Youth Centerfire Rifle?

[labnoti]

I need a centerfire rifle setup for a short length of pull. The shooter is 12 and very competent with a rimfire .22. My first thought was a Tikka in .223, but I've got some questions that have come up.

The LOP that fits now is 11 3/4" to 12". To get this on the rimfire gun, I just took the skilsaw to the stock. It works fine with a red-dot, but eye-relief is a problem with a scope. One of the reasons for going centerfire is to start working more beyond 100 yards and it will be important the scope works well.

The Leupold I have now has an eye relief spec of 3.7-4.4". Whatever rifle I get, I need to know whether I'm going to need a new optic or not.

Tikka has the T3X Lite Compact with a 12.5" LOP. Alternatively, I could get a T3X in stainless steel and just chop the stock down.

What's the best option to mount the scope? Should I get a short eye relief scope or just mount the Leupold on a rail ahead of the ejection port? Is that going to work?

Is there a better option? I think the CZ 527 is good, but their youth version has a 12.75" LOP and I think it is even more difficult to solve the scope issue on the 527 because of the receiver and the high bolt lift.

Savage Axis? Mossberg MVP? T/C Venture Compact? Weatherby Vanguard Volt?

I understand some of the youth rifles out there start at .243 for those looking to take deer. This won't be for deer. Besides .223, I'd consider .222, .22-250 or .204 Ruger. I do reload but .223 probably just makes more sense.

Ok, besides the sporter style bolt action, I could look at precision-style bolt actions. The LOP is fully adjustable, and there's usually a full-length rail. I just don't think I want to spend that much on a .223.

I could also consider a semi-auto MSR. It's not hard to find one with a telescopic butt stock and a rail for the optic. I'm not familiar with the AR market at all or how to find a good trigger and barrel without spending too much.

 

[darkcloud]

I think a Weatherby in 243 would be a great rifle. My 1st deer rifle was a Savage 99DL in 243. Killed a heck a muley buck with it my 1st year when I was 12. It wore a fixed Weaver K4. Was easy to line up to shoot. Plenty of power for my shooting skills at that age. Check and see if you can upgrade to an adult stock for later on should they fall in love and want to keep it for years to come. The Savage 99 had a steel butt plate and my father just put a recoil pad on it when it got too short. 243 is an accurate round with very mild recoil. makes a heck of a varmint/vermin cartridge. Ammo is not real pricey and can be reloaded pretty cheap. All around affordable and efficient cartridge. It will do anything a 223 will do and better.

 

[LoonWulf]

Right now ARs are cheap, if your sticking with .223 that might be the easiest option just because they are so adjustable. I would buy an over the counter rifle, or rifle kit from a reputable supplier. That should get you a pretty decent set up for less than 500 bucks.

Alternatively if your interested in a bolt gun, I'd suggest a Ruger American Ranch, with the compact stock. A second full size stock will get you a longer lop later. This is if your going to have them practice more field positions than bench rest.
If benchrest or prone is the name of the game I'd probably go with Ruger Predator, and add a compact stock to that.

Either way I would probably end up sticking with the scope you have now and using a rail on what ever rifle you decide to get. If that's still not long enough just add an cantiler scope mount or extension rings.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I’m with LoonWulf if you get an AR kit it could be a bonding exercise. You’d be able to spend time putting it together and later customizing it.

Kids that age don’t get to take things apart or “build” things as much as when I was a kid. So you’d be teaching skills they’ll use the rest of their life. You’d also be creating prose of ownership. After all how many people take more pride in something they put together than something they bought? Yes, most.

Plus adult Legos, I mean ARs are just fun to put together, change, modify and even shoot. And if they want a larger caliber later you can get or assemble one. Likewise, for upgrading the trigger, etc.

 

[z7]

Ar all the way, if you are concerned at all with the semi auto not teaching or reinforcing good marksmanship habits, get a 5rd magazine

You can get a pretty darn accurate ar that will grow with the kid for the same price as a tikka bolt gun

 

[labnoti]

With a .243, I'm concerned the recoil for a small shooter might disturb the sight picture so they wouldn't be able to spot for themselves or see their bullet impact. I could be wrong. I've never shot a .243, and certainly not at that age. But it does have twice the recoil energy. I can see how it would be needed for deer, but again, we won't be hunting deer. The tags around here are extremely difficult to get. For about the same recoil as .243, I could get a 6.5mm or .260 and those do have more range for targets.

I'll consider the AR build. Those are some good things about it.

 

[cdb1]

.223 I’d get an AR. .243 I’d get a Vanguard Youth/Compact.

 

[Charliefrank]

Remington model seven in 223 or 243, preferably used

 

[hillman23]

I'm not an AR guy by nature, but after handling my brother's I understand how exceptionally versatile they are. If I didn't already have a Rossi model 92 in 357 magnum, I'd get an AR for my daughter's first deer season coming up next year.

 

[Creed Bennett]

Take a look at Howa’s Mini Action line. They have youth models in a caliber that’s bound to work for you.

 

[FL-NC]

Take a look at the MVP models in 223 (my Thunder ranch does 1 MOA suppressed and has taken several deer) or the Ruger American. I have a RAR ranch in 300 B-O that may be the ticket. The RAR is available in many configurations and calibers.