that with.

Yeah I really would be interested in that Tikka if I could find one in 6cm. I just don't want yet another caliber to load

BuildingConceptsllc · Nov 27, 2024

dk17hmr said:
IMR/Hodgon has Reduced recoil 270 win loads listed in their online load data. 110gr and 120gr going about 2500fps.... Turn that rifle into a 6.8spc they work great on deer.

My son used a 16" 300blk for his first deer when he was 8. At the time the only 6.8 upper I had was an 11.3" and it was a last minute trip so I didn't have time to file paper work on my SBR or he would have used that.

Yeah I thought about letting him shoot my 9mm mpx but not sure that's legal. He shoots it really well though

kthomas · Nov 27, 2024

What about finding a cheap used hunting rifle in .243?

The biggest issue for an 8 y/o is going to be finding a rifle with proper LOP.

Punkur67 · Nov 27, 2024

I built my 7yo son a Zeus with Quick change barrel option and a MPA chassis with short lop buttstock. This is a bit over the top for a 7yo but I did it for 2 reasons. Number 1 he has a rifle he can grow in to a use for anything for the rest of his life. Number 2, he can use any of my barrels for his needs. He is currently shooting it with .223. I will probably throw my dasher barrel on it for his first deer hunt.

Maggot · Nov 27, 2024

powdahound76 said:
Do you have an accurate 16” AR?

Im fixin to try some of the AAC 556 with 70 gr barnes in one of mine.
That should work fine on AL deer.
Or 77 TMK.

One of the 16” ARs here is set up with a MLOK arca section for tripod use.
Now sports the magpul DT PR stock with a riser (really nice fit, easy to adj LOP).
My daughter has claimed it as her own…..

I've been shooting the AAC 77 OTM and its more accurate than the 77 gr Black Hills, Remington, or Norma. The price is right.

Having trouble using the site?

Recs for 8 yr old first hunting rifle????.

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