Daughters new gun build MAYBE

[257WTBY]

So heres the deal

My daughter is 13 yrs old. She is my hunting fishing fourwheeling buddy. She has a .243 Howa that she uses deer hunting with me and shooting chucks and coyotes. She has killed loads of rock chucks, coyotes and two nice whitetail bucks. She wants to bear and elk hunt with me do i think the 243 will work for black bear and elk well it is kind of irrelevant cause WA STATE says she has to use .25 cal min for elk. I talked to my gunsmith buddy and he reccomends the 6.5X284 for her. I am stuck she has shot several rifles she is 100lbs and does not like getting kicked I KNOW a brake well she shot my 300 ultramag with a brake and does not like it says it is to loud with the brake. I was thinking 25 WSSM, 25-06, maybe 260 or 270. She loves her 243 and honestly she has impressed me with several shots i thought NOT HAPPENING but she does it. A few weeks ago she was dusting a rock at right at 400 yds. Back on task here what round do u think would be adequate for her to use I would prefer a short action I will have to do some work on it for length of pull etc for her. Maybe a 7mm08? I dont think she will like the .308 if it will kick her.

SO long story short what have u guys built for ur little ones or maybe ur wife? What would u all reccomend for her to use on Elk and Balck Bear?

Thanks in advance for ur opinion and when the build starts i will be sure to let u know.

Thanks
Billy

 

[Mossy49]

You have a very hard decision!!! I feel for ya, but I'll give my choices, 257 WBY,280 Remington ,308, 30-06, or my favorite choice would be a 7mm Remington mag. You have lots of choices. Tell me what ya go with, & I might get the same for my girl..

 

[snowpro440]

Ear plugs and a Ross Schuler 4 port brake will tame that 30/06 or 308 or whatever you decide , as I have 5 of his brakes and they'rethe best brake out there for $45 .....

 

[screech]

6.5x284 or 260.

 

[CliffM]

6.5x284 or 260.

I have started a some young ones with the 250 Ackley.
In a light rifle there is not much for recoil at all and very little muzzle blast. From 75 gr up to 120gr bullets you can shoot from varmints to elk. Looking at the case size it is almost identical to the 6.5x47 Lapua. That is where I would go. I like the 6.5 bullet choices.
Cliff

 

[NomadPilot]

Put a suppressor on whatever you want... Less blast and recoil and you don't have to go minimalist on the cartridge. (Not saying x284 is minimalist.)

Also, is there a rule elsewhere about elk? All I see in the WA rulebook is this:

Big game, except cougar, must be hunted with a minimum of .24 caliber (6mm) centerfire rifle. Cougar may be hunted with .22 caliber centerfire rifle. Rimfire rifles are not legal for big game.

243 might still be too small, but it appears to be legal.

 

[257WTBY]

I will have to look at the regs but when we went thru hunters safety ( I did to after hunting 25yrs) it was in the regs then for 25 cal for elk it was actually a test question on the final exam.

Anyway today my daughter shot my buddy Jays 300win mag with a holland brake and hit a 8in gong at 450 yds. I was IMPRESSED and afterwords she said she wanted that same gun to hunt with. I think this is going to get exspensive but she is worth it. NOW I need to let her get a try on my braked ultra mag and see what she thinks.

Mossy- I LOVE THE 257 WTBY. I dont know why i didnt think of that. I will check into it I am a huge 25 cal fan all around. I have a Mark V ultralight in 257 WTBY and it is one of my absolute favorites but in the Ultralight she would not like it i am sure.

Thanks for the opinions guys i will let u know what i decide

 

[Coyboy]

I think the 260 remington would suit her the best with the info you offered, It is a great little round and will kill an elk at 400 yards as good as the tried and true 270 win.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

On page 76 of your state hunting guide book it spells out that the only firearms restrictions are as follows. That said just stick with the 243 unless she wants something else, my choice would be a 6.5mm either the lapua or the rem.

"Modern Firearm Regulations
Rifles:
Big game, except cougar, must be hunted
with a minimum of 24 caliber (6mm)
centerfire rifle Cougar may be hunted with
22 caliber centerfire rifle Rimfire rifles are
not legal for big game
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01496/wdfw01496.pdf"

 

[cahunter805]

Another Vote for the 260!

 

[257WTBY]

WELL i read and re read the regs u guys are right they did change it....

I have been mulling it over and over there are lots of suitable calibers for her I think but I am going to build her a .257 WTBY. Now that being said I am not going to build it on a Weatherby action. I like my Mark V's but i am going to use either a remmy or surgeon i think. So i am in the market now. I am also building this cause i have one already and have all the reloading stuff for it along with hundreds of empty brass to load.

If anyone knows a a action for sale PLEASE let me know. I want to get started on it soon.

And she does not need a new gun but daddy said if she shot and hit the gong i would build her one so I am building one now either way

 

[Mossy49]

Great choice, now you both can carry the same in field. She'll be stoked cause she's got a rifle like her daddy!!! If she shot that 300 WM alright, she'd love the 300RUM with a Holland brake. My shoots great and can't even feel the recoil. I shot some 190 Berger VLD, we shot 5shot groups and they are all touching.( 93 grains of Retumbo, Remington brass,Federal LRM primers she clocks a average 3220fps).. Working on some 200 Accubonds and some 220 SMK. She's gonna love the rifle in 257 WBY!!!!

 

[AH3682]

Hey,

I shoot the .25-06 and love it. Dosn't kick much, but has given me scope eye when shooting at the wrong angle. I weigh about 120, so it soudn't be too much for her to handle. Have tanken some long shots with it, friend even tried to shoot a coyote at arround 1oooyd with it. Came close, but close dosn't cut it. Anyway that is just my $.02.

Happy shootin'

P.S. Do you know where to find .22lr ammo?

 

[257WTBY]

So i have been looking at actions for her so i can get her gun started. I have a buddy who got me into this whole long range game and he is telling me to just get a savage 116 and rebarrel it for her. I am on the fence tho. I have never owned a savage other then my grandpas stevens savage i rebuilt a few years ago so i dont know. I thought about a Weatherby vanguard to build but there again i dint know how truely good that action is to build on. I want to build her a nice accurate rifle she can keep for the rest of her life but then again do i want o go full on custom and sink 4-? thousand in it? I want to get started now but i mull stuff over to long i hate to say what a waste if u know what i mean. What action would u guys build off of?

Thanks again fellas for all the advice...

As far as 22 ammo goes there is a little bit floating around but everyone thinks it made of gold now days. I am just glad i got all the bricks i did when i did if i hear of some cheap ones I will let u know