Youth rifle - compact really needed?

[Eldoradotim]

So I'm making myself crazy picking a first rifle for my 10 yr old. I've read the "youth rifle manifesto" thread, and a lot of the small caliber threads and am drinking the coolaid.

And yes I know the answer is "Tikka". I dont have one, never had, I've handled them in store and yes they're incredibly smooth cycling.

So I was looking at compact Tikka, American Gen 2, and Bergara Stoke. All .223 of course.

I didn't pull the trigger right away on the Tikka because it's blued and not threaded, so I started looking at the other options. So now I like the American Gen 2 Ranch or the Bergara Stoke.

My real question is how do I know my kid actually needs a really short LOP or adjustable comb? He's about to be 11, pretty big at almost 5' and over 100lbs.

I just had him get behind my X-bolt Speed and setup on a bench rest he seems to be able to get behind it fine and gets a clear sight picture, manipulating the bolt/trigger is also no issue. So, does he even need a smaller youth/compact sized rifle?

 

[deadwolf]

My son is 9, and after recently discovering the JTAC chassis through this forum, Ive been considering throwing a barreled action in one of these chassis for him.

Screech Owl 700 Chassis - JTAC Industries

The Screech Owl 700 Chassis is an affordable, modular and light weight Remington 700 Chassis for Remington 700 Short Action pattern actions.

jtacindustries.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bojangles808]

how much is threaded short and stainless/cerakote worth to you. and how much is adjustability. the Ruger stock is pretty adjustable and the poor recoil management from the Monte Carlo design is less of a concern in 223. if all that's a huge priority on a budget I think the Ruger gen 2 in 223 could work looking online at prices its a lot of gun for money. have him shoot that for couple years then get something you both can have fun with and do a full size Tikka build. that's what I would do. unless budget is not an issue then just splurge on the Tikka (you could wait for new Tikkas that all come threaded and get a stainless) then put it in a krg echo or bravo or rokstock. all with spacers would offer lots of adjustability .

 

[Maverick1]

So I'm making myself crazy picking a first rifle for my 10 yr old. I've read the "youth rifle manifesto" thread, and a lot of the small caliber threads and am drinking the coolaid.

And yes I know the answer is "Tikka". I dont have one, never had, I've handled them in store and yes they're incredibly smooth cycling.

So I was looking at compact Tikka, American Gen 2, and Bergara Stoke. All .223 of course.

I didn't pull the trigger right away on the Tikka because it's blued and not threaded, so I started looking at the other options. So now I like the American Gen 2 Ranch or the Bergara Stoke.

My real question is how do I know my kid actually needs a really short LOP or adjustable comb? He's about to be 11, pretty big at almost 5' and over 100lbs.

I just had him get behind my X-bolt Speed and setup on a bench rest he seems to be able to get behind it fine and gets a clear sight picture, manipulating the bolt/trigger is also no issue. So, does he even need a smaller youth/compact sized rifle?

At 5’, 100 lbs, it’s more than likely a shorter LOP would fit him better.

I’d go Tikka. One of two ways to approach it:
1. Buy the compact rifle, use the compact stock now and add the spacers later when/if needed. Down the road you could easily sell the compact stock and replace with a full size. They are inexpensive.
2. Buy a regular sized rifle now. Buy a compact stock now and put it on the regular sized rifle now. Down the road put the full sized stock back on and sell the compact stock.

You are over thinking it. Depending on the size of your son he will only need the shorter LOP for 2-3 years. A blip in his overall life.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Just buy the tikka and have it threaded. You’ll have a much better rifle in the end.

I do think bergara has the better stock, but the twist is a 1:9. I’m not sure the 73s-77s will stabilize. The magazine options on the American gen2 is a no go.

 

[Eldoradotim]

I also don't love the magazine on the Ruger.

What twist do I need on a 16" barrel? It will be suppressed.

 

[KenLee]

So I'm making myself crazy picking a first rifle for my 10 yr old. I've read the "youth rifle manifesto" thread, and a lot of the small caliber threads and am drinking the coolaid.

And yes I know the answer is "Tikka". I dont have one, never had, I've handled them in store and yes they're incredibly smooth cycling.

So I was looking at compact Tikka, American Gen 2, and Bergara Stoke. All .223 of course.

I didn't pull the trigger right away on the Tikka because it's blued and not threaded, so I started looking at the other options. So now I like the American Gen 2 Ranch or the Bergara Stoke.

My real question is how do I know my kid actually needs a really short LOP or adjustable comb? He's about to be 11, pretty big at almost 5' and over 100lbs.

I just had him get behind my X-bolt Speed and setup on a bench rest he seems to be able to get behind it fine and gets a clear sight picture, manipulating the bolt/trigger is also no issue. So, does he even need a smaller youth/compact sized rifle?

He does need a shorter lop to be comfortable and consistent. Bench vs in the field is a different ball game. Witnessed the difference with dozens of kids and ladies.

 

[eric1115]

I just had him get behind my X-bolt Speed and setup on a bench rest he seems to be able to get behind it fine and gets a clear sight picture, manipulating the bolt/trigger is also no issue. So, does he even need a smaller youth/compact sized rifle?

This part stood out to me. Lots of things work ok on a bench rest but are not so good in the field.

Get the T3x compact, it will help establish a solid foundation for him. It comes with a LOP spacer, and you can sell it for more than the cost of a full size factory stock so you have two different zero cost avenues to increase LOP as he grows.

My oldest was 5'6"+ before he was more comfortable with the spacer installed.

 

[Eldoradotim]

Good to hear. I had the same thoughts on a bench rest vs real world. Thats why I asked.
Thanks.

 

[juju]

ARs have adjustable stocks. If you already have an AR you're set.

If you are set on a bolt, a compact stock and a slip on recoil pad will work for the whole family. Not as well as the AR adjustable, but well enough.

 

[rookieforever33]

One of the harder things for a kid to do is hold the barrel end up. Try one of the break action single shots. They are about 6 inches shorter with the same length barrel. Knowing you only get 1 shot ups the concentration level.

 

[Timberline001]

Like others have said. The compact comes with a lop spacer so you’ll have both. Threading isn’t bad and is definitely worth the price of having a quality rifle that you can build into whatever he wants in the future. The tikkas are ridiculously cheap and easy to go full custom off of.

 

[The Harbor Master]

I went with the Tikka Compact in .223, and will just send it off to be threaded. My son is 9, 4'2", about 60lbs and it fits him pretty well. It came with the spacer to make LOP longer for him to grow into and to make it a practice rig for me. He shouldered it and said "wow, this is way better!" Sounds like at your sons size he probably won't need to have the LOP very short for very long.

At the same time my hunting buddy bought an American Gen II in 6arc for his kids, which seems to fit my son about the same in its shortest config. It is a bit heavier than the Tikka. I have more experience/faith in the T3x accuracy etc so went that route. The Ruger fits fine, my understanding was you need to order a spacer kit separately though.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I bought the Tikka compact. Sent it to Kampfeld to be threaded and cerakoted. There are cheaper options, but that 223 will work forever. I have 4 daughters to teach how to shoot and hunt using it. Once they all finally outgrow it, I’ll put it in an adult stock.

 

[FSB12B]

Same boat as you. I agree the Tikka’s are much better rifles, they are whole heartedly my favorites. My boy shot his first buck last year with a 308 (which he practiced with all summer).

It is a MUCH different ball game when they’re not on the bench and in actual hunting situations. My only advice to you, regardless of rifle, is to have him practice in different scenarios, in different terrains, and not just off a bench or prone.

For the same reasons you stated above, I will be grabbing him a Gen 2 Ruger. I think they’re fantastic for the price, and everyone I’ve shot/owned is extremely accurate. I get Tikkas are the end all be all, for me as well, but I want a 22 ARC for him and my daughter, and that’s the cheapest route to go. It will be a fun and inexpensive project for him to tinker with.

 

[FSB12B]

Forgot to mention, although he practiced with the 308 all summer, it was a non compact. If I did it all over again, a compact would have been ideal. They’re much more comfortable for kids/women to shoot. They will be a better site picture and it’ll be a little easier to hold.

My boy is extremely strong for his size, 4’8 ish and 80 lbs at 11 (he’s been wrestling year round since he was 4 1/2) and he struggled at times to hold up the fore-end.

Hope my experience helps.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

A lightweight AR is the easy button. Adding a tripod to the mix is icing on the cake. I have two young boys and they use a an AR I built that is 6lbs flat with suppressor (not the lightest can either) and optic. A real AR, not the straight pull ULUL versions that are popular on Rokslide.

A 2 stage trigger also really helps learning trigger control.

His furthest Pdog was 187 yards.