As a youth, I went from a Remington .22 for small game to a Rem 1100 with slugs for deer then right into a Ruger boat-paddle 30-06 because that’s what we had an could afford. I’m kinda jealous my nephews have many great options available sized for children. I keep a couple ARs in 300blk ready for them where most of the weight is on the receiver and stock not out front.

Started both my boys at the age of 4 shooting a bolt action Ruger American 22 with a scope, then progressed to a Ruger American 223 that killed every deer they shot with very little blood. They then progressed to a Ruger American 6.5 CM that has also killed every deer they’ve shot. I thought it was important to learn how to shoot correctly and progress to larger calibers with the exact same safety, trigger, stock, etc. I think it made it easier understanding the steps you take when shooting

A little advice if a child is going to be sitting on your lap due to window height. Get a little folding stool,cinder block or something for them to set their feet on. My tiny frame daughter was having trouble shooting until somebody that was watching saw she could not get braced due to her legs dangling. He grabbed a couple blocks of wood an it made a world of difference. I possible, position them so their elbow is resting on the shooting house frame.

I started mine off with air rifles and .22 rifles, getting them used to a scope and teaching trigger pull. Ultimately, I found a Remington Model 7 in a .243 (100 grain bullet) that performed well, but don’t expect much on blood trails.

One mistake I made prior to the Model 7 was buying a Rossi .223 single shot. Nothing against Rossi, it was just that the trigger pull was so heavy, that accuracy was an issue.

A second concern was in the “youth model” rifles in .308. The guns are so light that it tends to make the recoil in the .308 uncomfortable.

Started mine on a H&R single shot 300 Blk out. Super small in size but .30 cal killing power. Very light recoil....

My first deer rifle was a 30-30......It think it probably helped teach me how to hunt as much as it taught me how to shoot.

i'll throw this in , for 100yards or less don't over look a 357mag rifle . almost no recoil and little noise . a single shot 410 weighs the same as a single shot 357mag . it's also a round that a kid could burn rounds through just shooting . few boxes of 38's and just let him shoot !!!!

i have a H&R 357mag i wouldn't be afraid to shot any deer in alabama with it . reselling it down the road wont be hard at all .

I guess also think about if you want a gun he’ll only use as a youth or something he can use now (reduced recoil if needed) and can use for years to come.

problem i ran into once was not weight of a gun but the length of a gun . short single shot in that case worked fine . if the kid has a problem holding the gun up free hand , go shorter gun . it brings the weight closer to his body .

you put a youth stock on a single shot you lose about a foot or more in length over a 20 in. barrle bolt action

Go to Wal mart and buy the Youth model Remington 700 in a .243, then get you some 95 grain Noslers for it. I promise you they ain’t a deer in the southeast that can tote this round off past 50 yards when hit in the vitals. Leaves great blood trials also. Can’t beat the rifle for the money. My kids and GF uses this, and I shoot a Model 7 in .243. Been shooting them Noslers for years. Haven’t had one tote it off yet, everything from does to 210lb 9 point. They’ll hook em up!

7-08 has my vote. Low enough recoil but enough power to hunt forever

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Youth model 7mm-08 with reduced recoil ammo. My grandson killed every deer he ever shot at with one shot with one.
When he got bigger, put a standard stock on it and good for as long as he wants

300 blackout. I wanted to buy my 2 year old son one this year for Christmas but no one makes a single shot youth 300 blk right now and I’m not sure if he’s gonna be right or left handed yet so i really don’t want to buy him a bolt action yet. I know he’s too young to shoot t right now but i feel like for the first couple of years with him not knowing what Christmas or a birthday is, it’s better that his mom and grandparents buy him toys and i buy him the useful things like guns and fishing rods. By the time he is 4 or 5, i would like for him to have at least a 22, 410, and 300 blackout.

hand-me-down, then when he/she grows up let them choose their caliber of choice

For a small kid who isn't big enough to handle a full size rifle, the ultimate deer gun is a Contender carbine with a youth stock, 16" barrel, light 4 power scope, and chambered in 7 TCU. It should weigh between 4 and 5 lbs and be the shortest legal rifle you can own. And it will have almost no recoil, but enough energy to kill a deer.

H&R youth model handy rifle 243/20ga single shot. Barrels interchange and the rifle is a bull barrel with the scope mounted in it. That thing will drive tacks.

I have three between ages 10 and 15. I bought a Remington youth Model 70 in .308 and use the Hornady Reduced Recoil shells. It's such an accurate and easy to carry little rifle that when my kids are not hunting I use it exclusively. And I've got several nicer rifles to choose from. We've killed several deer over the years with it. Kids grow so fast I wanted something that would last through the years and I'll be using this rifle for years to come.

Yep. Daughter killed her first and several other bucks with basically the same setup. 3-9 scope was only difference.

My 9 year old son shoots my AR in a 300BLK. The light weight, no recoil, and adjustable stock are perfect for kids. I've got my 6 year old shooting it this year and it is just a great all around gun for them. My oldest shoots left handed and other boys all shoot right handed and they all know how to handle the gun properly.