My 12 year old son has never been interested in hunting. He has agreed to go with me to the lease in a couple of weeks. He has never shot anything but a .22. I am looking at purchasing a rifle but I don't want something that is going to scare him with recoil where he won't want to go back. I am trying to decide on what to get. He likes the feel of my 30-30 better than my bolt actions, but he said he really likes the looks of the AR15. Which would you pick? 30-30, AR15 (.223), or AR10 (.308).
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as his first, I'de get something that will last forever. How big is your son? -
.223 would push his shoulder less than 30-30. .243 might be a good option to start out, .270 if he is a bigger boy.
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I think a 30-30 would be nice for a 12 year old. Hopefully he'd keep it the rest of his life. See about writing the date you give it to him on something that goes with the gun. Years later, he will see the date and it should bring back some good memories for him and maybe even his future children and family.Comment
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If he likes the feel of a 30-30 then look at something like a Browning Lever Action in 243
My personal favorite rifle is a Remington 600 243 I have had since I was a kid.Comment
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I started at 9 with a youth model .223.. that caliber should be plenty good.. If he likes the ar look I would look at the remington r-15s, I have one with the collapsible stock an I love itComment
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This would be my list: growing with age....
.223
.243
30-30
30.06 reduced recoil loadsComment
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I wouldn't purchase anything till he shoots a few different sized calibers. Borrow from your buddies if you have to-Don't assume anything-just let him shoot . Be careful he doesn't mislead you in what he can handle-He's probably going to want to impress you and feel more grown up if he tells you he can handle more than he can accurately shoot. If he doesn't want to shoot that gun anymore after a few shots -it prolly has too much coil. If he doesn't want to stop shooting-"it'll work". Bottom line -make it fun for him and you.Comment
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7mm-08..or .223 i started at 7 with a bolt .223 and still have and love itComment
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My kids love to shoot the .223. The .243 would not have much kick and could take larger game than the .243.
My 14 yr old loves his 30-30 lever action Marlin. Good choice but had had shoot my 30-30 and other guns with more recoil before deciding a 30-30 was what he wanted.
Anyway to borrow a 30-30 before purchasing one?Comment
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Me and most of my friends all share stories about killing our first deers with the "Ol' Dirty-30 Marlin." Haven't taken a deer with it years, but if a "...from my cold, dead fingers" moment ever arises that will probably be the gun I'm hanging on to. Good Memories!Comment
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I got my 9 yr old a .243 that she shot well(3 shot group) -but after going to the range and trying to sight in(more than a few shots) -she started telling me she wanted to shoot my .17???? To make a long story short, it was too much recoil for her-I ended up locating and bought a .223 a week before season-got it on the paper myself at a hundred and then we went out every evening to practice -smartest thing I could have done was to downscale. She loves that "pea-shooter" and she shoots it well!!Comment
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most of the kiddos in that 8-12 yo range that I'm around are shooting 25-06s & 7/08s. Rifle weight plays a big part in what they can and can't handle.Comment
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Not a fan of the 7mm 08.
It's the only gun I've ever been "scope ringed" by.
It doesn't look like it has a recoil so I relaxed a bit to much and paid the price for it. Lol
It now belongs to someone else. LolComment
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I have a 30-30 he can try I am just wanting to get him something that is his. I will probably go with an AR15 and if he decides he doesn't like going to the lease then I will just have to borrow it.Anyway to borrow a 30-30 before purchasing one
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