Hey folks I've been looking around for a .243 for my son who turns 7 in a few months. been poking around for a little and just wanted some other opinions it is for a 7 year old so i would like to not brake the bank but it will also be handed down to his brother who is 2 years younger and then hopefully there sister who is 2years younger so i want it to be somthing the family can be proud of. Oh and i wont buy unless made in USA thanks in advance!
best youth .243
- Thread starter Ozzymodel70
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Years ago I bought my son (he was 10) a Remington Mohawk 600 in 243. Light and still shoot great. Look for a used one, they are a great kids first center fire.
gonhunting247
Veteran member
- Jan 21, 2014
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I picked up a Winchester Model 70, .243 in the youth size featherweight last year. It is a really sweet gun and one like it would be awesome for kids. The three position safety is great for them also.
My son shoots a regular sized Model 70 in .270 and has since he was 11, but he's a pretty big kid. My daughter is on the small side and shoots a synthetic stock model 70 in .243 wssm and has since she was 11, it's great. It's not a youth model so it was a little long in the pull for a couple years, but it's plenty light. That youth model is perfect though, I even love that gun. On another note, I saw a .243 in Rem. model 7 on another site, it looked like a great kids gun also. It was chambered for .260 and was stainless and synthetic.
My son shoots a regular sized Model 70 in .270 and has since he was 11, but he's a pretty big kid. My daughter is on the small side and shoots a synthetic stock model 70 in .243 wssm and has since she was 11, it's great. It's not a youth model so it was a little long in the pull for a couple years, but it's plenty light. That youth model is perfect though, I even love that gun. On another note, I saw a .243 in Rem. model 7 on another site, it looked like a great kids gun also. It was chambered for .260 and was stainless and synthetic.
swampokie
Veteran member
I would seriously consider going with something else. I just went through the 7 yr old needing a deer rifle and I got him a 243 h&r for his 7th bday. The gun was so lite that the scope hit him the first time he fired it and it was so loud that it frightened his little brother terribly even with ear muffs. He was able to kill 2 bucks with the gun but was scared of it so I sold it and now im searching for a replacement that doesn't kick quite so bad. Im open for suggestions because its a road ive been down and don't have any good advice 4 you.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Check out the Ruger American rifle, I think they come in a youth version. They're accurate and pretty much recoil free with a good pad and some "Low Recoil" ammo. A scope with generous eye-relief should be added. If you scare the kid with recoil and noise, you risk them developing a flinch...they are hard to overcome once you develop one. Don't ask how I know.
Hilltop
Veteran member
We own three different youth rifles currently- Remington 700 in .243, Remington 770 in .243, and a Ruger American in 7mm-08. All three are accurate but the 770 doesn't get shot much. It just feels cheap compared to the other two. If I were buying again today I would buy another youth 700 but the Ruger would be a close 2nd. The .243 is as light as I would recommend going. There is very little recoil but I do recommend hearing protection. The muzzle blast can be scary to little ones...
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
I really like the Remington model 7 in a .243 or even a 7mm08 for kids. It may be a little higher price than some of others but if it's going to be past down it might be something to look at. I even have one that I still deer hunt with.
One of the manfu makes a bull barrel single shot. H&R or NEF I suspect. One of those in .223 with the proper bullet makes a great deer gun with very little recoil, but enough big gun sound to make the transition to the 243 in a few years easy. Have used the Fed Fusion 223 in 62 grains with great results on antelope and deer to 250 ish yards. Have also had great results with the reduced recoil loads in 7-08 out to 200 or so. Not sure if a reduced load is made for the 243.
Conrad8899
Active Member
Youth Model
Bought the wife a savage model 11 7mm-08 youth model. I was the package deal. Replaced the scope.. It shoots pretty good.
Bought the wife a savage model 11 7mm-08 youth model. I was the package deal. Replaced the scope.. It shoots pretty good.
Eberle
Veteran member
I started my son out with a 300 Blackout. In an H&R single shot, you can pick one up from www.budsgunshop.com for $224. I shoot barnes TAC TX 110 grain specifically designed for the 300 BO it opens up at low velocities. No kick, 12" LOP, overall length less than 30" and plenty of energy out to 150 yards. It also comes with a scope mount. Pake killed 5 deer with it last year.
roknHS
Member
I'd vote for something like the H&R single shot. I bought one for my son's first gun in .223 caliber. It is still one of his favorites 20 years later. I recently bought a similar rifle for my wife in preparation for an antelope hunt. It is a CVA Scout in .243 caliber. Stainless receiver and barrel. Barrel is fluted, stock is synthetic camo. Comes with a nice scope mount. I put a 3-9 power Leupold on it.
This is one of the nicest break barrel single shots I have seen. It shoots like a laser, doesn't kick, perfect size for small folks of any gender and it has real "curb appeal". I really like this gun. I find myself grabbing it as first choice for short trips around the ranch.
For those that don't know.......CVA is Connecticut Valley Arms. They are most well known for Black Powder stuff. You may find some bad press on their muzzle loaders but, you wouldn't be disappointed in this CVA Scout.
Like some others here, I like the single shots for novice shooters. It is a very safe platform and teaches them to make the shot count.
This is one of the nicest break barrel single shots I have seen. It shoots like a laser, doesn't kick, perfect size for small folks of any gender and it has real "curb appeal". I really like this gun. I find myself grabbing it as first choice for short trips around the ranch.
For those that don't know.......CVA is Connecticut Valley Arms. They are most well known for Black Powder stuff. You may find some bad press on their muzzle loaders but, you wouldn't be disappointed in this CVA Scout.
Like some others here, I like the single shots for novice shooters. It is a very safe platform and teaches them to make the shot count.
Mr Drysdale
Active Member
- Mar 24, 2013
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ya a .243 is a little big for a 7 year old but it means a lot to me to get them one as my old man got me one for my first big game rifle.plus they have a couple .22's they can plink around with. still to this day i've killed more varmits/game with that old Remington 700 with of all scopes a simmons then my 7mm rem mag.(the old man was kinda cheap) then my 7mm rem mag. funny thing is its still a tack driver. for good eye relief im a fan of leupold. Thanks for all the info fellas! gonehunting247 love the idea of the model 70 featherlight love that gun almost bought me one to use as a mountain rifle.
gonhunting247
Veteran member
- Jan 21, 2014
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gonhunting247
Veteran member
- Jan 21, 2014
- 1,221
- 798
That's funny, because I was looking at a featherweight mountain rifle in .243 when I ran across the youth model in the same gun. I liked it so much, that I bought that little gun for myself.
All these guns would be good choices I bet, but I'm definitely partial to the model 70, as that's what I started with and as I said in my first post, so did both my kids. Both are still very much into hunting and shooting
stevevan
Active Member
Another vote for the Rem Model 7 youth. I bought one in .243 and replaced the short stock with a Bell & Carlson stock with a 13.5" LOP of pull for myself. I wanted the 18" barrel as the set-up is real compact. Shoots very well and I still get 3000 fps with a Nosler 90gr. Accubond.
swampokie
Veteran member
I must respectfully disagree with you. This is the exact rifle I got my son and I was none too impressed. Accuracy acceptable but too lite and barrel too short. The one we had was the hardest kicking 243 ive ever shot. The h&r single 223 was much better in my opinion.