I am an experience shooter. I have a 10 year old little girl that will drop everything to go to the range and shoot with me. In my home state of Pa, they have a youth mentor hunt program now that enables her to hunt. I know a 223 caliber round will kill a deer if placed right and I know a 243 is ample but I dont want to get her gunshy. My only other option is a 30-30 that is my stepson's. Any advice? Thanks
Well, at ten years of age unfortunately just about
anything can turn out to be too much when it comes to moving past a .223.
My thought - unfortunately, I would wait until age and physicial maturity make her ready for a .30-30 or perhaps a .243 Winchester which happens to be one of my two favorite cartridges.
as far as accuracy, I am not to worried about, she can put 50 rounds of 22lr in an 8in cirlce at 50yrds with a youth 22. I am just not to keen on having to chase one down from a bad shot if she does have one.
They have reduced load .30-30 ammo that at 50yds and under is about like past 100yds as for killing power.Also,one grandaughter is recoil sensitive but handles a .50cal ML very well with up to 70gr,s of pyrodex which is suficient for 100yd shots.She uses a H&R that I bought a stock from Numrich for $35 or so and cut it down with a good recoil pad on and got an 8point,(year and a half) last year.The big advantage was I could use 240gr XTP,s and buy sabots and it didn't cost a fortune to target practice. ,,,sam.
Is the .223 legal for deer in your state? As for the rifle perhaps heavy single shot to help kill recoil. Such as H&R handi rifle in 243 or an semi auto rifle to kill a bit of the recoil. When she sees her first deer recoil will be the last thing in her mind. Best of luck to you.
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Here's an original thought. Why not an H&R Handi-Rifle in 44 magnum or 45Colt?
Loaded with "cowboy" loads she can learn to shoot without the fear of flinching, and then you can load up both rounds for hunting. A 250 grain 45caliber slug moving at 1300-1500 fps will hardly kick, but it will kill any deer or bear out to 75-100 yds. And the 44 magnum is just as good and maybe better at 100 yds. I live in upstate NY so I hunt similar terrian to you in Penns. 2 years ago I killed my buck with a 45 colt lever action and he went nowhere but down.
The H&R rifles have the added benifit of adding barrels for future uses with very little expense. For around $100 you can add about 25 different calibers to that frame.
The youth program in Colorado uses a youth version of a 7mm-08. They also use it in the new women shooters program for smaller women and a full size one for taller women. Can't remember if it's the Savage or Remington
The guy I talked to said kids and women love the gun.
Marlin makes the XS-7Y (youth) in a variety of smaller calibers...in .243, .270, & 7mm-08, any of them should be handleable. http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...ction/XS7Y.asp
At around $300, the price will definitely be right
Comes with a Recoil Reducing pad, pillar bedding, adjustable trigger,
The only question I would have is that at age 10...is SHE ready to hunt deer??
It does take a certain mental state to be able to handle putting Bambi down for a Dirt Nap.
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