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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,056 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,056 Likes: 6 |
H4895
The best youth load powder I put together a 700 youth 7-08 for my nephew years ago and loaded him a bunch of 120 NBTs over the starting load of h4895. He came back about 3 years later when he was about 6' tall and 180 pounds and wanted me to load him more of those light loads because factory 139g stuff kicked too hard. I loaded him some full power 150g NBTs over rl15 instead and then asked him how they shot later. He said they were great and he liked going back to the lessor kick. Then I broke it to him and he hasn't had me load for him anymore. He did kill a few little bucks and a doe or two with those first reduced 120g nbt over h4895 loads. Bb
Last edited by Burleyboy; 10/27/20.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 310
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 310 |
I built my granddaughter a 6.8 spc. On a savage youth. She has killed everything she has aimed at.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,668 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2007
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This spring I’ll be putting together a rifle for my 8yr old who is a bit on the smaller to average size vs my older son who was/is very tall/big for his age.
I’m thinking of a rifle that can be downloaded at first then increased as his skills and tolerance improve.
To keep things simple I’m thinking T3x compact- when he outgrows the smaller stock it will be easy to upgrade. Now to the question...
7mm08 6.5 manbun 243 Winchester
Right now I’m thinking 7mm08. His older brother started with a Ruger American compact in 243 and now runs a T3 in 243. The Ruger got sold to upgrade to the full-size stainless T3
We hunt whitetail and hogs. I’m just starting to handload.
What would you choose? Something I looked over? Either the 6.5 or 7-08. Started my son with a .260 when he was 7 or 8 in a stainless Model 7 with 20” barrel. Used plain old 100gr Hornadys with a barely over minimum charge of 3031. Seems book value was between 2600 and 2700 fps or so. Similar to what might be had with deer type bullets from a 16” AR. Hardly made the rifle bounce but killed deer fine. Just no recoil. The 6.5 Charlie Manson should be almost as good. Load the 120 BT over 40gr Reloader 15 for my wife and her 7mm-08 Browning Micro 20”. Almost the same story. Very little recoil and dead deer. Either of these cartridges can be loaded a lot stronger should the need arise, and we have done that. Starting a lightly built young man of 8 with his first deer & pig rifle I’d lean toward the 6.5 with 100 grain Ballistic Tips, Partitions or Hornadys. He’ll never outgrow it.
“When Tyranny becomes Law, Rebellion becomes Duty”
Colossians 3:17 (New King James Version) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 821
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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As much as I hate to say it, but I think the 6.5 Manbun would be a good choice. Low recoil, more power than the .243, cheaper factory ammo than the 7-08. Seems to be the happy medium.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,955 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2002
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A 6.5CM makes far more sense these days due to similar recoil with much larger selection of factory ammo ^^ This ^^ ...... I'd own one but for a 257R and 6CM already in the safe waiting for the g-kids to show interest.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,251 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,251 Likes: 1 |
As much as I dig the 7mm-08 (and own several), the 6.5manbun is just marginally superior if trying to also incorporate a small kid for early-years shooting. No flies on a 100gr NPT at reduced speed for a 8-9yr old as a game load. Got to be about as deadly as a .243 factory load and outclasses the .223 on killing. Powder-puff loads for plinking are right there with the .223 for recoil. I've put these pics us before, but my baby girl was about 7 or so here. 260Rem 700 in a youth handle with a stock pack riser. 85gr Sierras with Blue Dot. She'd shoot and shuck as many as I'd stick in the magazine. The 6.5CM is the better mousetrap these days, but there are certainly many ways to skin a cat, as folks have already illustrated in this thread. Good info to be had.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,735
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,735 |
As much as I dig the 7mm-08 (and own several), the 6.5manbun is just marginally superior if trying to also incorporate a small kid for early-years shooting. No flies on a 100gr NPT at reduced speed for a 8-9yr old as a game load. Got to be about as deadly as a .243 factory load and outclasses the .223 on killing. Powder-puff loads for plinking are right there with the .223 for recoil. I've put these pics us before, but my baby girl was about 7 or so here. 260Rem 700 in a youth handle with a stock pack riser. 85gr Sierras with Blue Dot. She'd shoot and shuck as many as I'd stick in the magazine. The 6.5CM is the better mousetrap these days, but there are certainly many ways to skin a cat, as folks have already illustrated in this thread. Good info to be had. What scope is she using there?
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,251 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,251 Likes: 1 |
That's a Leupold 2.5x. Due to the big FOV and eye-relief, it's what I started both my kids on. Super easy to get behind for a shooter not used to head positioning with a scope. Made a good AR scope after they moved on up to 3-9x40 models for their deer rifles.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,762
Campfire Outfitter
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Joined: Feb 2007
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This spring I’ll be putting together a rifle for my 8yr old who is a bit on the smaller to average size vs my older son who was/is very tall/big for his age.
I’m thinking of a rifle that can be downloaded at first then increased as his skills and tolerance improve.
To keep things simple I’m thinking T3x compact- when he outgrows the smaller stock it will be easy to upgrade. Now to the question...
7mm08 6.5 manbun 243 Winchester
Right now I’m thinking 7mm08. His older brother started with a Ruger American compact in 243 and now runs a T3 in 243. The Ruger got sold to upgrade to the full-size stainless T3
We hunt whitetail and hogs. I’m just starting to handload.
What would you choose? Something I looked over? For an 8 year old average size kid go with the Manbun 👍......Good luck....Hb
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,419 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
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Howa youth in a 6.5 Grendel. I'm working on a few fir my 8 year old. I'll probably run the 129 ablr at about 2400 fps.
I've ended up with 2 of them now. I bought one at Whittaker's and then found a camo dipped one with a threaded barrel on clearance at sportsmans warehouse. I'm trying to decide whether to sell the non threaded but it is a bit lighter than the threaded. I also have 1 in 7.62x39. I need to get some of that bdl style bottom metal thats made in Oregon.
Bb This. The Howa Mini 6.5 Grendel is about as close to the perfect youth deer rifle/cartridge combo that I have found. Recoil is significantly less than the 7mm-08 or 30-30 unless loaded way down. The Federal Fusion 120 grain ammo works very well on deer.
Always remember that you are unique, just like everyone else.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Joined: Jan 2010
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That's a Leupold 2.5x. Due to the big FOV and eye-relief, it's what I started both my kids on. Super easy to get behind for a shooter not used to head positioning with a scope. Made a good AR scope after they moved on up to 3-9x40 models for their deer rifles. I started my boy on a straight 6x for the same reason. P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547 Join date 3/09/2001
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,892 Likes: 12 |
Check out how far back from the ocular JPro's daughter is in her comfortable shooting position. I don't think even a Leupold 6x would have enough eye relief for that. That 2.5x is pretty good for really small shooters.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Check out how far back from the ocular JPro's daughter is in her comfortable shooting position. I don't think even a Leupold 6x would have enough eye relief for that. That 2.5x is pretty good for really small shooters. I like the idea too that they aren't cultivated on excessive magnification.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,168
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,168 |
I posted this on another thread a couple weeks ago. You may check it out for more suggestions: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...youth-rifle-for-my-daughter#Post15292293 Been there, done that. My daughter is very small for her age. She just turned 12 and is 4'6". She started deer hunting at 8yo (weighed 48 lbs at the time and was under 4' tall) with a Model 7 .243 that I traded for and I bought a wood stock here on the fire that someone had cut down to a 10.75" LOP. It is almost too small for me to shoot, but I can manage. Finding any stock under 12.5" LOP is basically impossible unless you cut or have an adjustable. She has killed 11 deer in the last 4 seasons and could have easily killed twice that many.
Lots of other good suggestions here. For cartridges, basically anything from .223 to .308 will be fine if you handload and use the right bullets. My choice for my daughter is the 80 gr TTSX, loaded to 3150 fps. I have been blown away at it's effectiveness and long ago quit carrying my gun, "just in case".
Good luck and enjoy your time together as it will pass quickly....... If I was starting from scratch and wanted a long term gun for a little boy, I would probably go with a 6.5 CM or 7-08. But I never tend to worry about long term as I buy mostly used guns and can resell them at any point for little or no loss......
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,496 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2002
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Does the 6.5 Creedmoor shoot the lighter bullets well? It is throated for the long match bullets.
Dog I rescued in January
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,311
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Why limit it to those cartridges?
You can build him an AR with an adjustable stock, mount optics on a rail, with a 5.56 upper in 1:7 and another in 6.5Grendel or 6.8 SPC and the gun will be infinately adjustable, and adaptable. The 5.56 upper can be used for practice, rabbits, 'yotes, ground squirrels, etc. and up to deer eventually if desired. The 6.5 or 6.8 would provide a bit more thump and a bigger hole better blood trail and be a bit more forgiving, with low recoil.
Should it seem to be inadequate there are some crazy good options in wildcats as well. ( .358 Yeti is amazing in an 18" AR-15)
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.” Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,383 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,383 Likes: 1 |
I would pick the 6.5 Creedmoor from the choices you give.
30 years ago I used the .243 loaded to about 2750 with a 100 grain bullet for the job you describe. Some of my kids are still using them in their 40's.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Check out how far back from the ocular JPro's daughter is in her comfortable shooting position. I don't think even a Leupold 6x would have enough eye relief for that. That 2.5x is pretty good for really small shooters. Both my boys started with a 357 Mag Handi-Rifle with a red dot. Out to 100yds, the red dot worked great. Intuitive and no worries about eye relief.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,441
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,441 |
6.5 Creedmoor, it's perfect for the proposed task
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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