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First hunting rifle.

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Wing master View Drop Down
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AKA StraightShooter

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: First hunting rifle.
    Posted: 24 November 2019 at 19:27
My Grandaughter will be 12 years old next year. She told me she wants to go hunting with me. 

What do you guys recommend for her first deer sized game rifle? Also what caliber? 

I have taken her out shooting .22 LR several times over the last few years but am going to take her and her mom a lot more this spring and summer. I plan on having her shoot my truck gun, a .223 bolt action, a lot to get used to shooting without recoil then moving up to a hunting caliber. 

I started both of my daughters with Winchester model 70 Featherweights in .257 Roberts. I'm thinking something different for the next generation. 

Thanks for any input. 

Wing master
I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.
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.243 Winchester
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stinky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 November 2019 at 22:56
Where do you live?  What is legal for deer in your area?

Cartridge preference is often largely a matter of personal preference where there is often not a nickles worth of def between them...although, ease of ammo availability and other things do give some types of ammo an edge.

Nothing wrong w/duh .257.

I've go a pawnshop Savage .243.  So, far the kids have shot 3 deer, an antelope...me 2 antelope and an elk (you better use a premium bullet)...the small critters just fall over dead.  My daughter shot a 3 shot gp that we covered w/a penny

6.5 Creedmor would be another good choice.

If you handload....260 is possibly better, if not, then 6.5 is cheaper and more plentiful.
John 14:6
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 November 2019 at 01:06
Thanks Stinky

I live in Wyoming. She will probably be hunting antelope,mule deer, and elk. I do handload. For some reason, I like the less popular calibers. 

.243 would be a good choice, but 3/4 of all the kids around here start with a .243. .260 would be a great choice. 

I'm still undecided. 

Wing master
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BEAR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 November 2019 at 06:52
Best is a 250-3000  aka 250 Savage.  To start it can be loaded with light 75 grain bullet fine for  antelope;  but as she learns and grows, you can reload up to 117 grains.  Not really much diference between the 250 and a 257 roberts.

certainly a 243 win is always an option....but is limited to 100 grain max bullet weight.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 November 2019 at 14:05
My DG shot here first deer with a CZ 527 carbine in 
7.62x39.

Kinda like a 30/30 with a pointed bullet.
Very light on the recoil, 150 yards is about all.
Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 November 2019 at 00:04
Thanks guys. 

I really do like those 1/4 bores. I was just thinking as she grows that the 6.5 has heavier bullets. But I have seen several elk killed with a 117 grain .257. 

Is the 7.62X39 enough for  a possible elk hunt in a few years? I really don't think she will be "into it" enough to get her another gun later. I'm thinking this might be her "hunting rifle"

Wing master
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BEAR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 November 2019 at 01:36
A39 will kill an elk...but it is a severe handicap.  It uses light bullets, and when loaded with heavier bullets it cuts into the powder charge.  Even when you hot rod the 39 it is still 10% less powerful than a 30-30.

The 260 rem is better choice, and can be loaded light or heavy.  And unlike the cred, it uses standard 308 brass.

I do believe than for elk anything less than a 308/'06 is marginal and requires a good hit.

Virtue of 250 or 243... you can load it down for PDs.  shooting those things builds confidence and skill...also lots of fun for young.......and us old farts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 November 2019 at 14:07
YES I'm with bear on the elk thing.
Don't shoot an elk with it.
243 is a tad light too in my mind.
 Will it kill them of course.

Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MapleHill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 November 2019 at 17:23
My son is using my Rem Mdl 7 in 260. Awesome little setup with a 2.5-8 VX3. Short, light and easy on the shoulder with enough wallop to handle most of what she will be after
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BEAR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 November 2019 at 17:52
I love my 260 rem Kimber; but for elk I use either the 338 or the 9.3x62.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 November 2019 at 21:46
I think I will look at the .260 Rem. It seems like everyone is chambering a rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. That might be my second choice. 

Wing master
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BEAR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 08:28
difficult to find 260 rifles...the 'cred image'  has chased them away.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MapleHill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 10:53
From what little studying I have done, it seems the 260 can do about everything the creed can. It is remarkable how marketing can make one so much better than the other. You can make 260 brass from the ever available 243 or 308. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 11:11
You are exactly right MapleHill. In fact the .260 is a better choice for a few reasons. 

I had a 6.5X55 Swede built a couple years ago. It will also do everything the Creedmoor will do. I'm really liking that gun and caliber. The Swede is really close to the .260. That is another option. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 11:33
Bear. 

I agree. It will be interesting to see what the next "flavor of the month" is. 

Several years ago I remember the Short Mags. I don't see much at all about them now. I don't remember what was before that. 

I think a lot has to do with the name given to a new caliber. If I was going to re-invent a chambering I would try to think of a catchy name for it. 

The days of labeling one with a number are over. the name Winchester Short Magnum kept them going for a while, but if you think about it the name Creedmoor was genious. 

It is catchy enough to appeal to young guys and also has some nostalgia for the older guys. 

Just my thoughts

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 11:39
Do you think I should add .308 to this list? 

She's 11 years old now and will be 12 in August. I don't know how much she weighs, but she couldn't be over maybe 80 or so. 

Do you think a .308 would be too much recoil for her?

Wing master
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 11:40
Wing thats what they need to do with the AR's.
Re brand and Re name, and the people would forget the shooting .
I think they need to paint them pink and call then,
 mix master, small ,med ,Large.
Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 11:46
JUST ME, BUT!
If your going to a 308 I'd do the swede or back to a full blown 6mm.
In my mind same recoil.
Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BEAR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 12:07
My son's 1st deer was with a M700 308, loaded down to light 30-30 levels.  But he had been shooting 2 years with 22 and super light 308 handloads.

Still like to get WY gal into shooting PDs for a year first, and the sub 30 cals work great.  The 308 isn't a good varmint cartridge.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MapleHill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 November 2019 at 20:10
Both of my nieces have 308s. They are not very big now (ages 21 and 17) say nothing at 14yrs old. They handle them very well. Like Bear said, you can load it down to 30-30 or 300 Savage velocity. If I had to pick, the 308 would be my first pick for a deer/medium size big game getter. 
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