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Best Gun For 8 Year Old?

4,621 Views | 67 Replies | Last: 22 hrs ago by CTGilley
C ROC N
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Charismatic Megafauna said:

You said you already have ARs, why is this not the answer? https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-18-rifle-length-6-5-grendel-1-8-stainless-steel-15-lightweight-m-lok-upper-with-bcg-ch3.html

Or this https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/rifle-parts/rifle-receivers-parts/m1500-mini-6.5-grendel-barreled-action/ and this https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/accessories/plat-howa-1500-mini-dbm-hvy-6-bc-2dc198743zz can't seem to link directly to the stock... it's item 2DC1988041ZZ

You can easily build an upper in 6.5G, I might even have an extra upper I am willing to part with to help out. Or go to a local gun store for help.
Burdett & Sons, Circle Star, etc.
Sea Speed
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AG
I would be interested in that. Would need to find a local gunsmith to make the swap as I don't have all the right tools, but that shouldn't be a problem. How much are you asking?
montanagriz
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S
Keep it simple

243 or 22-250. I like the 243 personally
ghollow
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AG
My girls started off with a Ruger M77 in 6mm Remington. Basically a .243. It has a bull barrel. The extra weight of the barrel really reduces the felt recoil. Bought a second stock for it off of eBay. Cut 4 " off the stock. As they grew, I put the adult stock back on it. Most accurate rifle I own.

Saving it for the grandkids now.
So the greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
Slicer97
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AG
Barrett M82A1. It'll take down anything she'll ever want to hunt in her life.
Scotty88
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AG
agsalaska said:

Oh yeah it can certainly be done. My nephew used an H&R .223 for his first couple. But if someone like the OP doesn't think its a good idea for his kids I wouldn't try to talk him into it.




My boys 3 all used H&R single in 223 with 55 gr soft points. Loaned this rifle out to at least 6 other kids over the years. All shoulder/ heart shot. Most shots at 50 to 70 yards. WT does and bucks. All DRT.

Have 10 yo daughter that wants to shoot deer this year. Will probably use old faithful. Or 300 BO AR with suppressor. Don't remember how the suppressed 300 kicks.
cslifer
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Can't beat the H&R single shot .223. I bought one off this board a few years back, kids used it and then my wife claimed it and she loves it. She has made it dang clear that it is hers and it isn't going anywhere.
SGrem
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I will say I've seen and hunted with a teeny 9 yr old lil girl who hunted allllllllll over Africa shooting all kinds of plains game from every position necessary with a 300 win mag. She had been well prepared and needed no coaching.
Mas89
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AG
Scotty88 said:

agsalaska said:

Oh yeah it can certainly be done. My nephew used an H&R .223 for his first couple. But if someone like the OP doesn't think its a good idea for his kids I wouldn't try to talk him into it.




My boys 3 all used H&R single in 223 with 55 gr soft points. Loaned this rifle out to at least 6 other kids over the years. All shoulder/ heart shot. Most shots at 50 to 70 yards. WT does and bucks. All DRT.

Have 10 yo daughter that wants to shoot deer this year. Will probably use old faithful. Or 300 BO AR with suppressor. Don't remember how the suppressed 300 kicks.
Yeah we have a ruger mini 14 in .223 and often shoot the 55gr core lock. It's taken many big hogs. Very little recoil and has a short stock. Great kid gun with the 3x9 Leupold. My son hunted with it before moving up to a .308.
C ROC N
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Sea Speed said:

I would be interested in that. Would need to find a local gunsmith to make the swap as I don't have all the right tools, but that shouldn't be a problem. How much are you asking?

It's not an expensive brand but it shoots well. Willing to trade for other gun related items or cash works for me.
P.H. Dexippus
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AG
Todd 02
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My now 12 year old shot his first deer last year with a .300 AAC. Under 100 yards, I highly recommend.
EFE
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AG
Ruger American or Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel
Sea Speed
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Done, you can delete your number.
Sea Speed
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AG
Shout out to C ROC N. Should get it out to the range soon.
agsalaska
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AG
Nice. That will work great.
The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you never know if they are genuine. -- Abraham Lincoln.



BurnetAggie99
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My first gun around that age was a 22-250. That gun has been all 3 of my kids first gun when they first started hunting.
wingshoot93
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AG
Another vote for 22-250 for young shooters.
TRL-Ag
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243 youth is what I shot my first few deer with. It was bought for my dad when he was 10 or 12 & God willing I have kids it'll be the first gun they use too.
C ROC N
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Sea Speed said:

Shout out to C ROC N. Should get it out to the range soon.


I hope you and your daughter have a great time hunting together!
AgEng06
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AG
Sea Speed said:

Shout out to C ROC N. Should get it out to the range soon.

I'm late to this thread, but I'm glad you went with the AR platform. I fully understand the nostalgia with having kids shoot bolt action rifles, but ARs are really the superior option because of the adjustable stock and recoil management.

My son killed his first deer at 7 years old (and 50 lbs soaking wet) shooting a Rock River .223 and has since killed 3 more deer over the last 2 years with a suppressed Ruger SFAR .308. My daughter is older than him, and she tried to shoot her first deer w/ a Remington Model 7 in 6mm, and didn't have as good of an experience (and now hasn't hunted since). I take some of the blame for that because I could have better set her up for success had I put her on an AR rather than a bolt action gun. I'm as big a traditionalist as anyone, but in this case the "new" options are the better options.
Sea Speed
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AG
The dry fire exercise was a great idea. Just spent the afternoon doing that and will go to the range at my friend's house tomorrow.
Vegas-aggie
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Slicer97 said:

Barrett M82A1. It'll take down anything she'll ever want to hunt in her life.
That's exactly what was going to be my suggestion. It already has a muzzle break, so she'll never feel it. She'll be shooting 1,000 yd shots in a year. The best reason ….. it doesn't require perfect placement.
clonebucky
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AG
IMO, I would go with 6.5CM simply because it can grow with a kid. e.g., shoot 100 grain ammo when they're young and they can use 140+ grain ammo as an adult

Felt recoil is reduced with the weight of the rifle (more is less recoil) and lesser bullet weights (less is less recoil).

Perceived "boom" is actually increased with a muzzle break ... in my experience, kids are more prone to being frightened by the decibels of the "bang" than they are the actual recoil jolt.

Finally, I would consider if I could set her up in a blind with something like a Lead Sled that virtually eliminates recoil and just leaves you with the "bang" factor.
Shane '91
AggiePetro07
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AG
Sea Speed said:

The dry fire exercise was a great idea. Just spent the afternoon doing that and will go to the range at my friend's house tomorrow.


What loads did you decide on? 223/556 correct?
Sea Speed
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AG
6.5 grendel. Added a bipod mount to it yesterday as well. Will also be getting a suppressor at some point as well.
Tumble Weed
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My first was a 22-250. Used a 243 my daughter's first rifle, but she was 15. She is a better shot than I am.

Still have both rifles and look forward to teaching my grand kids how to shoot them.
docb
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AG
For an 8 year old? I'm thinking a pellet gun.
Jbob04
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AG
docb said:

For an 8 year old? I'm thinking a pellet gun.

No that's at about 4
docb
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Jbob04 said:

docb said:

For an 8 year old? I'm thinking a pellet gun.

No that's at about 4

I guess I just can't remember back that far but I can't imagine an 8 year old with some of those guns mentioned. And I grew up during the time when kids were tough.
AgEng06
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docb said:

Jbob04 said:

docb said:

For an 8 year old? I'm thinking a pellet gun.

No that's at about 4

I guess I just can't remember back that far but I can't imagine an 8 year old with some of those guns mentioned. And I grew up during the time when kids were tough.

Don't tell this 8 yr old (and then 9 yr old) I guess...

That's a Ruger SFAR .308, and why I was expousing the AR platform in an earlier post.




CTGilley
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I am going with a 7.62x39 Ruger ranch for my 6yo. If that does not work out I have a 6.8 spc ar. Either will do the job under 150. He is a good shooter but worried about the Buck fever.

I made this review under my own free will .
CTGilley
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Only center fire we owned was a savage 99 308.
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