22 ARC or 6CM? and what platform?

[jesco88]

So I'm looking for a rifle for my son to hunt primarily whitetail in MO and when he's old enough- Coyotes, Mule Deer, Antelope and Elk in Idaho. I'm still newer to successfully hunting big game, I've been mainly a bird hunter in my adulthood.

Ideally, I'd like to have something that can grow with him too. (via LOP spacers or even a youth stock at first and a full-size one later).

I have a spare 30-06 Tikka Superlite that I was planning on building out to either a 6mm Creed or 243 with a 18" barrel. But that has me thinking... why not 22 ARC? Less recoil and better barrel life (probably not that important, barrels are cheap in the grand scheme of things.) But from a 18" barrel, it's not that big of a difference between a 22 ARC with an 88gr ELDM @ 2775fps (from my estimate in GRT) and 6CM with a 108gr ELDM @ 2800ish (again GRT estimate) as far as the wind drift and drop out to 500 yards.

As far as I can tell- 22 ARC with the 88gr ELDM seems to kill just as effectively as a 6CM w/108 ELDM. Maybe when you start pushing the ranges out past 500 yards, there will be a big enough difference to warrant the bigger 6CM, but for a really young shooter, I'm good with limiting him to 500yards (realistically it's going to be 200yards in MO for whitetail until he's 12 or so for deer in Idaho). I would like as low of recoil as possible, helps spot 100yard shots and helps ensure he never develops a fear from the gun. So, it will be suppressed 100% of the time, hence the 18" barrel... And I just heard unknown is making a 6mm OG can... which will be high on my list as soon as its avail.

So that leads me to the rifle selection. I'd have to figure out a magazine and bolt solution for the Tikka, which admittedly I haven't done enough research on yet... So, I don't know if there's any issues or if there's a known good solution for going with ARC from a Tikka? Or would it just be smarter to pick up a Howa Mini?
I am heavily leaning towards the Tikka route, since it's a naked rifle sitting in the safe that I have and I'm not using. And at least in short and long action configurations, Tikkas just work. But for the price of the barrel and etc... The Howa Mini is pretty compelling. I've seen some use the Howa minis and heard some issues too. What's the general consensus on these little rifles?

Any and all feedback is welcome.

 

[omicron1792]

how old is your son?

 

[jesco88]

how old is your son?

Didn't want to be too specific, but he'll be hunting when he's 6yrs old.

 

[omicron1792]

Then 223/5.56 all the way

 

[Treelineasassin]

Various states don't allow 22cal for big game, that'd narrow my choices down immediately.

 

[JFK]

22arc is a great cartridge and what I’m starting my boy with, but if you have a donor tikka with standard bolt face I’d go 22 creedmoor. Could always spin on a 6mm variant when he gets older and everything would stay the same in terms magazines. At 6 years old I’d be downloading the 22 creedmoor to lowest possible recoil.

 

[jesco88]

Various states don't allow 22cal for big game, that'd narrow my choices down immediately.

Luckily- not an issue for me.

22arc is a great cartridge and what I’m starting my boy with, but if you have a donor tikka with standard bolt face I’d go 22 creedmoor. Could always spin on a 6mm variant when he gets older and everything would stay the same in terms magazines. At 6 years old I’d be downloading the 22 creedmoor to lowest possible recoil.

Thats a good point.... is 22 GT a thing? IIRC... 6GT is standard bolt face...

**Edit, 22GT is definitely a thing.... Literally 2 or 3 posts under this thread.
part of me wants a more common cartridge that I can just buy factory ammo for, but the other part of me knows that I hate using factory ammo anyways. Might as well build him something cool and different for his 1st real hunting rifle.

 

[omicron1792]

Various states don't allow 22cal for big game, that'd narrow my choices down immediately.

What states are those? I know 2.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Then 223/5.56 all the way

This for now and then when he is old enough to hunt the Communist state of CO, you can bump him up to a 6cm. Regardless the 223/556 is easiest and cheapest thing for him to learn to shoot and hunt with

 

[hereinaz]

.223 is the choice. Cut down a factory stock, and then upgrade to another as he outgrows it.

But going 22 ARC extends the range for western hunting.

We are building more 6 arc and 22 ARC Tikka, and I have a few barrels of each on order. You can have Kampfeld bush the bolt face and get mags from @pods8 (Rugged Stitching).

 

[jesco88]

What states are those? I know 2.

Last time I checked- Wyoming says you have to use a 60gr bullet or heavier for 22 cal centerfire. Which is actually kind of smart, just to persuade ppl from using 55gr FMJ or etc from their ARs. But yeah, the states I'm going to be hunting in don't have any caliber restrictions for normal rifle season big game.

This for now and then when he is old enough to hunt the Communist state of CO, you can bump him up to a 6cm. Regardless the 223/556 is easiest and cheapest thing for him to learn to shoot and hunt with

Luckily, I have enough stuff to hunt in my homestate, I don't think I'll need to go to CO. Maybe the future holds some gucci hunt out there or something, but I have a lot to learn before being able to justify spending money for out of state stuff... Outside of MO, which I have friends and family to hunt on private land. And as a NR, its relatively cheap.

No argument from me for a training rifle in 223. But for a hunting rifle, I like what the higher BC bullets give you in a 22 ARC/GT over the 223 (from a wind drift and bullet drop perspective). I can't imagine a 22ARC would be too much recoil. Kid is already pretty good sized for his age, and I'm not a small guy either. Hell, I started shooting when I was 5yrs old with a 30-06, blasting prairie dogs. He'll be fine.

 

[JustaHaaby]

I am in the same boat except my kiddo is already able to hunt on the mentored tag here in Oregon. i have a donor tikka in .270 I am considering changing to a 6 CM but i also thought about buying a separate 22 arc to have both to play around with. I shoot a 7 PRC so I feel like having 3 different tiers of capability and recoil are what i'm toying with.

 

[jesco88]

.223 is the choice. Cut down a factory stock, and then upgrade to another as he outgrows it.

But going 22 ARC extends the range for western hunting.

We are building more 6 arc and 22 ARC Tikka, and I have a few barrels of each on order. You can have Kampfeld bush the bolt face and get mags from @pods8 (Rugged Stitching).

The correct answer to most of life's problems is a 223 Tikka. That'll work for 6 years' worth of whitetail slaying and training. Then maybe straight to 6 UM when he's 12 and just skip all the rest.

 

[hereinaz]

223 has its limits on range, which isn’t a bad thing. Considering cost of shooting, it’s the smart choice for si many reasons if a person actually does the shooting. Otherwise, a nice light recoiling inexpensive round fits the bill.

You could split the difference and go 18” 6 ARC, here is a work up on a barrel at 2700 fps with 107…

It’s about $100 bucks to bush the bolt. Barrel is $600.

I am indifferent between 22 and 6mm when it comes to the ARC and Creedmoor when max range is inside 500 yards. All can do it in pretty much any reasonable DA.

 

[Okie-hunter]

I would also take a look at 6arc if wanting to keep recoil to minimum but have a wide range of projectiles. I’m getting ~3150fps out of my 18” 6arc with loaded 70gr blitzkings.