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Small To Medium Sized Hunting Rifle
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:09 pm
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:09 pm
Getting my boys a new rifle for next year. 12 and 10. Recommendations?
Also wanted to start another “small to medium sized” thread.
Also wanted to start another “small to medium sized” thread.
17
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:15 pm to theOG
quote:
Also wanted to start another “small to medium sized” thread.
It’s not the size of the barrel that matters
tnwss
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:22 pm to theOG
Could consider a chassis rifle where LOP could be easily adjusted. What’s your budget?
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:33 pm to theOG
Ruger 7mm-08
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:43 pm to theOG
7mm-08
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:45 pm to theOG
AR15 duh
Deer hunt on Saturday, spread freedom on Sunday
Deer hunt on Saturday, spread freedom on Sunday
Posted on 3/13/25 at 9:57 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
AR15
This all day long ^ Multi-purpose and low recoil and just fun to shoot.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 10:02 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
AR15 duh
This. If you don’t want to hunt with a .223 get one in 6.5 gr or buy an AR-10 in .308.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 10:03 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
AR15 duh
I don’t hate this. They’ve both shot the platform plenty. Just need one in an actual hunting caliber.
Posted on 3/14/25 at 12:44 am to theOG
Glad to see parents getting their kids into hunting. Congrats. 
A few thoughts:
-Mossberg makes a youth model bolt action rifle that has an adjustable length of pull (LOP). Mossberg Bantam
-You could buy whatever "compact" rifle you like (Ruger, Savage and others make models) and bob the buttock to the appropriate LOP. That's an easy DIY project. When your son gets older, you could add back the bobbed part of the stock or just buy a new stock w/ a longer LOP.
-Maybe one of the "crack barrel" rifles has a youth stock w/ a shorter LOP?
I'm not a big fan of the AR-15, but it can be made into a nice youth gun by getting a buttstock that has an adjustable LOP to fit a young hunter. Your best caliber choices w/ the AR would be the 300 Black Out, 6.5 Grendel or 350 Legend. One of my friends has a Grendel and he's killed about 30 hogs w/ it. The limited case capacity of these 3 cartridges makes them suitable for a youth rifle.
Keep us updated w/ what you do.
A few thoughts: -Mossberg makes a youth model bolt action rifle that has an adjustable length of pull (LOP). Mossberg Bantam
-You could buy whatever "compact" rifle you like (Ruger, Savage and others make models) and bob the buttock to the appropriate LOP. That's an easy DIY project. When your son gets older, you could add back the bobbed part of the stock or just buy a new stock w/ a longer LOP.
-Maybe one of the "crack barrel" rifles has a youth stock w/ a shorter LOP?
I'm not a big fan of the AR-15, but it can be made into a nice youth gun by getting a buttstock that has an adjustable LOP to fit a young hunter. Your best caliber choices w/ the AR would be the 300 Black Out, 6.5 Grendel or 350 Legend. One of my friends has a Grendel and he's killed about 30 hogs w/ it. The limited case capacity of these 3 cartridges makes them suitable for a youth rifle.
Keep us updated w/ what you do.
Posted on 3/14/25 at 12:54 am to theOG
quote:
Just need one in an actual hunting caliber.
6.5 Grendel is the best AR-15 hunting caliber. Mine has killed a shitload of pigs and probably 10-15 deer and never missed or wounded a deer. And it has an adjustable stock for the kids.
The round is basically a 7.62x39 Russian necked down to 6.5mm and running at higher pressure, leading to the same weight bullets (about 120gr) being much faster in the Grendel. It’s also much flatter shooting and the bullets penetrate better due to higher sectional density.
Another great thing about the Grendel is there’s not much recoil so follow up shots are easier than say a .308.
Posted on 3/14/25 at 4:03 am to GeauxHead337
Another vote for the .243
Posted on 3/14/25 at 5:48 am to Squirrelmeister
Grendel is such a versatile round too. I hear guys are approaching 3,000 fps muzzle out of 10-12” barrels with roughly 90 grain bullets. Granted these guys are up in the mountains but a short barrel down here can still push the lighter stuff fast if you want to.
AR is probably the best but I also have a bolt gun. It’s fun.
123 grain to 90, there are a lot of applications the Grendel can handle.
It’s such an overlooked cartridge.
AR is probably the best but I also have a bolt gun. It’s fun.
123 grain to 90, there are a lot of applications the Grendel can handle.
It’s such an overlooked cartridge.
Posted on 3/14/25 at 6:17 am to theOG
30-30 lever action
Posted on 3/14/25 at 6:38 am to theOG
quote:
Just need one in an actual hunting caliber.
6mm arc is basically .243 winchester. Or you could be the cool dad and do a .450 bushmaster with a supressor. 7.62x39 is about the same as a .30-30. Theres lots of options. Im going to try mine with some .223 heavy match bullets next year like the cool kids are doing and see if it works like they claim.
Posted on 3/14/25 at 7:11 am to theOG
depending on the distance they are shooting a 350 Legend can be bought in varoius sizes including the AR-15 frame. you can get in in Single shot also that allows you to hunt Primative Firearms season according to Louisiana regulations. I have the 350 Legend in Single Shot and a 7mm-08 for my kids
Posted on 3/14/25 at 7:14 am to theOG
I started both my boys at 7 on a browning a bolt micro. I got it in 308 and started with reduced recoil bullets and bumped up as they got older. My 14yo still uses it.
Posted on 3/14/25 at 7:31 am to theOG
My son just bought a 6.8 Spc upper for my AR. Sweet shooting little gun and pretty accurate.
I’d buy a 7mm08 and you have a gun for life.
I’d buy a 7mm08 and you have a gun for life.
This post was edited on 3/14/25 at 7:33 am
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