Son wants to hunt deer. YEAH!

[Intimid8tor]

Son decided he wants to hunt this year. Looking at options for a rifle of his own.

He's 10, 78lbs, 4'8".

7mm-08 is the chosen cartridge unless I decide to load some softer loads for a .308 Ruger American Predator.

I don't want to argue the cartridge though I am sure there will he some of that.

He's a lefty and I would prefer to put him into a youth sized rifle.

Option 1. Forgo the youth rifle and let him shoot my ruger 308 and load some lighter loads. It's not left handed and length of pull is a tad long. Upside is I already have it.

Option 2. Savage 11 youth left handed 7mm-08 on hold at Sportsmans Warehouse down the street. Will be $500 otd after rebate and tax. Comes with Nikon scope which should be fine for a bit. Built on a savage 11 action so can upgrade later.

Option 3. Remington 700sps left hand 7mm-08 at Buds Guns. Will be about $550 OTD but will have to out glass on it.

Let's hear it. Which way to go?

Perspective from parents who have gone through this is a plus.


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[ElvenSoul]

TC, Savage, and Mossberg have good youth sizes.

[Intimid8tor]

TC, Savage, and Mossberg have good youth sizes.

There are some good youth options. Left handed is a challenge.

Ideal would be left handed, 7mm-08, youth size, good support for aftermarket stock and a threaded barrel so I can put my can on it.

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[ElvenSoul]

There are some good youth options. Left handed is a challenge.

Ideal would be left handed, 7mm-08, youth size, good support for aftermarket stock and a threaded barrel so I can put my can on it.

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I guess TC does not make a left hand youth. I recommend then over Savage and others due to the more mass/weight. Easier for Youth Shooter to control.

[TMB 1]

Option 2

[Calif Hunter]

Go with option 2. Can always go to a larger stock as he grows.

[AdiosKali]

http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/16977.html

Recoil isn't bad and stock is inexpensive enough to cut down then upgrade to a Boyds when he gets older. The recoil should be similar to a .260 Rem which my daughter was shooting at 10. She took deer and antelope with it.

[Divernhunter]

Savage all the way. Later get a full sized stock off ebay or where ever. Also later get a Leupold on it.

PS---Glad he wants to hunt and 7-08 is a good choice.

[Horrendo Revolver]

I have two children that started hunting young, a boy and a girl. Under no circumstances would I start a child out with an adult stock. Tried 7mm-08 with first child and had to go down to .243. Started child number two with a .243.

[edgerly779]

243 at that age ammo cheaper and more availability unless you get dies

[elk hunter]

If you have the time before hunting season you could get a left hand bolt action for him. If it's a wood stock it can be cut down to fit, be sure to save the piece that's cut out you can have it re attached later when he grows. I have seen this done on laminated stocks and if done right it's hard to detect you lose about 1/4" which is not critical. If it's a plastic/composite stock you could get a Boyd's and go that way. Pick the caliber you want but if it were me and being your a handloader I would go with something with a bit more punch for when he grows up, maybe a 30-06 or a 7mm Rem Mag, .270 Win, .280 Rem. something like that. Load them down for young then a few years later load them up to full potential. I see you live in ID so you and he could hunt elk and the more powerful cartridge will work great for that. If your going to hunt this season you probably don't have a lot of time before you start hunting. Kids are pretty adaptable so you might have to get by this season with something that isn't ideal but I would bet money he can do it. What ever you end up doing enjoy your time with him and have a safe hunt.

elk hunter

[k1dude]

Many lefties prefer a right handed bolt. As long as you aren't running and gunning with a bolt action, he should be OK with a right handed bolt action. Millions of lefties learned and shot right handed bolts for more than a century in the world's militaries and still do to this day. Staying righty opens up possibilities that will benefit him his whole life. Since he's young and doesn't know any better, he'll adapt quickly and never know the difference.

You might consider something like the Ruger Gunsite Scout. IIRC, it comes with a big ol' buttstock spacer that can be easily removed. Then when he gets older and bigger, he can put the spacer back in. A scout rifle will also be easy for him to carry and maneuver compared to longer traditional hunting rifles. Same with rifles like the Mossberg MVP Patrol.

[iDog]

I'm a lefty, my first bolt action was a savage 110 in 30.06, which I no longer have. My recommendation is to use a regular "right handed" bolt. As lefties, we already learn and adapt to using things designed for right handed people and I actually prefer this configuration. Going with a right handed rifle gives you more options and if you ever sell/trade it will be easier than trying to get rid of a lefty gun.

My $0.2

I also have that Ruger rifle and like it a lot. It's light and I think it would be well managed by a kid. He only has to take a few shots, not exactly laying covering fire, so if he can handle it I'd save the money and go with what you got! Either way he will grow into it soon

[aspenvalley]

I am looking at getting a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 youth for a kids deer rifle. I have righties and lefts. I have 3 Kids that want to hunt next year.

One will be able to use a Rossi 243 handy style rifle I got cheap. It's not pretty, my son can get it to shoot minute of deer and it does not kick to bad.

[Intimid8tor]

I'm a lefty so I understand the challenges of finding lefty rifles.

All my rifles except one are right hand rifles. I would prefer to get him a lefty if I can. I know it will be harder to sell, but I'm not overly concerned about it.

As far as 7mm-08 vs 6.5cm I have thought a lot about that. Both rounds have a good following. At the distance he will be shooting, the 7mm-08 will have more energy.... and more recoil.

I keep an eye on the used market and will continue to do so.

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