Best Youth Rifles and Shotguns for a Kid's First Centerfire

Fit beats everything

Hand a 12-year-old an adult rifle and watch: the head tips back, the elbow sticks out, the buttstock lands on the bicep instead of the shoulder pocket. Recoil then hits in exactly the wrong place, and the next shot comes with a flinch.

The fix is length of pull (LOP), the distance from the trigger to the back of the buttstock. Adult guns are commonly around 13.5 to 14.5 inches. Youth guns typically run around 12 to 13 inches. A quick check: with the gun mounted, the shooter's head should sit upright with the eye lined up behind the sights, and the trigger finger should reach the trigger pad without stretching.

The best youth guns use spacers so the stock can be lengthened as the shooter grows. Mossberg's Super Bantam stocks, for example, include two recoil pads and a stock spacer, giving a 12-inch or 13-inch LOP. That's one gun covering several years of growth spurts.

This guide is an editorial reference built from maker information, retailer listings and published sources; we didn't test these guns with young shooters. Rimfire starter guns are covered on our sister site rimfireammo.co, and youth lever guns on leverguns.co.

Recoil and cartridge choice

For deer-sized game, two cartridges come up again and again for young and new hunters:

• .243 Winchester: introduced in 1955, still one of the most popular whitetail cartridges, and described in reference sources as the lowest-recoil small-bore cartridge commonly used for deer.
• 7mm-08 Remington: a .308 case necked down to 7mm, popularized in 1980. Its recoil is heavier than the .243 but lighter than most .308 loads, and reference sources describe it as suitable for youth and adults who are new shooters.

Both work well in short-action rifles that are naturally lighter and handier. Whatever you choose, use a deer-appropriate hunting bullet and check your state's caliber and youth-hunting rules.

For shotguns, the 20 gauge is the usual youth choice: lighter guns, lighter loads, and plenty of capability for upland birds, doves and, with the right slugs, deer where legal. A 28 gauge is lighter still, but ammunition is less common.

The picks at a glance

Best budget shotgun: Maverick 88 Bantam (20 gauge)

The Maverick 88 is Mossberg's value pump, and the Ammunition Depot listing for this 20 gauge model describes it as the youth version with a 13-inch length of pull. It has a crossbolt safety rather than the Mossberg 500's tang safety, which is worth practicing with. For loads, start with light 20 gauge target shells on clays before moving to field loads.

The shotgun that grows: Mossberg 500 Super Bantam

The Mossberg 500's Super Bantam stocks are built around adjustability: two recoil pads and a stock spacer give a 12-inch or 13-inch length of pull, and the stocks can also be fitted to other Model 500s. When the shooter outgrows it, the same receiver can take a standard stock, which makes this a gun that can follow them into adulthood.

If you'd rather start with a standard-stocked 500, the Mossberg 500 20 gauge with a 22-inch barrel is listed at 5.25 pounds with Full, Modified and Improved Cylinder chokes. Check its length of pull against your shooter before buying; a standard stock may be too long for a smaller youth. Our Maverick 88 12 vs 20 gauge piece covers the gauge choice in more depth.

Best over/under: Stevens 555 Compact (28 gauge)

An over/under has a real teaching advantage: when it's open, everyone can see it's unloaded. The Stevens 555 Compact's listing gives a 13.25-inch length of pull and a 5-pound weight, and notes the barrel as both 24 and 26 inches in different places, so confirm before ordering. The light weight that makes it easy to carry also means it kicks more for its size, which is part of why the gentle 28 gauge suits it. Stock up on 28 gauge shells before the season.

Best first deer rifle: Ruger American Compact (.243)

Ruger's American Rifle line includes compact models with shorter stocks and barrels, offered in .243 Winchester among other calibers. A compact bolt rifle in .243 is one of the most common first deer rifles for young hunters because it pairs a short, light gun with a gentle cartridge. Specifications vary by generation and SKU, so check Ruger's current listing for the exact length of pull. You can browse current bolt-action rifles, and pick up hunting loads such as Hornady Superformance .243 Win 95 gr SST or other .243 Win ammo.

For a comparison of the main value bolt rifles, see Ruger American vs Savage Axis vs Mossberg Patriot. Several makers offer youth or compact versions; the key is a short stock that fits now and ideally can be lengthened later.

Also worth a look: a short-stocked 7mm-08

If your young hunter is a bit older or bigger, or you hunt larger deer, a compact 7mm-08 gives more bullet weight with recoil still below the .308. Many makers chamber their compact and youth bolt rifles in 7mm-08. Look for one with a spacer system so it becomes a full-size rifle as they grow.

Setting them up to succeed

1. Start on the bench with light loads. Light target shells in shotguns and the lightest practical hunting loads in rifles.
2. Add a good recoil pad if the gun doesn't have one, and make sure the gun fits before blaming the shooter.
3. Double up on hearing protection. Centerfire rifles are loud. See our NRR explainer.
4. Keep sessions short. Twenty good shots beat a hundred tired ones.
5. Take a hunter education course together. Most states require it for a hunting license, and it's a great shared experience.

The bottom line

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.