Very helpful, thank youHi M1 and Flatland
Here's a summary of parts/considerations/responses:
Note that this all just something I arrived at after years of shooting with my kids/friends' kids. Going the Tikka factory route is a bit smarter. Only thing I'd change would be in favor of Tikka stainless barrel (if were offered).
- Have done the 700 clone way (Krieger 7 twist, long throat, spendy) and the Tikka way (8 twist, factory chamber length) - both are excellent, Tikka costs a lot less
- Tikka started as a Compact for $659, then able to net $140 after selling the stock
- Cut the barrel from 20 to 17 inches, thread 5/8x24 w/shoulder (ADCO in Ohio)
- Chassis is LSS Gen 3 w/interface for carbine tube
- Adds are thumb shelf, MDT M-lok poly bipod (great for this set up!), MDT grip
- Cerakote air cure paint on metal
- Buttstock is Magpul CTR because it locks secure (no wiggle or rattle) and can add comb risers
- 11" LOP is very short - in my head might say that if a kid is less than 11" LOP, then too young/little to be shooting a centerfire
- Sportsmatch medium rings
- 6X super sniper is best of eye box/reticle/FOV + any brain adapts very easily, eliminates zoom in/out variable
- No bedding needed so chassis and barreled action are all interchangeable
- Total weight of set up is #8 - kids will shoot #8 better and more confident/less fear aversion than #6 while able to carry
Hope this helps!
Kids rifle manifesto
- Thread starter eric1115
- Start date
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- Feb 24, 2023
- Messages
- 2,737
I had the same issue when I swapped to a LSS Gen2 chassis for my son. I went with the fixed XLR TR-2 and I'm glad I did. Found that we needed quite a bit of height on the cheek to get him lined up. I chopped it down to get it a bit shorter. There would be other designs that would work better here because the bolt throw limits how close you can get the buttstock.
The rings were also a challenge. I had to bond a pic rail on his tikka and go with high Warne Mountain Tech rings to get it to line up. It seemed more like mounting a scope on an AR at that point.
The last challenge was the grip. I ordered 3. An Ergo, some PRS type grip, and then a BCM Mod 0. We stuck with the BCM for his hand size as it was the thinnest.
From what I've expereinced, a chassis is BY FAR the easiest way to get a kid setup on a rifle under 10yo. I still have the Tikka compact stock but this 223 will live in this chassis for a while until his brother outgrows it.
The rings were also a challenge. I had to bond a pic rail on his tikka and go with high Warne Mountain Tech rings to get it to line up. It seemed more like mounting a scope on an AR at that point.
The last challenge was the grip. I ordered 3. An Ergo, some PRS type grip, and then a BCM Mod 0. We stuck with the BCM for his hand size as it was the thinnest.
From what I've expereinced, a chassis is BY FAR the easiest way to get a kid setup on a rifle under 10yo. I still have the Tikka compact stock but this 223 will live in this chassis for a while until his brother outgrows it.
