lancetkenyon Report post Posted January 18, 2017 When Taylor was 11, she took her bull with my .300RUM. I add another vote to getting whatever chambering you want and adding a muzzle brake. That said, she also took an elk with my 7 Rem Mag, and her deer this year at 637 with a 6.5 SLR (slightly higher fps than a Creedmoor, but close enough). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted January 18, 2017 When Taylor was 11, she took her bull with my .300RUM. I add another vote to getting whatever chambering you want and adding a muzzle brake. That said, she also took an elk with my 7 Rem Mag, and her deer this year at 637 with a 6.5 SLR (slightly higher fps than a Creedmoor, but close enough). Much like Taylor, my son shot his first whitetail a month after he turned 10 years old with my 300 RUM (with a brake) at 330 yards. He is now 12 and it is the only one of my rifles that he wants to hunt with. He has since used it on 2 additional deer and 2 elk. Four of these five animals dropped immediately without taking another step, the 5th made it about 10 yards. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sor-Chancho Report post Posted January 18, 2017 I pieced together a Savage Axis 7mm-08 for my ten year old daughters last year. Threw a middle class Vortex scope, brake, and bi-pod on it and it has put down some animals. We had a really lucky and successful 2016. In all seriousness you really cant go wrong with a 7mm-08 but make sure the little ones use a least some type of hearing protection, if not double protection.. One shot from any rifle with a brake on them and it could scare them out of ever shooting any gun again!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted January 19, 2017 I agree with all that have said shoot whatever you want, but put a brake on it. Having said that, I set both of my kids up with Savage youth models 7mm-08s and both have brakes. They both started out shooting the Hornady 120 gr reduced recoil load to get used to it and then eased into 140 gr Barnes TTSX that I handload for them. My son just turned 9 and he's tall and skinny. You know, the kind of person that has to move around in a shower to get wet. He absolutely loves his 7mm-08 with a brake. Our daughter (now 12) was slightly bigger than him when she started shooting hers at 9 and now barely feels any recoil. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redhammer911 Report post Posted January 19, 2017 I agree with all that have said shoot whatever you want, but put a brake on it. Having said that, I set both of my kids up with Savage youth models 7mm-08s and both have brakes. They both started out shooting the Hornady 120 gr reduced recoil load to get used to it and then eased into 140 gr Barnes TTSX that I handload for them. My son just turned 9 and he's tall and skinny. You know, the kind of person that has to move around in a shower to get wet. He absolutely loves his 7mm-08 with a brake. Our daughter (now 12) was slightly bigger than him when she started shooting hers at 9 and now barely feels any recoil. Thanks for the responses I forgot about the 7mm-08; think that would be a great option. I'll check out some of those Savage youth offerings.... My boys are on the skinny side but tough from years of wrestling and ice hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted January 19, 2017 I would worry more about rifle fit then rifle caliber. Of course a 300 Ultra Mag that fits like a glove is still going to knock the dog crap out of them but a 243 that doesn't fit worth the crap can do the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted January 19, 2017 Oh, and my choices would be 243, 260, 25-06. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted January 19, 2017 I agree with all that have said shoot whatever you want, but put a brake on it. Having said that, I set both of my kids up with Savage youth models 7mm-08s and both have brakes. They both started out shooting the Hornady 120 gr reduced recoil load to get used to it and then eased into 140 gr Barnes TTSX that I handload for them. My son just turned 9 and he's tall and skinny. You know, the kind of person that has to move around in a shower to get wet. He absolutely loves his 7mm-08 with a brake. Our daughter (now 12) was slightly bigger than him when she started shooting hers at 9 and now barely feels any recoil. Thanks for the responses I forgot about the 7mm-08; think that would be a great option. I'll check out some of those Savage youth offerings.... My boys are on the skinny side but tough from years of wrestling and ice hockey. I got my daughter the Savage Axis (original model) because the price was right and I had Cabela's points to pay for 90% of it. Then I ended up putting another $150 in it to put in a Timney trigger because the factory trigger SUCKED. That was before they started putting the accutrigger in the newer Axis II. I started looking at the Axis II for my son, but couldn't find any with the accutrigger that weren't camo. I didn't see the need to pay extra for camo, so I ended up getting him the Savage 111 Trophy Hunter Compact, with the accutrigger. I love shooting both of their rifles. I get all kinds of excited when its time to test the hand loads (my job for consistency)! Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted January 19, 2017 there are lots of people that hold the opinion that a 243 is to small for elk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
