30-30 VS low caliber rifle

30-30 should be good, I had one when I was 9yrs old and it sort of kicked. But after I grew into it more did not do it much. If you guys are taking childern hunting I suggest that you match the size of the child to the gun, so that they would have better control, stock length and arm reach. Also be sure to use a smaller caliber bullet. Some people will say that a few grains of powder will not make a difference in a bullet, but I think it does. Just my two cents !

My 270 kicks pretty good...I wouldn't suggest it for a 10 year old at all.

270 might be a bit much, but a 30-30 should be fine.

My first deer rifle was a .30-30 model 94.

30-30 would be okay.
Other rifles I would recommend would be .223 or .243
.270 is way too much.

GT 281 said:

So what do you think the diffrence as far as kick is concerned between a model 94 winchester and say a 243 or 270? I have a model 94 30-30 and i go on a orphan hunt every year where the kids shoot usually .243's. Do you think a 30-30 would be to much for 10-16yo boys? Kind of want them to shoot a real gun :smirk:

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.243 is not a real gun?? 30-30 will be fine, I shot my first deer at 8yrs old with a crack open 30-30

I have both a 30-30 and a 243, I dont notice a difference in recoil.

I suggest .300 mag if you plan on letting children shoot it, especially if you're hunting rabbits or small varmints.

Yale said:

My first deer rifle was a .30-30 model 94.

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ditto

5.0_CJ said:

I suggest .300 mag if you plan on letting children shoot it, especially if you're hunting rabbits or small varmints.

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lol, ok. Kill, gut, dice meat and dislocate shoulder all in one shot.

Very first real gun other than a 22 or 410 I ever shot was a 30-30. I think I was 7 or 8. It backed me up a few steps and stung a little but by the time I was 9 it's wasn't shit and when I turned 10 I got upgraded to a 30-06.

243 Win or 257 Roberts aren't too bad on kick. Ruger and Remington have the "Bob". 243 can be had in AR-10 rifles.

Marlin 30-30 with a scope is not too bad, but a Win 30-30 with plastic butt and no scope kicked.

"Stung" had a post one time of his son taking a deer with head shot with a 22 Hornet.

I have a 30-30 Win. When I was a kid I thought it kicked like a mule. Two boxes of cartridges would leave one hell of a shoulder bruise.

However, I will say that a .270 Win with a 130 grain recoils pretty damn hard.

I would start out a boy that age with something like a .243 Win

5.0_CJ said:

I suggest .300 mag if you plan on letting children shoot it, especially if you're hunting rabbits or small varmints.

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Meh, I would go with .375 H&H



But in all seriousness, a 30-30 or .243 would be fine. Also check out .204 ruger.

.204 is not good in the wind

Nice thing about a 30 30 is that most models are shorter rifles. Not only is the kick not so strong, but it would better fit most youngsters.