Help me Build my son a 6mm First Rifle

[264 MHC]

Ok so my son is turning 4 this year so maybe a few years out from being comfortable with a centerfire, but I want to start acquiring parts.

I know I want it to be a 6mm of some sort.

I have a 6mm Grendel 20” gas gun that stacks 95 Bergers at 2820. Love the cartridge with its nearly nonexistent recoil and low powder consumption. For whatever reason I can only get 105-108s to go 2670ish and not as accurate. Built it about a year before the Arc came out or would’ve done that for sure.

This has me really wanting a bolt gun for him in the same cartridge class. I was thinking of doing an arc on a howa mini but have read of issues with rough actions and heavy bolt lift, as well as limited magazine options. I don’t like floor plates so it will need to be a dbm.

I also really like my customized Tikka.
Doing an Arc on a Tikka seems like a lot of work and you end up with a very mismatched action to cartridge size. Not sure on mags for that setup either. So that got me thinking about the 6GT or going all the way to the Creedmoor. I want to keep it a factory available round in case I don’t have time to reload for him.

I want to do an 18-20” barrel and keep the whole thing compact and light. Shooting for 6lbs bare rifle. Would love to run 108s 2750-2850.

What should I do for the stock? Can a 7 year old shoot 12” LOP? I’m about 95% sure he’s right handed haha. Thought about a stocky’s and cutting it down and fitting a pad. Maybe figure out some LOP spacers till he can use a full size stock.

So which action with which cartridge would be the best platform to start out on and grow with? Trying to keep it in the $1200-$1500 range. I will likely just buy parts spread out over the next couple years.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[PredatorX]

Since you already own a tikka that’s what I would stick with. You’d have good part interchange-ability. There will always be tikka prefit barrels so you could easily swap barrels keeping the same action if you ever wanted to change in what you are slinging out of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tobe_B]

Howa mini-action 6mm arc. I have one and I’ve never experienced heavy or sticky bolt lift. It’s a family favorite rifle in the safe. Light weight, zero recoil, cheap enough to shoot plenty of rounds, stupid quiet with a suppressor on it. Mines just a factory rifle with a 22” barrel.

If I was to do it again I would go with a barreled action, mdt lss chassis, and cut and thread it at 16”. But I’d buy another one if I could justify having three. My hunting rifle is a 6mm ARC in an AR platform. Not quite as light, but it’s got adjustable length of pull so my daughter can shoot it and I can carry it.

 

[264 MHC]

Since you already own a tikka that’s what I would stick with. You’d have good part interchange-ability. There will always be tikka prefit barrels so you could easily swap barrels keeping the same action if you ever wanted to change in what you are slinging out of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My rifles are left handed so not as much cross comparability but I hear you on the barrels.

 

[OneShot]

I was in your situation this past year with my 7 and 8 year old girls. I ended up with a 20” mini 6 arc and cut down the factory LOP and a little off the forend. Bought a dedicated suppressor for it and loaded a bunch of 85g factory seconds for the kids to shoot up. Fits them great and they really enjoy shooting it. The 8 year old took her first deer with it shooting the 108 ELDM’s. I have had numerous kids shoot the gun and all seem to enjoy the short LOP and minimal recoil. After working the bolt it is quite smooth.
I picked up a Stockys blem on sale and plan on doing another arc. Bare weight of the 20” with Stockys was just over 5.5lbs

 

[264 MHC]

Howa mini-action 6mm arc. I have one and I’ve never experienced heavy or sticky bolt lift. It’s a family favorite rifle in the safe. Light weight, zero recoil, cheap enough to shoot plenty of rounds, stupid quiet with a suppressor on it. Mines just a factory rifle with a 22” barrel.

If I was to do it again I would go with a barreled action, mdt lss chassis, and cut and thread it at 16”. But I’d buy another one if I could justify having three. My hunting rifle is a 6mm ARC in an AR platform. Not quite as light, but it’s got adjustable length of pull so my daughter can shoot it and I can carry it.

Are your minis chrome moly or stainless? Any rust issues? I do live and hunt on the coast.

 

[PredatorX]

My rifles are left handed so not as much cross comparability but I hear you on the barrels.

In that case just train him to be left handed.

 

[264 MHC]

In that case just train him to be left handed.

Haha I wouldn’t do that to him. Way too hard to find LH rifle parts.

 

[264 MHC]

I was in your situation this past year with my 7 and 8 year old girls. I ended up with a 20” mini 6 arc and cut down the factory LOP and a little off the forend. Bought a dedicated suppressor for it and loaded a bunch of 85g factory seconds for the kids to shoot up. Fits them great and they really enjoy shooting it. The 8 year old took her first deer with it shooting the 108 ELDM’s. I have had numerous kids shoot the gun and all seem to enjoy the short LOP and minimal recoil. After working the bolt it is quite smooth.
I picked up a Stockys blem on sale and plan on doing another arc. Bare weight of the 20” with Stockys was just over 5.5lbs

Awesome thanks for the feedback. The 20” is the heavier barrel right? Think I would prefer that over the Pencil barrels. Sounds like weight isn’t a problem with it.

 

[OneShot]

Awesome thanks for the feedback. The 20” is the heavier barrel right? Think I would prefer that over the Pencil barrels. Sounds like weight isn’t a problem with it.

Yes, it’s the heavier barrel. Weight isn’t an issue.

 

[Tahoe1305]

You’ll likely hear it echoed a bit here (I read it when I did mine), but IMO 6C will be too much gun for a kiddo that age.

I started the same path 3 years ago. Culminating in my son’s (now 7) first WT kill last week.

I started him in a t1x so he could get used to the controls (same as t3x). He shot that to 50yds or so for a year.

Because I read poorly, I thought I read TN had a 243 min requirement so I jumped on a used 6C barrel. My plan was to shoot light bullets and loads of I settled on 80 ELD-VT at 2900fps.

He shot it most of the year for practice. But couldn’t keep his head down or in position post shot. And more importantly after a few he’d ask to stop because it hurt him.

I built him a 223 tikka last month and he shoots it much easier.

That all said, he did kill his first deer with that 6C. So the plan worked, but if I could do it over again I would have started lighter.

6 Grendel/ARC, whatever at 30ish grains will be a good start too.

Edit: the tikka stocks are great for kids IMO. I chopped one down to 11.5”. It was the same one on the t1x…just transferred to the 6C. I’m about to do another at 12.5” (compact stock with .5” grind to fit).

 

[Tobe_B]

Are your minis chrome moly or stainless? Any rust issues? I do live and hunt on the coast.

Mine has a blued steel barrel. No rusting though, probably wouldn’t be my choice in a wet environment.

 

[264 MHC]

You’ll likely hear it echoed a bit here (I read it when I did mine), but IMO 6C will be too much gun for a kiddo that age.

I started the same path 3 years ago. Culminating in my son’s (now 7) first WT kill last week.

I started him in a t1x so he could get used to the controls (same as t3x). He shot that to 50yds or so for a year.

Because I read poorly, I thought I read TN had a 243 min requirement so I jumped on a used 6C barrel. My plan was to shoot light bullets and loads of I settled on 62 ELD-VT at 2900fps.

He shot it most of the year for practice. But couldn’t keep his head down or in position post shot. And more importantly after a few he’d ask to stop because it hurt him.

I built him a 223 tikka last month and he shoots it much easier.

That all said, he did kill his first deer with that 6C. So the plan worked, but if I could do it over again I would have started lighter.

6 Grendel/ARC, whatever at 30ish grains will be a good start too.

Edit: the tikka stocks are great for kids IMO. I chopped one down to 11.5”. It was the same one on the t1x…just transferred to the 6C. I’m about to do another at 12.5” (compact stock with .5” grind to fit).

Nice Buck! Cool paint job too. I do feel like the tikka could be a lifetime platform with the modularity. I do have a t1x in 17hmr that puts 10 rds of cci 17 vmax in dime sized groups. Love that little action. I like the idea of starting him on one of those and transferring the same mechanics to a centerfire. May have to get him a t1x in 22lr for Christmas next year.

 

[Lionheart]

Love your heart dad! But maybe just wait until TIKKA comes out with the 6mm CM?
Then buy the ranch or youth model and it’s all done?
And who knows what will be available in a few years?

 

[mtnbound]

Ok so my son is turning 4 this year so maybe a few years out from being comfortable with a centerfire, but I want to start acquiring parts.

I know I want it to be a 6mm of some sort.

I have a 6mm Grendel 20” gas gun that stacks 95 Bergers at 2820. Love the cartridge with its nearly nonexistent recoil and low powder consumption. For whatever reason I can only get 105-108s to go 2670ish and not as accurate. Built it about a year before the Arc came out or would’ve done that for sure.

This has me really wanting a bolt gun for him in the same cartridge class. I was thinking of doing an arc on a howa mini but have read of issues with rough actions and heavy bolt lift, as well as limited magazine options. I don’t like floor plates so it will need to be a dbm.

I also really like my customized Tikka.
Doing an Arc on a Tikka seems like a lot of work and you end up with a very mismatched action to cartridge size. Not sure on mags for that setup either. So that got me thinking about the 6GT or going all the way to the Creedmoor. I want to keep it a factory available round in case I don’t have time to reload for him.

I want to do an 18-20” barrel and keep the whole thing compact and light. Shooting for 6lbs bare rifle. Would love to run 108s 2750-2850.

What should I do for the stock? Can a 7 year old shoot 12” LOP? I’m about 95% sure he’s right handed haha. Thought about a stocky’s and cutting it down and fitting a pad. Maybe figure out some LOP spacers till he can use a full size stock.

So which action with which cartridge would be the best platform to start out on and grow with? Trying to keep it in the $1200-$1500 range. I will likely just buy parts spread out over the next couple years.

Thanks for any and all help.

Why don't you just run with the Bergers in the gas gun for him, or maybe try the 95TMKs? What is the barrel twist of the gas gun? You could also hit the easy button and just buy a 6ARC upper.

 

[KyleR1985]

If you have a .223 tikka action and want to build a 6mm, a 6x45 would be perfect for a kid.

 

[Kaleb]

Tikka 22lr and tikka 223 set up the same way. If your state requires 6mm let him go through a couple few seasons with the 6mm ar you have. At that point you could rebarrel the 223 to 6x45 like suggested above but think you'll like the 223 too much to do that. Perhaps by then tikka will offer 6cm and if not rebarrel something to it.

If I had to follow 6mm with my kids it would be tikka 22lr and tikka 6x45. Heck I would still like a 6x45 and have no idea what that would offer me over 223's shooting 75-88's...lol.

 

[264 MHC]

Thanks for the Replies. I want to build him his own gun that he has to take care of and take ownership in. I also want him to learn some responsibility and gun safety with a bolt gun before he gets into ARs. I will let him use mine if he wants later or help him build his own when he is old enough.
I also want it to be at least semi custom because I have always enjoyed tinkering and would like to introduce him to that early. Everything I have is custom or heavily modified.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Get a 223 action or just buy a threaded 223 gun. You’ll have all you need. And shooting factory ammo is way more fun than I remember (all sub $1/!!)

 

[RS_Non-Res]

Manifesto