honestly, man i'd have to go with the 50-cal. "big boy" rifle..... i hear they don't kick much. lol [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

well said....308 does a fine job


I got my first deer with .308

 

I lived in OK until I turned 18 and the get the heck out. I came to Wyoming in the Air Force and have been back there a few times for a while, I am here to stay now. I still own 1/2 interest in 80 acres between Wynnewood and Davis on hwy 77. Don't miss it much. I love Wyoming. Mule deer weigh 250-300 lbs dressed and are as big as horses.

 

25-06 or .243. no sense in scaring him off hunting before you start. i had a muzzle brake installed on my sons .243 and believe me it's like shooting a .22 only louder. when he's done with it for deer season i use it to shoot coyotes.

 

NO WAY you can go wrong with a 243 for a 12 year old. Great caliber with easy access to ammo.

 

Just go to the shooting range rent some guns and shoot them. As for short mags thats all i shoot. Got a Blaser n 270 WSM n 300 WSM. Trust me He'll will be flying bakwards Cause teh case is shoter but wider Looks neat to but the ammunition is ridiculusly expensive. Hey if ur looking for a new gun n caliber short mags to me are simply amazing.

 

I would look in to the 260 Remington, great all around caliber...

 

I would look at the 260 Remington. I don't anyone mentioned this or knows but it is based on the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. If you have not shot either they are very mild in recoil. The 6.5 is used by guys where I am from for moose even. In Europe in the scandanavian countries it is one of their most popular guns. With a 160 grain bullet it will drop a moose so for deer it will not be a problem. It is a old military cartridge(6.5x55) that remington has kind of brought back in the 260. Read the history on the 6.5x 55 and you will get a real appreciation of this caliber and its capabilities. It has even dropped african game.

 

good morning, i couldn't pass on this one. i read quite a few of the responses and noticed that no one mentioned a 30-30. great caliber ,lots of lead, low recoil. easy to clean. marlins are capable of scope mounting easily. good luck and "knock'em down!" i think dicks sporting good are selling them for around 250 of of last week.

 

I like the 30-30, but the big problem that I have with lever-action rifles (for my 12-year old) is that once you shoot and you cycle the action, the gun is ready to shoot with the hammer back. You need to carefully release the hammer. Not a problem for my 20-year old (who actually shoots a 30-30) who is more mature and experienced, but not what I want for my 12-year old's first year carrying his own rifle.

I'm really looking at a bolt action - they're safe and reliable and have the slowest cycling time between rounds (other than a break action). I think he is going to wind up with a 7mm-08 or a 260 Rem., but it won't be this year. This year he is shooting my 30-06 (bolt) using Remington's managed recoil ammo.

Now I'm not saying a 12-year old should not use a lever-action rifle. I'm just saying that it is not what I'm after for my son in this particular case. Thanks for the input, data44.