My son will turn 12 this spring and can now hunt in CO this fall instead of just going with me and enjoying the glassing and stalking as he has the past 4 years. He is small for his age - about 10th percentile at 65lbs and 4' 8" tall. I'm 6'1" and 215. So my standard Savage Axis II in 30-06 that I have been hunting successfully with since 2016 wont be a good choice for him to use both size and recoil wise. But given he will grow and I would like a lower recoil rifle now to better see my hits I want to look at rifles with adjustable LOP so we can share vs a dedicated youth rifle. Cartridge will be 6.5 CM shooting copper, I can daydream about suppressed but that is too expensive to consider for some time, so likely naked as a muzzle brake and fully inserted plugs (maybe muff too) could hamper communication when setting up etc.
So adjustable LOP is mandatory. I prefer a bladed trigger for extra safety with a light trigger and a new youth hunter, but not a complete dealbreaker without it. Adjustable comb is nice but easily accomplished with foam and neoprene wrap. Threaded barrel is nice in case I can afford a suppressor in the future. Coated or stainless barrel is a bonus but my blued Axis is doing fine with plenty on snow and rain contact and basic maintenance.
The options I see in the $600 range:
Ruger American Gen 2 - all the wants and only concern is at least one person on reddit had a stock break at the LOP spacer which seems to be least robust attachment. But it also has a cool kit to add 1.6lbs of weight to the stock which could reduce recoil for practice and maybe in the field if not hiking too far...
Savage 110 cheaper configs - looks like more robust spacer attachment with structured spacers instead on just hollow tube, but lower end configs arent widely available and often come with a scope
CVA Cascade - doesnt have the bladed trigger and I know the least about it. also unclear on the LOP spacer structure.
Thoughts on those options or one I forgot? (Mossberg does have a compact adjustable LOP option but doesnt go to full standard LOP for a large adult) Experience with these options and small youth?
Thanks for thoughtful comments!
So adjustable LOP is mandatory. I prefer a bladed trigger for extra safety with a light trigger and a new youth hunter, but not a complete dealbreaker without it. Adjustable comb is nice but easily accomplished with foam and neoprene wrap. Threaded barrel is nice in case I can afford a suppressor in the future. Coated or stainless barrel is a bonus but my blued Axis is doing fine with plenty on snow and rain contact and basic maintenance.
The options I see in the $600 range:
Ruger American Gen 2 - all the wants and only concern is at least one person on reddit had a stock break at the LOP spacer which seems to be least robust attachment. But it also has a cool kit to add 1.6lbs of weight to the stock which could reduce recoil for practice and maybe in the field if not hiking too far...
Savage 110 cheaper configs - looks like more robust spacer attachment with structured spacers instead on just hollow tube, but lower end configs arent widely available and often come with a scope
CVA Cascade - doesnt have the bladed trigger and I know the least about it. also unclear on the LOP spacer structure.
Thoughts on those options or one I forgot? (Mossberg does have a compact adjustable LOP option but doesnt go to full standard LOP for a large adult) Experience with these options and small youth?
Thanks for thoughtful comments!
. It comes in black and regular camo also.
