Son's First Hunting Rifle Build Ideas

[dkhunt14]

I bought 2 left hand CZ guns before they stopped making them. I bought a 22 and a 17HRM in the American. There was talk on Rimfire Central that they were going to stop making them in left hand. They are very nice guns and shoot very good. Matt

 

[butchlambert]

Many years ago I built my Grandson a 30BR mod 7. He has shot many deer and a real bunch of hogs. His only 2 shot kill was a coyote. He is a starting football player for West Virginia University. He shoots my 458 Lott and other big guns, but will not let me chamber the 30BR to anything else. He said he knows when he pulls the trigger the animal is dead.

 

[BigDMT]

30BR would be a good one too butch. About as accurate a thirty cal as they come.

I didn't update this thread, but I changed plans again on the rifle selection. Went back to my custom build idea instead of a full factory rifle. Reason was because I called CZ-USA and the new 557 models aren't even expected to ship to the United States until the end of this month or April. Then they have to ship to the distributors, then finally to the dealer. Could be a long time before a person sees one.

So I got a really good deal on a stainless Howa 1500 in 270 win that has a good Weatherby stock on it already. I have a Shilen match grade 6.5mm blank in #3 contour with a 1 in 8" twist sitting on the shelf awaiting the rifle. Will still be chambering for the 6.5x55mm Swede. Have 100 rounds of Lapua factory ammo now. Snap caps for practice and all the goodies for reloading. Just awaiting the rifle to start the build.

 

[Trapper243]

Sounds like it will be a nice rig! The 8 twist should really make the Swede shine.

 

[kev77]

Like Eric said 260 rem keep it simple!!! 325 lbs of saskatckewan deer works good on elk too

 

[kev77]

or 6.5-47 K.I.S.

 

[BigDMT]

If you would have read the thread, you would know that I am already vested in the 6.5x55mm Swede with components, dies, and even ammo... Thanks though.

 

[onelastshot]

I was with you 100% on the choice of a 260 until, you mentioned Elk. With the cartridges you mentioned I'd go with the 308. If you hand load, you can cover a wide range with that cartridge.

My personal choice knowing you intend Elk sized game as well as the Whitetail and Mule deer, is the 7/57 Mauser. I've used the 7/57 for almost 40 years now and killed as many deer with it. You can hand load light rounds for the new deer hunter as well as hot 180 grain pills for the Elk. If I could only have one center fire cartridge it would be the 7/57.

 

[BigDMT]

I figure I will upgrade him to something with more punch when he is in his mid teens. Until then, I think the 6.5x55mm Swede will be fine for elk. Especially with Dad right there for backup with 250gr Berger VLDs ready to launch from a 338-375 Ruger when the elk don't want to cooperate for him

 

[Joe C]

BigD, I for one think you made a fine choice going with the 6.5x55 swede. Many people forget that it was the rifle of choice for a good many elephant hunters over the years. That has to mean something!

And the fact that you are willing to go custom for his first one, well that speaks volumes about you as a dad in my book. My dad never had the money to do that for me so this past year I built him a custom rifle. It was a very special event doing that together.

May you and your son have many happy memories afield for years to come sir.

 

[BigDMT]

BigD, I for one think you made a fine choice going with the 6.5x55 swede. Many people forget that it was the rifle of choice for a good many elephant hunters over the years. That has to mean something!

And the fact that you are willing to go custom for his first one, well that speaks volumes about you as a dad in my book. My dad never had the money to do that for me so this past year I built him a custom rifle. It was a very special event doing that together.

May you and your son have many happy memories afield for years to come sir.

Thank you for the kind words Joe. Really appreciate it I believe it is a really good choice as well. And the 6.5x55 Swede is something a little different than your normal every day American SAAMI cartridges. Makes it a little more interesting I think.

Can't wait. He is really excited about this rifle. He is constantly asking me "When is my rifle gonna be done Dad?"
Last year I bought him and I matching hunting knives with rain drop Damascus steel and buffalo horn handles. He was so happy to have a real hunting knife. Now he is all pumped up to finally have a real hunting rifle like Dad. I think I might be more excited than him though

 

[BoydAllen]

Thirty or more years back, I bought a like new custom 6.5 x 55 for a song, and that began my experience with that caliber. Since then, I have owned a model 96 and currently have a model 38. After I got the 6.5, I got rid of my .308 because it only grouped its best with heavy bullets, and was less pleasant to shoot from the bench than the Swede, and was no more accurate. Since then, I have always thought of the 6.5x55 as a sort of thinking man's cartridge, for someone who is more concerned with real world performance and less about extreme numbers. I have not shot mine in a while, but every time that I do, I am impressed by its performance. As to its suitability for elk, I think that with the right bullet, shot placement, and limit on distance, it should do just fine. They have a good European record for taking moose.

 

[dan06]

+++1 for Joe C's post......says it all to me.

 

[BigDMT]

Thanks for the experienced based information Boyd. Makes me feel reassured that I made the right decision.

 

[treeman]

my choice would be .260 with Barnes TSX 110's for deer and 130's for elk

 

[AckleymanII]

Lets see....you are wanting to get a 12 yr old off to a good start with his first rifle. He probably has very short arms and will need something that has a 12" length of pull or close to it, otherwise, he will not be able to see through the scope.

His arms will not be strong enough to probably hold up a 8 1/2 lb rifle.

He will probably weigh in the neighborhood of 80 lbs or so.

I tried a flock of rifles with my little nephews, and it is tough. If it is too heavy, they can't get up on the scope, it kicks too much, you will just be inviting them to do something that they will have no confidence (or fun) in doing.

For their first rifle, just make it fun for them. If it is fun, it will build the right mind set for them and they will want to shoot it a lot.

You said that you hate muzzle breaks. Well, the cartridges that are not going to kick day lights out of them are few that can be used for big game. With all my nephews, the Model 7 Remington in 243 loaded with 100g bullets was way too much recoil for them!

What worked for them was the TC Contender with a 30/30 barrel on it and another 7/30 waters. I bought an extra stock, cut the stock for length, and saved the factory stock for later. My nephew killed two does, a buck, a bob cat and three hogs with it on his first year of hunting, he was 6 and was sitting in my lap in order to be able to shoot off the rest in the deer stand we had built. The 30/30 in a TC kicks very little and the 7/30 waters kicks less.

The little 6 year old could handle the Thompson Contender extremely well with it's very light weight and short configuration.

Another option that did not work for my 6 year old's brother that was 12 at the time. I put together a model 7 in 22/250 for him and planned to shoot the 60g nosler partitions. The gun was too long and cumbersome, even though I had found a wood stock and cut the stock to length for him. He preferred the TC 30/30, so I put together a 7/30 Waters for him...he handled that rifle very well.

Lots of guys here giving advise have never worked with kids. Issues for kids are the same as they are for adults which are, gun fit first and foremost, scope choice with adequate eye relief, trigger pull(critical for small hands and fingers), ability to grip and hold the gun comfortably, and RECOIL.

Just my 2 Cents

 

[Bigame1]

I think onelastshot hit it right on the head! The 7x57 mauser is a Great Cartridge but you'll find more 7mm-08 ammo for sale and all this is a modern version of the 7x57 for all purposes! Get your son a model 7 Remy. put a muzzle brake on it till he get's used to shooting it then gradually have him shoot it without the brake! Excellent round and very accurate and will handle anything you have mentioned with ease especially if you use like a Berger 140 grain drops em dead!

 

[BigDMT]

Nope. 6.5x55mm is already chambered and fitted to the Howa SS long action. The 140gr Berger in 6.5mm is hands down a much better hunting bullet than the 140gr in 7mm. Higher BC and far superior sectional density.

I am considering a "temporary" muzzle brake for the range though. I let him fire a round from my 20" heavy barrel 6.8 spc in an AR15 and he didn't like the recoil. Which of course is not much recoil at all with the AR buffer springs. So I think I might have a brake fitted for now since he will only be shooting at the range for the next couple years. Will also have a threaded cap made to remove the brake as he gets bigger. Then if he ever decides to have a different opinion than me on brakes in the future , he will have that option.

 

[CJ6]

Teach him how to use a sling properly and it will help with the recoil. My 1st centerfire was a 30-06 (Rem 721 from my uncle) when I was 10. I wanted to shoot it all the time but with just the alum. buttplate is was a little painfull (with all the bruises too boot). Then my dad (old Marine ) showed me the proper way to use the sling and it helped reduce the felt recoil to the point that it was enjoyable to shoot.

 

[butchlambert]

I firmly disagree on the muzzle break. I have found they flinch more from the report than the recoil. If they can't handle the recoil, they need a lesser caliber or download it.