My oldest son (8) want a ML like dad, what do you guys suggest? A pawn shop gun, 45 cal? He is starting deer hunting this year ( the 8th ) and his grandpa got him a youth 243 so he has to use it this year but next year he wants to use the ML. KS minimum call for deer is 40 cal. Any thoughts?
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
Gun for my 8 year old?
- Thread starter Sam86
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
That youth .243 is gonna be perfect for him. I have one and it is a good rifle.
But on the proper topic at hand:
You are limited due to the laws so the .45 seems the way to go. A .40 would be great for the boy, but I haven't seen many of those that were afordable.
By the time he gets to hunt with it next year he will be a bit bigger and if he puts in the time to train with it and take it on woods walks to strengthen up his shooting muscles he should be good to go.
But on the proper topic at hand:
You are limited due to the laws so the .45 seems the way to go. A .40 would be great for the boy, but I haven't seen many of those that were afordable.
By the time he gets to hunt with it next year he will be a bit bigger and if he puts in the time to train with it and take it on woods walks to strengthen up his shooting muscles he should be good to go.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2004
- Messages
- 15,602
- Reaction score
- 20
Don't dismiss the .50 in some cases it comes in a lighter gun and can be loaded down where a youth can shoot it with no problem. I the biggest hurtle is weight/length, how well he can hold the gun.
I agree with Swampy. If he can handle a 243, I see no reason he can't handle a 45 or 50 maybe start will light loads. $180 isn't a great price for a CVA Hawkin. Not a bad price but not great either. Most pawn shops will take less for cash so I'd offer less and see.
I'd try and beat him down to $125.
But as was pointed out in anouther recent thread, those .45's are getting harder to find. So maybe giveing him what he is asking might not be a bad deal.
But as was pointed out in anouther recent thread, those .45's are getting harder to find. So maybe giveing him what he is asking might not be a bad deal.
Guest
Sam,
I find a lot of the CVA Bobcat rifles at the shows for $50-75, in pretty good shape. I keep 4 around for the kids to shoot and also for hunting loaners. They are light weight, accurate and can't be hurt. If he likes the sport you can upgrade and still afford to keep the spare.
Mark
I find a lot of the CVA Bobcat rifles at the shows for $50-75, in pretty good shape. I keep 4 around for the kids to shoot and also for hunting loaners. They are light weight, accurate and can't be hurt. If he likes the sport you can upgrade and still afford to keep the spare.
Mark
The one nice thing I have discovered about the plastic CVA stocks is that you can put alot of weight under the butt plate to weigh it down so the recoil isn't so rough.
I believe they made it in wood also. CVA also made what hey called a Frontier Carbine. It looked like a smaller version of a Hawkin and mine shot real, real good. It was a 50 cal 1/48 twist so it shot conical well too. There was also a Traditions Deer Hunter that was a smaller gun. Mine is 32 cal but they also made 50.
I know someone who makes muzzle loaders just for kids at very reasonable prices, send me a PM if interested and I will send you the link to his website. The advantage of going this route it that the rifle will be made specifically for your son that will fit him instead of getting something that he has to fit himself to. Plus you can choose the caliber, type of wood for the stock and have it made right or left handed.
Another vote for the 50, you can down load the charge to make it very managable.
I started my boy with the ML at 9 (shooting at 5)
and he loved the 50, I actually kinda up'ed the load on him gradually in a sneaky way, he was shooting 70grns long before he knew the charge was that heavy.
I guess the only issue was the guns weight, while he did shoot as much as possible, it was a bit heavy for him that first year, he quickly grew into it though.
I started my boy with the ML at 9 (shooting at 5)
and he loved the 50, I actually kinda up'ed the load on him gradually in a sneaky way, he was shooting 70grns long before he knew the charge was that heavy.
I guess the only issue was the guns weight, while he did shoot as much as possible, it was a bit heavy for him that first year, he quickly grew into it though.
Fellers, thank you for the suggestion on the youth size ML however my budget is pretty tight and under $200 is about my only option. I do appreciate the suggestions.
I agree a 45-50 cal will be fine wil light loads, I learned very young with a 45 PA with a 42" barrel so I can also contest to the weight issues. I will just give him some shooting sticks and let him grow into it.
Thanks for the input :thumbsup:
I agree a 45-50 cal will be fine wil light loads, I learned very young with a 45 PA with a 42" barrel so I can also contest to the weight issues. I will just give him some shooting sticks and let him grow into it.
Thanks for the input :thumbsup:
Prairieofthedog
40 Cal.
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2011
- Messages
- 567
- Reaction score
- 138
Sam86,All the .32 and .36 CVA's have a short LOP that fit the kid's well.They have little recoil,are cheap to shoot,and are great for small game hunting.What a better way to introduce a kid to muzzle loading by taking him squirrel hunting or plinking with a small bore.These used CVA's can be had for about $200 if you shop around.You don't see alot for sale because most people hang onto them..32 and .36's are not just for women and kids.I shoot my .36 more than my big bores,and with powder a ball prices that will stay that way.
The problem with buying a rifle for a youngster is the kids tend to grow bigger pretty rapidly.
My twin grandsons other grandfather bought them youth sized .22s. They used once, at my house, but now are too big for them.
When my boys were growing I bought them some H&A (underhammer) ml rifles. These have two piece stocks. The butt comes off with one screw. I also bought some replacement stocks. The originals were cut down to fit the kids. When they outgrew those I just unscrewed and put standard stocks back on. The stock butts are really simple and a home handyman could made his own, either the shortys or replacements. If I were you, I would look for a nice, but not too large, ml rifle and a replacement stock. Cut one down and keep the other for when he gets bigger..
My twin grandsons other grandfather bought them youth sized .22s. They used once, at my house, but now are too big for them.
When my boys were growing I bought them some H&A (underhammer) ml rifles. These have two piece stocks. The butt comes off with one screw. I also bought some replacement stocks. The originals were cut down to fit the kids. When they outgrew those I just unscrewed and put standard stocks back on. The stock butts are really simple and a home handyman could made his own, either the shortys or replacements. If I were you, I would look for a nice, but not too large, ml rifle and a replacement stock. Cut one down and keep the other for when he gets bigger..
zimmerstutzen
70 Cal.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2009
- Messages
- 5,848
- Reaction score
- 1,215
CVA Bobcat, came in black plastic or wood. Simple trigger and works. Start them out with 30 grains and a patched ball Very pleasant to shoot And those little buggers are accurate too.
Except those platic stocks will smack you in the cheek.
I have a Mountain Stalker which is the same gun as a Bobcat and if it is loaded with a moderate charge it bucks like a mule.
I had to put weight under my butt plate to calm it down.
You don't want the boys first go with a smokepole to be traumatic.
I have a Mountain Stalker which is the same gun as a Bobcat and if it is loaded with a moderate charge it bucks like a mule.
I had to put weight under my butt plate to calm it down.
You don't want the boys first go with a smokepole to be traumatic.
Jumpshot
54 Cal.
Sam86 said:
They're not as easy to find as the plastic stock, but they are out there.
These are mine.
flintlock75
45 Cal.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2007
- Messages
- 609
- Reaction score
- 122
When i was looking for a gun for my daughter who was 8 at the time. The biggest problem was barrel length/weight. Most guns were too muzzle heavey and had too long a pull. I found a Traditions Deerhunter in .32 and shortened the stock 4 inches, the barrel is 24" long the new cost was $209.00. This worked very well for her in both offhand shooting and bench shooting.Two years later i had to add the butt back on (I kept it just for that reason). Last Fall she wanted a bigger gun, That she could target shoot with and hunt Moose with. Now shes 12 so i built her a .54 cal Hawken rifle, she used it to compete with in July and took 14 medals,She will be Caribou hunting with me in October so we will see if she makes meat with the new gun.
