Thread: Kids 223

My little girl has shot a few goats now, and is doing pretty well. She really wants to get to deer. I'm not letting her until she has proved herself.

However.. None of my rifles are really suited to her. Obviously length of pull is a major and then weight.
Generally I'm thinking the obvious is a cheap single shot Rossi would probably tick most boxes. I don't let her shoot at any distance. This might change if she can prove her skills on the range.

Anyone here been through this with their kid. In fact someone may want to get rid of the one the setup when their kid was young. She's about to turn 8 so still pretty little.

Here she is with yesterdays effort

Depends on what you want to spend. But a howa mini, cut the stock to suit, and heaps of cheap second hand stocks to bring it to size again later. Also use old jandels of various thicknesses for recoil pads to bring it up to length as she grows. So even as a full sized human she can have the same rifle.

Not a bad idea. Could get a little pricey if want to suppress(flashbacks of the terrible flinch I had due to sitting a 308 as a kid)

Another vote for the mini howa as there appears to be many after market stocks available now.
Another option is to grab a factory stock from someone who has changed it out for an after market one and cutting that down and saving the original stock for when the kids get bigger.

Yep agree. Try get 2nd hand mini howa or the cz 223 is very light as well and small action , cut stock to suit, chuck a limbsaver on it. Then in 5 yrs time just buy a stock.for new size. She'll probably cherish that for life

having taught my 3 to shoot - definitely a stock to suit is a must - I had a youth pump Remington .22 mod 12 ( now passed on ) and that was great open sights- airrifle was a difficult one - the first one that had a stock to suit was a co2 powered youth air rifle Crossman - but expensive to shoot - got traded for a BSA meteor that had been shortened -that was really good accurate good trigger - then a mistake I bought a Diana that had a longer stock and was scoped - they all struggled with it despite the fact they could get good groups with it - but a rifle some good ideas here - the way to go would be a rifle with a wooden stock - cut that down and that has the option of later putting a synthetic on it - that would mean likely something a little more modern - but if you made a neat cut and the rifle was not valuable you could glue the piece back on later - but likely someone who has a youngster would jump at it cut down

Yeah. I cut down a new air rifle but it still sucks for her to shoot. Not sure why. I don't have a 22 that I want to cut up. As she's really only interested in hunting I'll just forgo those and she can spend my money outing rounds down range in cnetrefire. I see broncos have stainless lite barrel minis with no stock. Might have to source a stock.

the air rifle likely the grip with a proper youth rifle the distance between palm swell and trigger is also shortened and cheek piece is a little lower for children - just taking a bit of the stock sometimes just does not do it for them - but they grow so fast - but certainly target practice if you can get her doing that really helps - but good on ya keep it up

My kids use a tikka, stocks are relatively short to begin with. Bergara or Rossi are nice short rifles, just heavier than a tikka if that is a consideration. Don't get hung up on single shot. It's nice to know a second round is in the mag below if needed. There will be a time like everyone that your child doesn't hit exactly where they wanted on 1st shot.

I'm always ready for a back up shot. Don't want a screaming goat to put her off her passion. Yeah the bergara is a pig. I've knocked up a few light rifles in the past. It's just gotta be affordable too as I'd rather she spent more time choppering into wh bush than having flash gear. Let alone she wants a motorbike��
If I'm buying another tikka it should be for me lol.

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Yeah. I cut down a new air rifle but it still sucks for her to shoot. Not sure why.

Agree with Barry.
Likely weight and ergonomics for their little hands and reach. Try and find a rascal to look at and handle. You’ll see how narrow and paired down they are dimensionally. Rasp down the grip and fore end way more than you think. Chop the barrel if you can to bring the balance point aft. Seeing little ones use a properly scaled rifle is like chalk and cheese and the improved user experience is quite evident. Even for such a short period of their growth it’s very worthwhile.

I have a rossi 223 ...third shot always seems to be a flyer using 55gr. Yet to try other weights

theres a market out there I wonder why manufacturers have not got more onto it lol Remington used to - business there for a kiwi stock maker ???

Howa in an adjustable Elude stock from @Wingman
Set her up for life!

Originally Posted by Gibo

Howa in an adjustable Elude stock from @Wingman
Set her up for life!

This!