Has anyone seen any 30-30 reduced 125gr recoil loads anywhere? I need a box for my youngun, but haven't been able to find any.

I would post this in classifieds. Not sure of kids age, but if the kid is really interested in hunting you may consider purchasing one of the compact style smaller calibers with the add on as they grow stock. It is very challenging to find certain ammo these days and with regular ammo you can probably afford to spend more time at the range. You could add a recoil pad to your gun or the compact. The shorter gun will allow a young kid without the reach to hold the gun better. As you may knlw there is a lot of info out there on small calibers with a lot less recoil than the 30/30 caliber that will take down most deer with a good rest. Some kids could be intimidated by recoil, especially the young ones. The first time shoot the gun afew times and laugh and smile with some good earplugs. This could help enforce the kids thought a little kick is ok.

I loved John Wayne so I wanted to hunt with a lever gun. I had a 30-30 as probably #2 or #3 in my deer rifles a trapper model that fit me better as a kid. I killed the crap out of some deer with that thing and by the time I was about 10 years old and still weighted less than 100lbs I had decided then that I liked the Winchester 170 Grain Silver Tips over anything in 150 grain loads. I figured it out early on bigger is actually better and things can be "deader".

For what it's worth.... I like the suggestion above. At least give it a try.

PM sent Bama Bo Hunter

Kids aroumd me ,,,, the biggest problem was gun length not so weight or recoil.

Hard to beat a short single shot.