Rifle for Dylann

[SJB358]

I am sorta thinking about getting a rifle together for my daughter. She is 10 this year and it never seems to early to start them out. I have sorta decided I would like to get her a 7-08 or 7x57 Mauser. Probably be a 7-08 as we already have a 7x57 in the house and I like to keep stuff different.

Option 1: Here is what I am thinking, Winchester makes a Model 70 Featherweight Compact. Comes in a 7-08, 20" barrel. Seems like a real nice rifle from the ones I have seen on the shelf. Pretty sure the 20" wouldn't be hugely detrimental to much hunting we would be doing with a 7-08, and the stock could always be replaced later in life if he needed a longer stock.

Option 2: A plain old Model 70 Featherweight, again in either 7-08 or maybe a 7x57 if another could be found. Take the longer LOP stock off, stash it away and buy a laminate, cut it down for a comfortable LOP and use that till she can fit into the full sized stock, if she ever needs too. The one advantage to this would be the 22" barrel which wouldn't seem overly long plus it would push the muzzle blast a little further from the shooter.

There is good money the rifle will be a Model 70 either way.. Kinda like Henry Ford... They can have any rifle they want as long as it is a Winchester... 8)

What do you guys think? If there are other options, I am open to them. Oh, I also already have a youth Model 700 243 to make use of too.. Both of them can be loaded for lighter recoil levels. Not worried too much about that right now.

 

[truck driver]

I would go with the longer barreled feather weight and pick up a youth stock for it. I think I saw some youth stocks at Numrich Gunparts. A youth stock on the M700 would work also but I would go with the 7-08 because of the better bullet selection or a 6.5 CM would be nice and do everything you would want it to and not beat her up. Get the action at Snipershide and build from there. :roll: :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

When I made a .260 for my grandson, Noah, I bought a standard rifle and cut down the stock. I figured that I could always replace the stock after he was in his late teens. However, that compact Model 70 is nice; and if Dylann should be fairly petite when she is grown, it will still work well for her.

 

[salmonchaser]

You are a good dad, I guess I would back you on the longer bbl. any thing and everything to help prevent recoil issues. I think portability is a concern but from my experience with girls they grow like weeds from 10 - 12. So 20 vs 22 inch may not be an issue by fall

 

[SJB358]

Good points.. Great points.. I know a nice laminate can be picked up for a decent price as well. Sawing some length off of it wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least. I could always stash the good Featherweight somewhere to add back on during a later date.

Another question, what is a good method to measure a person for proper LOP? Never really done it? I think I could do it without too much problem, just wondering the right way.

 

[rmarshall]

Scotty, I would go with the longer barrel, just picked up a featherweight 7-08 for a nephew, what a dream of a rifle, get an extra stock and cut length. We picked it up it up for under 650 out the door, I think we got steal! Can't go wrong with a model 70!

 

[IdahoCTD]

I think when my boys get old enough I'll start them with a 6x47 or 6.5x47 depending on how big they are. Once they out grow that I'll jump them to a long action caliber. The nice thing about the Lapua case is it gives up hardly anything to the .308 based cases yet burns 5-10 grains less powder. The 6.5's have some high BC 123-130gr bullets too. To run that light of a bullet in a 7mm you give up a bunch of BC and SD. BC is not so much of a concern in the eastern woods but out here it is pretty important. My kids will probably be shooting long range before they are old enough to hunt though.

 

[SJB358]

Scotty, I would go with the longer barrel, just picked up a featherweight 7-08 for a nephew, what a dream of a rifle, get an extra stock and cut length. We picked it up it up for under 650 out the door, I think we got steal! Can't go wrong with a model 70!

Yeah, if I could find another 7x57 like my son's, I would jump all over it. They are sorta harder to find though. Seems more of them are in the 850-900 range.

Nathan, I get what your saying and if I had the ability to do it myself a 6.5x47, 6.5CM or 260 would be options as well. Good luck trying to find one though. It is really a builders option, but I do agree, the smaller 6.5's are very slick rifles. Honestly though, I don't see them shooting game over 200-300 yards for quite awhile. Even if they hunt with me, in OR, ID, or some other places, I'd be real cautious letting them stretch much above 300, at least until they were very comfortable with the extended ranges.

 

[salmonchaser]

I would take Dylann to your shop if you have a good band saw, or to grandpas if he has one, with the sacrificial stock. Shorten the stock in 1/2 inch increments until she says she likes it with out rolling her eyes. Save the sections, you can glue them back on as she grows, not perfect stock work but you'll probably only add back in a time or two before she is done growing.
A band saw will give you a much narrower curf than either a chop saw, table saw or God forbid a skill saw.
My son has never replace the stock on his 257 roberts we chopped down 18 years ago. He says there are deer stories associated with each section added back on and he knows where to start cutting when his son is a little older.

 

[DrMike]

Rest a rifle in the crook of her arm. The trigger finger should be comfortably crooked at the trigger. Of course, you can measure with a tape and do the same thing. Any gun store will likely have a proper rule with sliding hole for measuring. However, you can easily do the measuring yourself.

 

[SJB358]

Gotcha, great info! I will have to try that out and see how it works. It'll give me something to do this evening.

I do happen to have a band saw I can use for this..

 

[ajvigs]

I vote 7mm08. Load it with a 120 Nosler BT and call it a day.

 

[truck driver]

With the band saw reverse the blade the same as a skill saw when cutting thin plywood and you won't chip the wood as easy when you cut it.

 

[nvbroncrider]

C'mon Scotty you need a new toy something different. I like the 7 Mauser idea they are sweet. But what you REALLY NEED is a 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser!!!

 

[truck driver]

Guns America #931828568 buy now $400 270WSM Shadow. GB #407751609 257 Roberts New In Box M70 Fwt. GB also has a M70 Beater 30-06 for $300.

 

[6mm Remington]

Scotty I think a 6mm Remington (wait Winchester doesn't chamber that one), 257 Roberts, or a 7x57 would be great. Another good bet would be a 25-06. I do not believe that you have one of those in your house and like you said you like keeping things mixed up. That's a sweet round that won't beat your daughter up and you could start off loading 85-100 gr. bullets until they got used to it.

If you wanted I could see if that pretty 7x57 Featherweight is on the shelf here. It was $740.00 if I remember correctly and was brand new. I could snag it and you could pick it up on your way through to go elk hunting. Now I cannot guarantee that a scope would somehow find it's way on it and it would see some range time. Just getting the bore carefully broken in sir.
David

 

[DrMike]

If you wanted I could see if that pretty 7x57 Featherweight is on the shelf here. It was $740.00 if I remember correctly and was brand new. I could snag it and you could pick it up on your way through to go elk hunting. Now I cannot guarantee that a scope would somehow find it's way on it and it would see some range time. Just getting the bore carefully broken in sir.
David

Such generosity! Such consideration! It is why I enjoy this forum so much. :grin:

 

[SJB358]

Scotty I think a 6mm Remington (wait Winchester doesn't chamber that one), 257 Roberts, or a 7x57 would be great. Another good bet would be a 25-06. I do not believe that you have one of those in your house and like you said you like keeping things mixed up. That's a sweet round that won't beat your daughter up and you could start off loading 85-100 gr. bullets until they got used to it.

If you wanted I could see if that pretty 7x57 Featherweight is on the shelf here. It was $740.00 if I remember correctly and was brand new. I could snag it and you could pick it up on your way through to go elk hunting. Now I cannot guarantee that a scope would somehow find it's way on it and it would see some range time. Just getting the bore carefully broken in sir.
David

Dylann would have to steal the 25-06 from her Mom!









That's a great price on that 7x57 David. Do you still have pictures of it?

I do like the 25-06 though David, you and a few others were right, low recoil and very fun to shoot. I need to get it out and work up another load for it. Just about everything I have put through it has been excellent.

 

[6mm Remington]

This one Scotty!!



Little off on the price. My bad, you better just forget about this one! :lol:

 

[ajvigs]

That 70 is GORGEOUS. Scotty it has your name ALL OVER IT