Thanks everyone for your advice.
Hard to beat a 223 for the purposes you're after. I'd suggest a Tikka T3x of whatever style you'd like. I did this myself just a few months ago and got a stainless lite model. I've set it up to be one of my deer guns for this year. Really looking forward to the fall.
Thank you. I like the idea of the deer gun setup. Good for practicing too.
I'll be the first to bang the Ruger drum. I've seen some excellent groups from Ruger American 5.56 rifles. The originals have an internal magazine, then Ruger got smart and made a model that uses AR mags, and now the Mk II has an adjustable, traditionally shaped plastic stock. And for less than a dollar a shot, you can run 55-gr FMJ until your shoulder hurts.
Never thought of the RA, good wheeze! What would be the rationale for choosing 5.56 NATO over the 223?
There is a lot to be said for choosing a 5.56 chambering in a model range that has a deer-legal example too. Train the way you fight without having to relearn the ergonomics or controls twice.
As above? Why the 5.56? Or would it be better to choose the 223 Wylde chambering, and run both flavors through it?
Do you handload or will you be shooting factory ammo? If you want to hunt down the road you might consider .243, if it’s just paper/steel then .223 is hard to beat for price per volume if it’s factory ammo as well as getting the most bang for your buck with components. Small rifle primers are relatively cheap and easy to find, powder volume is less than .243 and bullets are cheap and plentiful. .223 won’t burn barrels like a .243 will, lots to be said for .223
No handloading yet. Will definitely get into it, but some other investments along the way take precedence.
The howa is a great rifle, but so are the Ruger Americans. Both are affordable. 223 is a great round to learn on, but isn't the best round for hunting. It does work for deer with proper bullet choice for close ranges, where legal. If you handload, I would buy a 6mm arc or a 6.5 Grendel for your daughter. Howa and Ruger both chamber them in those rifles. My 13 year old son uses a 6.5 Grendel. Very little recoil, feels about half what a 243 does. Only thing is they don't have a whole lot of bullet selection for factory ammo. It is available, but if you handload you can load exactly what hunting round you want.
I thought about the 6.5G but I don't handload as yet, and the paucity of ammo has deterred me. Also, I wanted something a bit smaller. My daughter isn't huge, to understate things.
I got a Ruger American Ranch for my son to use when he graduated to centerfires. It fit the bill perfectly and has been 100% reliable. Nice light and handy length for smaller statured people. Muzzle blast isn't terrible which was my initial concern with the short 16" barrel. Great for offhand shooting since the weight is between the hands as well.
Another vote for the RA. i will definitely look into them.
I had a Tikka T3x CTR in 223 until recently, and I'd make that suggestion because it favored heavier bullets. 75gr BTHPs to be specific, Hornady BLACK factory ammo shot sub MOA out of that gun. I sold it for the same reason you might be interested in that model=I want/need lighter, more frangible bullets for what I do.
As others have said, .223 probably already is the best choice for what you describe. Depending on her experience level/your budget,there are lots of 223s out there. The T3x Varmint might be somethign to consider too, longer/heavier, lower profile/capacity magazine. Off a rest, she'd probably get better results/sooner.
My first 223 was a Savage 10 "Precision Carbine". As much as I've been a Tikka guy in recent years, none of Tikkas shot better than that Savage did. Nicer guns, better-made, better fit/finish, better feeling and looking.
Yeah, I'd love a T3... but I can't have my kid firing a better gun than I do
Savage sells several 110s in 223, but they're all fairly spendy. As I already have a 110 in the house, I'd think I'd go for a Howa or an RA.
I've had a Ruger Gen1 with the rotary mag, since b4 they brought out the G2. I like the 'clean lines' of that mag, opposed to AI mags, and the higher capacity is not a 'draw' to me. A small capacity AI wouldn't look 'too bad'. My bolt runs like on glass and the OEM tigger is ca 2# with a bit of adjustments, Not a Repl trigger. With 'low-cost' ammo like PPU, AE Bulk, etc I get 1.5-2 MOA off bench, and under 1-MOA with 'Quality' ammo like Hornady Superformance 73g and Nosler Match 77g. I don't handload but that would prob be a plus if you take the time to develop a load for your particular rifle.
PS - forgot to say My Ruger is in Synth stock and weighs about 7# with a Bushnell 6-18x50 FFP scope.
RA seems to be a fan favorite around here
. I will definitely get into developing handloads.
The cz527 is really nice, but likely now only available used unless you stumble on a NOS one somewhere. Available in 223 and 7.62x39, which has little recoil and is suitable for deer.
There are various submodels, with or without irons, wood vs synthetic, youth stock, Mannlicher stock.
They are cip spec so you can also shoot 556 NATO, in case that matters to you.
Good to know about the cartridge interchangeability on the cz527. I'll look into them. How are they for weight?
