Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear what do you think about a 30-30 for a first deer rifle?

I have really been wrestling with trying to find my boy his first deer rifle this year. I have been going back and forth between a .243 and 7mm-08, both in youth models and just can't decide. I got to thinking last night about my lever action 30-30 in my safe. It was my first deer rifle given to me. It has a scope on it, not the best, but good enough for no longer shots than he will be taking. He took his first deer last year at the age of 6 with my .30-06. He was sitting in my lap with the stock under his arm. I put the butt of the stock up to my shoulder to absorb the recoil but he did the rest. I was thinking of letting him use the 30-30 the next season or two and see how it goes for him then maybe invest in a nicer rifle. What do ya'll think? What load should I get for him?

I think either of those, especially the 7mm-08 or 30-30, would be an excellent choice.

30-30 is great. The downsides would be LOP and weight. I have a 30-30 that was my first rifle, but I decided to get my son a Rem 700Y in 243 for his first rifle. You add the pucks to the buttstock as they grow, and eventually just get a new stock if you want.

With all the low priced youth sized rifles on the market today, I would buy a 243 or 7mm-08 bolt action. Savage make a good youth size bolt action that won't break the bank.
If you want to save money just let him use the 30-30.

I like the history of the 30-30 as being the first deer rifle for many of us on here. There is a lot of tradition in being given a 30-30 for your first deer rifle. Especially if it is a Marlin.

Agree.

I hunt more with my thutty-thutty than any other rifle.

NEF 30-30 single shot was my son's first deer rifle. Put a shotgun scope on it and he killed every one he ever put the crosshairs on.

7mm08. It was my first gun and I kill a deer or two with it a year. It has been used for (6) 1st deer kills, dad had mine magnaported and I have finished deer off holding it with one hand. Hard to beat a model 7, had a timney at 3 lbs and glass bedded 5 years ago, went from a 2.5" gun to sub1". Great gun!!!

As far as the caliber goes,you can't go wrong on either one.I lean towards the 7-08 because the recoil is less and the versatility is better. The main thing is making sure the rifle fits!!My first deer rifle was a 30-30 also.However i'm 64 years old,the 7-08 wasn't availible then.My advise is not to get wraped up in tradition and ignore what's best for the youngster.

my first gun was a 410 then i moved to a twenty gauge when i was nine killed my first deer with it my first buck with it then my dad let me use his first deer rifle a thirty thirty its a sentimental thang made me feel like a big wig but your little boy will love hunting with a gun thats his daddys i know i did u can get him his own gun when hes older

Get a gun that fits him and he will enjoy shooting more and be more accurate. The 7-08 and 243 are good rounds, consider the 260 rem also. Killed my 1st with a remington 1100 & 00 buckshot.

I think that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of.

I killed my first deer with a 30-30 and my son killed his first 3 deer with the same 30-30 at ages 6, 7 & 8...........I bought him and his sister a 243 and they hunted with it for 2 years and now they have a 7-08 they will begin using this year. I gave the 30-30 to my son and hopefully one day when he grows up and has kids they can get their 1st deer with the 30-30.

What's dumb about it? I bet more "first deer" were killed with a .30-30 than any other rifle. It's an awesome caliber for where I hunt. I don't want to invest in a cheapo rifle to get him by for a year or two and I don't want to spend a fortune on him a rifle now until I know he is going to stay with it. If you think a .30-30 for a youngster to deer hunt with is "the dumbest thing you have ever heard of", you haven't been around much.

Unless its going to be a surprise gift, maybe you could borrow a 7mm-08 and a .243 and let him shoot them and see what he prefers or feels the best to him.

I was given a 30-30 as my first deer rifle when I was a youngster and I hated it. I didn't like having to cock/decock it, esepecially on cold days with numb hands and fingers, I didn't like having to cycle all of the shells through it to unload it, ... I hunted with the rifle for one season and killed deer with it, but I convinced my dad to buy me something else before the next deer season.

I've researched the issue of a first caliber a lot.A 30-30 will work well but some others are a bit more versatile.The 243 with todays bullets is a fine caliber if recoil is an issue.I'm told the 308 can be loaded to 30-30 levels so it would be very versatile.

I wouldn't have any problem starting a young hunter on a 30-30 but would only do so if it fit well and recoil wasn't too much.

I needed even less recoil than a 243 and went with a 223 for my daughters first rifle.With the right bullet,I have no concerns about it not being large enough.

All comes down to prefrence 30/30 has little kick to it 242 hard to beat , but for first gun either one will work

First time my son hunted alone he used my 30/30 Mod 94. The thing I didn't like about it was the way you unload it, which I felt could be clumsy for a youngster and I was worried about him unloading it before climbing down. When that gun was designed you didn't unload it.
Turned out not to matter. He saw some does and emptied it.

my first was a new england firearms 30-30 single shot