Help me choose hunting rifle for youth

[necktweaker]

My daughter recently turned 10, and will be going on her first deer hunt this year. I will be buying her hunting rifle this weekend, and was hoping for some input on what to buy.

I have decided to get her a 6.5 Creedmoor since she is still fairly recoil-averse.

A local gun shop has the following 3 rifles in stock in 6.5 cm:

1. Weatherby Vanguard Compact Hunter (https://weatherby.com/store/vanguard-compact-hunter/)
2. Tikka T3X Lite Compact (I can't seem to find it on the Tikka website...)
3. Ruger American Gen2 (https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleGenII/overview.html)

As best as I can tell by reading reviews, all 3 seem to be good rifles. I'm leaning towards the Ruger American Gen2 because it comes threaded, and I plan on having her use a suppressor.

Does anybody have any recommendations / suggestions?

 

[HutchWV]

Her first rifle is somethin she'll keep forever. I doubt you can go wrong with any of those. I'd prefer the Tikka just because its my personal favorite in the action. Could always take her and let her pick the one she likes.

 

[akdad]

I have a ruger American gen1 and the bolt is definitely not the most smooth out there. I like a lot of things about it but not that.
My wife has the weatherby Camilla it's a totally different stock design. If the plan is for her to keep the rifle it may be worth considering.

 

[Monteria]

At 10, I'm guessing she is probably pretty small...

I find that youth enjoyment in shooting is much more related to fit and comfort than esthetics or quality. Though balancing all 3 would make for the best heirloom option, I'd let her pick which ever feels the best to her regardless of all else.

You can worry about heirloom after passion has developed.

Don't hesitate to cut a factory stock down if needed either. I built my sons first dedicated rifle on a chassis just because I couldn't find anything else short enough for him to be comfortable. And I still hump that heavy pig to the blind for him, but it fits and he is comfortable behind it, so it works.

Steve

 

[necktweaker]

Thanks for the input so far. I've had her mount each of the 3 rifles and she says they're comfortable, although I probably need to actually make sure it fits her well.

I like the idea of letting her pick, once I can narrow it down to ones that have a proper fit.

 

[marksman1941]

You could also build a hobbit rifle. For a growing kid those are fantastic choices. A TC encore frame, and 6.5 barrel, and an adjustable stock make for a lightweight high quality package

 

[akdad]

For my sons moose when he was 10 I put a rifle in a chassis to allow for short length of pull.

 

[Monteria]

You could also build a hobbit rifle. For a growing kid those are fantastic choices. A TC encore frame, and 6.5 barrel, and an adjustable stock make for a lightweight high quality package

Single shot wasnt one of his options, but short barrel single shots with short stocks are my favorite all around youth rifle. I'd rather take a kid hunting than shoot myself in most cases, so I have a bunch of youth guns in all different sizes and configurations. The single shots are always a crowd pleaser.

 

[marksman1941]

Single shot wasnt one of his options, but short barrel single shots with short stocks are my favorite all around youth rifle. I'd rather take a kid hunting than shoot myself in most cases, so I have a bunch of youth guns in all different sizes and configurations. The single shots are always a crowd pleaser.

I know the encore is about as far from his options as a person can get but I figured I would throw the idea out there

 

[A-Tip]

Howa 243, that was my first rifle, i love it and still use it. It isnt threaded which is the down side but getting it threaded shouldnt be to big of a problem. Or i would pick maybe a Howa mini ultralight in 6 arc or 223.

 

[Monteria]

I know the encore is about as far from his options as a person can get but I figured I would throw the idea out there

I think it was good to bring up. Overall, I think they are the best options, and I wish I'd have looked "outside the box" in my first post.

 

[Quintus]

My daughter shoots the Weatherby Camilla and absolutely loves it. She has shot alot of different rifles from full size to compact and had preferred stretching to a full size rather than the off scale compacts. The Camilla was a revelation. It is very awkward for me to shoot, but fits her like a glove. Not sure if the Vangaard version is threaded, but the Mark V is 1/2 28 I think.

 

[necktweaker]

I'll have to see if any stores in town have a Camilla for her to hold.

Regarding the encore, I haven't seen a new TC rifle in quite a while. At one point a few years ago I looked at a TC for myself, but decided to spend a bit more and get a Bergera instead

 

[marksman1941]

I'll have to see if any stores in town have a Camilla for her to hold.

Regarding the encore, I haven't seen a new TC rifle in quite a while. At one point a few years ago I looked at a TC for myself, but decided to spend a bit more and get a Bergera instead

You do have to piece them together. Encore frames can be readily bought on gunbroker, barrels are all over with many places still making customs.

It ends up being an expensive rifle. Theres no two ways about it. But those who have built them tend to be very impressed by them.