Looking for some input and ideas for daughters first rifle.

R.C.Saul said:
Looking for some input and ideas for daughters first rifle.

Thinking of building my baby girl a bolt gun to hunt and learn with. I'm after low recoil more than a distance requirement. Mostly for Texas/Nm deer, antelope, coyotes, and some pigs. It'll be a switch barrel on an existing Rem 700 short action I have. First barrel will be .223 Wilde.

Second barrel- I'm debating between 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, or 6.8 Spc. Any input is appreciated.
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I got a new 260 Savage a couple years ago for a lighter rifle at my 70 year of age. It is a model 11 came with a fair 3x9 scope and mounts and bore sighted and is lighter than my old 300 mag by far. I would take the 260 any day for a young gal. Call the powder co. and get reduced loads for a 260. I tried them they shoot so good I'm amazed. then when she gets older more power is easy load it up. And the huge plus is if you reload, and I do, just run 243, or 7mm08. or 308 brass,, free at the rifle range here threw a 260 die trim and bingo free brass by the hundreds. I do it all the time. Oh did I mention that little light Savage shoots 5 shoots of A4350 and a130 Sierra Game Kings into 3/4 or 5/8 groups all the time. It flattened a big mule deer buck the first time I shoot a deer with it one shoot. Doesn't kick much at all and deadly on target. I think they might sell a lady's shorter model as well... I'll be hunting tomorrow in Grizzly country here by Yellowstone tomorrow with it.
 
Lee Whitsel said:
I got a new 260 Savage a couple years ago for a lighter rifle at my 70 year of age. It is a model 11 came with a fair 3x9 scope and mounts and bore sighted and is lighter than my old 300 mag by far. I would take the 260 any day for a young gal. Call the powder co. and get reduced loads for a 260. I tried them they shoot so good I'm amazed. then when she gets older more power is easy load it up. And the huge plus is if you reload, and I do, just run 243, or 7mm08. or 308 brass,, free at the rifle range here threw a 260 die trim and bingo free brass by the hundreds. I do it all the time. Oh did I mention that little light Savage shoots 5 shoots of A4350 and a130 Sierra Game Kings into 3/4 or 5/8 groups all the time. It flattened a big mule deer buck the first time I shoot a deer with it one shoot. Doesn't kick much at all and deadly on target. I think they might sell a lady's shorter model as well... I'll be hunting tomorrow in Grizzly country here by Yellowstone tomorrow with it.
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Carry a heavy sidearm, just in case.
 
My daughter started out with a 22-250 with 55 grain Zipedo's then I bought her a 7mm-08 Browning xbolt in the micro hunter when she was 10. I loaded it way down with 38 grains of 4895 and 120 grain Nosler ballistic tips. She killed hogs, deer and coyotes with that load and the recoil was nothing. She still shoots that rifle and she's 19 now. Mule deer, elk and all her big game animals out to 500 yds. Now it's loaded with 140 grain Accubonds and a very full case of H4350. Little 20" barrel still gets 2730 fps and has ended up being a great rifle for the long haul.
 
greenejc said:
Carry a heavy sidearm, just in case.
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Sidearms are fine when you are busy with something besides shooting. Like ... living, in town, or living among worrisome people. Or just shooting pistols for fun. I have spent most of my professional & most of my recreational life out of doors. If a pistol is big enough to be serious, it is big enough to be a nuisance to carry. Better to find a large caliber dog who can carry your lunch. That frees you up to use your rifle in a more effective manner.
 
rockwallraider said:
how old is your girl?
I started my 7 yr old boy out deer hunting with a 243 with barnes 80 gr ttsx and it was golden outto about 250 yds. With my older son 11 yr old he either shoots 6.5 creed or 7mm08 with 140 gr bullets.
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243 win with 80 Barnes was going to be my suggestion as well. I've recommend this combo to many fellows with little ones. If the youngster happens to land one on the shoulder, the Barnes will drive on thru no problem.
 
My dad bought new Remington 700s in 308 for his boys and his grandchildren when they turned 12. He passed away in 2011. Since then my Mother has carried on the tradition. Except I had the first two girls in the family. Mom decided on Remington model 7s for the girls in 7mm-08. They have harvested deer, bear, elk, and my oldest (now 16) even a bull moose with them. I started both of them out with reduced recoil loads and worked them up when they were comfortable with the gun. Their is so many good options. Have fun with the memories whatever you may choose.
 
R.C.Saul said:
Looking for some input and ideas for daughters first rifle.

Thinking of building my baby girl a bolt gun to hunt and learn with. I'm after low recoil more than a distance requirement. Mostly for Texas/Nm deer, antelope, coyotes, and some pigs. It'll be a switch barrel on an existing Rem 700 short action I have. First barrel will be .223 Wilde.

Second barrel- I'm debating between 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, or 6.8 Spc. Any input is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Started both my son and daughter off with a 243 shooting 80 grain TTSX. It's deadly accurate, kills what they shoot. Both started shooting it @ 7. It's a Ruger M77 carbine style. Very short and easy for them to handle.. they've both grown into it as they've gotten older... daughters longest shot right @ 300 son @ 280... both deer. They have dozens of hogs and a couple of yotes as well... they both argue over "who's" it is.. good luck!
 
Started my two sons with H&R 223 shooting 60 gr partitions . They would flat knock the tar out of whitetail out to just a shade over 200 easily. Of the options you listed I'd definitely go the 6.5 grendel . I've been looking pretty hard at that one myself. Good bullet selection if you reload with plenty of knockdown. And very little recoil. Sounds like you're gonna have a hunter/ shooter in the family for years to come. As previously mentioned keep them interested in the hunt if that means breaking every stick within 25 feet of your position and building stick houses. My sons did that up until I built a enclosed tree stand.
 
villagelightsmith said:
Sidearms are fine when you are busy with something besides shooting. Like ... living, in town, or living among worrisome people. Or just shooting pistols for fun. I have spent most of my professional & most of my recreational life out of doors. If a pistol is big enough to be serious, it is big enough to be a nuisance to carry. Better to find a large caliber dog who can carry your lunch. That frees you up to use your rifle in a more effective manner.
Click to expand...
I carry a Taurus Tracker in .44 Mag. It weighs nothing and gives me 5 270 grain or 300 grain rounds clocking about 1150 from its short barrel. Sometimes I carry a New Model blackhawk in .45 Colt, loaded hot. The Ruger is carried in a shoulder holster for easy access under heavy clothes. Neither is either hard to carry or a nuisance to carry. Both give me 5 or 6 quick shots if the rifle doesn't do the job quickly up close. Both my friends and I have been trailed by mountain lions a few times. I'd rather have and not need than need and not have.
 
What about 22 CM? I've been thinking about building my daughter one as well (6 yrs old). With some of the newer bullets it's not much different than the 6mms and I've heard of people getting 3300 to 3400 FPS out of them. I think that's the direction I'm going because recoil is absolutely zero and it can be rebarreled later if she wants more.
 
freddiej said:
Okay, I have some suggestions on the second barrel, contact Wilson Combat and see if they have a 300 Hamm'r barrel for the Rem 700. it will be a improvement over the 300 blackout, or so I am told. The 350 Legend would be a huge improvement over all of the rest of those cartridges you listed.
I was going to suggest before you restricted me to a 223/0.374" bolt face some other calibers than above. I was going to say build a heavy twist 243 Win, heavy twist 6mm Rem, 7mm-08, heavy twist 260 Rem, or a 257 Roberts. all of these I have taught girls as young as 7 years old to shoot comfortably.
My friend down the road (28 miles down the road) has a 6.5 Grendel he loves to shoot. Come to think about one more suggestion that probably will not be made.. 6.5X55 a wonderful low recoil cartridge.
short receiver and small bolt face.. kind of restricts the possibilities.. you could get a larger faced bolt and open up the 0.473" case heads. this would be best. If you go with a detachable mag you can switch bolts, barrels and mags and have the most versatility.
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Not at all restricted to 223/0.374" bolt face. with The SwitchLug setup, I can swap barrels AND bolt to whatever calibers and bolt faces are needed.
 
R.C.Saul said:
Not at all restricted to 223/0.374" bolt face. with The SwitchLug setup, I can swap barrels AND bolt to whatever calibers and bolt faces are needed.
Click to expand...
You said she's only 3 years old. I'd get the Grendel. The model 700 will probably be too heavy for her anyway, and you will want the lowest recoil possible. You might even look at the 256 Winchester Magnum, which is a 357 case necked down to 257 caliber. Its a very low recoil round in a rifle, but would be fun to shoot. Later, you could re-chamber the barrel for something like the 257 Roberts or the 25-06, after she's older. That would require a long action receiver, but modifying the follower length would take care of feeding until she's old enough to shoot the Roberts or others.
 
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