Been talking with a shooting buddy

Need some ideas and inspiration from fellow members

What rifle / caliber other than a 22 RF or 17 HMR would you (have you) buy (bougth) for your son / daughter

Shall we say between the age of 12 - 14 ?

Any suggestions ?

Benjamin,
I had a Sako Vixen .222 given to me as my first centrefire rifle when I was 11 or 12. It was a right hand rifle (I'm a leftie) and the stock was too long. I never shot that rifle well.

Just last year I took it out of storage and had the stock cut down for my son (who's 9 and right handed). He shoots it well. I think it makes a dandy first rifle for my young one.

If it had to be a deer legal rifle I'd be looking for a Sako in 243 instead.

Cartridge chambering, within reason, is perhaps less important than ensuring the rifle is a good fit for the boy or girl. A stock that's too long or otherwise is ill-fitting can be just a pain to use. I think that's the real message.


cheers,
stu

Benjamin,

For a youth novice I would purchase a Thompson Center Encore in 22 Hornet, .243 Winchester or (gasp!) 30/30 Winchester (read=less expensive ammunition), managable recoil vs. rifle weight.

For all of these reasons.

1. Less cash outlay, (read=Inexpensive),

2. Easy upgrade to a larger chambering,

3. Youth Models galore; you're not outa pocket for a replacing cut-off stocks & recoil pads; either wood or synthetic,

4. Cocking is mannual,

5. Learn to make the first shot count,

6. Manipulation of the action can reduce the rate-of-fire,

7. Accurate (develops confidence quickly),

8. Rimfire & larger chamberings available.

9. Open sight option, (who uses these today?) but scope mounting doesn't cost a fortune, either,

10. Compact,

11. Light, easy for a novice to carry, operate & shoot (most youth, female & novice shooters tend remark on rifle weight (IMO),

12. Involves (teaches) concious rifle handling,

13. Etc, Etc, ..... Etc.,

14. When they're adults they won't want to get rid of it - simply purchase another barrel ..... or if they tire of it I'll asume ownerhip and purchase a long-g-g list of barrels

15. Triggers aren't too light as they come from the factory (upgrade available w/a little gunsmithing).

16. Or if you desire to go the upscale route you can start purchasing €1200,- extra barrels for your Blaser K95. If I was a novice; that's where I'd want to be .... with a cut-off piece of fine Turkish Walnut.



Have fun with your choice.

quote:

I had a Sako Vixen .222 given to me as my first centrefire rifle when I was 11 or 12.

Gee, Stu; too bad you had to start with someone's old Truck Rifle ..... I could certainly think of "lesser" rifles but you are correct, a stock too long is a real Show Stopper for a Youth, Female or Novice.

Benjamin,

Well no one else is contributing much; so how about another recommendation?

Holland & Holland Royal Double Rifle in 22 Hornet?

WOW

I will make an appointment to see Patrick at Holland and Holland

Can I mention to my wife that it was on your recommendation ?

Know a good divorce lawyer

I think a single shot definitely

I rather him missing lots at the start
(I mean on paper) than blasting the target and learn nothing.

Thanks Gerry

A CZ 452 in 22lr can't go wrong!

303 with steel buttplate and open sights.

Gives character.

Ben, just buy the boy a hornet barrel for the K95. Let him trail it around the countryside after rabbits and foxes.

How else will the lad get educated??

I think I'd buy a nice wooden stocked rifle in .270 Winchester. Very versatile and they can use it for the rest of their lives on just about anything in Europe and alot of plains game in Africa too. Ammo everywhere and if somebody asks why .270 you can tell them to read Jack O'Connor. If I'd been shooting the same rifle for the last 30 years I might have become a good shot.

Claret Dabbler

I think a hornet or 5.6 x 50R barrel in a K95 will be good

Thanks for input

I already had a 5.6x50R barrel for my K95. Not wanting to cut down my lux barrel I approached the Blaser factory wondering if they had a second/damaged butt that I could cut down. They produced a standard grade Barvarian style free of charge with no fault I could see. When I asked them about it they said it was great I was teaching my son on a Blaser!

He shot 30gr berger MEFs under Hercules Unique before graduating through 50gr Vmax, 55gr sierra and 60gr Hornady under IMR SR 4759. Any hint of flinch and I put the rifle away for the rimfire.

Very safe rifle to teach on. Easy to unload so no temptation to not unload for high seats etc, cocking lever generaly too stiff for a child to put on fire etc etc.

As you see it works!(unlike the darn url - why is hunt 101 so difficult?)

http://www.hunt101.com/waterma...p?file=661741&size=1

I have two light calibers for my T/C Encore. 22 K Hornet and 30-30 Ackley Improved. Both are a pleasure to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
Benjamin,

Well no one else is contributing much; so how about another recommendation?

Holland & Holland Royal Double Rifle in 22 Hornet?

Gerry

I have confirmation from Holland this afternoon that they are delighted to take on a commission for a 22 Hornet Double and this will be a first.

Price - MY RIGHT ARM and MY LEFT LEG

If anybody is interested £72,000 and 02 years

This is a small frame side lock which has similar dimension to their side lock shotgun action hence £30,500 cheaper than the normal Royal double price of £105,000

I was wondering if they can do a Thomas the Tank engine side plate

The boy can have my '06.

Tell him Uncle Amir wants to give it to him just as Uncle Ian first did all those years ago.

I'm with Boggy, instills character.

Ah That's what you meant when you say

FIREFORMING

Yup.

And no one will call him a tunneler either.

Londonhunter my 15 year old daughter has been shooting since she was 6 years old. Starting out with a 22 that I had cut down for her she then progressed to my Rem 700 in 223. I bought her a little sako L461 that had been rebarrelled to 6x45. It is a marvellous little calibre that doesnt recoil, makes only a little noise and is extremely accurate. In fact I was a little reluctant to give it to her.

I too would vote for the .22 Hornet.


Best-
Locksley,R

ben

try to find a rook rifle of some sort, quite a few of them has allready been converted to 22 hornet etc. and the hammer versions are not that expensive, when you think he is good and ready for it, i can make him a 6x70r double on a small frame action and he will be good to go on the munties and the CWD.

best

peter

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
I think I'd buy a nice wooden stocked rifle in .270 Winchester. Very versatile and they can use it for the rest of their lives on just about anything in Europe and alot of plains game in Africa too. Ammo everywhere and if somebody asks why .270 you can tell them to read Jack O'Connor. If I'd been shooting the same rifle for the last 30 years I might have become a good shot.

My sixteen year old son got as his first rifle a Ruger No.I in .270 Win. Some reason like a TC!

I also started them early with air rifle, then the .22 lr, we still shoot quite a lot of the CB gallery loads on the lease. Very quiet, good precision at least to 60 meters and it teachs them to understand "Kentucky windage".

The Hornet insert barrel of my Blaser B95 was a good means to teach my son how to use that rifle, when at 12 he shot his 2nd piece of major game with the 30/06 barrel, he didn't even flinch.

He also used a buddies Remington Seven in 7 mm08, this I feel is also a good alternative for children 12 and older. You see them quite frequently in Spain with the lil' ones.

An air rifle.

Get him an Air Arms S200 sport in .22 calibre with a Bushnell Banner scope.

Get him on the range with this kit zeroed to 30 yards and then let him loose on his own to stalk the hedgerows for hours and bag some bunniees.

Doing this he will learn field craft, species recognition, how animals move, hear, see etc.

There is no better training than hour after hour trying to get close enough to brain a bunny.

The S200 packs the punch and has the accuracy and match grade trigger that will give the satisfaction of good results if he gets the rest right.