The first rifle for a kid thread - with a twist!

Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel, is what my 5yr old son will shoot. In a MDT LSS chassis that will allow down to 12.75" LOP. Recoil is less than a 243, and if you reload it can be tamed down even more
 
Were it me, I'd look for a Ruger 3 in 375 or 44 Mag, cut the stock to whatever is needed for fit, load it with 200gr bullets with around 7 or 8 grains of powder.

This should recoil less than a 224 and have less blast, more important than recoil in my experience.

And the simplicity of the single shot is welcome.
 
BlackRam said:
In BC you will need to have something bigger than 23 cal to hunt big game with, so 243 Win is going to be your minimum. So the 223 is out.
The 6.5 Grendel is a good suggestion, and you could also look at the 6.8 SPC, the 243 Win or 6MM, or even the 250 Savage.
If you handload, reduced loads open up your options, but there are some factory loads that are made with reduced loads that may work for her.
As for a rifle, there are the youth models offered from Remington, and others, the compact from Ruger, and the Micro's from Browning.
If the stocks are still too large for her, you may need to get a custom stock for it and get it made to fit her now, and then put the factory stock back on when she gets older and bigger.
I believe that CZ offers the 6.5 Grendel in their smallest rifle, the 527, and they are making a youth stock now too. Check with your local CZ dealer to see if they can get you the extra stock.
I think International Shooting Supplies in Surrey is a CZ dealer...see if Scott can special order one for you.
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Say What?????????? You better re-read those regs:)
 
Suther said:
Right! I forgot about those!



223 is perfectly legal in BC, or else Gatehouse is done for! Lol

As for your average youth rifle most companies offer, an inch shorter LOP isn't going to cut it for her. That's the twist of this whole thread. By the time my boys hit 10, it'll probably be as easy as get any youth sized 243 and giver, but my daughter is too small for that.

I was thinking 243 was too much, but I hadn't really considered downloading it. I do reload, that's probably worth looking into. An 80gr pill at something like 2700-2800 fps would probably be perfectly useable and might not tip her right on her ass...
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Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel in a MDT LSS with collapsible buttstock can be shortened to a very short LOP and does not weigh much at all with very small recoil made smaller with down loaded light bullet rounds plus the gun can grow with her.

Or what TB said, lol.
 
It may be worthwhile in the long run to get a Savage Mk. II .22LR, with there being quite a bit of variety in the styles/features available (heavy barrel, wood or synthetic stock, thumbhole stock, etc.) and that way the rifle is more versatile as they grow.

As for something centre fire, I can understand wanting to plan this out or get something now that they can use - but it might make more sense to get them conformable and acquainted with a .22LR, and allow them to grow larger before starting into the larger and more powerful calibre equipment.
 
BlackRam said:
Used to be, when did it change?
Haven't looked at that part of the regs in a number of years...since I was behind the counter at a LGS...and I just prefer larger cals for big game...
No matter, if it has changed, then disregard that part of my post. Have fun!
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I've been reading BC's hunting regulations since 1960. I have never seen such a regulation.
 
7ECA said:
It may be worthwhile in the long run to get a Savage Mk. II .22LR, with there being quite a bit of variety in the styles/features available (heavy barrel, wood or synthetic stock, thumbhole stock, etc.) and that way the rifle is more versatile as they grow.

As for something centre fire, I can understand wanting to plan this out or get something now that they can use - but it might make more sense to get them conformable and acquainted with a .22LR, and allow them to grow larger before starting into the larger and more powerful calibre equipment.
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Already have a mark II for myself. It's way too big for her though. Besides, she's not my only kid, I'm sure I'll get my moneys worth from a Rascal.

That's a good point about the exposed hammer Jim870. I do have a 12ga and snap caps she can fiddle with to see if it's something she can handle. I'll make sure I do that before buying a handi rifle if I end up going that route.
 
Pistol caliber.
Too bad there weren't more of those Marlin 25-20's around.
I wonder how a 250-3000 would be for recoil?

Oww 'bout a Mares Leg modified?
They do make after market full length stocks that
could be cut down to size.
 
I measured my Howa and it will go down to 11.75 LOP with the recoil tube left alone but it could be cut down at the threads and screwed in with no barrel nut and probably lose another inch or so.
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Suther, I have taught quite a few kids ( my own and others) to shoot and hunt, and think its wonderful that you are teaching your daughter. So please don't think I'm trying to just be negative, but I think she's too young and too small. She won't be missing out much by waiting a couple more years at least. A child that age and size has neither the physical or emotional maturity needed to be a deer hunter. She will grow into it soon enough. You can do permanent harm to your relationship with your daughter by pushing her too far, too fast. Just ease into it. Good luck.
 
Longwalker said:
Suther, I have taught quite a few kids ( my own and others) to shoot and hunt, and think its wonderful that you are teaching your daughter. So please don't think I'm trying to just be negative, but I think she's too young and too small. She won't be missing out much by waiting a couple more years at least. A child that age and size has neither the physical or emotional maturity needed to be a deer hunter. She will grow into it soon enough. You can do permanent harm to your relationship with your daughter by pushing her too far, too fast. Just ease into it. Good luck.
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She already gives me #### about not taking her out. She'll be going deer hunting next year, the question is how involved she'll get to be.
 
Longwalker said:
Suther, I have taught quite a few kids ( my own and others) to shoot and hunt, and think its wonderful that you are teaching your daughter. So please don't think I'm trying to just be negative, but I think she's too young and too small. She won't be missing out much by waiting a couple more years at least. A child that age and size has neither the physical or emotional maturity needed to be a deer hunter. She will grow into it soon enough. You can do permanent harm to your relationship with your daughter by pushing her too far, too fast. Just ease into it. Good luck.
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+1 to most of what’s written here. My two daughters were very different...my oldest took to it like a fat kid on a smartie, but I was careful to handload low-recoiling ammo for all her centerfire rifles. My youngest felt competition to get out and do it too, and consequently she was early exposed to a bit more recoil than she could handle and is now much more cautious about continuing to grow her riflecraft and hunting skill. She’s now twelve and only barely ready for the centerfire rifles and tires easily.

While your daughter is little, my recommendation is wholeheartedly for a rascal of her own, and spend the money you would have put into the centerfire into a red dot sight (aimpoint patrol in a low 30mm ring or an aimpoint micro). Both my girls talk very fondly about their squirrel hunting adventures, and at least twice a year ask to go on a special squirrel safari with dad. Neither one can hear a squirrel chatter anywhere without immediately locking eyes with dad and each other while grinning ear-to-ear and exclaiming “squirrel!!”.

We also have a riot hunting grouse.

Best days of my life.

Brobee
 
Sounds as if your daughter is my daughters size now 8yrs old, about 47" tall and maybe 45lbs..... I bought mine a Henry 22lr single shot in pink camo.....I love the look of that little rifle and to be honest she can't yet consistently pull back the cocking knob to fire the thing. So this year I bought a CZ 455 scout which is also compact in size but still slightly bigger than the Henry. I have a compact CIL bolt action in 30-30 and a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 that she will be able to use when ready but to be honest she's not yet ready and I think if she had to shoot a 30-30 or 7.62x39 she may get knocked over. I doubt I will be moving up to centre fire until she's at about 12yrs old. Just to push to fast, you want it to be fun not scary for your daughter. I plan to get her used to carrying in the woods by having her carry one of her rifles on hikes at the camp this summer where we shoot cans etc to get her used to the experience. If she wants to do more the option will be up to her.
 
I bought a Savage Little Rascal for my girls a few years ago now and installed a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot on it. They’ve been having fun plinking with it. I did have to add a cheek riser on it so they can line up the red dot better. They’ve been doing over night trips, truck camping with me since they were 5 years old, they’re 8 and 10 now. I have a Rem 700 .260 Rem in a cut down factory synthetic stock with a 1” Lymbsaver on it. I’m planning on getting the oldest one try it out this year with reduced loads. Hoping for the oldest one to do her CORE before next fall.
 
elimsprint said:
Wow, I thought it was a little lighter but 3669g or 8.09#. It is a Gen1 LSS and my buttstock setup is really heavy, you could easily save .5# there if you went MDT polymer. Maybe .5# going to Gen2 also.
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that's not too bad. Rifle should be supported off a shooting stick or bipod for a kid anyway. cheers
 
Not sure what you might select as a light weight rifle, but in terms of reduced loads, I can suggest a reduced load .308 using a 150 gr. bullet. One of my grand kids, admittedly a fairly big lad for his age, took a large 4 point mulie this past season a month or two before his 12th birthday We had sighted in the rifle in earlier with what I think was about a 70% load ... 31.9 gn of H4895 under 150 grain Hornady SSTs for approximately 2200 fps. A good bang, but very manageable recoil, and I can step up the bullet weight and powder load when he seems ready.
 
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