Rifle for 9 year old

[JimDog]

I'm gunna take the boy out for the first time this fall. Not the first time he has come along, but the first time he's gunna pull the trigger. So I figger I need to procure a rifle for him.

What would you recommend? Kind of leaning toward a .243, but I am open to discussion. He is not a real big kid - so my main concern is recoil. And speaking of recoil - I have seen advertisements for low-recoil ammo. Anyone ever use it? Does it work? Do you loose a lot of power?

Please discuss amongst yourselves...

[Rafe Hollister]

My oldest is 13, but kind of a puss. If I can scrape together the change, he's getting a 7-08.

[Rafe Hollister]

So I've heard. That's also the same kid that killed a 26 pound jake this Spring.

[Warmouth]

JD-Look into a 7.62x39. Either a single shot where you can switch barrels, or a CZ 527 in the same caliber.





http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=15

This is what I would get, if funds would allow it. Similar to a 30-30 in power, but with better trajectory, and it's much more classy.



The other option is a 44mag, which has plenty of power, and enough range to get the job done, but not over powering in a rifle or carbine.



http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/F...%2096%20Rimfire

Here is a lever action Ruger, they also make a semi auto in this that would reduce the recoil even more. I have one (semi auto 44, Ruger Deerfield), and LA likes to shoot it.



Whatever you get him, he'll be using for for the next 5-6 yrs, or until he's full grown. You can then sell the gun, and put it towards a full sized rifle.

[Rafe Hollister]

A guy that hunts the Tick Farm sometimes has a son that killed a few deer with a 44mag. I think he's got a lever action Marlin. He's a pretty small kid and handles it well.

[Great White Hunter]

Get a Rossi Youth Model Set - .243 barrel, 20 gauge barrel and a .22 barrel.

[Warmouth]

The thing with newbies, is that you don't really need a gun that will shoot farther than 150-200yds. Their skills are only up to so much, and limiting their range, with a chosen round, doesn't limit what they can do. A 300yds gun in the hands of a newbie, doesn't help them anymore than a 150yd weapon, imo. Match the capabilities of the shooter to the round.



I'm thinking of the Rossi single shot with 7.62x39 for my kid, but we'll see what aresenal I have at that time. I may have that base covered by then.

[Two Tall the Neanderthal]

Do not buy that CZ... those are 18.5 inch barreled carbines. JD there are a lot of options for you. Traditionally a bolt gun will fare better than most others in this arena. Single shots are good for beginners but they are low on weight and inturn have more recoil. Plus as kids get older they want something more than a single shot. Bolt guns are inherintly safer than lever guns for kids and you can make them function just like a single shot by only putting one round in the magazine. Plus as they grow they can have something that is more functional with more options for scope mounting and follow up shots.



Caliber choice is completely debateable, but I will tell you a 7mm-08 is a fantastic place to start. So is a .243.



Both are quite capable of killing anything in our state and some other bigger game, with the 7mm fairing best for larger game.



Is the boy small enough framed to need a youth gun? If so that isn't a problem as most guns can be restocked as they grow.

[Warmouth]

What is wrong with a 18" barrel carbine for a 9 yr old kid, or anyone for that matter?

[Two Tall the Neanderthal]

For starters, noise and muzzleblast. Second handicapping your balistic performance, And that gun has a detachable box magazine. One more thing for a kid to loose. That is a specialty gun. And I would not buy a 7.62 unless you were a handloader as there are hardly any over the counter loads for them.

[Warmouth]

Rem, Win and Wolfe all load hunting rounds for the 7.62x39, from 125grn up to 154grn, and they are cheep.

Just about any youth sized rifle will have a 18" barrel. The Rem m7, and Win 94 both are popular and have short barrels.

The kid is 9yrs old, and probably doesn't weigh 80-90lbs.

[2BHNTN]

I got the NEF handy rifle for my boy. Can switch barrels, has the 243, and the 20 gauge. The inherent issue with it is the cocking device. As like when a turk comes in and he cocks it, does not get a shot. The possibility of forgeting to uncock it and the added risk that while uncocking small weaker thumbs could the let the hammer hit too hard or a slip could cause the gun to go off. Much of this can be minimalized with good teaching but does not take that risk out of the equation.

[Outdoorsfool]

Quote by TTTN: Single shots are good for beginners but they are low on weight and inturn have more recoil. Plus as kids get older they want something more than a single shot. Bolt guns are inherintly safer than lever guns for kids and you can make them function just like a single shot by only putting one round in the magazine. Plus as they grow they can have something that is more functional with more options for scope mounting and follow up shots.

I can't really disagree with you because there was a time I just "had" to have a hunting rifle with multiple shots. Now, I'm reverting back to quality, bolt action rifles. Either the shot is there or it isn't. Kids need to be taught to recognize this and not count on having "follow up" shots. Often times follow up shots are taken at running animals and are either errant shots or result in injuried animals. Bolt action is the way to go for beginners.

[Two Tall the Neanderthal]

Exactly Dave, only three factory loads, and wolf isn't hunting quality, and you are not going to find them on most shelves.

Most youth guns do not have 18 inch barrels. Some 30-30's might, but that is not the majority.

[Warmouth]

They aren't any harder to find than 257 Roberts, I can tell ya that.

Anyway JD has some options. If I was setting up a kid or woman with their first deer rifle, I'd pick the CZ, if I could find a good price. Heck, I want one for myself anyway.