Kids first deer hunt and recoil....

[Rembrandt]

Have introduced many younger family members to deer hunting and have yet to find the perfect solution to remedy heavy recoil and flinching for youngsters. I'm talking about 8-10 year old's, (boys and girls).

So far the best I've come up with is to have them practice with .22's and conduct dry fire exercises....but never pull the trigger on a heavier load till the moment the deer goes down. This results in a startled look and reaction.....but with the animal down it's soon forgotten.

Several experiences training with heavier recoil has resulted in the kids closing their eyes in anticipation of the blast and many misses.

What's your experience?

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

.243?

 

[dzelenka]

My daughter was a pretty small child (even at 22 she is only 5' 2" and 110 lbs). I bought her a model 7 in .260 to hunt deer when she was 10. We practiced with 85 gr HPs over some SR4759 for about 2200 fps and no recoil. For deer hunting, I loaded a 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip over 32.0 H4895. It ran about 2375 fps, about the same as a 6.5 JDJ. 2" high at 100 = 2" low at 200. She has a string of 1 shot kills. Recoil, even in that light rifle is negligible. When my 11 year old neice wanted to start deer hunting, I found a Model 700 youth in 7-08. Loaded 35.0 gr H4895 under a 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip. She killed 3 her first weekend. All 1 shot kills. I am not a .243 fan for neophytes. The bigger, heavier bullets of the .260 and 7-08 at moderate velocity work superbly.

 

[Sako Shooter]

If you have the money for 2 rifles, let them practice with a .222/.223. That way they get the feel for a centerfire rifle. Then use .243 while hunting and they won't feel it. For some reason, a lot of people say a .243 has no recoil -but my lighweight X-Bolt does have significant recoil and even I develop a flinch after 10 or so shots.

 

[tango2echo]

Exactly what he said (post #3). I actually prefer a .270 with a 130gr Nosler BT at 2200fps for kids. Out of a 8lb rifle recoil is only around 4-5ftlbs and the impulse is pretty long. A friends kid will be 5 and 9 months in October and he is shooting a .270 from the bench every week this summer with that load getting ready for his first deer this year.

I don't have anything against a .223 or .243, but a .260/.270/.7mm-08 will be more useful down the road.

t2e

 

[DeepSouth]

.243?

BINGO!!
Exactly what I was thinking as I read the post.

My son was shooting a 308 in matches at 10 years old, but he wouldn't shoot it without wearing a shoulder pad like this one. With that on hes said the 308 felt like a 22LR. But like I said the 243would be my first choice, the noise bothers them more than the recoil. If the recoil is still enough to bother them get the shoulder pad.

 

[AKElroy]

LOP and proper fit will help build confidence around recoil issues. My 9 year old is getting comfortable with his HR Handy rifle in .243. It has a short LOP and very trim overall length. I plan to let him take his first deer this year.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

My nephew will be 6 this fall...Last fall, my brother bought him a single shot .243. Of a good rest, he can put all his shots in a 8 x 11 sheet of paper at 75 yards.

 

[Rembrandt]

Good rifle recommendations......unfortunately we're in a no rifle state for deer. Shotguns only here....and slugs are brutal even for adults. Minimum we can use is 20 gauge.

 

[Art Eatman]

Several of these modern butt pads make a really big difference in felt recoil. Definitely worth the money.

For instance, my 700Ti only weighs 6.5 pounds. 7mm08, which isn't particularly different from a .308 for recoil. Yet, at the bench, it's not a problem. A better pad than for any other rifle I've ever used.

 

[wankerjake]

Good rifle recommendations......unfortunately we're in a no rifle state for deer. Shotguns only here....and slugs are brutal even for adults. Minimum we can use is 20 gauge.

I see, yeah slugs pack a punch. I like the 22 idea for practice. They won't even notice the slug recoil when shooting at a deer. At least I don't.

 

[tommyintx]

a .243 is a great choice. even if you're not interested in reloading, a managed recoil or youth commercial load combined with a good butt-pad on the stock will tame it down quite a bit, and when stepping to a full house 70-100 grain bullet and velocity load for hunting, the difference will be minimal, combined with the adrenaline running through them and excitement, they probably won't even notice.

 

[MtnCreek]

Good rifle recommendations......unfortunately we're in a no rifle state for deer. Shotguns only here....and slugs are brutal even for adults. Minimum we can use is 20 gauge.

Muzzle loaders OK for deer in your area? If so, consider a small frame .45 rifle/carbine.

 

[pikid89]

try perhaps an 870 youth express with the rifled barrel...somewhere i recall seeing reduced recoil slugs for sale..aha http://www.thegunsandgearstore.com/...e-inch-1275-ounce-lead-sabot-slug-p-1940.html

try these in a smooth bore....http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/34868-5.html

 

[Cob]

It's shotgun only (with slug) on US Corps of Engineers land i routinely hunt for deer. - I let 8 year old son shoot shotgun with 2 3/4 inch, 8 shot to get a feel for it, practicing for turkey seaon... then i slipped in 3 inch, 4 shot for actual hunt.

Also let son practice for deer with .223, then let him hunt with it on doe days last year... he missed the deer he shot at. it's the only rifle he would agree to shoot, bc of low recoil. (on different tract of private land)- other son used a .30-30 to kill his first deer, he said he never felt the recoil.

I'm always on stand-by with heavier rifle (.270 for back-up.)

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I'd add a limbsaver recoil pad onto the rifle of choice. I've used them and found a 40 percent preceived reductuon in recoil. I've used Remington Managed recoil and it feels like a 50 percent reduction. I had a lever action w the Remington managed recoil rounds feel like I was shioting a semi auto 223. Between these two things you can likely have a recoil that will work well for your son.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

20 gauge semi-auto would be my first choice.

A good 45 cal muzzle loader would be second.

 

[fallout mike]

Have any of you guys shot a rossi youth .243 or 7mm-08? I was thinking about one of those 4 barrel combos for my 6 year old. He has the .22 and .410 combo. He's really accurate with the .22 but I haven't let him shoot the .410 yet. I shot it with bird shot and it felt like a 12 gauge. They are extremely light guns.

 

[pikid89]

if your contemplating the rossi look into the NEF/ H&R guns...they are almost as affordable, and they are american made, from what i hear they are pretty accurate, and dont have extruded barrels like the Rossis have