Daughters First Gun - The Firearms Forum

Dabourg · 05-07-2003, 10:38 PM

My oldest, 13-year old girl, will be hunting this year for the first time. She does not like the kick of a 20 gauge shot gun! I am looking for a deer rifle with a light kick but yet heavy enough for hunting cedar swamps in Upper Michigan. Typical gun in these parts is a 30-30, 308, 270, or 30:06.

I was thinking of a 243, 257, or a 25:06. Can anybody fill me in on how much these calibers kick or give me suggestions for other calibers? 125-yard max shot - 50 yards more typical.

Thanks - Dabourg

bigboom338 · 05-08-2003, 12:48 AM

Dabourg, welcome to TFF. It's been a long time since I have shot a 243 or 25-06 but as I remember nither one of them kick too bad. That being said I am a Magnum shooter from way back. I bought my daughter an H&R break action in .280 last year and she does well with it. Just remember in the winter she will have alot of clothes on . Good luck in your search.

05-08-2003, 08:59 AM

125 yards max is within the limits of the 30-30 also. Don't know if that would kick to much for your daughter or not.

I know it would be to much for my daughter who is 13. I know bigboom338's 13 year old daughter as well and she would probably be able to shoot a 30-30 so it really does depend on the person.

05-10-2003, 07:54 AM

Go with the .243...light recoil, flat shooting, use 100 gr bullets. You can find a nice light youth model and she will be set.

swede

wuzzagrunt · 05-11-2003, 10:27 AM

I'm one of those folks who believes most people try to substitute more gun for marksmanship. For elk, one would be better served with a .243 (assuming proper bullet selection) that you can shoot well and know well enough to understand it's limitations than a .375 mag that has you flinching and pulling your shots all over the woods. Not that .243 is a good elk cartridge.

A .243 or a .260 Rem (6.5-08) are fine whiitetail guns and are fairly mild to shoot. In a Remington Model Seven, they are awesome.
Chuck Hawks Rifle Cartridge Page will give some good recoil/ballistic comparrison information. You might disagree with some of the opinions expressed by Mr. Hawks but remember: you'd be disagreeing with him--not me.

Also, stock fit/design has a great deal to do with perceived recoil.

bigboom338 · 05-12-2003, 07:59 AM

I'm one of those folks who believes most people try to substitute more gun for marksmanship. For elk, one would be better served with a .243 (assuming proper bullet selection) that you can shoot well and know well enough to understand it's limitations than a .375 mag that has you flinching and pulling your shots all over the woods. Not that .243 is a good elk cartridge

Well put Wazzagrunt.

wuzzagrunt · 05-12-2003, 11:13 PM

Actually, I should have said: "I'm one of those folks who believes too many people try to substitute more gun for marksmanship....."

I really have no idea whether most people do that.

05-07-2003, 10:38 PM	#1
Dabourg Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan's UP Posts: 3	Daughters First Gun My oldest, 13-year old girl, will be hunting this year for the first time. She does not like the kick of a 20 gauge shot gun! I am looking for a deer rifle with a light kick but yet heavy enough for hunting cedar swamps in Upper Michigan. Typical gun in these parts is a 30-30, 308, 270, or 30:06. I was thinking of a 243, 257, or a 25:06. Can anybody fill me in on how much these calibers kick or give me suggestions for other calibers? 125-yard max shot - 50 yards more typical. Thanks - Dabourg -->

05-08-2003, 12:48 AM	#2
bigboom338 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Dakota Posts: 399	Dabourg, welcome to TFF. It's been a long time since I have shot a 243 or 25-06 but as I remember nither one of them kick too bad. That being said I am a Magnum shooter from way back. I bought my daughter an H&R break action in .280 last year and she does well with it. Just remember in the winter she will have alot of clothes on . Good luck in your search. __________________ "Aim Small Miss Small"

05-12-2003, 07:59 AM	#6
bigboom338 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Dakota Posts: 399	I'm one of those folks who believes most people try to substitute more gun for marksmanship. For elk, one would be better served with a .243 (assuming proper bullet selection) that you can shoot well and know well enough to understand it's limitations than a .375 mag that has you flinching and pulling your shots all over the woods. Not that .243 is a good elk cartridge Well put Wazzagrunt. __________________ "Aim Small Miss Small"

05-12-2003, 11:13 PM	#7
wuzzagrunt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 369	Thank you sir! Actually, I should have said: "I'm one of those folks who believes too many people try to substitute more gun for marksmanship....." I really have no idea whether most people do that.

05-08-2003, 08:59 AM	#3
warpig Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	125 yards max is within the limits of the 30-30 also. Don't know if that would kick to much for your daughter or not. I know it would be to much for my daughter who is 13. I know bigboom338's 13 year old daughter as well and she would probably be able to shoot a 30-30 so it really does depend on the person.

05-10-2003, 07:54 AM	#4
WyomingSwede Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Go with the .243...light recoil, flat shooting, use 100 gr bullets. You can find a nice light youth model and she will be set. swede

05-11-2003, 10:27 AM	#5
wuzzagrunt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 369	I'm one of those folks who believes most people try to substitute more gun for marksmanship. For elk, one would be better served with a .243 (assuming proper bullet selection) that you can shoot well and know well enough to understand it's limitations than a .375 mag that has you flinching and pulling your shots all over the woods. Not that .243 is a good elk cartridge. A .243 or a .260 Rem (6.5-08) are fine whiitetail guns and are fairly mild to shoot. In a Remington Model Seven, they are awesome. Chuck Hawks Rifle Cartridge Page will give some good recoil/ballistic comparrison information. You might disagree with some of the opinions expressed by Mr. Hawks but remember: you'd be disagreeing with him--not me. Also, stock fit/design has a great deal to do with perceived recoil.