7mm.08 for my 5 yr. old?

[Seadonist]

Took my boy to the range and let him fire a rifle for the first time on Sunday. I broke him in on my AR15 and he took to it very well. By the end of the range time, he was shouldering it and firing it without any assistance from me and the kick did not bother him. My intention was to get him used to the kick because I plan on getting him a rifle for Christmas so he can finally get that deer he's been dying to kill. Now that I know he can handle the kick of an AR and that he enjoys shooting, I am leaning towards getting him a 7mm.08. I want a larger round than a .243 but I don't feel that he's quite ready for a .270. I think the Tikka T3 looks to be a great gun that is accurate, well built and will be a gun that he can shoot with into adulthood and pass on to his son if the day ever comes. I wanted to get some opinions here on what you guys think. Do you guys think that the 7.08 is a good choice for what I want it for? How about the Tikka? I like the reviews and I like the price of the gun compared to more expensive brands. Scope choice would be a Leupold VXIII. THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

 

[Lyle Savant]

Yes, it is a good cal. for them; even for adults. My kids have a Howa. I recommend the Lite Loads (reduced recoil) by Hornady or at least use low grain projectiles (120). My kids both shoot it, from 6 yrs old on up.

Just make sure they don't pull up tite to the scope; and a good safety measure is Rubber Scope Covers w/ see-they lenses. May save a cut forehead.

Tikka is good. You may also consider Ruger; very LT weight & good.price.

 

[whitsend]

If he liked the AR, why not a .300BLK AR?

That's what my boys hunt with.

 

[king4456]

my son (10yrs old) has taken 3 shots from his Ruger American 7mm 08 and has killed three deer. He uses the hornady superlite reduced recoil 120 grain bullets from cabelas. We put the witt machine muzzle brake on his rifle and the kick is no more than an AR15. his little buddy has also taken a deer with the rifle after missing twice with the crappy 12 lb pull of the Rossi 243 his dad bought him.

 

[rdm227]

I love my 7mm 08. I just started hunting the last few years and I have not missed a deer yet. Killed about 8 so far. I have a Zeis Conquest on Remington 700 SPS.

 

[Seadonist]

Whitsend, the reason I don't want an AR platform for him is because I want him to learn the fundamentals of shooting on a bolt action gun. It slows everything down and forces the shooter to readjust on every shot. Once he gets good on a bolt action, then I'll look at AR's for him. That being said, I think the .300BLK is a good youth gun.

 

[JWG223]

The rifle will be cheaper to feed. Is the foster home a good one?

Seriously, though, I would think for the animals in this area, a .223 would be fine, and kick less/lead to better shot placement, maybe. 300BLK as mentioned is another great choice with low recoil and plenty of terminal effect.

 

[Hot Pepper]

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact in 7mm-08 I would also look it the Leupold VX-R, the glass is between VX-II & VX-III, and it has a firedot recticle which makes target acquisition a breeze.

 

[TylerDurbin870]

That is an excellent caliber for him to use even when he grows up. Great all around caliber for just about anything in North America.

 

[Seadonist]

Thanks for the replies, guys.