Thread: what calibre for the young fella

45/70 govt i reckon. Mild recoiling

Everyone has their own ideas on Deer calibers , but my own opinion is that .25 cal is the smallest hole in the end of the barrel you should use and bullet weight starts at 120gr .
If you reload and you own a 6.5 06 then download it to 6.55x55 levels or even lower and use a projectile in the 120 - 130 range .

Ken

Originally Posted by Ground Control

Everyone has their own ideas on Deer calibers , but my own opinion is that .25 cal is the smallest hole in the end of the barrel you should use and bullet weight starts at 120gr .
If you reload and you own a 6.5 06 then download it to 6.55x55 levels or even lower and use a projectile in the 120 - 130 range .

Ken

im using nosler ablr 129gr at the moment 44gr 2209

A suggestion: for very modest recoil, start with 20-40 rounds of .243 loaded with trailboss at a paper target, and then give Noodle something with a bit more pep for hunting, like a reduced 4895 load.

This might help.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

A suggestion: for very modest recoil, start with 20-40 rounds of .243 loaded with trailboss at a paper target, and then give Noodle something with a bit more pep for hunting, like a reduced 4895 load.

This might help.Attachment 99534

same as 2206H interesting.

+1 for the mighty 243. Noodle is probably not much lighter than TimeRider when I started her on the 243. @Munsey knows how well the light loads I made up for his daughter went on deer too.

If thinking of a new rifle Id seriously consider 762x39 or 6.5 grendel the little ruger ranches look quite capable.

$65ish to thread the end of another rifle and use the 8mm can....and the 125-130grn loads in .308 work just fine....we use them in the x39mm and deer at bush ranges dont complain they just fall over brown bread.

I have 243 and 308, the 14yo boys reckon the 308 doesn't kick too much with mild reloads, though I slip a snapcap round in every now and then to check if they are flinching. Smaller and younger kids I'd go 243 with 85-100gr bullets.
I reckon a big part of felt recoil is the noise, and good earplugs make a big difference.

Speaking from personal experience, the grendel is not a forgiving round for sub optimal shot placement. Which will happen.

Also from experience a suppressor tames a lot of noise and recoil so use whatever you have that a got one.

Also from experience, a wounded animal getting away can end a child's interest in hunting.

A bit of practice with 22LR or airgun will stand him in good stead and show when he's ready to fire at animals. A rule of thumb for HUNTS trainees is to stalk them to under 50m for a goat. None of this 200yd bulls**t please for the first animal.


Speaking from personal opinion, the 3006 is ideal for a first gun. It has a great margin for error, which is what you need. So, my vote is with the 8x57 full power load and borrow some extra baffles if you can.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Speaking from personal experience, the grendel is not a forgiving round for sub optimal shot placement.

Why's this, @Bagheera?

The target shoot with air rifle all the time mostly prone. Hes a good shot with it.

Originally Posted by mucko

The target shoot with air rifle all the time mostly prone. Hes a good shot with it.

A good start then, first principles learnt.

.243 kills stuff dead, easy to shoot accurately, lots of factory ammo options, weather you are 6 or 60, hunting stags, bucks or Tahr, it will get the job done!

Hey Mucko, the 243 is always a good choice for younger shooters and I prefer a good 85 to 95 grain bullet at about 3000 fps. I just got a Tikka 6.5x55 and put a DPT suppressor on it and it is a tack driver and very mild to shoot with the 143 gr ELD X bullet. I would go for the 6.5 first if I had the choice as it has the legs to go out further if needed and it shoots a heavier bullet with a better SD for excellent penetration. Either will work. Even 223's are ok within there limits.