As may of you know, I have a daughter who loves to hunt. In fact, in 10 days we'll be in Manitoba on a bear hunt. But this thread is about a lady's/youth rifle for deer in the U.S.

I've enjoyed reading and learing from several threads on a child's (or a lady's) first rifle and just have had the joy of selecting/modifing one for Emmy.

I found a "new" Remington 700 with the synthetic stock on GunBroker that a dealer had on his shelf for several years. I got a great discount ($300 plus $25 shipping) because the original box and paperwork was lost and the gun had several dings from customers' handling. It is a .270 Winchester which I thought would do just fine because the recoil is mild and it is big enough to shoot an elk or a black bear with 150 grain Partitions (or the like) if need be.

I had the trigger lightened to 2.5 lbs, shortened the stock to 12.5", shaped and reinstalled the pad, cut the barrel to 20" from 24' (which will cut down the velocity a bit, of course), free-floated the barrel and bedded the action. I think the shorter barrel makes the gun balance better, lightens it up some and the noise didn't seem bad at all at the range. I put on a Bushnell Elite 3200 with the FireFly reticle and Weaver-style mounts and rings. The scope cost $126 on Ebay.com including shipping (with a slight ring mark). Wow!

Today, I shot it for the first time and it took all of five shots to get it perfect.

Here's my three-step sighting-in method.

First, I boresighted the rifle/scope and that shot was several inches to the right and an inch low. I then placed the gun in a portable cleaning vise, put the cross-hairs back on the bullseye and, without letting the rifle (or the vise) move, while looking through the scope, adjusted the cross-hairs over and down to cover the bullet hole.

I removed the vise and then fired again, the bullet actually cut the intersection of the centerlines in the bullseye!

I then gave the scope 6 "up" 1/4 inch clicks and fired a three shot group (at the center of the bottom left squares on the target below) and the results speak for themselves. All touching each other, 1.75" high at 100 yards. This 5/8" group is with plain ol' Remington Core-Lokt, 130 grain bullets which cost me less than $20 a box at WallyWorld.

I don't think that Emmy will have any excuses on a big buck next year!



Here's Emmy's rifle. It weighs about 7.3 lbs with the scope.

Emmy is a lucky girl to have a dad like you.

Actually, it is the other way around. She just called from Athens (University of Georgia) where she'll be graduated on Friday, cum laude, btw.

How many dads have daughters who want a bear hunt and a rifle for their graduation present? I'm the lucky one.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Actually, it is the other way around. She just called from Athens (University of Georgia)where she'll be graduated on Friday, cum laude, btw.

How many dads have daughters who want a bear hunt and a rifle for their graduation present? I'm the lucky one.

Your living the dream sir!

Congratulations Sir, both on your daughters graduation with such an honor and on the way the rifle turned out.

It's hard to beat a Rem for value, or in any other way really. It's great that you gave her one, instead of a "high end" rifle. It leaves her a lot to look forward to in the future! Not that it'll shoot any better.. Man I love the way you're doing it!

I plan on doing the same with my 3yo.

That's pretty cool! Congratulations to her.

Well done!

friar

Nice! Please tell Ms Emmy I said "Hello and Congratulations" on her graduation. Good luck to you both on the bear hunt!!

very nice rifle

That sighting-in method is the old three shot sight in. I've used that simple method for years, and it works.

And just think, the way that rifle shoots, you have enough ammo left over for years of hunting!

Heartiest conratulations, Judge. I know how you feel. My son just graduated law school, his mother had the pleasure of hooding him because she went to the same school, AND he has a great job starting in October. Unfortunately, he isn't keen on hunting. Oh well.