Youth 243???

[jhmiles]

I'm looking for a youth 243 for by two boys 12&9, they have only shot 22lr
until now. I've looked @ savage 10GY, remington 700 ADL&SPS Model 7,
weatherby vanguard compact, H&R handi rifle. Anything else I should
consider? Any real difference in quality?

Thanks for your suggestions:
Jim

 

[Smitty in CT]

Mossberg makes two of them, one of them the "Super-Bantam" concept that they use on their shotguns, with spacers in the stock to add as the kids grow, and a Walnut version.

I bought my son one of the Walnut versions for this fall's deer season in PA, but it has a 20" barrel, not 22" like the photo says...

Winchester 55g .243 ballistic tips are very nice, recoil isn't too bad, they make a nice transition from rim-fire to ctr-fire for the kids....they're a little pricey, though...

 

[45Badger]

My 12 year old uses the 700 adl youth model. It's tack driver with handloads. Recoil is moderate, and he can shoot 4" groups off hand at 100 yards. Off a bench and bag, he's sub 1". Good enough for any deer we'll ever see. We use a Blackhawk cheek pad to get his head lined up with scope.

 

[mustanger98]

The Remington Model 7 is about as close as I can recommend. I know a petite lady who shoots one in .260 and likes it as her deer rifle.

I like the H&R HandiRifle as much as anyone who likes it, but I've heard of ejection problems and my theory is they're mostly with rimless cartridges. My H&R's have all been chambered for rimmed cartridges and haven't displayed any problems.

Savage's Model 11G comes to mind, but it's an adult sized rifle. Mine has iron sights on the barrel. Until I can figure out the right set of apertures, that's how it'll stay.

 

[Joe Demko]

The Remington Model 600 and the only slightly different Mohawk 600 were both made in .243. If you look around they turn up on the used racks and are absolutely outstanding youth .243's. They're light, handy and accurate. Just make sure they have the post-recall trigger.

 

[rangerruck]

smitty has it right on here, the super bantam you can grow into, and fire as an adult easy, with thespacers. Basspro is selling this in a combo pack right now, in houston, that is with boresighted scope, and all spacers, for 300 bucks.
If I didn't allready have a 243, i would jump all over this.

 

[jcord]

I own a Remington 700 youth in 243. I bought it because it had iron sights. I will not buy a rifle that doesn't have iron sights. I like the light weight and it is accurate. Cost was about 300.00 Walmart closeout sale.

My only dislike is the cheasy plastic trigger guard. I order an aluminum replacement from Midway.

 

[Big Daddy K]

Dont skimp unless ya have to. I have a Rossi 243 youth. Man for what I spent on bullets getting it to shoot decent I could have bought a nice 700 or something.

 

[Mr White]

I have a Rem 700 in .243 with a 20" barrel and youth stock that my boys, 12 & 10, use. The small stock fits them well but it still fits me well enough that I load it up with 55gr bullets and use it as my primary groundhog gun.

I figure once the kids outgrow the youth stock, I'll put a good composite stock on it and maybe a longer barrel.

 

[chad1043]

H&R Ultra Hunter .243, won't break the bank and you can get different barrels including shotgun...

Chad

 

[ernunnos]

The Steyr ProHunter has removable stock spacers and the Mountain Rifle version has a handy 20" barrel. In .243 it's my coyote gun.