Rifle for my daughter
 

I am looking to get my 13 and14 year old daughters new rifles. They both currently shoots a 22 at the range with me but I want to step it up a bit.

My oldest shoots left handed so that limits my options a fair bit. And I also want them to be the same rifle other then ones left handed and ones right handed.

I really like the look of the Remington 700 SPS Varmint. and it comes in both left and right hand. They have the heavy barrel and are 8.5 pounds so that will help with the felt recoil.

the issue I am having is finding a left hand model in a 243. I have been able to find a 308 but I'm not sure if that will be a bit much for them. They are both pretty small girls so I am concerned about the kick.

Has anyone shot this gun in a 308, and if so how was the recoil on it?

Any other suggestions on rifles for kids?

thanks,

8.5 pound rifle plus scope on top is a pretty heavy rifle in my opinion. When my step daughter was 13 I started her off on a savage axis in 243. That's where I would look. They come in both left and right handed.

Do you need to go .308? Something like 6.5x55 at 8.25 lbs has little recoil and can knock over most things edible. Nosler ammo runs same speed as the Creedmoor. Our .243 at 7.25 lbs is also quite manageable. Just my observances from a house with 4 young ladies.

I would never start any kid out with a .308 ( let the howls of recoil loving masses begin)...The .308 kicks, causing young shooters to start having issues with recoil and developing a flinch which NEVER goes away.....

The .243/6mm group of cartridges are fine, fairly mild recoil but you do loose a bit of "put down" energy with a less then perfect shot.

The smaller members of the 6.5 mm family of cartridges is IMHO the best, good knock down power and easy on the shoulder.

The smaller 7mm cartridges like 7mm-08 are also pretty user friendly but they to have more recoil then the other 2 mentioned above.

synthetic stock
 

would transfer more recoil to a young lady and I would avoid making them carry a heavy rifle. 30 calibre is unnecessary, expensive to feed and can develop bad shooting habits. 243 cant go wrong. Upgrade to 270 or 30 calibre when they have lots of experience at 18 or 20. they will be better shooters because of it.

Take a good look at the Tikka T3, comes in both left and right hand. For cartridges the 243, 6.5 Creedmoor and 7mm-08 would be good, maybe even a 25-06. My wife and I are both lefties and have found the Tikka to be excellent, today again my wife told me how much she loves her LH T3 Lite in 6.5x55 (the 6.5x55 is great if you can find one and handload, very accurate and very little recoil).

Thank you for the responses.

I guess I should clarify a bit more. Neither one of them have any interest in hunting, I've tried. The gun will strictly be for at a range unless things change. I was considering the 22-250 however if one day they ever do decide to try hunting I'd like to avoid having to buy another gun.

I agree with the 308 being a bit to much. thats why I wanted the 243 but I cant seem to find the gun anywhere.

I got a Tikka T3 when they first came out in a 7mm and that thing kicked like a mule so I had a break put on it, then I hated it even more. I still have the gun it's the one I lend out to people wanting to get into hunting/shooting because I dont care if it comes back damaged or not. haha

I have heard a lot of great things about the newer ones and obviously know a 243 isn't going to kick like a 7mm but I just cant wrap my head around the idea of another Tikka.

No, I don't need a 308, I don't actually even want one. I want to get them the 243 but I cant find that specific rifle in the 243.

if its strictly for the range why not .223? That would be a bit cheaper on ammo would it not?

Young shooters
 

If they are non hunters, I would stick with the 22s,---paper shooting ok, but for kids, and to hold there interest, there is a variety of spin when hit targets, steel gopher, and other animals. Ammo cheap no recoil, good for safety.I find a picnic table good for kids, very safe, no turning, fill a mag, take turns, see who can score the most hits. It surpriseing how quickly they become crack shots.

7mm-08 micro midas by Browning.

http://www.browning.com/products/fir...cro-midas.html

I bought my son a rem 700 in 7mm-08 when he was 10 or 11.
I load him 120s on the light side but as he gets older I'll load them stiffer. As well if he ever gets drawn for elk or moose no problem just go to whatever bullet you want. Great cartridge.
I shot a .243 for years but 7-08 is way more versatile.

Hogie beat me to it.

Not sure of the yardage at your range, but a 223 can certainly provide practise at reasonable distances. A 223 is effective on gophers and coyotes if they ever decide that they want to try that.

I'd reallly look at a Tikka in one of the 'Lite' configurations. Recoil will be insignificant with a 223, unlike your experience with the 7mag. It would make a nice light weight rifle for your girls to handle.

Girls Guns
 

If you want to move them up to a centre fire cartridge just for target shooting then as mentioned before .... 223 would be my choice as it is a lot cheaper to shoot than almost any other centre fire. Savage Axis is a great starter rifle that is available in both right and left in a compact model.It would a suitable choice that isn't too expensive or too heavy to handle.
If the girls want to hunt I would be looking at 243, 7mm 08, or something chambered in 6.5 (.264) calibre. All are available in the Axis.
Kudos to you for getting your girls out shooting.

I bought my girls(at the time 12 and 14) a Savage axis youth chambered in 7mm-08rem. Fits them and they both shoot it very well. Very light recoil(neither are over 5'3" or 110lbs) and an effective caliber. My youngest girl took a nice 4 point white tail buck last season, but I would not hesitate hunting elk or moose with it. It shoots a variety of factory offerings very well but likes 139gr bullets best, Interlock and Gmx from Hornady. I packed it along on a few back pack trips into the mountains for alpine mule deer, with a 20" barrel, shortened LOP, and a short action it is fully 3.5" shorter than my other hunting rifles. Makes a real difference strapped to the pack.

There is a LH Tikka Hunter .243 on cgn for sale. Not mine

You have 2 girls-one lefty, one righty. Why not a single shot ambidextrous rifle like a TC Encore? Start them out with a 223 or 22-250 or 243 barrel and you can always upgrade later. Also the single-shot mindset teaches patience. Youngsters can change their interests and later decide they don't really want to pursue shooting and hunting anymore. If that happens, you'll still have a quality rifle that you can configure to any cartridge you like.

I have shot a 243 in a sps varmit quite a bit,they are a nice bench rifle for the money and hardly no kick and you can always get lots of aftermarket stuff for them.I do prefer the 6.5 over the 6mm for long range.Most 243 's are a 1-10 twist and don't shoot the heavier bullets well.6mm Creedmoor really interests me thow with a 1-8 twist.I think there is getting alot of good factory ammo in 6.5 creedmoor,not sure about the 6mm thow.
My vanguard in 6.5 cm in a boyds stock with a limbsaver is very low on recoil.

7mm-8 or a 243 are good calibers. Minimal kick for a youngster. The Browning BLR is a nice light gun but i also have a 7mm-08 Xbolt that is pretty good.

If they just want to shoot look at a .223. You can buy surplus ammunition a lot cheaper then a 22-250

There was a nice little M7 in 243win on here or on Canadian gun nutz for $550 with a scope. If I were you this is what I would start off with and the price is right.

I'd look at the browning micro.

I've been eyeing those for my boys when they are old enough.

I'm pretty certain I would choose a .243 when they are young. When they are 18 they can choose to buy whatever they want. Lots of room for them to go "larger" and good for coyote hunting and deer hunting and targets.

I'd be looking at something no more than 7lbs bare. That's my go to weight for a rifle and they are younger/smaller so lighter may be better.

Depending on what hunting your doing a .223 might be an option as well.

duaghters rifle
 

my daughter started off with a single shot 243 I moved her onto a savage111 243 but filled the hollow stock with sand blast sand and a couple tire weights I also filled the web fore arm with fiberglass resen She has been shooting competition with it and no jump or kick shoots great for her

Hoven,
I've been watching your thread and I'm curious if the rifles are for hunting or just range shooting. If hunting I would.suggest a pair of marlin 336y rifles. Even with Skinner sights on them you'd be looking at $1400 all in. They could use those rifles for years to come and I doubt you'd lose much money if you ever sold them.

I am a lefty and I can attest to the viability of the 30-30 out to a goodly range. Even with the shorter barrel of the youth model you can take game out to a couple of football fields.

As for bolt guns. I am a ruger fan because once again there are plenty of left hand options available (Prophet River plug - no, I am not affiliated). The Hawkeye is a sturdy platform available in everything from .204 ruger to .458 win mag. In line recoil is very manageable and the rifles have a decent heft to them which helps as well. My 25-06 feels the same to me as an 1894 in .44 mag

At the end of the day, let the kids decide what they want.

Colin

X2
I bought a micro Midas. 243 for my wife. Fits her like a glove. Great rifle for a smaller person

A pair of used Ruger M77 would fit the bill in my opinion. You can get them left handed in 25 or 243 caliber. They are a little hevier but still light enough to carry in the field as well.

Yup. But the 25-06 really needs a 24 inch tube. A 44 inch rifle might be a bit much for some kids to handle. It's a shame the 25wssm never caught on. Probably the perfect youth cartridge for beanfield work.

Colin

Prophet River has several brands of "lefty" rifles:
http://store.prophetriver.com/search...rom=&price_to=

Bartons Big Country also has left handed stock:
https://www.bartonsbigcountry.ca/fir...anded.html?p=1

Tradeex has some new Zastava's in 6.5x55. Great starter calibre.