My first was a Ruger #3 in 22 Hornet. Took down plenty of Texas deer with it.

Are there any good books that lay out the fundamentals of proper rifle shooting technique? I'm decent with a gun but really want to build a strong foundation for my 7 yr old who is hoping to take his first animal this next season.

I was never taught the basics as a kid and want to take this opportunity with my 7 yr old to learn it all the right way.

Think it's nice to have a "kids gun" that can be passed down and had grandkids and the like shoot.

For a really young kid I'd go ruger American or AR in 6.5 G or 300Blk. They are easily suppressed and the rounds have very little recoil. When he's big enough for a full length stock buy a him 7-08 and he'll be set for life.

If you are looking for low recoil ammo, HSM makes a top notch low recoil line using sierra bullets. I personally was unimpressed with my one experience with the Hornady custom lite. My son killed his first buck with it, complete pass through but it was as if he had shot it with a target arrow. Zero expansion whatsoever. I have no idea what kind of results others have had, that is just my experience.

Here are some good ones that are oftentimes used in some of the better shooting classes:
1.) Basic Rifle Marksmanship-by National Rifle Association.
2.) Breaking The Shot - The Basics of Rifle Shooting by Todd Collier
3.) ABC's of Rifle Shooting by David Watson
4.) The Art of the Rifle by Jeff Cooper.

All available from Amazon.etc.

I shot my first whitetail with a 22-250. Eventually moved up to a 6mm remington. Then on to a 270. A few years ago my uncle gave my son the Browning lever action 22-250 i shot my first deer with. Ive gone back to it for shooting whitetail in a blind. Its sweet to see the deer fall in the scope. I'd go that route but maybe a 22 ARC in an AR platform. It will be a fun gun for life that will teach good shooting habits.

My 8 yr old has shot 15 or so deer in the last few years with a 22-250 with the remington green box 55 gr bullets. Very few have done more than drop in their tracks. Hes a great shot but alot of his confidence comes from what others have mentioned with the soft recoil. Ours isnt suppressed but hes wear ear protection and we shoot it out of a death grip bog pod. I will have him shooting this for at least a few more years until i move him up and get him his own gun. He has become very fond of the crossbow lately though and hunting within bow range so i think that will take priority next year. You just dont need a big gun to kill deer at 100 yards, get something hes very comfortable with and work on precision shooting and most importantly when and when not to take a shot.

Yes sir. Good dad!

Lonestar-aught-six said:

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Howa's mini action in 6.5 Grendel is pretty soft shooting.

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This is what I bought for my daughter. It is a hell of a solid rifle and it is very difficult to find a better overall round than the 6.5G for white tail.

This coming from a .243 homer too. 6.5G is my favorite intermediate round, and it's really awesome that her gun and my AR shoot the same load lights out.

"My first rifle was a .243
Papa gave Daddy, and Daddy gave to me,
And they taught me how to shoot with a steady hand,
I guess that's something you don't
Understand"

cmoore15 said:

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My 8 yr old has shot 15 or so deer in the last few years with a 22-250 with the remington green box 55 gr bullets. Very few have done more than drop in their tracks. Hes a great shot but alot of his confidence comes from what others have mentioned with the soft recoil. Ours isnt suppressed but hes wear ear protection and we shoot it out of a death grip bog pod. I will have him shooting this for at least a few more years until i move him up and get him his own gun. He has become very fond of the crossbow lately though and hunting within bow range so i think that will take priority next year. You just dont need a big gun to kill deer at 100 yards, get something hes very comfortable with and work on precision shooting and most importantly when and when not to take a shot.

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I've killed more deer with my 22-250 that all other calibers combined. 55gr SP's in the base of the neck - drop like a puppet with the strings cut.

Bought each of the kids a 30-06 for their permanent rifle (good for most animals and allows for single caliber with me and other family hunters on lease) Bought a shared .243 for when they were young, and for people that join us hunting (most new hunters). They jumped to 30-06 when they wanted too.

Any rifle I buy now, I would make sure it is threaded for suppression too.

No need to limit yourself to just marketed rifles with pre threaded barrels. With some exception's withstanding, you can have just about every rifle barrel threaded.

22 hornet has entered the chat

243 VOTE HERE

218 Bee or GTFO

Anyone have a sig cross? Thinking that in 6.5 suppressed may be the ticket.

Agree on both. We have killed piles of deer with the .243 but this year we used a 6.5 grendel for two deer. Alexander Arms AR Hunter with TTSX bullets. Wanted to also use an SST but my son ended up shooting the last deer with my 30-06.

If I had a young child I would go with one of those two.

Love my 6.8 spc w a suppressor. The adjustable stock is great for kids as well.

For shooting accurately, I think a very light trigger is the secret sauce. I have a .257 Weatherby with a hair trigger and it just doesn't miss. Without that long trigger pull, it takes a lot of potential flinching out. My 3 kids have killed a bunch of animals with it and so have I!

My personal preference would be a 6.5mm or a 270.

When it comes to reduced recoil ammunition for a youngster, I want something in the 90-110 grain range (as bullet weight is a significant recoil factor).

When I think about what I'd like to shoot, it is almost exclusive 140-160 grain (6.5CM, 270 Win, 270 WBY, 280 Ackley, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm WSM).

The 6.5 and 270 can shoot 100-110 grain reduced recoil load, and will grow with a kid to 140-150 grain loads for larger game than Texas whitetail.

Since I don't own a 7mm-08 I'm not sure what the minimum bullet weight would be there for reduced recoil factory loads.

I love the 243 but its max bullet weight is more limited.

I've always been able to find ammo at Academy, Cabelas, etc. for the non-reduced recoil loads for the 6.5CM, 270 Win and 243 Win.

Because of that last consideration, I would likely pass on the Grendel and at least for now the 6mm Creedmoor as well.

Personally, I would choose the 6.5 Creedmoor with a threaded barrel and run it suppressed.