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Started By
Message
First Deer Rifle For 5 Year Old?
Posted on 8/21/26 at 2:46 pm
Posted on 8/21/26 at 2:46 pm
My son turns 5 next month and is obsessed with guns and being out in the woods. He's a big kid and is very mentally mature for his age so I think it'll be a good time to start introducing him to shooting. I want something he can have forever and be useful even when he grows into larger calibers. I have a few guns in mind but figured I'd make a post here in case there was something I'm not thinking of.
I won a Browning BAR in 243 that has just been sitting in my safe so that's one option. I'm really leaning towards something in an AR platform though. A 6.5 Grendel or 6mm Arc suppressed AR is what I think I'm leaning towards. I think with either of those the recoil and sound will be minimal and it won't scare him.
Thoughts? Better options?
I won a Browning BAR in 243 that has just been sitting in my safe so that's one option. I'm really leaning towards something in an AR platform though. A 6.5 Grendel or 6mm Arc suppressed AR is what I think I'm leaning towards. I think with either of those the recoil and sound will be minimal and it won't scare him.
Thoughts? Better options?
8
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:02 pm to BentonTiger7
An AR in 6.5 grendel would be a spectacular rifle for him. Adjustable stock that allows you to make it short for him and grows with you.
The 6.5 grendel is a great round for hunting in the southeast. The 6 ARC would be a good one as well. Same diameter as the .243.
But you mentioned something that I think is more important to you son than the caliber of rifle. A silencer. Absolutely make it a priority to have him one. An AR is crazy loud and even more so in the woods.
Take it from someone that has a constant ringing in their ears. It's very, very important. My son has shot very few rifles without a silencer and I can't say he's ever shot one when he wasn't wearing protection. He's 20 now.
The 6.5 grendel is a great round for hunting in the southeast. The 6 ARC would be a good one as well. Same diameter as the .243.
But you mentioned something that I think is more important to you son than the caliber of rifle. A silencer. Absolutely make it a priority to have him one. An AR is crazy loud and even more so in the woods.
Take it from someone that has a constant ringing in their ears. It's very, very important. My son has shot very few rifles without a silencer and I can't say he's ever shot one when he wasn't wearing protection. He's 20 now.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:14 pm to BentonTiger7
If you want to shoot deer during the youth season don't post about it. In my opinion 5 is too young for a high powered rifle. Get a .22 and let start with that.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:21 pm to BentonTiger7
quote:
I won a Browning BAR in 243 that has just been sitting in my safe so that's one option.
damn fine gun!!!
Plan B = But if you don't want that then like you said, anything in AR platform suppressed. The stock can be moved with ease for smaller person and he can grow into. Any size that you think he can handle that the recoil won't hurt or scare him.
Plan C = a lever action 30-30 suppressed. Sweet little gun!
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:22 pm to bbvdd
quote:
something that I think is more important to you son than the caliber of rifle. A silencer. Absolutely make it a priority to have him one.
This, x1000%
They are easier and cheaper to get now than ever before and well worth their IMO still absurd cost. Its not possible to express how much nicer a good suppresor makes shooting, and doubly so for a kid. If I can help it my kids will die of a ripe old age having never even been around a bare muzzle rifle shot.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:30 pm to commode
quote:
If you want to shoot deer during the youth season don't post about it. In my opinion 5 is too young for a high powered rifle.
Well your opinion is shite and I've been around several young kids shooting ARs and they handled them well. I only bow hunt. Only time I'm in a box stand is when I have my kids with me. No desire to youth hunt.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:40 pm to BentonTiger7
i agree with the suppressor suggestion. My son killed his first deer at 7 with a suppressed 308 and my daughter at 8 with a suppressed 45-70 using subsonic bullets. great first experience for both of them.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 3:50 pm to BentonTiger7
quote:
I'm really leaning towards something in an AR platform though. A 6.5 Grendel
I went this route and was very pleased. He's 11 now but he's put them on the tailgate up to 240 lbs with no trouble. Gun has a 16" barrel and handles great in a stand or in a clamp/vice. I limited his range until I was confident but its easily potent enough for a couple of hundred yards.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 4:04 pm to BentonTiger7
Well that is why it is an opinion, and the youth comment was tongue and cheek. The problem I see is dads don't teach woodsman ship to kids anymore. They don't teach them how to hunt squirrels and how to walk in the woods. They are too eager to get the picture to post on the gram. Teach a kid how to hunt and read sign, not to see how young he can shoot a deer. Teach them to be hunters not shooters. Good luck to you and your son!
This post was edited on 8/21/26 at 4:07 pm
Posted on 8/21/26 at 4:20 pm to BentonTiger7
I was planning to start a similar thread myself but my son is a little older. He is 7, trying to figure out what to get him for his birthday to deer hunt this year with.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 4:22 pm to commode
quote:
Teach a kid how to hunt and read sign, not to see how young he can shoot a deer. Teach them to be hunters not shooters. Good luck to you and your son!
This is more important than sitting in a box stand with a 7 year old and an AR
Posted on 8/21/26 at 4:29 pm to commode
quote:
The problem I see is dads don't teach woodsman ship to kids anymore. They don't teach them how to hunt squirrels and how to walk in the woods. They are too eager to get the picture to post on the gram. Teach a kid how to hunt and read sign, not to see how young he can shoot a deer. Teach them to be hunters not shooters.
Again, he lives in the woods with me. He's already been on squirrel hunts, hog hunts, deer hunts, a couple of duck hunts, and is going dove hunting this year. I'm able to teach him how to shoot along with learning other skills.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 4:38 pm to commode
An appropriate fitting rifle in a death grip tri pod and he's golden.
I'm a fan of 300 Blackout on the AR platform. But 6.5 Grindle is another great option.
I'm a fan of 300 Blackout on the AR platform. But 6.5 Grindle is another great option.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 5:55 pm to BentonTiger7
Whatever you decide focus on teaching him safety and the fact he is taking a life. Knowing what is behind his target the deer. .243 would be good. I learned on a 30-30 lever action and that is what my son will learn on.
I read were a lot of people get AR platforms for young kids because of the ease of the safety. IMHO if that is a factor your kid is too young.
I read were a lot of people get AR platforms for young kids because of the ease of the safety. IMHO if that is a factor your kid is too young.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 6:06 pm to Sparty3131
I have a howa mini in 6mm arc a friends daughter shot her first deer with that with a 108 ELDM, my kid will use that in the next year or two. The three position safety is a nice feature vs my tikkas, also the recoil is still reasonable at a weight that’s low enough that they can handle the gun. Almost any short action cartridge will work with enough weight if you just want to plop your kid behind a tripod mounted 16 pound gun.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 8:46 pm to BentonTiger7
Cheap .223 dmps AR from academy
Posted on 8/21/26 at 9:33 pm to BentonTiger7
take this for what it is: my dad started me on a bolt action 243 with 100gr Partitions and taught me to place shots and make one shot count. Mauser action with a mannlicher stock .
When my daughter was 6-7, he got her a Model 70 in 243 featherweight...with the schnabel forend, real pretty gun. That barrel isn't threaded, but now at 11 yo, she LOVES by 6.5 swede with a supressor.
I should probly get her one of her own
Just my $0.02
When my daughter was 6-7, he got her a Model 70 in 243 featherweight...with the schnabel forend, real pretty gun. That barrel isn't threaded, but now at 11 yo, she LOVES by 6.5 swede with a supressor.
I should probly get her one of her own
Just my $0.02
Posted on 8/21/26 at 9:51 pm to commode
Hate to bust your bubble but kids mature differently. My youngest son was 5 when he killed his 1st deer with my AR in .223. He’s 14 now and has a Ruger Compact 7mm-08.
Posted on 8/21/26 at 10:34 pm to commode
quote:
f you want to shoot deer during the youth season don't post about it. In my opinion 5 is too young for a high powered rifle. Get a .22 and let start with that.
Has little to nothing to do with the gun. Any child can look through the scope of a rifle sitting in a led sled and pull the trigger.
The bigger concern is simply making sure that a 5 year old understands what it means to take a life….any life
However, it’s not my job to tell any parent how to raise their children. Good luck
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