my nephew is 11 yrs old and is taking hunters ed. he will be able to hunt this season i have a custom built 6mm rem. a tikka T-3 in 25-06 i thought about buying a factory take off for the 6mm and having it cut down, or just get him a youth gun in 243?

quote:

get him a youth gun in 243?

yup
Lucky kid!!!!!

If he is physically big enough to hold and handle the T3 then that is the direction I would head.

I gotta believe that most kids his age can handle the 25/06. Personally I feel it is a great round for kids!

MD

My Favorate young persons gun or one for an inexperenceend person for that matter is the old 257 roberts. Really good bullets and it just dosen't kick at all. I built one for my mom 10 years ago (she was in her mid 50s)or so when she said she wanted to take up hunting. Took her to the range every week for a few months before the deer season and low and behold she took 3 deer with 3 bullets. 20 yards to 225 yards. Talk abut a proud son. After gutting the first one I talked her thru the second and the third she did 100% on her own. It is better to introduce a new shooter to hunting than it is to hunt IMO. The reward is just so great. I think I remember those 3 deer more so than any I ever killed myself. She still hunts and enjoys the whole experence although At 60 + I get to do the dragging with is just fine with me.

With a nosler 115 or 120 gr I would not hesitate to take and elk given a good shot angle.

That said the 243 is also a good choice. I personally think that small as it it the .014" diference make a lot of difference in killing ability and recoil is no more.

The 25-06 is a fine case but is just a bit too much powder asnd the flash is as detremental to good shooting as recoil.

Just my 2 cents but if I was going to buy a new gun I'd go with the 257 roberts. Later on it also makes a fine varment rig and will still take antelope, deer and elk. In fact over bait it would do the task on a black bear if needed although not ideal in my book. Look at the Encore as a platform that will grow with the user. You won't go wrong with the 257 Roberts. IMHO anyway.

Best of luck. you'll make a good decision. You're asking all the right questions and that's 90% of the battle.

BTW, way to go getting a new hunter into our ranks. It is a rewardign experence for you as much if not more as for them.

John

Fritz 454 has the right idea. The message holds true for the 6mm(.244) also. The max bullet weight is not that greater in the 25 and the 6mm offers good SD and a tad lower recoil. roger

6.5x55 Swede or 260 Rem would also be good choices.

I started my daughter out with a TC caribine in 357 max she has killed around 16 deer with it. She is now 20 when she was 18 she killed her first bear with a No. 1 in 06. Last spring she shot a porkupine with my 416 taylor. When I asked her about the recoil she said not bad Dad Not bad.

But then she picked up my 44 redhawk with full power load proceeded to put a cly full into one hole and said the recoil was bad at all.

Train them up right and they will amaze you.