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Great First Deer Guns
Starting off with the right gun can ensure both success and a lifetime of hunting enjoyment.
 Think “youth gun,” and images of air guns or rimfires instantly pop into mind. But whereas just a generation ago, upstarts were introduced to the woods via the pursuit of small game, today’s young hunters are taking their first shots at America’s most abundant and popular big-game species—the whitetail deer. For that task, young shooters are going to need a firearm that not only fits their smaller stature, but is also accurate, is easy to shoot and packs some punch—but not so much that it scares them from pulling a trigger again. Following are five great options for the young hunter in your house. AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENT |
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Photo Gallery Comments (14)
What about Mossberg's 500 Bantam Field/deer combo? The gun alone could be bought at Wal-Mart for around $200 at the beginning of the year and the deer slug barrel with either rifle sights or scope mount can be bought for less than that ($170 from Mossberg or ordered through your favorite gun store).
This is as reliable gun for getting anyone started as there is on the market. It doesn't cost as much but that doesn't mean it won't go anywhere the other more expensive guns will. I've had mine for 25 years or so and it has performed very well, couldn't ask for a better gun, even one costing more.
my first deer rifle was a winchester .243, however a killed my first deer with my dads .308. i was in second grade and as the smallest in my class a youth model probably wouldnt have fit me if i had had one lol. since i was so small i had to put my arm over the stock instead of behind it. my dad was supposed to take the recoil but i took such a long time aiming that he slacked off and when i shot the scope came back and nailed me right between the eyes leaving a huge goose egg for the pictures. a youth gun might not have done any good in my case but for other young hunters it has definite benefits. the only thing i think should be seriously considered is the cost since they will grow out of it. the recoil should also be considered because for a while after that i flinched every time i pulled the trigger on any deer rifle. a .243 or a .223 are good candidates.
bowhuntingminor, there are two kinds of hunters who use rifles with scopes. Those that have been creased with the scope and those who WILL get creased with it.
Luckily I have the honor to be a creased hunter! ha ha I am all for the New England handi rifle. My girlfriend shot her first deer with it this year in the 243 cal.
The best youth deer rifle is a .223 caliber. Almost no recoil, very little muzzle blast and it comes in singleshot rifles easy and light enough to handle. Use the 60-grain softpoint bullets and anything inside 100 yards will die!
My very first deer gun was when I was 19ys old living in Montana barely making ends meet and neading meat. I looked at the regs and found that a .22lr was legal so with $30 and some searching I found a Mossberg model 341 that was minus the 7rd mag making it a single shot. I took my very first whitetail with it. Not the greatest but it worked.
A Marlin 30/30 is my favorite for young and old shooters alike. It's balanced, quick and inexpensive to shoot.
Figures they think we are all rich and can afford high priced guns for our kids to hunt with. Shot my first deer with a $8 dollar gun and still have it. Why not show guns people can afford.
Funny how all the lever guns that were in my dreams as a kid waiting to go deer hunting..have not even one slide in this ...alas the venerable ole 30'30 often used but mostly neglected among the glory guns..well i still have mine..and enjoy its versatlity and ability to hold up to being abused from truck to plane to camps..
i live in a state where u cant use rifles so i have 2 guns that the first deer i ever shot was with a knight 50 cal muzzleloader and i also use the 870 a very reilable gun.
I like the little .243 as the caliber of choice in a kid's rifle. Perhaps it is foolish but I think your first hunting should be done with an open sight rifle. What? Young eyes aren't up to the task. There are some mighty impressive shots made with open sights, especially the old peep sight, and I believe it is the way to learn to shoot and hone your skills. It's unlikely a kid is going to be bearing down on some distant animal that would be best served with a variable scope. Give them a chance to do it the way their grandfathers did, sometimes harder is better. I also believe no scope at all is better than a cheap scope. When you need the scope buy the best one you can afford and make that old rifle that much better with a sight that is that much more reliable.
i am 14 and i killed my first deer when i was 10 and i used a ruger 44 magnum carbine. i used open sights and like kody said i think it is a good idea to learn on open sights
the first gun i ever got was a .22 with open sights i learned on that and a red ryder bb gun. i was then promoted to a .22/.410 over and under break action which i used open sights extensively to get better at shooting. then my dad bought me a savage model 111 in 30-06 with a scope for my first rifle i think learning on open sights is good for starting but a scope does make hunting alot easier. my parents now say my gun has a laser beam on it!
the first gun i ever got was a rossi 20 gauge with a inerchangeable 22 barrel.i killed a doe with it but it had too much recoil.three years later i got a remington 243 and i love it. i have killed two bucks and a doe with it. my parents are making me bow hunt more because they say its not fair that it is that easy for me to kill so many deer with my 243.i beat my brother in a shooting contest with my 243 against his 223. i love that deer dropping gun!
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
What about Mossberg's 500 Bantam Field/deer combo? The gun alone could be bought at Wal-Mart for around $200 at the beginning of the year and the deer slug barrel with either rifle sights or scope mount can be bought for less than that ($170 from Mossberg or ordered through your favorite gun store).
This is as reliable gun for getting anyone started as there is on the market. It doesn't cost as much but that doesn't mean it won't go anywhere the other more expensive guns will. I've had mine for 25 years or so and it has performed very well, couldn't ask for a better gun, even one costing more.
my first deer rifle was a winchester .243, however a killed my first deer with my dads .308. i was in second grade and as the smallest in my class a youth model probably wouldnt have fit me if i had had one lol. since i was so small i had to put my arm over the stock instead of behind it. my dad was supposed to take the recoil but i took such a long time aiming that he slacked off and when i shot the scope came back and nailed me right between the eyes leaving a huge goose egg for the pictures. a youth gun might not have done any good in my case but for other young hunters it has definite benefits. the only thing i think should be seriously considered is the cost since they will grow out of it. the recoil should also be considered because for a while after that i flinched every time i pulled the trigger on any deer rifle. a .243 or a .223 are good candidates.
bowhuntingminor, there are two kinds of hunters who use rifles with scopes. Those that have been creased with the scope and those who WILL get creased with it.
Luckily I have the honor to be a creased hunter! ha ha I am all for the New England handi rifle. My girlfriend shot her first deer with it this year in the 243 cal.
Figures they think we are all rich and can afford high priced guns for our kids to hunt with. Shot my first deer with a $8 dollar gun and still have it. Why not show guns people can afford.
Funny how all the lever guns that were in my dreams as a kid waiting to go deer hunting..have not even one slide in this ...alas the venerable ole 30'30 often used but mostly neglected among the glory guns..well i still have mine..and enjoy its versatlity and ability to hold up to being abused from truck to plane to camps..
The best youth deer rifle is a .223 caliber. Almost no recoil, very little muzzle blast and it comes in singleshot rifles easy and light enough to handle. Use the 60-grain softpoint bullets and anything inside 100 yards will die!
My very first deer gun was when I was 19ys old living in Montana barely making ends meet and neading meat. I looked at the regs and found that a .22lr was legal so with $30 and some searching I found a Mossberg model 341 that was minus the 7rd mag making it a single shot. I took my very first whitetail with it. Not the greatest but it worked.
A Marlin 30/30 is my favorite for young and old shooters alike. It's balanced, quick and inexpensive to shoot.
i live in a state where u cant use rifles so i have 2 guns that the first deer i ever shot was with a knight 50 cal muzzleloader and i also use the 870 a very reilable gun.
I like the little .243 as the caliber of choice in a kid's rifle. Perhaps it is foolish but I think your first hunting should be done with an open sight rifle. What? Young eyes aren't up to the task. There are some mighty impressive shots made with open sights, especially the old peep sight, and I believe it is the way to learn to shoot and hone your skills. It's unlikely a kid is going to be bearing down on some distant animal that would be best served with a variable scope. Give them a chance to do it the way their grandfathers did, sometimes harder is better. I also believe no scope at all is better than a cheap scope. When you need the scope buy the best one you can afford and make that old rifle that much better with a sight that is that much more reliable.
i am 14 and i killed my first deer when i was 10 and i used a ruger 44 magnum carbine. i used open sights and like kody said i think it is a good idea to learn on open sights
the first gun i ever got was a .22 with open sights i learned on that and a red ryder bb gun. i was then promoted to a .22/.410 over and under break action which i used open sights extensively to get better at shooting. then my dad bought me a savage model 111 in 30-06 with a scope for my first rifle i think learning on open sights is good for starting but a scope does make hunting alot easier. my parents now say my gun has a laser beam on it!
the first gun i ever got was a rossi 20 gauge with a inerchangeable 22 barrel.i killed a doe with it but it had too much recoil.three years later i got a remington 243 and i love it. i have killed two bucks and a doe with it. my parents are making me bow hunt more because they say its not fair that it is that easy for me to kill so many deer with my 243.i beat my brother in a shooting contest with my 243 against his 223. i love that deer dropping gun!
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)