Help with a kids rifle.

[longrifleman]

My grandson will be ready for a rifle of his own for next whitetail season, so it is time to start looking. My great-nephews are set up with single shots from NEF in .243 and they work but I'm not satisified with them. My complaints are with length of pull and the way the scope mounts.

Right now, his length of pull, measured from inside his elbow to trigger finger is 11.5" and I can't find a youth model shorter than 12.5". Add heavy clothes, which seems to get ignored a lot and that 2-3" makes them akward. I've watched the nephews struggle and want to fix the problem from the start. My experience is that short LOP is easier to deal with than long LOP, so I'll take a chance on a growth spurt.

The exposed hammer on the NEFS requires the scope to be mounted too high to suit me. Smaller heads also require a higher comb to achieve good alignment and most rifles seem to be set up more for adults.

I've toyed with the idea of buying a standard rifle with a wood stock and cutting it to size but would rather buy one off the shelf if I could find one. If I cut one down, I would probably set up an infinitelly adjustable buttpad like you see on some tactical or target rifles. Any ideas on where to get the best hardware for that?

Raising the comb could be done with some type of foam pad so it can be adjusted as necessary, but any ideas would be welcome.

I will probably stay with .243 if possible.

 

[Shawnee]

Shotgunners, especially trap dudes, often have stocks with adjustable combs, buttplates etc. You might try looking on the net for businesses that cater to them - if not for actual products then maybe just for ideas.

I agree with you on not wanting an exposed hammer model. Besides the scope problems there is the chance that the youngster doesn't have the hand strength to really operate the hammer in complete control/safety.

Getting a youth model bolt-action and cutting it off might work. You can always keep the cut-off piece and re-attach it later - or - order a full length stock later. Have to be careful it isn't so short as to bang his nose with his thumb or his eye with the scope.

Probably not what you want to hear but maybe the most sensible solution is to wait until the youngster gets bigger. The disadvantage of cutting the stock off is the one thing you know for sure is that he will outgrow it in a short period of time.

HTH Good Luck !

 

[ThomasT]

You might try a Remington youth model 7. I think they come with a 12" LOP. Remove the rubber butt pad and it will be shorter. If heavy clothes are worn they will provide some padding for recoil.

If you are worried about the bare wood getting damaged put a layer of tape on it. When your grandson gets bigger you can reinstall the but pad.

Midway also sells spacers to add length to the gun so the gun can grow to fit if needed.

 

[ATAShooter]

I'm with Ratshooter, a Model Seven Remington is a lightweight bolt action that can be cut off in stock length if needed. The nice thing is that when the little fellow gets bigger, replacement stocks are plentiful for it. Also, you can cut off the stock and put on a Graco adjuster assy. It goes in and out so you can make it everywhere in between.

 

[jimbob86]

A pawnshop .243 + miter saw with a sharp blade = starter rifle with adjustabe length of pull. Save the slice(s) and reinstall them as the boy grows. This rifle can be kept for HIS boy after he graduates to the latest superduperwizbangmagdum....... and he WILL ............ on his own dime.

 

[Smitty in CT]

Mossberg makes a .243 in a Super-Bantam, it comes with stock spacers so you can adjust the LOP from 12" to 13", then once the kid outgrows the smaller stock, you put the action into a full size stock and you're good to go...

I bought my son one of the walnut stocked ones that has a fixed 12" LOP, really nice chunk of wood on that rifle.

BTW, they are really 20" barrels, not 22" like the website says...

 

[trstafford]

CZ 527 Carbine or Ruger 44 mag

Consider the CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39 or Ruger 44 mag in bolt action or lever action. Both guns are light, caliber is more than adequate for deer from 100-200 yards. Don't have to worry about shooting into the next state if shot is missed, bullets are more than adequate in weight in normal loadings. The 7.62x39 ammunition can be purchased very cheap for practice and good quality hunting ammo can be found. Also since all have detachable magazine they are safer to unload and you can control ammunition by controlling the magazine until needed.


http://cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=15

 

[rangerruck]

I totally agree with the above dude, in the superbantam, from mossy. they are teeneh, and with a full set of spacers, can fit an adult as well.

 

[pete f]

See if you can find a rem 700 ADL used with the birch stock, cut it down to fit and then build it up as needed. then when done, add a 50 dollar synthetic stock to make it back to full size again.

I just saw one today that was under 300 with an OK tasco scope on it. For kids, I would get a 2x scope and leave it at that. faster than Iron sights, accurate enough to make 100 yard hits perfectly reasonable, I would buy anything under a 7 -08 for kids, even 7-08's are a bit much but with the low recoil reloads or factory, the kids can make it work

 

[W.E.G.]

Put a collapsible stock on the existing gun.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=627209&t=11082005

Pimp da kidz ride.

Or step up to the real deal for the boy.