You can pretty much tweak any cartridge to suit a small framed human. I would look at cartridges that they could grow into. And load them appropriately. I've loaded 308s way down to match 300BO supers. What a nice rifle to get behind.
It looks to me that you are trying to waste a lot of money. Building anything for an 8 year old that has no idea about safe gun handling. I would recommend enrolling her in a Hunter Safety course in your local area, let the professional instructors teach her the proper way to handle a firearm safely and introduce her to all different firearm actions and how to hunt safely. Now come the hard part, Drop her off at the class and drive away. My biggest pet peeve when teaching Hunter Safety is having a parent watching every step taken which only serves to intimidate the child, even worse when the parent tries to butt in. All firearms training needs to start with a .22 rifle. A small single shot .22 like the Savage Rascal Target XP. It's only $329 which will be half the price you will spend on a barrel for your home made rifle. Teach her all about safety and the basics of shooting. Start at 50 feet and work her out to 100 yards shooting until she shoots 1 MOA. Once she masters that it's time for her to move up. Again I would recommend an out of the box firearm in a hunting cartridge. A good hunting gun for her would be again a Savage Axis XP compact in Muddy Girl Camo and in .243. Light recoil, a round that is deadly on deer with relatively inexpensive ammo. It's a good round for hunting out to 200 + Yards, and I know some people that used the .243 for 1000 yard competition where it did surprisingly well, winning matches at that range. As she grows instead of getting her a new rifle, simply buy a new stock if needed. Many women do better with compact rifles due to their more diminutive sizes. I have been teaching Hunter Safety as well as NRA Basic courses since the mid 70's. Start the new shooter out right, let them learn the rights way to shoot in all positions and introduce them into hunting when they are ready, not when you are ready. If done correctly your little girl will enjoy shooting and hunting for the rest of her life.Ok I'm looking for some thoughts on a rifle build for my daughter. She is 8 but is needing a lot of instruction with handling and shooting a rifle. I have a 722 action that will be going in a chassis for the time being. Problem I have is caliber selection. It was originally a 222 which I love but the opportunity to go a different route keeps nagging at me, almost to the point of my wife asking me to do chores..... almost. I digress, cartridges I'm looking at are:
222
6x45 - very intrigued
221 fireball - yes I have weird taste
223 is out since I already have one she will get when I die. Will be shooting mostly handloads from the start depending on caliber. Will be a short barrel to run suppressed. Any additional cartridges I should be looking at or considering?
The first person that suggest 300 blackout will be taken off the invite list for the birthday party and that will suck because there will be a piñata, cookies and ice cream cake!! Don't be that guy!!
Thanks
SC
Great cartridge, but thinking I should try 6-204R next time. I have the 6X45 and 6X47 (aka 6mm-222RM), I love both for different reasons. I just wish my X47 had a faster than 1:12 twist it doesn't like bullets over 70 grains of the boat tail type.Have never owned a 6x45 but have 3 6x47 remingtons. Two were built specifically for youth deer/coyote hunts.
Thank you ma'am for taking the time to respond. While I agree with some of the things that you mentioned, you are assuming a lot about someone you nothing about. As far as wasting money, the only money being spent is a barrel install to replace a shot out barrel. I also previously mentioned she is currently shooting a 22 in an ar platform. She also has a 10/22 with a red dot for later on. While she is not ready for a bolt action rifle yet this is being built now for future use. I already own the chassis that it will be in for the time being as well. As for my background, I teach firearms handling and instruction as a full time job so I'd like to think I have a pretty good feel for starting new shooters out. That being said, I am not too prideful if it got the point that I felt a third party would benefit her then I would absolutely do it.It looks to me that you are trying to waste a lot of money. Building anything for an 8 year old that has no idea about safe gun handling. I would recommend enrolling her in a Hunter Safety course in your local area, let the professional instructors teach her the proper way to handle a firearm safely and introduce her to all different firearm actions and how to hunt safely. Now come the hard part, Drop her off at the class and drive away. My biggest pet peeve when teaching Hunter Safety is having a parent watching every step taken which only serves to intimidate the child, even worse when the parent tries to butt in. All firearms training needs to start with a .22 rifle. A small single shot .22 like the Savage Rascal Target XP. It's only $329 which will be half the price you will spend on a barrel for your home made rifle. Teach her all about safety and the basics of shooting. Start at 50 feet and work her out to 100 yards shooting until she shoots 1 MOA. Once she masters that it's time for her to move up. Again I would recommend an out of the box firearm in a hunting cartridge. A good hunting gun for her would be again a Savage Axis XP compact in Muddy Girl Camo and in .243. Light recoil, a round that is deadly on deer with relatively inexpensive ammo. It's a good round for hunting out to 200 + Yards, and I know some people that used the .243 for 1000 yard competition where it did surprisingly well, winning matches at that range. As she grows instead of getting her a new rifle, simply buy a new stock if needed. Many women do better with compact rifles due to their more diminutive sizes. I have been teaching Hunter Safety as well as NRA Basic courses since the mid 70's. Start the new shooter out right, let them learn the rights way to shoot in all positions and introduce them into hunting when they are ready, not when you are ready. If done correctly your little girl will enjoy shooting and hunting for the rest of her life.