Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Still trying to figure out a rifle for my daughter

Still haven't got this one figured out yet...In a perfect world, tikka would make an 8 or 9 twist 243 that I could drop into a compact stock. But they don't and a 10 twist 243 that Ideally she would use for a long time, doesn't interest me.

I could put an aftermarket matching contour barrel on a tikka and be around 1k-1100. But then I would probably just make it a 6 Creedmoor and after I scope it with a 3-400 scope I'm close to $1500 which I'm not wanting to spend on her first rifle.

Do I just suck it up and go with a tikka 243 (blued for $579) and a Zeiss 3-9x40 (want the 4" of constant eye relief)

What bullets are guys shooting in a 10 twist 243 for deer and even elk?

I went a totally different route that I know isn't for most people (25-35 for low recoil and lever gun for size/safety) but for a bolt gun, I would say even in a compact stock, it could be heavy/bulky when you add the scope. I take that extra weight for granted, but my wife told me just yesterday that a M70 FW with a scope is heavy without a solid rest, and she's actually pretty athletic and not tiny.

I might have have the perfect solution for you. First of all , what would be her LOP ? I have a nice Swedish mauser with synthetic Bell and Carlson stock,Timney trigger,Weaver bases and rings. 22" barrel, great bore. The best part , its chambered for 6.5 SWEED-MORE ! Still is cock on closing, could use low wing safety.
I would much prefer this over a 243 for elk.

When my daughter started hunting, I went with a 7/08 for deer and elk. 15 years later and she's still using the same rifle. I thought the difference in recoil was negligible, as did she at the time. She was a little thing too. Different people's recoil tolerances are different; but, it might be worth a thought. I'm not trying to talk you out of the 243 as I'm a fan. In my opinion, the 7/08 is more versatile when elk are thrown in to the mix. It may open up your options for available rifles.

Another thought on your question to "just suck it up" and buy the blued 243, stocks are not expensive and I would think it would be easy to cut the stock to fit her better, if needed, and then buy another as she grows.

Not to sound obtuse Hiaring8; but, is barrel twist availability your biggest concern with what you have in mind to put together for her?

Not a 10 twist but I bought my daughter a Remington stainless mountain rifle in 243 when she was 11 that went into a shortened cheap synthetic ADL stock with 12.5 LOP and it eventually got a Mcmillan Mt Rifle stock with 13" LOP when she was in her teens. She is 22 now and still using it and I doubt she will ever get another rifle. We shoot Barnes 85gr TSX in it and it has killed truckloads of deer and I would not worry about her shooting an elk with it. She is extremely picky about shot placement and shoots better than most. I wasn't a 243 fan before this rifle, the rifle and bullet combo has made me a believer.
It shoots a consistent inch with the barnes load, which isn't great for a 243 IMO. I have toyed with the idea of rebarreling and possibly going to one of the creedmoors, mostly because I like building rifles but decided there is no reason to mess with something that just works.

I set my wife up with a compact t3x in 10 twist 243. With a Nikon monarch (similar 4 inch “constant” eye relief). She loves it, much better than the heavy Winchester she used as a girl, with a scope she couldn’t reach.

If we rebarrel, I’ll go 7” twist like my other 243, but for now we’re shooting 80 gr Barnes ttsx for deer/elk. And 87 hornady hpbt for a cheaper practice load. I wouldn’t mind trying the 90 grain eld-x or 90 scenars in it. You can get sleeker bullets with a faster twist, but within a more realistic range for her of 300-400 yards I’m not worried about the standard 243 bullets.

Disclaimer
I do have a CTR 6.5 set up for her, and I’ve packed it on her hunts while she packs her 243. For longer range opportunities.

And I’ve seen what the 80 ttsx does to elk, it’s not good for the elk. Grin.

The Swede is never a bad idea.

I got my 9yr. old Grandson a Ruger American youth model in 243. It's an 18' barrel in 9 twist. I picked up a new Bushnell Banner 3-9X40 with a 6" eye relief. The rifle is very accurate and fairly light. He started out with very light 75gr. loads and in a very short time is shooting 100gr. Hornady Interlocks behind 47gr. of RL 26. He loves it.

If she is under your watchful eye a 105 HPBT, 95 BT, 100 Partition would all work in my opinion and have shot well in 10 twists. The 95 grain Ballistic Tip is a tough bullet with decent aero. The 105 Hornady ain’t bad either. If it’s a 243 you want I’d try it out and see how she handles it. Lots you can do with it if you end up hating it and wanna set it up for something else.

I got my daughter a 7-08 Tikka Compact and it’s wonderful with 120 Ballistic Tips at 2500, so that is another option. Lots of elk killed with 30-30’s and both cartridges I mentioned have more juice for further out than the old 30 WCF does.

My boys and wife shoot a 7mm-08 with excellent results.

My wife's first rifle was a Winchester Model 70 in 243. Long time ago. Never did shoot that well, but she took several deer with it. Lot of meat damage. With 90 to100g heavier bullets. Finally got around to looking at the barrel after getting a bore scope. Now I know why it never shot that well. Also had quite a bit of throat erosion as well. Maybe 200 rounds in 40 years... Not that big of a fan of the 243 now. Her current rifle is a Remington Model 7 youth in 7mm-08.

I've seen enough deer killed with the 80 TTSX, that I would shoot an elk with one....
No question what I will continue to load for my daughter, and recommend for others in a .243.

Twist rates and BC is meaningless at the ranges that a kid (or most adults) have any business shooting big game.....

Nothing wrong with that.

Don't get hung up on trying to buy or build a rifle that will last a lifetime. Your kid will want something new/different in a few years anyway and you can get most of your money back on resale or pass it along to another youngster......

Problems resolved I guess - committed to buy a Blued T3x 243 from mistem...Just need to find the right deal on a Zeiss Conquest now and get the stock cut down to about 12.5”.

Will Try working with some 90 grain scenars...

My son and daughter each got Rem Mod 7s in 7-08. I put a fat, soft Limbsaver pad on each as well as a foam cheek piece to get their heads in line with the scope. Even though they are light, they come straight back in recoil and don't pound them. The pads and cheek rest are key to that solid connection. First two years I handloaded 140gr Hornady bullets to 30-30 levels and now they are at nearly full power loads. They shoot them very well. Junior is a little recoil shy and goes to the .22 after sighting in duties, but the girl is tough and just asks for more ammo.

Just another thought. Have you looked at a Ruger 77 Compact in 7-08. Weight is 6lbs, LOP is 12.5", ROT is 8.5:1.

I think a 22-250 with a fast twist and a barnes bullet or 60 grain partition might be a great kid's gun too. Lots of options now.

In a standard twist 243 my favorite bullets are the 95 grain Noslers BT and Partition. Either would work on an elk or I might go with a mono if specifically loading for elk. I will shoot the 95s even in fast twist rifles.

The Tikka would be a good choice and a Creedmoor or 260 if handloaded would be good options too. Really anything from 223 to 270 or 7-08 would work well if handloaded. Cut down the original stock and add spacers as needed until she is ready for a full sized ladies stock.

Savage Lady Hunter