Youth Rifle

[Beck]

I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I would like to talk about it again. I am thinking a 6.5x55 in a Sako with a Meopta scope. What do you think? I'd like to buy a nice rifle, but I don't want to go crazy. Call it 5k, scope and rifle total cost.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Winchester M70 Featherweight chambered 7mm-08 with lightweight Leupold Fire Dot $1400 scope on sale for $700 mounted in Talley QD base & rings. May have to have LOP shortened.

 

[Beck]

Winchester M70 Featherweight chambered 7mm-08 with lightweight Leupold Fire Dot $1400 scope on sale for $700 mounted in Talley QD base & rings. May have to have LOP shortened.

I like the idea of keeping the whole rig lighter, makes a lot of sense. Meoptas are heavy - Leupold probably makes more sense

 

[RR 314]

Depends on how small of a youth. I started my son off with a Browning Micro-Midas (following many recommendations from friends) at six and really liked it. Schuler Jumbos recommendation is solid as well. A lot of choices--few are wrong.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Recoil perception is largely influenced by stock fit, so I’d focus on that. As much as I hate to say it, the Creed seems much more convenient than the Swedish Mauser, unless that’s the only option available.

 

[Flbt]

I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I would like to talk about it again. I am thinking a 6.5x55 in a Sako with a Meopta scope. What do you think? I'd like to buy a nice rifle, but I don't want to go crazy. Call it 5k, scope and rifle total cost.

How will recoil play in?
Your set up sounds nice.
If it’s a real young recoil sensitive
I would look at a 350l if it’s for deer size game under 200yds
We stared a 5 year old shooting a 350.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Man, was I born too soon. I started out with a Stevens 311 SXS in 12 gauge at 6. #4 buckshot. “Climb up that tree and don’t get down until I come and get ya. Be still”

There. Done with my boomer moment.

 

[Daryl S]

Don't get a Varberger then. Mine, in 6.5x55 with 5-15XM3200 Elite scope weighs 9 1/2 pounds.
Shoots well, though.

 

[Beck]

Man, was I born too soon. I started out with a Stevens 311 SXS in 12 gauge at 6. #4 buckshot. “Climb up that tree and don’t get down until I come and get ya. Be still”

There. Done with my boomer moment.

Cool story bro, you came up the hard way. Our sport is dying, and getting the youth involved is important in my humble opinion. So...back to a reasonable set up for a small person.

 

[Beck]

Recoil perception is largely influenced by stock fit, so I’d focus on that. As much as I hate to say it, the Creed seems much more convenient than the Swedish Mauser, unless that’s the only option available.

I hate to agree with you, because I abhor the 6.5 creedmore, but your statement has a lot of merit.

 

[Beck]

Don't get a Varberger then. Mine, in 6.5x55 with 5-15XM3200 Elite scope weighs 9 1/2 pounds.
Shoots well, though.

Sounds, and looks like a great rifle. 9.5 pounds does seem heavy for a youngster though

 

[whisk(e)y hunter]

Hard to beat a 22 for fundamentals practice, low recoil, and quiet shooting. 257 Roberts, 7-08 both good deer hunting rifles.

 

[Beck]

Hard to beat a 22 for fundamentals practice, low recoil, and quiet shooting. 257 Roberts, 7-08 both good deer hunting rifles.

And the .257 roberts is super sexy too. I like it

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have a bunch of grandsons and they are still in the BB gun and 22 stage of life. I have been thinking about getting a Ruger American Gen 2 in either 6.5 CM or the more manly 308. With a 16 inch threaded barrel, a suppressor can be easily added and not make the overall length too long. Lastly, the stock has a removable spacer so the LOP can be as short as 12.5 inches,

 

[West_Texas_Bull_Shooter]

I am going to show my age, back in 1979 I started dating my wife. I told her if she was going to hang out with me she was going to have to learn how to shoot. I went down to Carter Country in Houston and bought her a Remington 600 chambered in 6mm Remington and had the stock cut to fit her. I bought brass and loaded 50 rounds with Sierra 75gr Hollow Points. I mounted an old Weaver K4W scope on it and had them bore site it for me. We went out to the range. I shot the first round, made an adjustment, then I shot 5 more rounds. We went down to the target and I put a dime over all 5 shots. I immediately asked her if I could have this gun and we would go get her another one. You know she wouldn't go for the deal.
Afterward she put the rest of the 50 rounds I loaded for her in the Bullseye. Now, she weighs about 115 pounds and is 5'6" tall. Recoil was not a problem. She still loves that rifle and load.
Any other cartridge and rifle combination can do the same thing if it is matched to the size and experience of the shooter.

 

[Daryl S]

I would suggest a .260 Rem or 7mm08 for a youth. Built my daughter a .260 & made her shoot from a rest, elbow rest from a bench, not bags, at 100 meters onto a deer silhouette I made out of B27 targets. Shooting 160gr. Sierra RN's at 2,300fps using the scope taped at 4X, she made a 5 shot group where the heart would have been of 1 1/2". That, BTW was the best sized group I got with that ammo, previous to this "test". I was shooting from double bags. LOL
She started off not with a .22LR, but with my CZ Hornet shooting 40gr. Barnes HP's at 3,340fps.

 

[Flbt]

Man, was I born too soon. I started out with a Stevens 311 SXS in 12 gauge at 6. #4 buckshot. “Climb up that tree and don’t get down until I come and get ya. Be still”

There. Done with my boomer moment.

Lol that sounds familiar. A Winchester 37 in 20ga a milk jug some where between 30-50 hit it your ready to hunt.
I still dislike buckshot deer and hog hunting.
It worked with dogs
But give me a rifle any day.

 

[Daryl S]

Years ago, my cousin asked me about buckshot for deer. He was talking about Southern Ontario, Canada. I told him to buy 3 boxes of 1 ounce slugs, Fed., Rem., and Winch. & to shoot them, 5 rounds each on a target at 25 yards and buy more of the most accurate. He did and chose Winchester for his M37 Ithaca. After that, he never lost a deer he shot. Before that, he had trouble killing a deer. Perhaps his gun did not like the buckshot or he was stretching the range. The slugs worked. The buckshot didn't.

 

[Gaj356]

Sako 90 Hunter in 6.5x55 with a Meopta Optika6 like a 3-18x50 is a killer combo for your Namibia PG trip classic pre 1960 Swede vibe in beautiful walnut, laser accurate Finnish action, mild recoil, and plenty lethal on kudu gemsbok eland with good 140gr premiums Norma Oryx, Swift A Frames. Tons of African hunters swear by it for plains game; it's no slouch.

Budget wise, you're golden under 5k Sako 90 Hunter runs $2,000-$2,700 street blued or stainless, solid Meopta Optika6 $800-$1,000 killer glass for the price, plus rings mounts $200. Leaves room for extras.

 

[Shootist43]

Five grand for a kid's rifle?? You got to be kidding me. Take a serious look for a sporterized 1896 Swedish Mauser. It is a 6.5 X 55 caliber virtually without comparison. Please take a look at some of my previous posts. Or better yet send me a PM with your phone number and I'll call you.