help w/youth rifle

Originally Posted By: DumbasapostI saw somebody mentioned the 7mm-08. I'm curious what experience people have with this caliber for their kids? I was curious what type of recoil it would have in a youth sized rifle? I saw a model 7 in 7mm-08 and it was a great looking rifle though a bit pricey compared to the Howa and some of the other youth guns available. Thanks

i have had a Browning A-bolt Microhunter in 7mm 08 since i was about ten. honestly, when i first got it, it hurt, and my shoulders bruised. now, i was/am tolerant of it, mainly because what i get out of it is well worth it. i might have a bit of a high tolerence, though, since i started with my 20 guage at about 7. you really get used to the recoil, though, i think your kid would love it, and some padding in the back helps too.

some other guns that are about the same recoil as 7mm 08:
KAR98
870 Remington (20) (ym)
M1 Garand (gas operated, so absorbs a lot of the recoil)

i would rent one for your kid to see if it isn't too much, first.
 
Thanks TribalJake for sharing your experience. I did see that Browning is now also offering a 7mm-08 in the BAR configuration. That would probably be a great combination, an auto 7-08, though again on the high side for price.
 
Here's Jake last fall on a Maryland black bear hunt with his Micro Hunter 7mm-08.

jakebear-14.jpg
 
Remington makes a Managed Recoil load in 140 gr. Core-Lokt in the 7mm08 claiming half the recoil. The 7mm08 alone is mild, but this would be the ticket in my opinion in a small frame bolt gun. 7mm08 is a great cartridge from youth to adult for deer sized game.
 
I just picked up my son a Marlin XS7Y in 7mm-08. I plan on starting him out with the Managed Recoil loads from Remington and then move up from there. I have got to get the rifle topped with a decent scope and then we will see what it will do. If you can believe the ballistic charts, the 140 grain psp managed recoil 7mm-08 has less energy and velocity at the muzzle than a 100 grain .243. I'm guessing that should give a pretty mild recoil in gun that should weigh about seven pounds with scope and rings.
 
Bill B. - Let us know how that Marlin XSY7 works for your son. I have read a couple of articles that speak pretty highly of the newer Marlins. As AECOREY mentioned, with these new managed recoil loads with a small frame bolt would be a nice set up.
 
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Will do. I've got a VX-II on order right now for the rifle. Once I get that on the rifle I'll get some targets up and tell you how it does.
 
Head up to the Firearms section for a photo of the Marlin XS7Y now with scope. Hopefully, some range time this weekend and I'll report back.
 
Bushmaster makes the 15 R21 AR in .223, with scope and full mag it comes out to 5.5 lbs. for a little more, you can have it painted.
I use light bullets and light loads for my 6 year-old.

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Originally Posted By: skeeter20iI need to find a rifle for my 11 y.o. What brand/model did you get your kids to use for coyotes, deer, etc? I did buy him an AR w/6 pos stock, but its too heavy for him to carry around and stuff. In fact, even using a monopod it starts getting wobbly after 5 min or so. We have 2 more boys that will be moving into the gun after him w/in the next few yrs, so this will definitely be a transitional rifle.
 
Re: 7mm-08, its got more kick than a 260. A 260 rem might be the perfect all-around rifle for a kid. you can use light bullets 85-110 gr for everything up to Deer. Rem came out with a special edition for 2008 which is a real beauty and very accurate too.
 
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I was originally looking for a Rem model 7 youth in .260 for my son but didn't have any luck.

I'm going to line the 7mm-08 out with Remington managed recoil 140 grain core lokt rounds. When my son gets a little bigger in size I figure he can go to full loads. If he doesn't like the rifle or it doesn't perform well I'll jack up the Leupold and slide a different rifle under it.
 
Guys,
I posted up a range report on the Marlin XS7Y in the Firearms section.

Anyone interested go up there and take a look. I'm very pleased with this rifle.
 
I bought my son the Rossi with the 223 and 20 guage barrels. The gun has worked well for us, though some others have had trouble with the firing pin. He killed a yote this past January with it. It is nice being able to switch the barrels and have two guns for the price of one. It is a single shot and a real good learning gun.
 
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my first rifle was a Remington model 7 6mm. this gun is an amazing. i like it more than any of my other guns actually and most likely always will its a very solid and durable gun. the stock is normal size so you can use it even when they gett bigger. i first shot it when i was 8 and im 17 now and still love the gun. it has a short barrel and is very light throw a good scope on it and its a hard gun to beat you can use it for just about anything. Ive killed deer, turkeys, coyotes, ground hogs and just about whatever else you can thing of with it it does some good damage for a smaller gun. as a youth myself i would recommend this gun
 
I went with a 700adl in 243 from wally world. scoped it was 400.00 I loaded
up a bunch of reduced recoil rounds with accurate 5744 17 grains with an
80 grain at 1900 fps. She got used to the gun right quick. I also put a limb
saver recoil pad on it. Went with a 85 grain barnes for hunting season and
she took a whitey and a coyote with no complaints. The difference in the
youth model wasn't enough to fool with. If she stays with the hunting I will
build her a 6.5 on the action.
 
I would go with ruger hawkeye in 7mm-08. I am tweleve and I just am in love with this gun, It is accurete and fun to shoot and kicks like a 243. My brother who just turned 9 killed his 1st and 2nd deer with it this year and I killed number 7 and 8 and while we where deer hunting dad killed a bobcat with it but it was small and at 20 yards the exit hole was about as big as my head.lol. it has never missed
 
I would go with ruger hawkeye in 7mm-08. I am tweleve and I just am in love with this gun, It is accurete and fun to shoot and kicks like a 243. My brother who just turned 9 killed his 1st and 2nd deer with it this year and I killed number 7 and 8 and while we where deer hunting dad killed a bobcat with it but it was small and at 20 yards the exit hole was about as big as my head.lol. it has never missed
 
I would go with ruger hawkeye in 7mm-08. I am tweleve and I just am in love with this gun, It is accurete and fun to shoot and kicks like a 243. My brother who just turned 9 killed his 1st and 2nd deer with it this year and I killed number 7 and 8 and while we where deer hunting dad killed a bobcat with it but it was small and at 20 yards the exit hole was about as big as my head.lol. it has never missed
 
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