What is a good youth caliber for big game hunting?

[sigpros]

Get a can. Recoil problem solved. I would also use the barrel you already have. But if I was buying a barrel 300 savage would be a good one. Love that round. But probably a 308 with a sico harvester on it.

 

[DRUSS]

7mm08 pretty tough to beat......

 

[TimberJunkie]

I have had three young hunters use my 25-06 over the past five years. It's got lots of speed and energy and doesn't have nearly the recoil. I do like the 7mm 08 . But it lacks some knock down power and ballistics for longer shots. I have shot two Elk with the 25-06 also. Ammo is not too hard to find either. Another option is the .243, and wherever you go, you can probably find Ammo for it.

Good luck on the purchase, always fun, no matter what gun is bought.

 

[dan maule]

Not trying to jump on the 7mm-08 band wagon but I purchased one for my son when he was eleven. He absolutely loves the gun. He was pretty recoil shy (my fault). I started him out with barnes vortex 120 grain TTSX. He is now fourteen and has killed a black bear, an antelope at 285 yards and 5 whitetail bucks with the gun. He has had a big grouth spirt these past two years and I tried to get him to step up to a 280 rem this year but he said he likes his gun and doesn't want to change. His is a Remington Model 700 Mountain rifle a really nice size rifle for a young kid.

 

[6mm Remington]

The 6mm Remington is an excellent deer/antelope/coyote round also. Using 90 gr. Accubonds, 90 gr. E-tips, or the 95 and 100 gr. Partition it performs very well. Both my son and I have each shot elk with the 6mm Remington also. Good bullets and proper placement are easy to do with the 6mm and they shoot so well to boot!

David

 

[sigpros]

6mm are cool because not everyone has one.

 

[Timberstalker]

I have had three young hunters use my 25-06 over the past five years. It's got lots of speed and energy and doesn't have nearly the recoil. I do like the 7mm 08 . But it lacks some knock down power and ballistics for longer shots. I have shot two Elk with the 25-06 also. Ammo is not too hard to find either. Another option is the .243, and wherever you go, you can probably find Ammo for it.

Good luck on the purchase, always fun, no matter what gun is bought.

We have a lot in common TJ! I've been killing deer with my 25-06 for over thirty years, it is my go to gun for deer and young hunters getting started. they don't have to adjust anything from zero to 325, just put the crosshairs right where you want the bullet to go and squeeze.

 

[maninthemaze]

I'll throw in my vote for 7mm-08. Since this will be a custom gun anyway, check into a muzzle brake for the gun. Some of the muzzle brakes reduce recoil by as much as 40%, most without increasing the noise level to the shooter. Anyone, standing next to the rifle will hear it, but not necessarily the shooter. It would be a good time to institute hearing protection even while hunting.

Just my .02 cents and worth the price charged.