Gun for an 8 year old.

[brockel]

223 or 6ARC

An AR with adjustable stock and short barrel or a youth stocked bolt rifle. Lots of choices.

Bear creek arsenal has bolt action ar15 and ar10 now. I’ve got the pieces to put together a bolt action 22 arc. Should be a great kids gun with the length of pull adjustability

 

[Arcola]

6.5 Grendel is a great cartridge for out to 300 with very little recoil.

 

[BAKPAKR]

For an 8 year old, I don’t think I would go with anything with more recoil than a 223/6mm ARC/6.5 Grendel. If legal, a 223 will work fine out past 200 yards.

At around 9 or 10, my daughter did fine with a 6.8mm SPC. That will get you out to 200 yards or more, too.

 

[howl]

Surprised I haven't seen anyone recommend a 7mm-08. My wife and son have proven the effectiveness of the caliber time and again. Personally I prefer a 243 pushing a 100gr Partition.

It's because OP wants a flyweight carbine. None of the 308 based cartridges are suitable for someone learning to shoot unless you load them down. Loaded down, you've made an equivalent to 6.5 Grendel.

 

[Mallardsx2]

7mm-08

 

[Southern Elk]

I’m a big fan of the .243. I killed my first deer with a model 70 Winchester .243 and 30 years later my son killed his first deer with a Remington 700 .243. It’s become our go to mule deer and antelope gun lately.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

223 or 6ARC

An AR with adjustable stock and short barrel or a youth stocked bolt rifle. Lots of choices.

^This.

I know very little about 300bo but the popular barnes 110 factory ammo seems to be loaded around or a little under 2400 FPS? If that's the case, a 73-77 gr 223 pill at 2700ish FPS is going to start faster and hold onto velocity better than the light 30 cals due to having a higher BC and thus be better to further distances.

Something like this at 2900+ FPS will be much better at distance than a 300bo.

5.56 "Tink" 77 gr TMK NAS3 - 50 CT

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[EastTNHunter]

6.5 Grendel is a great cartridge for out to 300 with very little recoil.

My son loves to shoot my little Howa Mini in 6.5Grrr. Killed several deer with it up to 175ish yards. He rolls his own ammo

 

[WVmike]

.243 would be my choice. I started my son off with an ar in .223 wylde that I built years ago and he stepped up to the .243 a few years ago and he shoots it really well.

 

[rogerthat]

223 77 tmk to fell the mightiest critters on the continent. A dall ram is expected by 12 yo now just fyi

 

[Corn king 60]

.243 for the granddaughters first deer this past gun season. 13 years old. About a 70 yard shot placed where it needed to be. Ran about 25 yards. She shot a good bit over the summer and zero issues with recoil.

 

[AlpineAssassin907]

6 creed or 243 for the win!

 

[millerkiller77]

223 is going to be a versatile rifle for many years as he grows and maybe wants to start plinking with something larger than a .22lr. It's cheap to load for, components are readily available , load data is extensive, factory ammo is extensive, and it's a fun caliber to have in a bolt gun. 77TMK or any of the bonded offerings are plenty of knock down power.

 

[brockel]

Bear creek arsenal has bolt action ar15 and ar10 now. I’ve got the pieces to put together a bolt action 22 arc. Should be a great kids gun with the length of pull adjustability

Here’s the bear creek bolt action 18” barrel next to a tikka 18” barrel. Going to be a nice kids rifle. It’s 5.8lbs before installing the lower parts

 

[brownbear932008]

7mm08 and begin with light loads as he ages he can transition into fully loaded rounds and you have one purchase instead of two. He also will be packing a rifle he is already familiar with and shoots well after the transition.

 

[chevyman181]

I've been a 7mm guy for a lot of years, several 7mags, a 7prc, 280ai, and 7-08. I think the 7-08 with light loads would be great for a starter and then moving up as they get older...

That being said, the last few years I've started carrying my .223 for everything. I live in ND and don't have to worry about a blood trail. I'm starting a 6arc build just for fun that would be a good one too. If I needed a blood trail I'd consider the 6.8 SPC, I used it a lot in TN taking youths out hunting and was never disappointed.

It's really up to you. Any of the CM or traditional short action cartridges will work. If you don't reload, I see what is most available locally and at price you wanna pay for practicing... The 6.5 cm in my area is the easiest and cheapest to find ammo for other than the .223 and 22lr. I've killed deer with the 6.5 cm and .223, they didn't know the difference or even if they were shot with a 7mag.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Here’s the bear creek bolt action 18” barrel next to a tikka 18” barrel. Going to be a nice kids rifle. It’s 5.8lbs before installing the lower parts
View attachment 373008

I'm curious about the straight pull ARs. How much resistance is there to pulling the bolt back? Is it easier to get sticky cases in the chamber?

 

[brockel]

I'm curious about the straight pull ARs. How much resistance is there to pulling the bolt back? Is it easier to get sticky cases in the chamber?

Should have it finished and scoped by Friday and will do some playing

 

[JV842]

I started off one grandson with an ar .223 Wylde worked great loaded w Barnes TTX’s. He was 6. He shot many deers, pigs, n predators from rt next to us on out to 200+; with a rock solid rest.
I shot my first few deer with a 22-250; started at 5.
Both grandkids have graduated to my beautiful Ruger #1RSI in 7X57 Mauser; they’re 6 n 12. The short rifle along with hand loading it down a touch makes for an awesome time.
There are SOO many choices out there for kids. Have em practice w airguns and 22’s to get proficient. Then move up to something bigger. But above all, let them have FUN!!! Then you will have hunting patterns for the rest of your life.

 

[jpc01101]

Are there factory "light" loads for 7mm08? My Dad has one that no one shoots because it kicks like a mule (Kimber)

Edit: Found it

7mm‑08 Rem 120 gr SST® Custom Lite®​