Hey is a 30-06 good for a twelve year old?

[Nayrkceb]

Hey is a 30-06 good for a twelve year old?

[Reid Jones]

well it depends. are you at all experienced with guns? how well are you at taking recoil? a 30-06 will deliver some kick. if it was my 12 year old son i probably wouldn't have his first gun be a 30-06. maybe it's not his gun, but i wouldn't even want him to be shooting a gun bigger than a 243. a bad experience with gun recoil can make kids gun shy. i do for a fact know this. i shot a 12 gauge when i was 8 years old and i was afraid to shoot my 30-30 when i was 11. i was afraid of the kick. if you're 12 years old, in my opinion, NO you should not be shooting a 30-06. a 223, 243, 25-06, or if you needed to you could possibly try a 270. those are calibers that i would recommend for a young kid. you need a gun that you can learn to hunt with, and getting scared by recoil is a bad way to learn. as you get older, a 30-06 is a great caliber to hunt with. you can hunt a variety of big game animals with it.

[bonnier-admin_2]

When I was 12, Dad Sporterized 03-A3 30-06 topped with a Weaver K-6 for me and I used full house loads as good as the Adults. Of course, I was a very athletic kid both in endurance and strength. My Grandson Alex age 9 loves my 25-06 and will not give it back!

If you reload, Hornady 130 grain Soft Points is just the Ticket for even the biggest Monster Mullie!!
If the 30-06 will not work, the 25-06 will without dought!!!!

[Greenhead]

I think it would be fine. The recoil of a 30-06 isn't that bad and most 12 year olds should be able to handle it.

[Walt Smith]

I'd say that a 30-06 is a good gun for 12 year olds thru 112 year olds. In bolt action it has a little kick to it but less than a 12ga. In a semiautomatic it has hardly no kick, like shooting a 20ga. Honestly its more of a hard push than a kick.

[chuckles]

I would agree with Mr. Jones. I think it is best to start with a light kicking gun in the calibers he mentions. That being said there are alot of 12 year olds who could handle a 30-06. Best bet might be to have range day with the kid and some friends if you don't own a variety of calibers and let the kid decide which one is best. No reason to create a negative experience and a recoil shy shooter if you don't have to.

[ras38023]

Remmington makes a new load called "managed recoil" my son shoots my 742 30-06 with no problem at age 9.The bullet is 125gr. and shoots like 150gr.I didn't believe it myself until we tried it last fall.

[268bull]

A lot of good views on this question. The maturity of the young shooter does make for a difference. But I would be inclined to start shooting a little less caliber (.243, .30-.30 )for a year or two and then turn your son loose on the .06. Starting on the range is a great idea,on the bench and using sandbags is how I would start.

[CavRecon]

Go .243

[rudyglove27]

Agreed with Reid Jones answer above and A + 1 for you sir!!!

[Cm141518]

Im 13 and I shot .308 and 30-30 no problem. 30-06 is only a little bit of a step up, its still thirty caliber. Its not that bad.