Deer rifle for little guy

[huntordie]

Does anyone have any recomendations for a deer rifle for a little guy. We are moving back to Alabama in eight months so I need to start thinking about a whitetail gun for my will be 9 year old. I was thinking along the lines of a .308 caliber. I know.......he's a little young but he's a great shot and knows how to handle a gun better than most adults. Alabama has no age requirement to start hunting but you have to buy a license at 12. Any help would be appreciated.
Scott

[aku94]

Vermont has no minimum age requirement for a hunting license too, and that's were I learned to hunt. I passed the course at ten years old with about a 96% score on the test. The local NBC affiliate (Burlington VT) happened to be doing a piece on hunter ed and i managed to get on tape a few times :) . As for the rifle:

Winchester makes the ranger line, which is supposed to be for kids and ladies (or anyone else who can't fit into a standard gun). Personally, I would have no prob with a .308 winchester, which I have shot off a semi auto platform (French MAS 49/56 converted by CAI from 7.5 French) and there was no recoil, though that would not be a good hunting gun for multiple reasons. Chances are for hunting you would not want to use a semi (and the MAS would be a very poor choice). You would want a bolt gun most likely which would have a lot more recoil. A better choice would probably be a .243 Winchester since the kick would bne less as would a 6.5x55 swedish Mauser that was sporterized (original config would be good too, but would be bulkier). Those calibers are small and may not be legal in AL, but I am not familiar with their regs. Of course tere is the .30-30. A Winchester 1894 could be bought very cheaply, and made to fit junior. Also, ballistically similar is the 7.62x39mm (M43) (the round used by the AK-47). The recoil is very light (I have shot it out of bolt guns). I have found the stocks on Chinese SKS rifles to be very short as are AK stocks. You will need to use a magazine of appropriate capacity if you want to use it for hunting (check AL regs). There is also a number of bolt guns on the market that were made from sporterized, old, military Mauser actions. There is also a Ruger M-77 is 7.62x39mm.

It is very important to make sure that junior can hold the gun. Being able to old the gun is VERY important ot being able to use it efficiently. :)

[aku94]

Found your solutio. It's a single shot, known as the H&R Handi Rifle youth model. It's in .308 and other calibers. Ihave hunted with the shotgun version, and it is a great teching gun. http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=6

Right now, they also have a $20 rebate availble. :cool:

The accessory barrel program will allow the gun to grow to meet junior's future needs, like shotgunning, other rifle calibers and muzzleloading, for just a small fee (usually less than $100/ barrel). :)

[huntordie]

Wow you are full of information. How does one get to be that knowledgable about firearms. Thanks for all the advice. I started out with a H&R .410. Man, those were the days. Wish I had a dollar for every squirell and rabbit I killed with that gun. I'd quit working. I'll check it out. Thanks again. It's an honor to have folks like you around here.
Scott

[Old Ironsights]

Found your solutio. It's a single shot, known as the H&R Handi Rifle youth model. It's in .308 and other calibers. Ihave hunted with the shotgun version, and it is a great teching gun. http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=6

Right now, they also have a $20 rebate availble. :cool:

The accessory barrel program will allow the gun to grow to meet junior's future needs, like shotgunning, other rifle calibers and muzzleloading, for just a small fee (usually less than $100/ barrel). :)IIRC H&R is now part of/under the Mossberg umbrella of companies.

My first ML was a "Huntsman" in .45. The H&R Break-actions are about a bulletproof as you can get.

[aku94]

H&R is owned by Marlin not Mossberg. Marlin and Mossberg are competitors, though they have done contract work in the past for each other. :)

[Old Ironsights]

H&R is owned by Marlin not Mossberg. Marlin and Mossberg are competitors, though they have done contract work in the past for each other. :)My bad. I guess IDRC! ;)

[aku94]

Ruger has a new model of M-77 that will be stainless with a laminate stock and available in an array of calibers including .243 and .308 coming out in 2006. The LOP will be a little less than 13", and it will have a carbine length barrel and above barrel scope mounting for a "scout" (long eye relief) scope. It will probably be way more than an H&R.

BTW, I use an H&R 20 Guage rifled slug gun for deer hunting.

[NEWENGLANDCHARTERS]

Check out the HENRY BIg Boy in .44 Mag/.44 Special. My boy just shot his new Henry using winchester .44mag 240 grain soft point pistol ammo. (Note I said Pistol) 50 round in a box and it does not kick as much as his 20 gage shotgun.

Or you can get .44 special that is loaded to about the same specs. Then when he grows up he can use the Winchester .44 mag Rifle ammo 240 grains hollowpoint that has about twice the knockdown power.

Its a very versital rifle and the best quality. Best of all its made right here in the USA.




http://www.henryrepeating.com/index.cfm


NEWENGLANDCHARTERS@maine.rr.co m

http://home.maine.rr.com/newengland/