rifle for beginner/youth- bolt? single shot? other?

[Jnasa]

I think either option is fine. I’d be more inclined to get a bolt action. Just teach them to keep the chamber empty until ready and make sure it is empty before moving on. Regardless teach them safety and don’t assume anything.

The break action safety argument is stronger with shotguns when you are standing to shoot. I don’t see as strong of a benefit with rifles personally.

 

[Treeshark]

Nothing with a hammer for a starter gun imo.

All bolt actions are single shots until they are fed a second bullet.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I dont like the idea of de-cocking hammers. I'm a few years out from having mine shoot any centerfires but already keeping my eye on the adjustable stock options for bolt actions.

 

[Griztrax]

My boys all started out with a Remington Model 7 Youth Rifle in 7MM-08. I love that gun and have used it myself to take several deer and antelope (although it doesn't really fit me). The gun is light and well suited for smaller statured people. I have loaned it out to friends when their children came of age to hunt, and all have really liked it. just my 2 cents.

 

[nastynate]

I'm going bolt action. Will probably get a Tikka 243 compact. Thanks all!

 

[ridn9high]

I'm going bolt action. Will probably get a Tikka 243 compact. Thanks all!

Great choice. The 1:8 twist will allow for the heavier bullets also.

 

[WVmike]

Started my kids off with a bolt action and also showed them how to use an AR which is what my son shot his first deer with. He knows how to load/unload it, check the chamber, etc. Taught him the weapon safety rules from the get go and always have him inspect my chamber and I inspect his chamber when he load/unload. Teaching my daughter the same things this year as she wants to shoot a deer herself.

I started off with a 30-30 marlin and honestly I love the gun to this day and I have killed quite a few deer with it but looking back at it, it was intimidating when I started. Once hunting with my dad around 10 or 11 maybe and we saw some deer come into view and were setting up for a shot and things didn't work out due to the deer spooking at the last minute. I ended up cocking the hammer prior to the shot after doing what my dad told me, then I attempted to decock it myself and it went off in a safe direction but scared the hell out of me and my dad both.

 

[Ringbill27]

I’ve thought about this topic a quite bit over the last year or so, because I too have nephews and nieces coming of age soon.

I really like the looks of the CVA scouts and my only concern with starting kids out with a hammered rifle is the possibility hammer slipping when decocking.

I really like the idea of a single shot. You have one shot make it count. This is a concern in my deer camp, because over the last weekend 10-11 shots were taken and 4 deer down.

Side note: One of those shots was from my wife, which her buck didn’t go 20. Her two siblings on the other had seemed questionably trigger happy. (The parents of said nieces and nephews.)

Maybe I’ll have to get one of these CVAs and try it out myself and see how safe they can be before starting kids out on them.

 

[Ringbill27]

I'm going bolt action. Will probably get a Tikka 243 compact. Thanks all!

My wife used hers this weekend and took a small buck. 95gr partition preformed well.

That rifle could literally be a forever deer rifle.

 

[kodiakisland]

Got a Howa mini in 6ARC for my grandkids. Love it and have been using it myself this week.

 

[noharleyyet]

I'm going bolt action. Will probably get a Tikka 243 compact. Thanks all!

Nothing wrong with that choice.

 

[mevertsen]

I have experienced a few break action shotguns and rifles.

It seems a lot of them take more energy than should be required to break, which can make things challenging from a safety aspect.

Bolt action, heck even a semi auto rifle or pump or semi shotgun.

my daughter just got a Mossberg 505. It has a full length plug, and will not allow a round in the magazine.

Block an AR mag, so it can function the firearm.

Single feed a bolt action, or block the mag.

All of those are safer than most single shots, IMO.