Need an opinion

[huntress]

OK. I need some help here. I know next to nothing about hunting and guns. My daughter Lil huntress was introduced to this sport by 86er and has just been consumed by it. She loves to hunt. She currently has a .22 levergun. She absolutely loves this gun! She loves how it handles and how it shoots. But there is one problem. I am learning that it is good for some things and not others. Since I believe that this will be a lifelong sport for her, I want to give her something a little stronger that she can use on bigger game. She is still a kid, but she is as big as me. Should she get an adult gun or a kids gun? I just do not know what calibur gun to give her. I though what better place to get some valuable opinions than this forum. So if you could take a minute and pass along your opinion on what type of gun I should be getting her I would appreciate it! Thanks for your help!
Sandy

[SmokeEater2]

huntress, What type game animals does she want to hunt? Deer,bear,hogs,etc.?

[SJPrice]

probably should not, but I feel like wading right in. I would suggest a Winchester 94 or a Marlin 336 with either of them being chambered in 30-30. Okay let the opinion games begin.

[Blaine]

30-30

[gamekeeper]

First, I would let lil huntress try a few different types of actions. If she still likes Leverguns (i hope) I would go for a .32/20 or .357M. If she prefers bolt actions a .22 Hornet or .243 might be OK.
It really depends on the type of game as to what is suitable.
A lot of rifles can be had in youth models too but I would tend to keep away from too hot a caliber until she can manage the recoil.

[mikld]

I think I remember a recent hunt reported where she nailed a deer. Perhaps she would like a gun like the one she used successfuly (I looked for the post for more info, but couldn't find it).

[madman4570]

6mm with a good 3X9 scope!

[geobru]

A 30-30 is pretty hard to beat for effectiveness on most game animals and has a fairly light recoil. My 94 in 30-30 doesn't have near the felt recoil of my M92 in 44 mag. As others have said, a lot depends on what she wants to hunt, but a 30-30 fills the bill pretty well in North America. IMHO

[AJMD429]

Let her handle a few guns...

If she likes the short leverguns, get a .357 Magnum - very versatile, ammo is inexpensive, etc.
If she likes the longer leverguns, a .30-30 is hard to beat, but if she's petite the extra length might bother her.
If she likes bolt-action guns, and long range shooting, a .243 or 6mm is versatile, easy shooting.
If she likes shorter range shooting, like midwestern deer, etc., and wants a bolt action consider the Ruger 77/44 in .44 Magnum

I agree that she might do best with whatever she used on the deer before.

Good luck and thanks for helping her grow up so well.

[Bogie35]

If you want a newly manufactured gun, a Marlin 336W in 30-30 should do well. On the used market, a Marlin 336Y in 30-30 would probably be nearly perfect for her. The 30-30 will take anything in the Republic of Texas (or any of the other "Lower 47" for that matter), and with very tolerable recoil.

bogie

[86er]

I'd let her pick whatever she wants. I am not a big fan of the 243 and similar class cartridges for beginners. The 308 can be downloaded or used with Managed Recoil ammo and the 7mm-08 similarly. The suggestions for the 30-30 are good since she has and likes her Henry lever action. Henry's 30-30 is great but may be a little heavy and long for her. The Marlin 336 Spike or 336Y are short barrel/short stock and would probably be a good fit. 30-30 ammo is relatively inexpensive too. The power level will suffice for nearly anything she wants to pursue, especially around here. With a Winchester 94, you could have the stock cut and a nice recoil pad installed so it fits her well. I'd let the deciding factor between Marlin and Winchester be whether she prefers a pistol grip or straight stock. There a a # of good bolt action rifles too, so let her feel a few and narrow it down to what handles the best. Also, don't overlook the use market, like Cabelas used gun rack. Once in a while a bargain can be had on a like new rifle.

[Hobie]

I'm in the what feels good all-around cartridge camp. 86er is right, a .308 can be used with managed recoil ammo (i.e. .30-30 ballistics).

[Mutt]

I don't believe you can beat a lever gun in 30.30 . Marlin or Winchester or maybe a Henry for that matter . At last count I own nine in 30.30 . I shoot 150 grain mostly and some 170 grain. If I make contact with with either of these rounds , they don't far , if they walk at all.

......................Mutt............

[86er]

This is the only Marlin Youth model I could find for sale on the major internet sites:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/902040744/Gu ... _30_30.htm

[Nath]

I love how this wee lass is up to go hunting, that is so cool

Because of a size thing possibly going on here how about a CZ in the 7.62x39?

Nath.

[Doc Hudson]

i agree that Lil Huntress's opinion should make the final decision. So let her try as many different types and calibers of rifle as you can find.

if she sticks with a levergun, you can't go wrong with a Marlin M-336, especially if she wants to scope-sight her rifle. Another good choice would be some version of the M-92 SRC in either .357 Magnum or .44 RemMag. In any event, she should geet a chance to shoot those types and chamberings of rifles before she makes her decision.

I can't decide who is luckier, you, Lil Huntress, or us for having a chance to influence a new huntress.

I'm really glad to see you encouraging her and trying to help her get started right.

[mikld]

I found the earlier post about her recent Scimitar hunt. No details were given on the rifle she used but she looks comfortable holding it in the pics, and obviously she can shoot it!

[tman]

i'd go with a rossi 92 .357 with a 16" barrel. the .357 might be the most versatile round for hunting big and small game, self-defense and plinking. using .38 specials, it's got to be the most economical centerfire to shoot. shooting ,practice, and shot placement means more than caliber selection. you could probably take all north american game with this combination, shot placement and range estimation being critical. hope this helps.

[madman4570]

I'm in the what feels good all-around cartridge camp. 86er is right, a .308 can be used with managed recoil ammo (i.e. .30-30 ballistics).

True, The .308 would give you a lot of options and it ups the game if need be from the 6mm stuff and with reduced loads----perfect!

[greyowl]

If she likes lever rifles, a Winchester or Marlin in 30-30 would be a good choice. The Win. are a little lighter, but Marlins can be bought new and have a good service department. If these are a bit to big and hard to handle yet, a short term stop gap could be a New England Firearms single shot handi-rifle in a youth model. A couple of calibers available that are easy for kids to handle. My own daughters started with these in .243 and 30-30. They are inexpensive, so if used for only a year or two you don't have much in it. From there they graduated to a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. with a 1" pad to cut felt recoil. The 1894 is a light carbine, easy to handle, though a 94 Win. in 30-30 with a good pad installed and LOP set at proper lenght should work as well. Just my .02 cents. Good luck.

[HATCHETTJACK]

marlin has a nice bolt action rifle in 270 called the xl7.... for around 300.00, she would grow into it and use it for life... a marlin 336 in 308 marlin express is another good choice....

[pokey]

30-30.

let her pick the platform.

[papabear]

I have 2 daughters there older then Lil Huntress's 25 and 21.and but they both liked the 30/30 Marlin i just picked up. I took it to the range by my house where they both shot 10 rounds each to try it out. Katie the 21 is small 4'11'' wanted to shoot it some more and my older daughter wants to use it to go deer hunting with this year [hoping she still wants to go on opening day] But what ever gun she get I know she will enjoy it .

[Rusty]

Seeing the pictures of her hunt it looks like she was using a bolt action. Given that I'd say that something like a 7mm Mauser would be about perfect. It is a low intensity round compared to a lot of stuff out there today and it will do the job. The famous African Ivory hunter W.D.M. Bell used one to kill elephants, but he also shot them with surgical precision.

[kimwcook]

I agree on letting Lil huntress be the deciding factor on which gun she prefers. With some guidance as to caliber. I don't know her knowledge on calibers. I noticed she was left handed and a large number of left handed people learned to shoot right handed guns, but there are more manufacturers making left handed models now more than ever. The medium calibers are where I'd be looking as she is still young and we don't need to be instilling a large flinch factor in her shooting. 30-30 to 308 is a good place to start in my opinion. Although, I remember my first 30-30 and it kicked me like a mule. I was around 12 years old. Good luck.

[JReed]

For a bolt gun I would recommend a Stevens 200 in .308 they are a great gun at a great price. For a lever a Marlin in 30-30 is the way to go. As 86er said you can get reduced loads from Remington for both rounds. and both guns and cartridges can grow with her for just about any hunting in the country (baring large exotics like water buffalo). Heck if she gets into reloading she can load the .308 anywhere from supper light round ball loads good for squirrel all the way to loads that will take elk same can be done with the 30-30.

http://www.savagearms.com/st_200short.htm
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/ ... e/336C.asp

[76/444]

I agree with letting her try many until SHE decides. I would make sure she tried a lever in 357mag/38spl and 44mag/44spl,... 38/44 spl's are readily available ammo at relatively affordable prices compared to most others.

[Dave]

If you can get your hands on a Remington 700 or Model 7 in 7-08 that would make a fine gun. Remington offers reduced recoil loads that they claim cut the recoil in half. You still get a 140 gr bullet. The 7-08 is not a bad kicker anyway and the new guns come with a recoil pad.

I am a lever man but the 7-08 in a short bolt gun like the Model 7 makes a lot of sense. She will likely be fine with a youth stock for a long time to come especially if she is wearing a jacket.

[Ysabel Kid]

Can't add much more, but just another vote for a .308 bolt action. As noted, it can be downloaded now with commercial fodder in the .30-30 range, and yet she can grow with it as she gets older right up to the full power .308 rounds. Good luck!

[Birdman]

I have bought my son one rifle. A custom built Remington single shot bolt action 22 LR. He was 10 years old. Over the years he has shot my 22, 357 and 44 lever actions and my AR15's that I could really care two hoots in hell about. His favorite is the AR's, but every time we go out he still takes that little Remington. I don't know what rifle HE will buy but that first one will always be along for the ride.

Ya just never know what they will prefer when they are old enough to make their own choice. In the mean time allow her to shoot whatever anybody and everybody offers. She will be well educated and have alot of fun. Ain't this great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[86er]

So did you decide?

[FWiedner]

I'll add another recommedation for a .30-30 if the girl is interested in lever guns, and a .243 if she is looking at a bolt gun.

Neither is overly exotic, both are easy recoil calibers, are available in models that will fit smaller frames, and are easily capable of taking a wide variety of game.

JMO

[2571]

My daughter went from a rolling block .22, made in the early 1900's to a .45-70. Admittedly, she had to get used to the new rifle, mostly because it was a lever gun. When she got old & wealthy enough, she went back to the single shot, a Shiloh Sharps in .45-70.

Let your kid have what she wants.

[huntress]

Thank you so much for the opinions. I knew I was going to the right people! It sounds like 30-30 is a good choice and I agree with her trying as many out as she can. So that is my new focus...exposing her to the different guns you all suggested. From someone who knows nothing about this topic, I truly from the bottom of my heart appreciate the feedback!

[firefuzz]

If you decide not to go the lever-action route the 7mm-08 is an excellent choice. But look hard at the little .260 Remington. I've become very attached to mind and am thinking about having a heavy barrel built in this caliber. VERY light recoil and super flat shooting.

Rob

[alnitak]

Didn't Lindsay use the .30-30 the gang donated to the ranch to take that deer last summer (though I do think they downloaded the cartridge)? I think a Winchester or Marlin in .30-30 is the perfect rifle. If not that one, then a Rossi in .38/.357 will also be able to take deer-sized animals and hogs, as well as smaller game (e.g., squirrels). Joe can weigh in here, but the .30-30 also has more "top end" for the larger game she is now starting to go after. I'm partial to leverguns, although many of the experts will recommend a bolt action rifle.

[AJMD429]

As an afterthought, and just to counterpoint, don't entirely rule out an AR-15; she can later expand to other chamberings (you could also get the longer action 'AR-10' one even). Check out the offerings from DPMS, for instance.

Politically incorrect, and definitely not a 'levergun', but perhaps not too long from now impossible to get. .223 is a very versatile round in and of itself, and a nice compliment to a big-bore levergun like a .444 or .45-70, or even a .35 Remington.

She can get short 'handy' barrels but also heavy target ones, and they can be extremely accurate.

Anyway, just another option.

A basic 'collection' she could work towards as she grows could be:

1 - .22 LR rifle and .22 LR handgun 'pair' (i.e. 10/22 Ruger and Mark II Ruger or 96/22 Ruger and Single Six Ruger)

2 - .357 or .44 Mag carbine and handgun 'pair' (i.e. Marlin 1894 and Ruger Blackhawk)

3 - bottleneck/long range bolt action (or semiauto) rifle - whatever chambering she likes, depending on her recoil tolerance

4 - shotgun - unless she gets into skeet or bird hunting, a pump 20 or 12 gauge for home protection?

5 - levergun rifle (vs. carbine) .30-.30, .35 Rem, .444 Marlin, .45-70, depending on her recoil tolerance

6 - DA revolver (like Ruger SP101, Charter Bulldog) or semiauto handgun for self-defense (at least 9mm 'power' level)

# 3, 4, & 5 are highly dependent on the recoil tolerance she develops, but # 1 & 2 she can start on right away. If she wants the bottleneck/long range firearm before the # 2 pair, just let her pick a cartridge she can handle well. # 6 would be for when she's of age to carry concealed for protection.

I know that the above 'collection' winds up being 8 guns, and that's quite a few and lots of money, but I'm talking something to work towards long-term, plus some of the guns can be found used and inexpensively. In the end, she'd have a versatile collection.