{"id":175,"date":"2017-02-13T07:29:50","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T07:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tma65.com\/blog\/?p=175"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:38:21","slug":"choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Choosing_a_Youth_Hunting_Rifle\" >Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Set_Realistic_Expectations\" >Set Realistic Expectations<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Kids_just_want_to_have_fun_Dont_force_them_to_hunt_or_shoot_if_they_dont_want_to\" >Kids just want to have fun. Don't force them to hunt or shoot if they don't want to.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Dont_Force_Them\" >Don\u2019t Force Them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Starting_Small\" >Starting Small<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-6' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-6'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Start_small_like_a_rimfire_when_choosing_a_youth_hunting_rifle\" >Start small, like a rimfire, when choosing a youth hunting rifle.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#The_Youth_Model\" >The Youth Model<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/#Scope_With_Proper_Eye_Relief\" >Scope With Proper Eye Relief<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_a_Youth_Hunting_Rifle\"><\/span>Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Choosing a Youth <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/all-about-hog-hunting\/\">Hunting<\/a> Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking about taking that next step in choosing a youth <a title=\"Why the 2.5-15x Rifle Scope is Ideal for Hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/why-the-2-5-15x-rifle-scope-is-ideal-for-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting rifle<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">We were kids once. Dreaming of having a real gun to call our very own. It didn\u2019t matter if it was a 20-gauge shotgun or .22 rifle, as long as it burned powder. And then it arrived.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Our fathers or another role model took us out to a hayfield, set up a target and demonstrated the basics. Those were the days. Now, as another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking about taking that <a title=\"Choosing Your Next Riflescope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/choosing-your-next-riflescope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">next step in choosing<\/a> a youth hunting rifle.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Set_Realistic_Expectations\"><\/span>Set Realistic Expectations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">In\u00a0<em>The Education of Pretty Boy<\/em>, Havilah Babcock tells the pleasing tale of a young boy who acquires a gun-shy bird dog. It\u2019s the \u201ccrawl before you walk\u201d ideology meshed cleanly into a parable that demonstrates the true essence of patience. The boy is able to lift Pretty Boy out of his frightening dilemma by simply starting with a pop gun and gradually working his way up until he\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/uses-for-a-low-power-variable-optic\/\">shooting<\/a> over the dog with a 12 gauge.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Much of this is true in the way that kids should start in the outdoors. If it\u2019s not there, don\u2019t force it. That\u2019s the best way to create resentment in a youngster. Remember, you can lead a horse to water.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"951\" class=\"wp-image-180\" src=\"https:\/\/tma65.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/inner24-1024x951.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner24-1024x951.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner24-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner24-768x713.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner24-323x300.jpg 323w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner24-150x139.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner24.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><br \/><figure id=\"attachment_1330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1330\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1330\" title=\"Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1464-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1330\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Kids just want to have fun. Don&#8217;t force them to hunt or shoot if they don&#8217;t want to.<\/em><\/h6><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">With grocery-getting spots located within a stone\u2019s throw of many urban areas, <a title=\"hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/category\/hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting<\/a> is no longer about survival. It\u2019s about fun. Kids just want to have fun. If they can associate fun with their early experiences, the foundation is set for a fruitful <a title=\"TORIC Riflescope Takes 2nd Overall in Outdoor Life Optics Test\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/toric-riflescope-takes-2nd-overall-in-outdoor-life-optics-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">life in the outdoors<\/a>.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_Force_Them\"><\/span>Don\u2019t Force Them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">The most important point of all. If a youngin\u2019 doesn\u2019t want to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\" title=\"Shooting a 22LR Rifle in a Whole New Way\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"540\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoot<\/a> a gun, so what? Don\u2019t force them to do it. Sure, make them to eat their vegetables and respect their elders, but never something that won\u2019t necessarily make them a better or worse person. Resentment is the hardest block of all. Like a gun shy dog, that kid is likely to retreat every time a gun comes out of the case.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Starting_Small\"><\/span>Starting Small<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">They\u2019ve consented and are ready for that first trip to the range. Let\u2019s say your eight-year-old, 80-pound son is interested in <a title=\"JL\u2019s Deer Hunting Gear\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/jls-deer-hunting-gear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deer hunting<\/a>. It\u2019s all he talks about, reads about, thinks about, probably dreams about. So naturally you need to get him started with your .30-06, right? Wrong.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><figure id=\"attachment_1006\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1006\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" title=\"Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/KM904271-Edit-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1006\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle. As another generation approaches the age of responsibility, it\u2019s time to start thinking<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" class=\"wp-image-182\" src=\"https:\/\/tma65.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/inner26.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner26.jpg 720w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner26-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner26-630x840.jpg 630w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner26-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner26-150x200.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_small_like_a_rimfire_when_choosing_a_youth_hunting_rifle\"><\/span><em>Start small, like a rimfire, when choosing a youth hunting rifle.<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">A rimfire is about right for the youngster\u2019s first trigger pull. If you don\u2019t own one, surely you know someone that does. A light-kicking, relatively quiet rifle is the best way to ease him in. Also, he won\u2019t develop the ultimate accuracy killer: flinching.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Youth_Model\"><\/span>The Youth Model<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Finding a proper-fitting <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/5-reasons-why-you-missed-the-shot\/\" title=\"5 Reasons Why You Missed the Shot\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"872\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> will help him feel more comfortable behind the gun. Nobody likes awkwardness. Most manufacturers are turning out production-grade rifles built specifically for small frames. That\u2019s likely a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> that your son or daughter will pass on to their kids one day.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scope_With_Proper_Eye_Relief\"><\/span>Scope With Proper Eye Relief<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">\u201cOh, boy! This is about to be the coolest thing I\u2019ve ever done,\u201d thought your young self. You\u2019ve moved up to a bigger caliber, even shot it a few times, and are beginning to <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consider yourself pretty handy with the long rifle<\/a>. Then you pull the trigger, the firing pin hammers the primer and the next thing you know, there\u2019s a mixture of blood and stars in your eyes. Touch the scar above your dominant eye if we\u2019re talking to you.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Ensuring that this does not happen to a newbie can help keep him moving in the right direction. Some kids are less resilient than others and could potentially hang it up for good if that scope knocks them senseless.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Go for good glass when you\u2019re out shopping\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">riflescopes<\/a>. Choosing about a four-inch constant eye relief will save you from a great misfortune and a possible trip to the ER.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Our children are the next generation of hunters and shooters. There is a strong enough force against them in the anti-hunting and -gun community to keep them interested in video games, which, if that\u2019s what naturally interests them, great. But, as parents, let\u2019s not be the cause of any ill will toward burning some gunpowder.<\/p><p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle | TRACT design and engineer performance-grade optics without the added retail costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2258,1],"tags":[2797],"class_list":["post-175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hunting","category-uncategorized","tag-hunting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11551,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175\/revisions\/11551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}