Kinda sorta M40-ish style rimfire trainer for my son

[deadman]

I bought my 8 yr old a Savage Rascal last fall so he'd have his own rifle to shoot, before that he had to shoot whatever I had in the safe. He grew about 30 inches this winter and the Rascal is too small for him now, so I ordered up a Savage lefty GV in 17hmr. Classic style wood stock with a heavy barrel, if you squint it kinda looks like an M40 except the fore end is too long compared to the barrel. Will be receiving a bit of surgery to re-profile the stock and eventually get a Redfield or Weaver scope to complete the vintage feel. I stole a newer Weaver 3-9 off my older son's blown-up .22 just to get it shooting, and am planning on slapping a Norinco GI-style web sling on it to round it out. Just need to find some 1 1/4" sling loops to do this. Damn non-standardized gun parts!

I may end up ordering a walnut Boyd's for it, depends on whether or not they will do one for me in the proper profile. This one is pretty cheap looking, stock looks like it came from the same sawmill as basic 10/22s. And it unfortunately has almost as much flex as the plastic Savage stocks do.

He's loving it so far despite not getting to the range today. Have to admit I like it too. I think I'll order another one for myself now. If I could afford a Rem pattern rimfire I would go for it, but the Savage is a reasonable enough facsimile for me (for now).

Pics to follow if anyone's interested, wife is on the warpath tonight so it may be a bit before I'm back......

 

[deadman]

Inlaws came by tonight so finally had time to snap a crappy pic before full dark hit us. It doesn't look like much after all but it does feel good to shoulder. Unknown leather sling I found in the shop for now. Haven't had time to get out with it, just picked it up this afternoon. I know Savages aren't high end but every one I've had has been pretty good value. The stock is a bit rubbery though.

 

[flashman2]

Man, I would have been stoked to get a new rifle that my dad told me was an M40 lookalike when I was 8. As it was, I had to play Carlos Hathcock vs squirrels with a vintage mossberg with an even more vintage scope. Good times. Nice job putting it together for him.

 

[johnl]

Man your a cool dad

 

[deadman]

Well, its not done yet! There are a few factors: proper Redfield 3-9 with tombstone rangefinder or Weaver T10; more correct stock and fixings; and the biggest thing of all is if it shoots. We have been using the splatter "battleship" targets to make things more interesting at the range and he's been doing well with his Rascal. If this one shoots as well I'll call it a success.

 

[deadman]

Took the boy to the range after work today, so far so good. It was a good time and he really enjoys shooting.

He let me try it out but this was the best I could do. I'm blaming the wind! But I'm definitely getting one for myself now.

 

[Butcherbill]

Awesome, I love trying to shoot tight groups with a .22 bolt gun. It’s always fun and challenging, good on ya for getting the lad a LH rifle. I always had to shoot RH rifles as a kid that’s a southpaw.

 

[deadman]

Funny you say that. He commented that its weird to shoot a lefty rifle now. It was neat watching him shoot the rh rascal, he would have a pile of ammo on the bench/mat and he would maintain his trigger hand and cheek weld while working the bolt and feeding a new round with his right. Has to adapt to a lefty routine now.

I'm a lefty too but I've always been somewhat ambidextrous so I never really paid attention to the whole left-hand business until I had kids and two of them turned out very left-handed.

 

[.22LRGUY]

Great post, and I love seeing eyes and ears on young shooters. Believe it or not, absent in allot of photos posted on CGN. I think the rifle looks just fine as is, I'd put the extra $ in ammo and spare mags myself...or even a good swiveling Harris bipod!

Anyhow, your group looks good too...that caliber should be able to pull the same off (or better) @ 100 yards. Congrats to you and your son, he's a lucky young lad. Only my youngest (15) still shoots/hunts, the older two are more interested in their iPhone, girlfriend, etc. lol

 

[deadman]

He has a bipod on his Rascal, haven't swapped it over. Its not a high quality item, its a Harris style we bought cheap at Cabelas. I need to get him a better one. A bag is better for now, and I've been working with him to use his off hand to support the rear of the rifle as he shoots. He doesn't like it, he prefers to have his off hand up on the stock but he's not as steady that way. I know that when shooting he won't always have the luxury of resting the rifle on bags etc, especially when he's old enough to go hunting. But for now I figure if we work on the things we can control, it will make his shooting more rewarding. That being said, I've spent all my recent shooting time either on a bench with bags or prone with a bipod/bags and it certainly ruins you for unsupported shooting!

We were at the range the previous weekend and a couple were there shooting alongside us. I offered some Eley etc to them to see if it worked better for them than me, and in return he asked if I wanted to try one of his firearms. It was a JR in 9mm which I've never had any experience with so of course I took him up on it. I was all over the map with it until I set it on a bag. I was impressed once I did that, now I kinda want one. Anyway, I'm garbage shooting unsupported now, need to change it up so I can actually be competent in any position. One thing I want to work on with him is using his sling for shooting too.

As for my group with the rifle, that was a quick sight-in shooting prone with a bag. I had put the scope on the night before, and when we went to the range I wanted to get it dialed in for him so he could get going. I took a couple shots and figured I must have gotten lucky. Finished the mag of 10 and looked at the target. Then handed the rifle to him. I've never mounted a scope and not had to do some adjustment. Weird.

 

[deadman]

Got myself the same rifle in a righty, just came in the mail this week. Now waiting for my new to me old Weaver 10x to arrive, and we can both pretend we're Hathcock haha.

 

[deadman]

Took the kids out shooting this morning, put a Leupold 3.5-10x on my new .17 to get it going for now. I like it. Only shot at 40m, my 7 yr old daughter has inherited the Rascal and we spent most of our time getting her shooting.