13yo First Rifle

[Cultured Hick]

What caliber would you recommend for a small 13yo boy to hunt deer with in East Texas? His shot would be under 100yds. He is a really small boy and I don't want scare him with the recoil. I was thinking 22-250, because of the light recoil and his small size, but I am not convinced it would make a good clean kill unless the shot placement is perfect. How about a 243? I have not had any experience with one.

He is the son of a single mom from down the road that my wife and I have become friends with. We have squirrel hunted together with .22s, but he really wants to deer hunt this year so I am taking him with me, but the smallest caliber I have is 7x57 masuer.

Thanks

[Mr. Whiskers]

I would go with a .243

[Big 10]

Can't go wrong with a 243, and has enough power to shoot anything in texas

[ntxshooter]

Can't go wrong with a 243, and has enough power to shoot anything in texas

^^^

[Joe H]

.260 is what I got for my girls when they were small. They started shooting it when they were nine. It is for sale.

[BigRed323]

.243

[Niko]

.243

[smithnwesson]

243, 7-08, 6.5x55 Swedish mauser all have low recoil and very accurate. I don't own one but look into 300 black out I hear that's a awesome round

[Texas89]

243 is the ticket. Pat on the back for giving the kid a good role model

[OleTomTalker]

Get gun with some weight to it. I have youth model 7mm-08 that rocks your jaw. Wife has Howa .308 with 24" bull barrel that my 7 year old shoots and loves it.

[tanto]

.243 all the way. Good man for keeping his fire alive!

[hogslayer78]

.243 is a great round and I'm shocked no one has said .30/.30. I started out about 12 with my .30/.30.

[Maxlab]

7-08 or 26-06

[RF76]

7mm-08. Its all he needs.

[Stick1]

It's hard to beat the versatility of the 260. Mild 120 grain loads for now, and the ability to move up to the 140's plus as he grows or has the chance to hunt bigger stuff. Good hunting Bullet selection is a little better than the 243 and the recoil is generally less than the 308. It's long range performance is usually better than both as well. 7-08 is never a bad choice for the same reasons