Kids First Center Fire Rifle

[Mbaysinger89]

I'm looking at building/buying my son his first CF rifle for his birthday this year. Leaning towards a 22 ARC. Itd be a pretty versatile cartridge ranging anywhere from varmint to target. Has light recoil and shouldn't be awful on barrels.

I'm not really wanting to break the bank on this one but want something better than a Ruger American.

Wish Solus or Mack had PPC bolt face, but thinking
Origin/Howa(cheap)
Prefit Light Varmint BBL
Pick up a used Element
Some 2-12/3-15 type scope.

Am I missing any obvious factory action options or calibers? Off the shelf ammo is a must as I really dont want to load all the rounds this kid is gonna put down range, and he isnt versed enough yet to reload on his own. I'm not really in the space of $5-800 scopes anymore, what fits the bill thays usable at low power for dusk/dawn whitetail/coyotes?

Btw not really interested in 223, I have a few now and really am not impressed with them in hunting situations, and its always gun to add another cartridge to the safe.

 

[Steel+Killer]

Any Tikka in 243 or if you think he can handle the recoil .260rem or 6.5CM would be my vote.

 

[Mbaysinger89]

Not going 6.5 the recoil and cost isnt necesary for this one if he wants a 6.5 target rifle later he can build one out. 243/6 creed is an option, but recoil would be sharp in an 8 lb rifle for a 60-70 lb kid. Really wanting to manage recoil, report and cost of plinking rounds.

 

[Steel+Killer]

Not going 6.5 the recoil and cost isnt necesary for this one if he wants a 6.5 target rifle later he can build one out. 243/6 creed is an option, but recoil would be sharp in an 8 lb rifle for a 60-70 lb kid. Really wanting to manage recoil, report and cost of plinking rounds.

IMO 243 is the steppingstone between 223 and 6.5/308 territory.

Also maybe a 22-250.

 

[XLR308]

Mac Bros Evo II is offered in PPC if your set on it.
My oldest sons first centerfire was a youth model 243win and was a good match.

EVO II Stainless Steel DBM Short Action | Mack Brothers

The Mack Brothers EVO II Stainless Steel DBM Short Action starts from a 416 heat treated billet, and is CNC machined in only two operations eliminating

macbros.com

 

[2c1fr]

6.5 Grendel Howa mini

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

Yeah, the howa mini in 6arc or 6.5 Grendel is a no brainer. The carbon stalker model is less than 5lbs. The 6 arc is amazing. I've killed dozens of coyotes with it, and a dozen deer. It folds them like a cheap suit. Almost no recoil, factory ammo is cheap and available, with options from 55gr varmint bullets to 108gr match. It's almost perfect for a young person. I'll probably be buying one for myself to carry for deep backwoods white tails and antelope. Something I can scope and fit up and still be 6.5lbs in the field. That cartridge is awesome. Kills really well.

 

[Fx51LP308]

Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why you don't want rim fire (eg. 22lr)? When I was 8, I had a summer day camp counselor/specialist (more than the standard counselor) who just happened to be an NRA instructor and who, once a week, would take us to an indoor range located in the basement of a private HS that was associated with the school that sponsored the summer day camp. We learned to shoot .22lr single load bolt action long rifles. We shot prone. And the range was 50 ft. We also shot 22.lr at the college riflery course, both semi-auto pistol and the similar long rifles.

Some of us got good enough to earn an NRA pro-marksman & marksman rating. Not me, but others.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Not going 6.5 the recoil and cost isnt necesary for this one if he wants a 6.5 target rifle later he can build one out. 243/6 creed is an option, but recoil would be sharp in an 8 lb rifle for a 60-70 lb kid. Really wanting to manage recoil, report and cost of plinking rounds.

Origin, 6-BR 65-75gr for vermin, 80-87gr for deer sized stuff.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Or the Howa mini like pointed out above

 

[diggler1833]

"Varmint/target", and "60-70 lbs".

.223 is the way I'd go, but 6 ARC since you aren't interested in the .223.

 

[Mbaysinger89]

Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why you don't want rim fire (eg. 22lr)? When I was 8, I had a summer day camp counselor/specialist (more than the standard counselor) who just happened to be an NRA instructor and who, once a week, would take us to an indoor range located in the basement of a private HS that was associated with the school that sponsored the summer day camp. We learned to shoot .22lr single load bolt action long rifles. We shot prone. And the range was 50 ft. We also shot 22.lr at the college riflery course, both semi-auto pistol and the similar long rifles.

Some of us got good enough to earn an NRA pro-marksman & marksman rating. Not me, but others.

He already has a 22 lr. Looking for something he can shoot at deer, coyotes, and longer range 4-500 yard steel.

 

[Fx51LP308]

He already has a 22 lr. Looking for something he can shoot at deer, coyotes, and longer range 4-500 yard steel.

Ah, Gotcha! As long as he can handle it. I recall being 15 and shooting my first 12-gauge at a dude ranch. Did it once...... Never did it again until my late 50's/early 60's.

 

[Mbaysinger89]

Id love to do a BR variant, but availablility and price of ammo doesnt match up with this build. Liking the Howa Mini idea. Perfect world would be 223 for plinking and 243/6 creed for hunting/longer targets, but we arent gonna do 2 rifles.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Brownell's has them in stock with a 15% off code.

Keyword Search | Brownells

Keyword Search | Brownells

www.brownells.com

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

Dude, build him an ar, get barrels in .223 and 6arc.

Change them back and forth as required. Adjustable stock let's it grow with him. You can get very accurate barrels for next to nothing.

 

[n2ishun]

I'd be thinking real hard about a 7mm-08
Recoil is a tiny bit stiffer than a 243 but availability should be better and cost per round should not be too bad.
It's also enough to reach out there and kill a big Ks bambi at the distances you'll see here......you know, corn field shit.

 

[hseII]

I'd be thinking real hard about a 7mm-08
Recoil is a tiny bit stiffer than a 243 but availability should be better and cost per round should not be too bad.
It's also enough to reach out there and kill a big Ks bambi at the distances you'll see here......you know, corn field shit.

7mm-08, That’s a terrible choice.

It’s in my opinion the best of all worlds when it comes to the 308 case.

Hornady offered “recoil-lite loads” that can be easily duplicated if you are a Reloader, or can be purchased over the counter if not.

I found a 308 Ruger American & light loaded 125 grain NBTs for my son when he was a pre-teen. He killed a deer with it & it wasn’t too much for him. He enjoyed shooting it.

If I were in the “parent looking g for a good first gun for his child” shoes today, assuming the child is RH, I would opt for a 7mm-08 or 308 Ruger American Gen II & find those reduced loads. Really solid choice.

 

[hseII]

I'm looking at building/buying my son his first CF rifle for his birthday this year. Leaning towards a 22 ARC. Itd be a pretty versatile cartridge ranging anywhere from varmint to target. Has light recoil and shouldn't be awful on barrels.

I'm not really wanting to break the bank on this one but want something better than a Ruger American.

Wish Solus or Mack had PPC bolt face, but thinking
Origin/Howa(cheap)
Prefit Light Varmint BBL
Pick up a used Element
Some 2-12/3-15 type scope.

Am I missing any obvious factory action options or calibers? Off the shelf ammo is a must as I really dont want to load all the rounds this kid is gonna put down range, and he isnt versed enough yet to reload on his own. I'm not really in the space of $5-800 scopes anymore, what fits the bill thays usable at low power for dusk/dawn whitetail/coyotes?

Btw not really interested in 223, I have a few now and really am not impressed with them in hunting situations, and it’s always gun to add another cartridge to the safe.

How old & what weight is the child?

I see you’re not too keen on the American. I wasn’t particularly till I bought a few on a whim- they really do shoot well. you can certainly spend more if you’d like, but they got a lot right with the GEN IIs.

The standard Ruger Gen II American in any of the below is a decent choice.

6ARC
6.5 Creed
7mm-08- Hornady Lite Loads
308 Hornady lite loads.

 

[hseII]

He already has a 22 lr. Looking for something he can shoot at deer, coyotes, and longer range 4-500 yard steel.

6 ARC

 

[powdahound76]

6BR as Mike mentioned
22 or 6 arc if factory ammo is a must.

My daughter’s first centerfire was a 1/8 twist .223.
She now has a 6 BR and 6.5 creed barrel (required 2 bolts as its All on a 700)

If I was smarter, would have started with an Origin.
A little more $ to start than a 700 with 1 bolt, but a 2nd bolt costs, and the cheaper prefits along the way help a lot with an Origin. And can go up to a SA mag caliber if she ever needed.

All good though. Rifle shoots quite well.

I used an MDT LSS XL chassis with carbine stock. 419 Arca rail for bipod and tripod.
Several options for a buttstock then.
We have a Luth AR MB3 with adj cheek and butt and got her the 11” LOP she needed.

 

[jbuck88]

A Howa mini in either grendel or 6arc thrown in a Stockysstocks VG stock.

Picked up one for a kid of mine in Grendel. Feeds 100% which was a concern of mine. I've also had them shoot several other rifles in larger calibers, but the Grendel is mild enough in a hunting weight rifle for him to use.

 

[Csafisher]

If you reload go with a 6br or 6GT. Standard bolt face…

 

[missed]

My 12yo is still shooting his Tikka in 223 that can shoot heavy bullets.

The plan was to go to 6x47L in a couple years.

The Tikka has been really solid. I want to try to get him a ARC action for the 6x47L.

 

[hseII]

6BR as Mike mentioned
22 or 6 arc if factory ammo is a must.

My daughter’s first centerfire was a 1/8 twist .223.
She now has a 6 BR and 6.5 creed barrel (required 2 bolts as its All on a 700)

If I was smarter, would have started with an Origin.
A little more $ to start than a 700 with 1 bolt, but a 2nd bolt costs, and the cheaper prefits along the way help a lot with an Origin. And can go up to a SA mag caliber if she ever needed.

All good though. Rifle shoots quite well.

I used an MDT LSS XL chassis with carbine stock. 419 Arca rail for bipod and tripod.
Several options for a buttstock then.
We have a Luth AR MB3 with adj cheek and butt and got her the 11” LOP she needed.

If you reload go with a 6br or 6GT. Standard bolt face…

Question-
Why those 2 over the Dasher?

 

[W54/XM-388]

Cheap option is a Tikka T3X CTR in your caliber of choice.
Long term better investment, one of the CDG actions and then your trigger, stock and barrel of choice (Easily triple the price of the Tikka T3X CTR).

.243 is an excellent round for hunting that has easily managed recoil, you can get a lot of ammo for and works well. BUT it does not have great barrel life.

6ARC or something like that might be the ticket if you are really concerned with recoil.

Still to 500 yards the trusty old .223 configured to run the heavy end of the bullets works well and with high quality hunting bullets will put a lot of animals down in the 200 to 400 yard range.

 

[Csafisher]

Question-
Why those 2 over the Dasher?

Personally I’d go with the GT so you can use regular mags with no spacers or anything. It’s still very mild recoil. Also you can get alpha GT brass that’s excellent.

 

[Punkur67]

I just went through this for my son and decided to build him something he can grow in to and keep for life. I got a Terminus Zues and a 223 bolt. Picked up a used MPA with a short LOP stock. Custom molded a pistol grip like the MPA grip but for tiny hands. I have 308 BF bolts and a magnum bolt. When he is ready to shoot something bigger I have dasher barrels, 6cm, 6.5cm, and 6.5 saum. But he will probably shoot the 223 for a while. I sourced everything for the PX here and saved a bunch of money.

 

[stello1001]

I think the howa mini is an excellent choice. I'd go grendel, or either of the ARCs. The 300blackout is also a decent choice but not as flat shooting as the others.

Just know that the howa mini has shitty mags and bottom plastic from factory and there are only a few aftermarket options. Still though, I'd go that route. I own 2 of them and like them. Jefferson outdoors makes a great bottom metal, oregunsmithing as well, and there might be one more. MDT made a badass bottom metal and mags for them, which I have, but are now discontinued if I'm not mistaken.

The Jefferson and oregunsmithing are not detachable box mag types. Maybe we can get @MDT_OFFICIAL to bring back the howa mini bottom metal and the mags but at a more reasonable price this time.

 

[gwalker]

I was in the same boat about 4 years ago with my son, he was 11 when he won a stock and was given a cert for an action. I ended up doing a 224 valkyrie for him. He’s hit steel out to 1270. He’s 15 now and still loves it.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

I Think You Are Making An Excellent Choice. Me, I might go with a Valkyrie, but your caliber choice is fine. Teaching a new fellow to shoot centerfire, I always recommend one of the .224’s, often a .223, but your choice allows a bit better chamber / throat for the heavier bullets.

Forget this .243, 7-08, or 308 talk. We are not talking about a rifle the youngster will be shooting five years or ten years from now, we are talking about today.

A poorly stocked .243 can kick like a mule and induce a flinch that takes years to correct.

The kid needs the bang not the buck. Then when he gets the trigger squeeze right, gets comfortable with the bang, then one of the 6’s or 65’s or even a .308 will be a pice of cake.

 

[diggler1833]

One cannot overlook the effects of recoil on the shooter, and that is exacerbated with newer and younger shooters many times over.

Stepping up from a rimfire to a centerfire should be about as gradual as one can get. Bonus points for suppressors here.

I'd definitely still look at the 6 ARC, or maybe even the 22 ARC. I've taken several new shooters out to respectable distances with the .223 and heavier bullets. There's not enough recoil to get them flinching, and the smiles on their face when they bust clay pigeons at 3 - 400 is great.