Daughter wants her first rifle
- Thread starter Cowhand75
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bigngreen
Well-Known Member
My daughter has been shooting a little 6mm Br that I built her since she was 7 years. I built it on the heavy side with out a brake and she's shooting 87 gr bullets with a light load but she will pound the 500 meter steel ram all day long with it.
Here's a picture of her 300 yard group.
Here's a picture of her 300 yard group.
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J E Custom
Well-Known Member
I would start her with a 223 or 222 in a Remington Model 7 youth.
Ammo is no problem and the youth model will fit her. Also as she grows you can get a standard stock that will fit better when she is older.
J E CUSTOM
benchracer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2009
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- 1,659
A Model 7 would work just fine. A Ruger American Compact might be a less expensive option. Choose .223 if you already have or can readily get a supply of small rifle primers. Choose 22-250 if you have or can more easily obtain large rifle primers.
Both choices will easily allow you to load rimfire equivalent ammo using Trail Boss or shotgun powder (800-X, Blue Dot, etc.) and bullets like these:
Quality hand-cast bullets for reloaders, competitors, and recreational shooters - 224 cal Rifle Bullets - Price List
Note that the mold part numbers are included in the information provided, so if you already cast your own bullets, you could save quite a bit of money. Loaded like this, brass life will be VERY long and rimfire level practice ammo will be far less expensive than anything you can get off the shelf.
You also retain the option of loading full power ammo as your daughter's skills progress. That is something no rimfire can offer, even if ammo were available at reasonable cost.
James Calhoon's website has two informative articles on the subject, under the title TO BEE OR 223. Though he is using different bullets than those I referenced above, his information gives an idea of what is possible. The basic concept can be adapted to other .22 centerfires, too. I have done the same with 22-250 alongside a friend's .22 Hornet and .223. All of them worked very well. James Calhoon's website is here:
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/
I have some very nice .22 rimfires, including a CZ 452 Lux, that are well on their way to becoming wall hangers because of the current rimfire ammo situation. My shooting skills, likewise, are deteriorating because I am not getting the reps I need to maintain good fundamentals. I intend to remedy that with a budget centerfire rifle that can fill multiple roles. That may just end up being the final nail in the rimfire coffin for me.
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Bigngreen, J E Customs, and Benchracer thanks for the great information . That is what I wanted to know and why I asked here. We will have to sneak off and go gun shopping now. I have almost 4000 small rifle primers and plenty of brass for 223 so that narrows that part down. She will just have to pick what gun she likes to hold.
I started my daughter with a 22 then she shot a 22-250 even taking her first few bucks with it. She shoots a 7mm-08 Micro Browning X-bolt today. Shot light loads with 120 Ballistic Tip and H4895 for starters. Killed a lot of bucks and hogs with that combination. She killed her 2nd elk this year with 140 grain Accubonds.
snox801
Well-Known Member
6x45 all day. Almost unlimited free brass. And enough to take deer and hogs if she decides. Perfect little round.
6mm creedmoor my 49" tall 8 year old shoots. Killed his first deer with it at 190 yards.
adk hunter
Well-Known Member
Original poster's daughter will be 22 this year
Lol she's 7. He's getting a 22
snox801
Well-Known Member
Well she will be 15 this year. Man these related thread ones gets us all sometimes.
Sometimes it takes a minute to decide on what to get. I wonder if he made a decisionOriginal poster's daughter will be 22 this year
adk hunter
Well-Known Member
I'm sure she has made a few decisions to make him crazy by now! Mine did
