I'm looking for a rifle for my 11 year old lil girl. She shoots my 300 blackout regularly without hesitation. How much more recoil would a 6.5 cm have vs the 300? She doesnt want an AR style so regular deer rifle is preferred. I've considered 243, 7mm-08, & 6.5 cm. Thought about saying too bad & going AR with a 6.5 grendel. Longest shot for now will be 200 yards so I know all these rounds can adequately take down deer at that range. I've looked at so many guns lately I'm second guessing any decision. We're going to shoot some friends' 7mm-08 & 243 so I will know how she does with those soon. I value most opinions on here. Yall give me input & suggestions.

Caliber I would be suggesting 243 or 6.5Creedmoor.
7MM08 is a fine caliber and would serve the role well but 6.5Creedmoor I'm almost certain has SLAUGHTERED 7MM08 sales.

I think a Ruger American 243 Youth with Leupold VX3i 3.5-10X40 in Talley mediums you would be hard pressed to do better at the price point.
https://gunprime.com/products/ruger-american-compact-rifle-black-243-win-18in-gl-d504bb-855596562
https://www.nwarmory.com/product/le...ft-100-yds-fov-1-tube-black-matte-duplex

Too many other factors. I have shot several guns of the same caliber with different results in recoil. For example, a heavier gun will feel like it kicks less because the recoil has to move the weight of the gun before it can move your shoulder. Other factors such as grips, action type, etc can affect it too.

Remington VTR in 22-250.

My daughter is shoots a 7-08 but with reduced recoil loads. Why? Because when she started shooting, I thought the 6.5 CM was just a fad and would burn out quickly...I was wrong.

If you are going to shoot factory full pressure loads, I"d go with a .243 or 6.5 CM … The 6.5 CM has a mild recoil and still has enough oomph to knock a deer on its arse.

But then again, so does the .243, or a Ruger American Ranch in .300 BLK

I agree with this 100% on caliber and rifle. If you wanna spend the extra money get her a ruger m77 Hawkeye compact. I ran across a deal on one about 6 or 7 years ago with a Leopold VX3 3-9x50 for only $400 dollars and scooped it up immediately. Now that I have a son which will be 5 in April one day when he's old enough this is what he will be shooting to start off with. I started off with a Remington 700 BDL in 243 and killed a ton of deer with it never losing one so its definently big enough to get the job done.

My 12 yo daughter shoots my TC 6.5c just fine. She don't care for the 7-08 as much.

My 16yr old daughter has been shooting a model 7 in 7-08 since she was 6yrs old. Started off with Hornady custom lites for a couple years. She shoots full loads now.

Kids these days are wussified...PawPaw Troy was shooting a .375H&H when he was 8 back in 1912.

IMO Stock design and how it fits will effect them more than the recoil of the round. 6.5CM is a great choice for a youth, check out the thread Buckhunter2 did on the 6CM which would be another fine option for a kid. We ended up with a Browning Micro Medallion 7-08 for my daughter.

GOOD LUCK with the search and I hope you find the perfect rifle for her.

The Ruger ranch in .300Bo would get a look.

Both of my girls started off, and are still shooting, a Ruger M77 Hawkeye compact in .243. My oldest (now 18 yrs old) killed her 1st deer with it back in 2013 at age 12...she now has my first rifle, a Remington 700 ADL in .243, that my dad got me when I was 14. My youngest, now 13, killed her first deer 2 years ago, with the same Ruger .243. She loves shooting it...any time we get ready to go to the gun range, she asks to take it. She went through probably 5 boxes of shells over the summer shooting it. But, I do believe she would shoot anything I'd let her shoot; she's not scared of any recoil.

300BO ballistics make it a 100 yard deer gun.
Can’t go wrong with .243 or 6.5 CM.

Just my opinion here. In the past 30 years I have had the privilege of bringing up one son one daughter and two grandsons. Do not get a 243 JMHO. Get a 7mm-08 or 6.5cm. I started with a 234 went to a 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 was so much better. Recoil not a problem and just much better killing power. Now I have the grandsons in 6.5cm. The 6.5cm would be my number one pick.

My question is how much do you want to spend? How do you want to use it?

AC if the .300BO won't cut it,would you say 7.62x39 would be better? Yes I know my .260 is the real answer but the Creed has the hype train behind it.

If the 300blk won’t do it then neither will the 7.62x39. They have nearly identical ballistics. Both are 200yard guns and a little further with the right bullet. That right bullet is much harder to find in x39 because of available options and velocity loss. The Barnes black tip 110gr in 300blk has served me well out to a tad past 260yards. It fully expands down to 1300fps. You won’t get a pass through, though.

For whatever reason, folks here get triggered as hell over the 6.5 Creedmoor. Apparently, they let what others think and say bother them way too much, instead of simply doing their own research.

The 6.5CM would be an EXCELLENT choice for a beginner or expert. Very low recoil, great bullet choices, and cheap, available ammo.

A 243 slinging Barnes is always my answer for a “kid” gun or anyone else shooting 200 yards and under.

A 6.5 CM in a Tikka T3 lite or a Christensen’s Arms Mesa w/out the brake still has too much recoil for most kids.

Sure a lot of kids kill deer with 7-08 and 308s but I assure you they won’t “enjoy” shooting a box at the range and may even develop some bad habits along the way.

Even a 223 with a mono-bullet kills deer quick fast and in a hurry.

The quickest way to lose a new hunter is to let them get popped by the scope or become scared of the gun.

.....no pass through= no good for deer or hogs, in my book. 300 BO and 7.62x39 are only good as far as they’ll get good expansion and pass throughs. That’s generally under 150 for blackout. A 30-30 is better. The 300 HAMR is better. The 6.8 SPC and Grendel are better. A creedmoor will recoil more than any of those, but it’s not more noticeable than a 243, to me. If you’re gonna limit to 150 and under, then there’s more options. The Howa and CZ minis in Grendel and x39, could be good options, or even 223, depending on your requirements. 55/62gr Barnes TTSXs in 223 will give expansion and broadside pass throughs, at least as far as the 300 BO. The 7.62x39 with the right bullets, kills well to past 150....usually outperforms the 300 BO.....no replacement for displacement, and all.

I have a 6.5 Swede and it is low recoil. A 6.5 Grendel would be the way I would probably go if recoil is an issue. Cz makes it in the 527. Great rifle

I think the creed or a 7-08 would be fine either way. I just picked up a 6.5 grendel myself and plan on my 5 yr old using it due to it being on an AR platform and little recoil.