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Nascar Fan 
LSU Fan
Columbia La.
Member since Jul 2011
9862 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 10:42 am to SenseiBuddy)
308 
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hunt66
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2011
334 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 11:01 am to SenseiBuddy)
No experience with this but this has been discused before - my suggestion is the 7mm - 08. check out the browning micro hunter x bolt. Got one for my son when he was about 10 and he is 6'1", 16 years old now and still shoots it. Hell - I even take it from time to time. Never missed or not killed a deer.
Good luck!
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CoastieGM
Member since Aug 2012
1283 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 11:56 am to SenseiBuddy)
Dunno about .223 for use by a kid. Depends upon:
1. the average size of deer you expect,
2. the distance you expect the shots to be, and
3. how accurate the kiddo is
I've always used .223 on deer, but my shots are short to medium range. I do head shots at 40 yards and under. Over 40 yds, shoulder shot (not behind the shoulder, but actually through the shoulder). Never shooting more than 175 yds (and only on a smaller deer at that range)
You're the Dad and you know your son and the situation better than anyone. The .223 will cut the mustard depending upon the circumstances.
Though I like and use .223, a .243 will offer a greater margin for error.
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Me4Heisman 
USA Fan
Landmass
Member since Aug 2004
4434 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:14 pm to SenseiBuddy)
Get him a Rem 700 in .270 and he will use it for life.
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T Ba Doe Tiger 
LA-Lafayette Fan
ROWMCO
Member since Aug 2007
10901 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:18 pm to SenseiBuddy)
7mm-.08 and don't think twice.
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pdubya76 
Ole Miss Fan
Southwest Mississippi
Member since Mar 2012
794 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:27 pm to CoastieGM)
Agreed that it can be a deadly caliber in the right hands.However I would never allow a kid to try a shot at 175 yds with a 223.You are talking abt 300 lbs of energy at that distance.Im just sayin.....
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TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill
Member since Sep 2008
1825 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:45 pm to pdubya76)
quote:
223 is not a good deer caliber and little if any margin for error.You can get a good deer rifle and use managed recoil ammo to virtually eliminate the kick if he is sensitive to that.The 308 and 7mm/08 would be great choices.
This......
I fall into the "I don't recommend 22 Centerfires for deer hunting" category. Yah, they will kill them, but there are just too many limitations. Go ahead and get him a legitimate deer hunting round that he can use w/ confidence the rest of his life. I was faced w/ the same decision some years ago when my son started hunting. Bought him a Savage bolt action w/ cheap Simmons scope in 308 Win. I almost got a 7-08, but already had handloading supplies for the 308. Started him off w/ reduced recoil handloads. He's been using full power loads a number of years. He's killed 13 deer w/ the gun, all w/ one shot. The keys are: a gun that fits him (may need to cut off the buttstock some), a GOOD recoil pad, plenty of eye relief on the scope, managed/reduced recoil loads, and, when at the bench, good hearing protection and possibly a sandbag between butt pad and shoulder. As he gets older, you can buy a new stock w/ longer length of pull, if needed.
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CoastieGM
Member since Aug 2012
1283 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:52 pm to TigerOnThe Hill)
quote:
He's killed 13 deer w/ the gun, all w/ one shot.
How did he get them to line up like that? 
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Nascar Fan
LSU Fan
Columbia La.
Member since Jul 2011
9862 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:54 pm to CoastieGM)
quote:
How did he get them to line up like that?
Beat me to it
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Nascar Fan
LSU Fan
Columbia La.
Member since Jul 2011
9862 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 12:55 pm to TigerOnThe Hill)
Very well said except(see above)
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CoastieGM
Member since Aug 2012
1283 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 1:05 pm to Nascar Fan)
Now in all seriousness, how about lining up several PVC pipe-style feeders in a row to get hogs to line up for a multi-kill shot with a high powered rifle.
Might be something an OB member could try and report back on.
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TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill
Member since Sep 2008
1825 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 1:54 pm to CoastieGM)
quote:
He's killed 13 deer w/ the gun, all w/ one shot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How did he get them to line up like that?
LOL! Yup, that would be QUITE an achievement, wouldn't it. :-)
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MapGuy
LA-Lafayette Fan
I was born,I grew older,I'm here
Member since May 2010
23368 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 2:09 pm to TigerOnThe Hill)
i'm guessing it was a full metal jacket to get that sort of multiple penetration?
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Carson123987
LSU Fan
Middle Court at The Rec
Member since Jul 2011
23194 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 2:40 pm to SenseiBuddy)
1) I'm not a fan of Mossberg, but I'm a brand whore so take it with a grain of salt
2) .223 would be a bit small IMO
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BUCKMSTR7399 
Auburn Fan
Tn
Member since Jul 2009
1430 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 3:01 pm to SenseiBuddy)
Today I bought my daughter(10) a Marlin xs7y 243 scope mounted for $409 out the door. I just got through shooting it to zero, and I must say I was very impressed. 7 shots to zero, and a quarter size 3 shot group at 100. A good buy for an entry level first deer rifle.
This post was edited on 11/22 at 4:27 am
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MapGuy
LA-Lafayette Fan
I was born,I grew older,I'm here
Member since May 2010
23368 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 3:08 pm to BUCKMSTR7399)
quote:
Marlin xs7y
my 8 year old son has the same model in 7mm-08
great rifle for a great price.
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
30591 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 3:48 pm to SenseiBuddy)
.243 is the bare minimum whitetail caliber IMO, and a 7mm-08 is the bees knees for kids calibers
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choupiquesushi
LSU Fan
yaton rouge
Member since Jun 2006
8109 posts
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mine shot a 7mm08 until this year.. he took my 280... I am now using his 7mm08....
but if I get a shot chance w me pistol.. I take it....
7mm08 is an outstanding deer round and awfully easy to shoot.... and knock on wood we have yet to lose a deer shot with it....
I shot a deer in 88 with a .223... will not do it again unless i am starving...
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bapple
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2010
4225 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 6:24 pm to offshoretrash)
quote:
I doubt you can find anything other than varmit bullets in 223.
Although I agree that .223 is too small for deer, this isn't true. A lot of hog hunters like to use Barnes TTSX and it's a controlled-expansion round.
Still, I'm of the opinion that .243 is the minimum. I killed my first deer with my dad's .260 Rem and it is a low-recoiler with enough power. If you handload I would suggest this round.
If not, 7mm-08 and .308 are good choices.
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jack6294
LSU Fan
Greater Baton Rouge Area
Member since Jan 2007
2506 posts
| re: Looking for a deer rifle for my son (Posted on 11/21/12 at 7:33 pm to bapple)
Browning Micro Hunter
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