All,

I am in a mental battle with myself on this one.

I have a Ruger M77 Tang Safety Red Pad 22" sporter in 243WIN I initially picked up for my daughters first hunting rifle. The trouble is, as it sits its in 95%+ condition, nice deep bluing, great shiny bore, a few small impressions in the walnut stock.

While this is a beautiful rifle for her to have and use for many years to come, here is my dilema with it. I need to shorten the LOP for her to use currently and then retain a full size stock as she grows. Ideally I would like to pick up another stock to cut down but they are not very common anymore for the original M77's and I do not want to cut down the original nor ruin/detract anything from it by "making it work" for her.

My gut is telling me to either sell outright or trade it towards a Rem 700 or Model 7 in 243/6mm preferably, or another youth friendly caliber. Not only for more stock availability but also better aftermarket support in basically every category. The other side of me says to keep it because of the condition it is in but I already have three Rem 700 6mms between the wife and I and I want the little one to have "her own"

What does the fire say?

I think you can find another stock to put on it for her. That's a pretty nice rifle.

Were the 243's a short action? Just wondering as I have a wood stock I took off my M77 Tanger 35 Whelen that'll never go back on the rifle. It's in good shape, but I put a fiberglass stock on it.

Matter of fact, contact Kevin Weaver, as he gets alot of flattop Bansners and will fit a stock to your rifle at whatever LOP you want, so you can keep the original stock until she grows into it. If it were me, I'd cut it minimally for a 1/4-3/8" recoil pad and as she grows, you can add a thicker pad and also a plastic spacer to gain some length.

you can get an Adjustable LOP stock from Boyd's for her to use during her growing years.
They start around $250.00
Then put the original back on if needed and sell the Boyd's

Those stocks regularly show up on eBay, but a Boyds stock would probably be less expensive.

I vote for the Boyd's and save the original stock. A little extra weight from the laminate is not a bad thing in a youth rifle (should help with both recoil and "shootability") and you may even be able to order it in some unique color that she will appreciate.

I appreciate all the suggestions guys!

I have looked at the Boyd’s and maybe that is the best route to go with it. I will have to see if they can do a shorter LOP on one though, otherwise I’m in the same spot.

For the price of a Boyds basic you could just cut it yourself, fit a pad, and still come out OK? Then she has a rifle to grow with and keep forever. No one hands down 700 youth models with the plastic stock as a family heirloom...

I would never sell that rifle and buy a 700 or 7. Never. Find a nice wood stock that you can cut down and save the original stock for when she grows into it.

Send a PM to 160user. Very good chance he has multiple options to help you out.

Just buy a Ruger American in 243 to use until she gets older. It has an adjustment for length of pull.

Ive been in contact with him already, he has one but the barrel channel appears to be a little larger than the standard sporter barrel. I think a basic Boyds is the best route and will just shorten it for now for her.

It is a very nice rifle I agree, my mind was just getting the better of me with the sell/trade route.

Thanks for helping keep me in line guys!

Get the Boyds in pink & grey laminate, pay for the optional LOP, your daughter will love it!

That larger barrel channel wouldn't deter me at all.

Sell it

Don’t sell. Used stock and cut as recommended above.

Ruger made a compact .243 in the American. I have a .223 and a 7mm08 in the compact. It has a 12.5" length of pull. I would bet with a bit of looking you can find one. Our local Fleet and Farm has one on the shelf.

kwg

Wife has the compact model in 7-08. After her first session at the range, she smiled at me and said, "This is MY rifle!"

I would get a Boyds, set it up for her along with hundreds of rounds of ammo for her to shoot! Girls are "almost always" Teachable and end up being great shots. This summer, take her on a prairie dog shoot, take plenty of ice water/cold soda pop, maybe a portable BenchRest. She will learn how to be a good "Game Shot". There he is, get into a good position, squeeze the trigger all the while "taking your time in a hurry" ha. Its worth making the memories. If prairie dogs are too far from home, get a fighting Crow /Owl , Varmint calling Set up for coyotes, anything to add to target shooting. If you don't Handload, now is the time to start! Have a Ball!
My Twin Daughters have never allowed me to take any of my Grand Kids out shooting/plinking with the .22, etc For sure not Big Game Hunting...they became "Woke" long ago. One of them had me come get the few special rifles/pistols I had set up for my Grandson and Grand daughter. Yeah, I'm saying this, "enjoy your time with the wife and daughter", you are a Blessed Man!

Great advice Jim!

These are super handy but louder than hell... I'm sure you've got her set up with ear pro... but if not, arguably as important as the rifle.

Its not a family heirloom so I would do with it what you want without over thinking it. Enjoy today.

If you are a handloader, this isn't an issue...

I load plenty of 243s for Boy Scouts over the years... depending on their ages ( I get them from 12 to 18 yrs old ).

25 to 30 grains of IMR 4198 or RL 7. I get the same velocities I am seeing out of my 6 x 45 ( my new toy ). They will drop any deer that ever walked...

Heck even with Blue Dot, 22 grains with a 100 grain bullet will run at 2500 to 2600 fps out of the muzzle, depending upon barrel length... and if you are shooting short barrels ( say 18 inches) Blue Dot will burn all that powder up in LESS than the 18 inches of the barrel... so it will cut down recoil, and an Muzzle Blast.

works in a 260 or 7/08 also...

Think of it as you are getting the recoil of a 30/30, but flatter shooting and more velocity.