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
Attachment 248175

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.

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Originally Posted by Cowboy

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

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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!

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Originally Posted by Gibo

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

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This!

...or something similar. I was thinking the same for Alex, but he has chosen a different path.

I too want one of those elude chassis but for budgets sake the excel lite plastic ones also have the collapsable ar15 style stock (the ones that slide in and out) so no cutting needed

Cutting the stock is ok but the main bit thats hard to alter is the space from grip to trigger to suit their little hands..

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Originally Posted by MB

This!

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Wont want to hand it over to the grommets though :D
But how good would it be to hunt with the kids with 1 rifle that quickly suits all ages ;) I dont think you could beat it

I wouldn't piss around with a 223 for kids.
A reasonable weight 243 or 308 with mild loads and a can will give better results.
Teach them about noise and recoil (or how to avoid them) correctly from the start.

She's 7, I disagree, negate the recoil for now, focus on accuracy/shot placement, technique... in no particular order

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Originally Posted by Gibo

She's 7, I disagree, negate the recoil for now, focus on accuracy/shot placement, technique... in no particular order

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yeah I agree with Gibo to young yet even for a down loaded 243 308 - maybe when she is 11 or 12

I was shooting a 308 young and it left me with a flinch that I still have when paper shooting. I have to concentrate real hard to stop it. And yes I've fired alot of rounds from secondary school level target shooter to goat culler. Its something that I'd prefer to avoid. Having said that, suppressor goes a long way to calm that in a kid. She currently uses my 243.
I'd be fine with a 243 suppressed in a lite rifle. However a 223 is soo lovely to shoot and boxes well above its weight as a calibre.
I think either will do the job.

223 all the way

norinco 7.62x39mm and you wont give a shit cutting the stock shorter...can add it back on later or just keep increasing the recoil pad....WHY because its plurry close to .223 in a lot of ways but better in others..both use same amount of ar2206 powder so bang is similar...dead easy to suppress..use your .308 suppressor more than likely..I shared one between the x39mm and 270
the x39mm gives more margin for error and hits with projectile 2-3times heavier depending on load....shot placement is slightly easier as more oomph to break bones etc... I did sell mine after kids moved onto bigger things but often regret doing so as it was such a fun rifle to carry and just shoot stuff with......WITH ONE PROVISO...keep the range under 150 yards....75yards and under even better...it kills reds and pigs very well and my box of hornady training rounds 123grn sst was nearly all used up one night spotlighting big forestry wallabies..holy smoke did it smack them down with authority...goats would be identical I believe.
NZHunter did awesome article about ten years ago...calibres for under 16s think it was called....really good read top 3 choices were .243 7.62x39mm and 223...... but .223 for cool calm shot only.

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Originally Posted by Cowboy

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.

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check the amount she has to creep hand forwards to reach trigger.....its the one thing we found hard with bakail single shottie..I built up the pistol grip with tapered bit of jandle and insulation taped it in place...it put the other three fingers better placed when one was on trigger

Hcvcheers MD. I'd not actually considered it but would whole heartedly agree.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

norinco 7.62x39mm and you wont give a shit cutting the stock shorter...can add it back on later or just keep increasing the recoil pad....WHY because its plurry close to .223 in a lot of ways but better in others..both use same amount of ar2206 powder so bang is similar...dead easy to suppress..use your .308 suppressor more than likely..I shared one between the x39mm and 270
the x39mm gives more margin for error and hits with projectile 2-3times heavier depending on load....shot placement is slightly easier as more oomph to break bones etc... I did sell mine after kids moved onto bigger things but often regret doing so as it was such a fun rifle to carry and just shoot stuff with......WITH ONE PROVISO...keep the range under 150 yards....75yards and under even better...it kills reds and pigs very well and my box of hornady training rounds 123grn sst was nearly all used up one night spotlighting big forestry wallabies..holy smoke did it smack them down with authority...goats would be identical I believe.
NZHunter did awesome article about ten years ago...calibres for under 16s think it was called....really good read top 3 choices were .243 7.62x39mm and 223...... but .223 for cool calm shot only.

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Beat me too it. Suppressed 7.62x39 will be a damn good option, and the other thing is you can make up a stock to suit out of marine ply and coating it. Your girl looks tiny, much more petite than my 9 year old who is tall for age. It's hard, as the slight girls are challenged on every aspect - hand size means a normal pistol grip just isn't a going proposition for them and the distance for trigger pull is much too long. The butt is usually shaped wrong for their little collar bone area and the bones are so soft a sharp recoiling rifle can cause a greenstick rearrangement which I'm told just hurts (my boy did it to himself a while back but I told him to suck it up as a badge of pride not realising he'd damaged the bone - his mother dealt to me for that one). The other issue is arm length vs chest width vs neck skull and eye dimensions means the actual sighting and handling of the rifle is just more difficult than required...

Haha ya not wrong. Getting length of pull is most important as usually the eye distance comes right. She's pretty tough for her age. Won at nationals in Brazilian jiujitsu. Fights 2 or 3 days a week. Still a few pounds of rifle will always be too much unless on some form of rest. I wasn't gonna let her shoot early but she's just so bloody keen.

any idea of her length of pull?
Howa does a houge youth stock at 12.5inches LOP for the short action if dead set on .223 but Id probably go .243 or .308 and reduced loads and set for life

I think they can be cut even shorter too if need be

I started the kids on a savage rascal .22, ideal.

I have a tikka youth in .223, the stock from memory has a length of pull at 12” compared to 14”. Barrel is short has comes threaded. Everything is the same as a standard tikka except the LOP. I will put a normal stock on when they get older. The action is also great for them to use.

My 11 year old moved on to a carbon stock mod7 in 7-08, now uses my 6.5 for open country. They grow up quick and grow out of rifles like shoes. I have 3 so has been easy to justify.

Put one of your rifles, if you have a 223 in a chassis with a telescopic stock. that way she can use it on the short setting and you can use it on the longer setting

How minis have a plastic type chassis that pretty light that would work mint, think its called the EXCL lite

Have a Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel. Low recoiling, hits fairly hard for the class of cartridge. My 9 year old son can shoot it without a flinch ( he's fairly recoil shy) my wife shoots it well. Report is mild with a can on it. Goes fine as it is aside from modifying the retarded mag release. Gonna put it in an Elude chassis soon....but mainly cos I want one 😉

Hi Project 17
you are going to love the Elude chassis
cheers

I've got a howa mini shortened factory stock you can have for postage if you decide to go that way

I've got a rossi single shot in 1-12 223 if ya want to try it. 45gr suppressed isn't going to frighten any kid.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I've got a howa mini shortened factory stock you can have for postage if you decide to go that way

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Yeah that gets her going, and if she's still interested after a while, get the Elude and pass on the stock to next young lady.

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Originally Posted by AR7

Hi Project 17
you are going to love the Elude chassis
cheers

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I have no doubt 🤙