Short rifle stock

Broomer · Mar 7, 2019

My 9 year old son drew a non-res Arizona elk tag, it's a late rifle.

He is a really small little guy, so small that he had to use a BB gun on range day for his shooting test for hunter Ed. We are hoping he grows!

I applied to start building points and because he is 9 right now and won't turn 10 until 4 days before the hunt the system wouldn't take a point only application. I had to end up finding a hunt to apply for that fit the age requirement.

22N is the only Bull tag available, so I was hoping he wouldn't draw but he did.

So this is my question for you seasoned gun builders. I have several new Remington actions both short and long and I was thinking of building a small size rifle to fit him. Don?t know what caliber yet but the stock is my big concern because his arm and the reach to the trigger guard needs to be short.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

BIGJOHNT · Mar 7, 2019

I have a short Ruger Stainless rifle in 270 my girls shoot. You can try it out and see how he likes it. Not sure what part of the country you are from. But I would guess somewhere close to Arizona. I am 3 miles from northern Arizona. But a 7 mm 08 sounds like a good rifle caliber for your young man. If your anywhere in my neck of the woods let's go shooting.

desperatehills · Mar 8, 2019

Nice offer right there. Good on you John

RELH · Mar 8, 2019

7mm-08 would be a great caliber for him that will do fine on elk and not kick the crap out of him. There is several brands in that caliber with shorter "youth" stocks that can be cut down even shorter if needed. I would look at the Howa brand first as they are very accurate and reasonable in price.

RELH

littlebighorn · Mar 8, 2019

Boomer,
It sounds like you know this, but I'd say the most important part of what you face is insuring your son enjoys the experience. I had barely gotten into BB guns at his age, so he's way ahead of my hunting curve. If he has a bad experience it could ruin his future hunting desire. On the other hand, if it's done right, you could be inaugurating a series of wonderful adventures for the both of you.
So as mentioned above, NO "BOOMER" weapon to begin with! Get with a good gun guy to cut down the stock to fit and then put a break on it if needed, so it doesn't kick his little keister! You may consider putting a bipod on it so he can hold it steady as well.
I'd get something together as quick as possible so he has time to get familiar and proficient in using whatever you come up with. Take him into the desert and have him practice with it busting rocks at different ranges and shooting positions. I did that with my son for his first big game hunt and it paid off in spades.
Best of luck man. I'm putting my money on an outstanding fall odyssey.

hawkbill · Mar 8, 2019

I agree on the Howa 7mm-08, super accurate come with adult stock and also comes with a small and short youth stock. Have a great hunt

Broomer · Mar 8, 2019

Thanks guys, yeah it's confirmed he drew a bull tag!

I will look into the Howa.

Littlebighorn, I agree with you there. Nothing like traveling from salt lake to almost Phoenix for 2 weeks and have him start throwing a tantrum?.

I probably need to ease him into shooting accuractly. Maybe I'll start with a short stock 22 and when he starts tac driving I'll introduce something a little bigger.

justr_86 · Mar 8, 2019

Try starting with a 223 or 22-250, big boom and no recoil to start him off. My 9 now 10 year old loves shooting my 270wsm with a brake. Has shot my 300 mag with a brake. But he's a bigger kid than most. Save up milk jugs and fill them with water and let him bang away. Over time you'll see what caliber and gun he's comfortable shooting. Let him try but don't be afraid to try big and back down to where he's comfortable. My wife is more picky on caliber than he is...

ElmerFudd · Mar 9, 2019

A chassis that takes adjustable AR stocks might be ideal for a growing kid. Just adjust it every year. Probably I would just put a barrel for something reasonable for game up to elk with moderate recoil (7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmore or similar) on one of the short actions you have and go that way.

DW · Mar 9, 2019

Good caliber and brand recommendations above. I'd also look at the savage youth models. Bought my niece one awhile back in .243 for Nebraska whitetails. Its a little light for elk but she'll be carrying it with her this fall elk hunting with me. I'll be next to her and the shots will most likely be 50yds, should all go according to plan. I'd go with the 7-08 if I were in your shoes.

#livelikezac

ElmerFudd · Mar 9, 2019

You might want to check out Boyd's gun stocks. They sell adjustable stocks for most rifles that you can just adjust as he grows. You could have them cut it even shorter than standard to start.

erik1972 · Mar 12, 2019

I have for sale a BNIB Remington Model 7FS model in 7mm-08. These are a special run they did back in 88-89. They have a matte (parkerized) barrel. The barrel is only 18' long. They came from the factory with a Brown Precision fiberglass stock. My stock is a leaf Camo one, they also had a grey version as well. These are awesome rifles, I have a few and use one currently and I have raised my kids using these. You can find a smaller stock then as he grows up you can put the original stock back on. I have pics I can send you via text. These are very rare and collectible as well.

Thanks, Erik Beckett
740-739-8019

Gator · Mar 12, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-19 AT 10:32PM (MST)[p]Model 7 223 that my short wife shoots
It really a short rifle.
They make that model 7 in a 243 also.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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iluvrax · Mar 22, 2019

Tikka t3x lite compact. Just bought one for my son in 6.5 Creedmoor. He?s 12, and he's not the biggest kid either...
Fits him good. Not that it's needed, but I'm having the barrel threaded for a brake before we go shoot.
Lots of options in caliber, shorter lop with shims that he can grow into, guaranteed moa out of the box, and as stated in description, lite!!!
Check it out?
https://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-lite-compact

Longun · Mar 26, 2019

C,mon Dad!!! Be a hero and cut your Sako rifle stock down to size for him with your Saws-all!!!

Joe2Kool · Mar 26, 2019

Sounds like yo have some good advice on calibers and brands. I second the comments about starting soon and small with things like 22's and 223's. Get him successful with fun stuff like watching milk jugs explode and then move up.

Anxiously awaiting your success stories and pics this fall!

DeerMadness · Mar 27, 2019

Always have them shoot a .22 first after BB Gun so they don't flinch to recoil. My Dad would let me shoot cans until I missed the it was his turn. I didn't like to quit shooting and became deadly accurate that way before target shooting.

deadibob · Mar 27, 2019

Measure his length of pull and then go from there. You can look up length of pull measurements for any particular rifle on their web site. If he is small for a 9 year old, a youth stocked centerfire rifle may still be a little too long for him and you may end up needing to shorten it an inch or two. Good luck and let us know what route you go.

BigPig · Apr 5, 2019

This could be a good option! The 7mm-08 would be a perfect choice.

I have a 9 year old little boy too. He has an old Ruger tang safety 243 that I had cut down. 1.5" off the stock and 2" off the bbl. Its still too big for him to really carry and shoot off hand, but I got him one of those Caldwell field pod things on a tripod and he's deadly with it. Takes a bit longer to get set up and you'll have to adjust your tactics a bit, but my boy has already killed 4 deer and only one took 2 shots.

If he draws an elk tag, I have a .260 Rem and a 6.5 Swede with his name on it.

If you have actions ready to be built on, I'd stick with something like the 6.5 Swede, a 6.5 Creedmore (especially if you wear skinny jeans and drink Kombucha, LOL), .260 Rem or 7MM 08. Stick with a 20" bbl as much shorter can make for really loud muzzle blast. Keep the rifle around 7+ lbs. Too light and it'll kick too hard. Make sure he doesn't over practice with it. A few shots, always with good ear plugs and/or muffs on. Then get him back on a .22 or something. I have a .17HMR with very similar stock dimensions, weight, scope, etc and my boy can't get enough of shooting it.

Have fun. Noting better than hunting with your boy.

Outdoordan · Apr 5, 2019

I bought a youth .243 years ago, so when my daughter turned 10 last August, she had a rifle for her hunts. Fortunately for her, she also drew a cow tag, and buck tag. She isn't very big, right now she weighs 64 lb. I took her shooting 3 times before her hunts, and she amazed me with her shooting. All hunting shots were from a bipod. Her first 2 shots resulted in a buck, then a cat (the cat was hunting the same elk we were). She did miss several shots at cows later in the hunt. We joke that the target was too big for her. Your son will be fine. Just make sure you take him out with his gun several times before the hunt.