Well after a bunch of research, I have decided to get my grandson the Ruger American Compact in 6.5 Creedmoor. He will be 7 next season and figure he will be close to being able to handle the recoil. It was this or the 243... which I also like.

I looked at the following:

Mossberg Patriot Super Bantam
Savage Axis II Compact
CVA Scout
Browning AB3 Micro Stalker

Tell me something that would change my mind? I keep going round and round on the decision.

I got my grandson the Ruger compact in 6.5.. It shoots every ammo we have tried into sub one inch groups.

I'd stick with the ruger American if it were me. Only other I might consider out of the ones you listed would probably be the CVA scout. If it were me though I'd pick the 243 over the 6.5 but that's just me.

Yea... I am 50/50 on the 6.5 vs 243. 243 does have less recoil... faster and I have seen some real damage from a 243 when skinning some deer. I have not killed one with a 243 in ages. I may switch back to the 243 before I make the order.

I recently bought the Tikka T3X Lite 6.5 CM. Less than 7 pounds with scope ... just sayin

For a 7yo? Nah, bruh. 17, maybe.You could load it down and it'd still be too much. He might could handle it, might even like it, but it will hurt his shooting in the long run. My boy likes a kicking gun. I let him talk me into him shooting a ultralight shotgun when he was 5. He liked it but we had to work on that flinch a lot. Never should have done it.

The best tool for this job is an AR-15 in 223. The adjustable stock is what makes it work better than others. You can both fit the same gun to yourselves. 223 with a good bullet like 62gr Fusion is every bit as good as a 243. An 8# AR kicks like a 22lr. I mean actually, not the nonsense people like to say. Teach shooting always from a rested aim so the weight of the gun does not matter.

Get also a 22lr AR upper if you don't already have one. The way that you can practice a ton and it really won't be any different than the 223. It's heavy bolt carrier running back and forth that ups the recoil on a 22lr AR.

A big plus on ARs is you can have a large objective scope without having a higher mount, btw.

Highly advise against the Mossberg. Ruger American is the best of those in my opinion. I love a 243 but the 6.5 creedmoor will add more versatility in bullet weights as he gets older and wont seem like a “kid gun” to him once he’s 16 or so and will care about stuff like that.

And not that you are asking, but a high powered rifle is a lot of gun for a 7 yr old. I concur with others…start slow in learning how to shoot. BB gun, pellet air gun, 22, then a deer rifle.

Certainly recommend the Ruger American. My son has the compact version chambered in 7mm-08. You could always do reduced recoil loads in the meantime. My boy could handle the recoil at 7, but he’s always been >98th percentile for height and weight.

I have been down this road 4 times (4 kids) Trying to find the perfect setup. I own a ruger go wild with a 16.5 barrel in 6.5 creedmoor. It’s not a bad gun. The scope height and eye relief is gonna be the problem. Too close and they get busted by the scope. I messed around with 300 blackout on a AR platform and it was effective just limited range. The 243 seems to be the best option for
Us. Everything shot has died quickly.

You better listen to this dude right here. Every thing he said is spot on. 223 with the right bullet is more than adequate for deer in Alabama, especially for the distance a 7 yo needs to be shooting. My kids have killed several deer with a 55gr TSX and they leave quarter size exit holes.

Bulk 55gr fmj is cheap practice. Another advantage rarely discussed is the pistol grip on an AR gives little hands a great place to grab and the adjustable stock is invaluable . All my kids could shoot an AR better than a bolt rifle. 4ftlbs of recoil is way different than 11 or 12 ftlbs of recoil.

Got my 8 yo a ruger compact .243 last year. Seems to be a pretty good little gun. I shot a 194lb deer with it my earlier this season DRT with 100 gr. Norma.

Ruger has their American Predator and American Ranch in 6.5 Grendel. Recoil should be very manageable. The Predator is a 20” barrel and Ranch is a 16.5”. Ammo can be tough to find at times but it’s out there. Hornady Black 123 ELD is often at Academy.

But you better believe its fixin to kick the crap out of your 7yo and i would make sure hes backed off that scope quite a bit or hes gona have him a nice round set of stitches around his eye. But thats a great round and it will blow a superb hole in a deer. It will bleed good and wont go far. My son shot a 243 when he was 6yo and the 6.5cm kicks just a hair worse.

I just got a ruger go wild with a 16.5 barrel in .243. Going to sight in this morning. Using 100gr. Hornady Whitetail.

The 6.5 Grendel is the load I was referring to. Should have much less recoil

Put a limbsaver pad on it

I'd get him the Ruger American in 6.5 Creedmoor. Even though it's a compact, it's probably going to be a bit too long for him. Get a long eye relief scope so he can still get a full sight picture even though his head will be further back. This is the one I bought for my son: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009529795

After the rifle was set up, I'd have him practice with nothing but a 22 or similar so he gets comfortable shooting. Make it fun for him, have him shoot balloons, eggs, something other than paper all the time. Before hunting season, I'd get some low recoil ammo. Have him wear good muffs and plenty of clothes to help with the recoil. Let him shoot some water bottles or such so he's comfortable and confident with it. Don't want him afraid of it.

This is very similar to what I did with my son when he was 6. I bought him a Savage youth 7mm08 and down loaded a 120gr BT using H4895 pushing about 2400fps. To me, felt recoil was less than a 243. As he got older, I added powder and put on a regular scope. He killed more than 20 animals with that setup before I sold it to a buddy for his son. His 7 year old son killed his 1st deer yesterday using that rifle.

If any of the guns you are considering have 16”ish barrels, I would consider the muzzle blast factor. I really don’t even like how much the blast increases going from 20” down to 18” in most calibers, much less 16”. For kids (and most adults if they are honest), the concussion coming off a short barrel makes it extremely difficult to concentrate knowing what’s looming over you. For me, it’s worse than the recoil itself. 16” AR barrels are unpleasant to me versus a rifle length. I think these new 16” barrel bolt guns are mostly meant to be shot with a can.

I’ve always made my son wear double hearing protection at the range to guard against flinch. Whatever you get for him I suggest you do that too.

EDIT: BTW, at that age their ear canals are too small for most ear plugs, even rolled up tight. I bought a pack of those pink “lady” ones for my son, which he didn’t like. But they fit him, and with electronic muffs over them at the range he’s never complained

The Grendel is low recoil, but not as light as 223. 6.5G kills better than 223 but not enough to get worked up over inside 100 yards or so. I've been comparing the results of 223 vs 6.5G as I clean my kids' deer for years now.

Ruger really ought to offer the 6.5G or at least a fast twist 223 with a compact stock. What they have now is just too long. AR adjustable stocks are a huge advantage to a growing child.

And this is why I have not made a purchase yet. Too many options!! lol. For one, I really don't want to rush it. His daddy killed his first deer at 9 and he is ok today. It seemed years ago if you could get a deer around 8-10 then that was good. Now its 6, especially with the use of full vises AR platforms, all these new calibers. I also feel social media puts pressure on us parents and grandparents to make sure our sons and daughters are not getting passed by. Sad but true.

I am now leaning to:
AR-Platform in 22
Ruger American in 243


I am just thinking the reduced recoil will be a better option right now... than the 6.5. About 4lb of recoil difference.