What .223 bolt rifle to get my kids into the tactical match game?

[Jericho941]

So I have recently become involved in the tactical match game and I am seeing kids coming and competing too. I think it would be a great time to spend with my kids. Since my oldest is 10 yrs old and they only get younger from there, I am looking to get them a factory adjustable .223 bolt rifle that they can grow with.
This rifle needs to be $1000 or less. Less being preferable since I still have to put glass on it.
I am considering the savage stealth or the Mossberg mvp LC. Which of these are better and are there other viable options in this price range I am missing.

Thanks!

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

can’t leave out the rpr. Bout as good as it gets for a 1-7 twist factory offering. Maybe there’s something else I don’t know about but I always see people shooting these things, especially the youth. Then check out athlon for some glass.

 

[MarkCO]

Ruger American Predator with an AT-One stock with a SWFA SS 10x. What my boys shot when they got to bolt guns. One of them just moved up to a Bergara B-14 HMR at 13 in 6.5CM and has done really well with it, but it weighs a good bit more.

 

[Jericho941]

How much heavier would the RPR be for an 8 or 10 yr old compared to one of the ones I mentioned?

 

[Xander3Zero]

How much heavier would the RPR be for an 8 or 10 yr old compared to one of the ones I mentioned?

I don't know what the spec's are for the rifles you mentioned, but a quick google search revealed that a 20" 308 RPR is 9.8 lbs. I believe the 223 comes with a 20" barrel so I would estimate approximately the same weight.

 

[TXBO]

The Howa HCR comes in under 10 lbs. With that or the Ruger PR you could put a collapsible 6 position AR stock on it and be able to adjust the length of pull as they grow.

 

[NewsShooter]

Why not a nice .22 LR now and a .223 later. I put together 10/22's from bare receivers for my nephews. They're accurate and light enough to do barricades. They shoot the steel chickens at 200 meters most of the time. 50 yards rimfire steel is too easy prone off a bipod. I do wish I'd done a bolt rifle instead to get them used to running the bolt. One actually prefer shooting my savage .22 that is in a Manners T4. It's hard to beat the Savage 12FV from Cabelas for a cheap accurate rifle.

 

[rookie7]

Once you add appropriate glass most of those rifles are going to be too heavy for an 8 yr old to manage, and could be too much for most 10 yr old boys.

They can absolutely shoot them from a stationary position, but in a PRS match they would need help - in general.

The only rifle that is lightweight enough is the Ruger Predator. Matter of fact Ruger is now offering the Predator model with AICS mags. Worth checking out.

The RPR is a shooter but heavy.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

. Matter of fact Ruger is now offering the Predator model with AICS mags.

Rugers website says AR type mags. You won't be loading anywhere near the lands with that one.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Just finished this Ruger American up for my 8yo:

I've got less than a grand into it, it'll be just over once we get a decent bipod and some more mags. Tuned the trigger down to about 1.5lbs and it shoots like this while sighting in my 55gr blaster ammo at 100:

The mag was a pain to get working but the next ones will go better now that I know what I'm doing.

 

[bunsen27]

Dropping a Rem700 or clone into a KRG Bravo-2 chassis with a Remage barrel should be right around $1k.

I did that for a 223 trainer this year and have been exceptionally pleased with the results. I suggest running the MDT polymer AICS pattern mags and something other than a 26" heavy contour barrel. Overall weight is not too bad but it is nose heavy.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Bergara maybe?

Also, if your area has nrl22 or anyone puts on 22prs matches, that would be perfect for them. CZ Tacticool or go full retard on a vudoo with that Manners mini stock.

 

[Changed]

I’ve had great results with my tikka in 223. Great accuracy potential.

 

[bfglowkey]

I purchased the Mossberg MVP LC in 556/223 for my daughter. Paired it with a Vortex PST Gen 1 6x24 and bipod. It handles pretty well and she has no issues. It's a solid shooter if not a little finiky with which powder runs best. Factory ammo wise the Hornady Black 69 BTHP and Ventura 75 bulk loads we're good. Handloads work great as long as I stick to TAC powder lol. Biggest down side is you can't easily single feed...and loading mag length is not always most accurate.

 

[tag_heuer]

Look into a Tikka T3X with a varmint barrel. I bought one for my 10 year old and dropped it into an MDT chassis

 

[missed]

My daughter has a Tikka T3 in 223 with a Boyd's AT1 stock. I would have gotten the KRG bravo instead of the Boyd's if it was available at the time. The Boyd's has been a solid stock and $200 was hard to beat.

 

[Codiekfx400]

Look into a Tikka T3X with a varmint barrel. I bought one for my 10 year old and dropped it into an MDT chassis View attachment 6938162

What stock is that on the mdt chassis?

 

[tag_heuer]

What stock is that on the mdt chassis?

It’s the LSS-XL chassis.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

I saw a little girl, no older than 8 years old, this weekend put 5 rounds of a 6mm creedmore in a 3/4" group at 200 yards. She qualified to shoot the 1000 yard range at our club.