I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon looking at youth rifles. Looked at the mossberg youth rifle/scope combo, the savage axis xp combo, Remington 783, etc. I had hoped to find a 6.5 creedmoor in youth length, but no luck. I think I've settled on 243 due to ammo availability/price. Do any of you guys own one of those combos? Any suggestions on other combos to look at? I'm not limiting it to those, and would purchase the rifle/scope separately if I need to. Hoping to keep it under $500. My son is 7. Guessing he'll shoot this gun for the next 5-6 years then it will be passed to his sister.

Bought my eight year old son a Remington 783 in .243

Came with a scope but i replaced it with an extra one i had. The rifle is light enough he can handle it for the most part, the bolt moves easily for him and the recoil is light. Although after about 15-20 rounds he's had enough of it.

It's his first rifle and he's excited for deer season, all he can talk about.

I bought this rifle for my boys but it is at the upper end of your budget before you even add glass. It is a beautiful gun and a great shooter that can be passed on to future generations.
https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3-forest-243-win-10in-twist-224in-bbl-jrtf615.aspx

Back in the day , I wanted a second rifle but we were young with new baby's and broke. Only way I could pull it off was to get a youth and convince wife it was for newborn son. I got a basic wood stock Remington 700 (I think) youth 243 and saved up and put the most basic Leopold 3x 9 on it.

BEST Firearm investment I ever made. First it was perfect for the kids - small short stock very little recoil. Also the most accurate rifle I have - meaning I personally shoot more accurately with it than anything else. I am not a very big guy so it fits me fine, lightweight, and I am 100% confident pulling the trigger on any shot out to 200 +. I have harvested more game with it than anything I own - deer pigs coyotes fox bobcat Axis etc.

My 2cents

ag0207 said:

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I bought this rifle for my boys but it is at the upper end of your budget before you even add glass. It is a beautiful gun and a great shooter that can be passed on to future generations.
https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3-forest-243-win-10in-twist-224in-bbl-jrtf615.aspx

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Yea I looked at these but it doesn't say "youth" and I couldn't find length of pull anywhere. I'm ok spending most of that $$ on a gun. Worst case, I'll just use a scope I already have.

Look at tikka. I got a youth .243 for my 8 year old. I like it cause it is light and easy to pack. I think I spent $350 when it was on sale.

It's not a youth model but it is one they will easily grow into. I am not large framed & it is a very comfortable gun to shoot. I know you said you wanted something in .243 but another option is an AR platform with an adjustable stock. 6.5 Grendel would be great for what you are wanting but would probably go over your budget.

ag0207 said:

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......but another option is an AR platform with an adjustable stock. 6.5 Grendel would be great for what you are wanting but would probably go over your budget.

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This was what I was going to suggest as well. The adjustable stock and ability to swap out uppers will allow him to grow into it and hunt with it for the rest of his life. I have a buddy who's son's arms are too short for youth model rifles, but the collapsed stock on an AR fits him perfectly.

I built a 6.5 spc for that reason.

If you want a bolt gun I recommend the savage 10. It is the same plice as the Remington but it can be upgraded. Cheaply to a new stock and even a new caliber later.

Get a savage with the accu trigger.

Years ago I bought my son a youth model 700 SPS in .243. When he got older and taller i found a takeoff full size 700 SPS stock on fleabay. The shorter barrel makes it easier to maneuver in the blind.

CTGilley said:

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I built a 6.5 spc for that reason.

If you want a bolt gun I recommend the savage 10. It is the same plice as the Remington but it can be upgraded. Cheaply to a new stock and even a new caliber later.

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Savage 10 for the boy, Savage Rascal for his sister.

I've got a Remington 700 SPS in .243 circa 2000 production that I picked up for $350 from the Cabela's used rack a few years back. I was planning on tearing it down and doing a custom build at some point, but have decided against it at this point. Has a Bushnell Banner 6-18 on it. I'll sell it to you at cost if you are local to DFW and we can meet up, or cost + shipping if you aren't local. It's pretty basic, just the standard Tupperware black stock, but it has shot fine and is in good shape. PM me if you want pics.

I ordered this Ruger American in 6.5 a couple months ago. Although it doesn't have a youth designation, it has a 13.75 LoP (a Daisy Red Ryder apparently has a 13.25 LoP), so should fit a younger frame pretty well.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleGoWild/models.html

The 6.5 hasn't shipped yet, but I understand other calibers are available in this model.

13.5-13.75 is actually pretty much the standard LOP for bolt guns.

For example, the savage lady hunter has a LOP of 12.5

My first rifle was a Remington 700 .243

Has an old redfield scope on it. Got it whe. I was 7 and used it until i was 18. Funny thing is my dad started using it because he loves the scope and the light recoil

When my youngest was that age, I got him the Ruger Ranch Compact in .300BlK. It's an ideal LOP and shorter barrel to maneuver with. My oldest shoots a Ruger Gunsite Scout in .308. It has spacers you can add or remove to adjust stock length. Both shoot suppressed which really takes the bite of our shooting. I always felt they reacted more to report than reccoil. The louder the more they ask "does it kick?"

Another rifle I like and would consider today if I were doing it would be the CZ 527 Carbines in either 7.62x39 or 300BLk. These run $100-$200 more than the Rugers, Savages & Remmys mentioned in previous posts, but it's a much better quality rifle out of the box.

Buy a cheaper AR and an expensive scope. It will be a lot easier for them to handle and they will have no trouble killing deer with it. My 10 year old killed his first deer last year with a .223. It's all the gun he will ever need.

BTHOB-98 said:

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Buy a cheaper AR and an expensive scope. It will be a lot easier for them to handle and they will have no trouble killing deer with it. My 10 year old killed his first deer last year with a .223. It's all the gun he will ever need.

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Until he wounds one, you don't find it and he doesn't want to hunt anymore! Not saying a 223 won't kill deer. But, you need to be a little more open minded about what your limiting the kid to.....

Just saying....

NW80 said:

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BTHOB-98 said:

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Buy a cheaper AR and an expensive scope. It will be a lot easier for them to handle and they will have no trouble killing deer with it. My 10 year old killed his first deer last year with a .223. It's all the gun he will ever need.

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Until he wounds one, you don't find it and he doesn't want to hunt anymore! Not saying a 223 won't kill deer. But, you need to be a little more open minded about what your limiting the kid to.....

Just saying....

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This x1000. Although I do agree with an AR platform, I wouldn't hunt with a 223 when there are better options. I still don't have opinions on the 300 blackout for anything other than hogs, but I have nothing but good things to say about the Grendel round.

Buy a used Browning A-Bolt Micro-Medallion. Great youth rifle. Picked up a gently used one in .243 Win years ago at Burdett's and it proved to be a great starter.

I have my 8 year old shooting a 6.5 Grendel in an AR. Kicks a little less than my Browning Micro Medallion in .243 in my opinion

I was typing this as you were... my 8 year shot my micro medallion and 6.5 AR side by side and preferred the 6.5

That was in reply to CowDoc

CZ makes a great youth/micro rifle in 7.62x39 and other calibers. Solid pick.

Edit- missed the mention above- so plus 1 vote on that.

Ruger has a great youth model 243. Both my boys started with these. Great for youth.

NW80 said:

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BTHOB-98 said:

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Buy a cheaper AR and an expensive scope. It will be a lot easier for them to handle and they will have no trouble killing deer with it. My 10 year old killed his first deer last year with a .223. It's all the gun he will ever need.

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Until he wounds one, you don't find it and he doesn't want to hunt anymore! Not saying a 223 won't kill deer. But, you need to be a little more open minded about what your limiting the kid to.....

Just saying...

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Built my son a 6.8 SPC in the AR platform. He had been shooting my AR(s) since he was 4 and was comfortable with the platform. He really likes it and the adjustable stock will grow with him. Depending on optics, I think you (typical OB statement here) could spend about $250 more and build him a gun with no compromises. The 6.8 is plenty to take a deer with even a marginal shot.

Spend your money on the barrel! I spent a lot on the barrel and BCG. The rest is spikes and aero. I messed up and spent a wad on the Vltor buffer and spring, but lessons learned. I will share my specs if you are interested. There is also a cool factor to giving your son a gun you built.

Jbar1998 said:

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NW80 said:

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BTHOB-98 said:

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Buy a cheaper AR and an expensive scope. It will be a lot easier for them to handle and they will have no trouble killing deer with it. My 10 year old killed his first deer last year with a .223. It's all the gun he will ever need.

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Until he wounds one, you don't find it and he doesn't want to hunt anymore! Not saying a 223 won't kill deer. But, you need to be a little more open minded about what your limiting the kid to.....

Just saying...

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Built my son a 6.8 SPC in the AR platform. He had been shooting my AR(s) since he was 4 and was comfortable with the platform. He really likes it and the adjustable stock will grow with him. Depending on optics, I think you (typical OB statement here) could spend about $250 more and build him a gun with no compromises. The 6.8 is plenty to take a deer with even a marginal shot.

Spend your money on the barrel! I spent a lot on the barrel and BCG. The rest is spikes and aero. I messed up and spent a wad on the Vltor buffer and spring, but lessons learned. I will share my specs if you are in


terested. There is also a cool factor to giving your son a gun you built.

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I'm not a fan of AR platforms. Primarily because ( other than an AR10) they'red offered in POS cartriges for hunting!
300 BlkOut, 6.5 G, etc!!!
Flame me!
But, if had a ranch, you'd NEVER hunt there with that !

NW80 said:

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But, if had a ranch, you'd NEVER hunt there with that !

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You know the 6.8 SPC is the same diameter bullet (.277) as the .270?

Not a damn thing wrong with my 110gr .277 Nosler Accubonds inside 200yds. I have killed plenty of deer and hogs with em, none of which has gone over 50yds.

Let me guess, you are a .300 Win Mag or 7mm Mag guy to hunt hill country whitetail with...

Like I said . flame me !
I don't care!!!!
Y'all are trying to make something "fit" that'd kill a man but not a critter.... humanely!

NW80 said:

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Like I said . flame me !
I don't care!!!!
Y'all are trying to make something "fit" that'd kill a man but not a critter.... humanely!

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EXCLAMATION POINTS make you sound smarter!!!!!!!

The 6.5 Grendel is a much better round than the .243. You're not going to find a better round for a young kid to hunt with. It carries over a 1,000 lbs of energy past 350 yards. If you had a ranch, how long of a shot are you going to allow a kid to make?

Funny that I've put down 99% of "critters" instantly with my Grendel and 80% with by 300blk. The rest were quickly taken care of with a follow up shot immediately after the first. Shot placement will always supersede ballistics in my book. If you can't make an ethical shot then don't pull the trigger.