Youth+Grendel=success?

[coldboremiracle]

So I've been brain storming the eventuality of when my son (7) graduates to a centerfire.
He does well now with his .17hmr, and he really wants to come hunting with me, and Im even more excited. So I've been thinking of the options(.223,.243,ect.) but I really like the idea of a bigger bore, mainly because we hunt elk just as much as deer.

So I've started thinking of building a modest (Savage,Remington) short barreled(18-20") 6.5 Grendel, in a semi light/youth size. But something he can grow with. The way I figure, I can start him out with a light (100gr) load at a modest speed. And then as he gets used to it, move up to a 130-140gr bullet for hunting.

What do you think? Or any other suggestions?

(Id like to stay small short action cartridges 6.5 or bigger)

 

[Hummerdawg]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Remington youth in 260 remington

 

[CapDog]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I think you are on the right track. a big part of it will be sizing the rifle to him. My son is small stature and I picked him up a Ruger compact in 260Rem. His biggest struggle was holding a heavier rifle properly when in the field. Even in the short 16.5" barrel the 120gr bullets have been a hammer on our big northern whitetails. (I steal it a lot) Shooting the 120gr X-bullets or similar I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk or moose so long as we stuck with broadside or similar shots.

I think you are on the right track with the Grendel and will get very similar ballistics as to what we are getting with out short barrelled .260

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I figured grendel because it would be cheap and easy with less recoil than the .260. And I could run AI.223 mags. Top it of with a 4-16pst.

 

[Barney88PDC]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

What about a 300 BLK?

 

[jamesZ71]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I started my son that is 7 on a .223 bolt action & a 24in 6.5 grendel AR.he handled both rifles pretty well,but he was shooting prone.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Barney88PDC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about a 300 BLK? </div></div> not sure about that, blk arent going to do well very far, thought it would be fairly suitable for up close. Id rather something a bit more narrow at the hips. Thats kind of why I thought of the grendel, it should do ok on targets out to 6-800. And suitable for game inside 3-400 I would think.

 

[gutshot53]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I think that is a great idea! I am going to build my son a 6.5 creedmoor with a holland muzzle brake.

 

[Ed-G]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I'm with you on the Grendel. Recoil is low enough for a 7 year old. No way a 260 in a small (light) rifle is going to be a good thing for a 7 year old. My 7 year old turned 18 in May, time will fly!

 

[wfjames22]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: coldboremiracle</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And I could run AI.223 mags.</div></div>

Will that work?

 

[Hummerdawg]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Why not a 260? You don't have to run full power loads it uses the same bullet as a grendel. I have both and either would do the job. Most important to find a rifle that fits him

 

[mjh30]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Coldbore, CZ 527 in 7.62x39 rebarreled to 6.5 grendel, unfortunately both my guys are left-handed, so I might end up using a Tikka T3 lite instead.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mjh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Coldbore, CZ 527 in 7.62x39 rebarreled to 6.5 grendel, unfortunately both my guys are left-handed, so I might end up using a Tikka T3 lite instead. </div></div>

That is a great Idea! that gives me more to think about.

 

[FCS]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Did a Rem 700, feed it via AICS 308 mags (ever so slight tweak on mag lips), and load 130s long so it feeds just fine.

130 JLKs about 2625 is where it shoots best from a 24" barrel.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Thanks Andrew, good to know. Do you have any experience with shorter barreled Grendel's? like 18-20"?

 

[FCS]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I've not played with shorter barreled Grendels much. Based on 6.5 MUTT data from 16" AR, I'd guestimate 2550 with a 130 JLK from an 18-20 barrel would be very possible if chamber is set up to seat the 130 JLKs long.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...944#Post3088944

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Well I was planning on having it chambered long anyways, so in the event of wanting to shoot 140's I could have enough room to get reasonable velocity.

So Im kind of leaning still towards a Savage or Remington build with a short 18-20 inch light weight'ish barrel. Now the question is what stock do I put it in? Does anyone make a youth model quality stock?

 

[steve123]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

I'd load a 6.5x47 down and call it good.

A few of my friends own Grendels but I could never get enthused about them. Ballistics are a little dismal.

Now a wildcat version of the Grendel called 6mmAR turbo40 is a whole different ballgame. Out to 600-700Y and I can hardly tell the difference in the wind compared to my 6x47L.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Youth+Grendel=success?

Also a possibility, and recent events may change this whole project. I may be getting a .260 myself soon, and would be easy and make sense to keep common caliber's in the household. And I already load 6.5X47 in house as well, so.....