A 243 slinging Barnes is always my answer for a “kid” gun or anyone else shooting 200 yards and under.

A 6.5 CM in a Tikka T3 lite or a Christensen’s Arms Mesa w/out the brake still has too much recoil for most kids.

Sure a lot of kids kill deer with 7-08 and 308s but I assure you they won’t “enjoy” shooting a box at the range and may even develop some bad habits along the way.

Even a 223 with a mono-bullet kills deer quick fast and in a hurry.

The quickest way to lose a new hunter is to let them get popped by the scope or become scared of the gun.


You're only as good as your worst shot-