Help choosing "budget" adjustable LOP rifle to share with my 12 year old

CoMtnMike

FNG
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Oct 31, 2019
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67
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!
 

Maverick1

WKR
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Jun 1, 2013
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1,897

Appears you have most of the usual candidates identified. Another option for consideration is:

Tikka T3x Lite Compact 6.5 Creedmoor 20" 1:8" JRTXE382CSB

$699.
 
Last edited:

gbflyer

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Feb 20, 2017
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Factory tikka stocks come up in the classifieds often. Easy to change a compact for an adult. If a tikka is in the budget.
 

Kurts86

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Aug 15, 2020
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OP
C

CoMtnMike

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Oct 31, 2019
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The compact stocks come with a 1” lop spacer and full sized Tikka stocks are $75 quite regularly.
good to know - I havent found that on any website description, including at tikka.... I would like to be set out of the box and be able to switch LOP quickly with just a few screws if we both have a tag or a practice session at a long range that is almost a 1.5 hr drive etc - he gets his in the morning and swap in the spacer and be able to be hunting for mine after cutting and bagging his etc...
 

Maverick1

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Jun 1, 2013
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1,897
good to know - I havent found that on any website description, including at tikka.... I would like to be set out of the box and be able to switch LOP quickly with just a few screws if we both have a tag or a practice session at a long range that is almost a 1.5 hr drive etc - he gets his in the morning and swap in the spacer and be able to be hunting for mine after cutting and bagging his etc...
The Tikka youth/compact model would accomplish that just fine. Two screws and a screwdriver and you are all set to easily go back and forth from the youth configuration to the adult configuration.

From the youth/compact configuration: unscrew two screws, remove youth recoil pad, install 1" spacer, screw in two screws. Rifle is set up in the adult configuration.

From the adult configuration: unscrew two screws, remove 1" spacer, install youth recoil pad, screw in two screws. Rifle is set up in the youth configuration.
 

KenLee

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Jun 9, 2021
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Tikka compact or Savage 110 Apex Hunter.
Eurooptic for Tikka and Gunbroker for Savage. Lady friend uses a 6.5 Creedmoor in the Savage Apex with no complaints. I've carried it a few times and been told how cute I am with a pink camo rifle ;) . It comes in black and regular camo also.
 
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