13 Y/O Daughter 1st PRS Rifle Build Feedback

ZCOklahoma

Supporter
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
  • Mar 2, 2019
    545
    518
    Oklahoma
    I have been shooting PRS/NRL22 matches for about 7 years with my son and would consider myself at least an 8/10 in the rimfire knowledge world as far as what to use and gear. I have owned almost everything as far as actions/chassis/scopes. However, last year we dove into the centerfire world. Weight wasn't an issue nor recoil as he is 19 now and really fit. We both have 20ish pound Vudoos and Impact 6GT's that we use several times a month.

    My 13 year old daughter wants to begin shooting centerfire matches with us, and now I am back to rookie mode on what to build her. i have signed her up for an all youth match in October. Here are my thoughts. Feedback is welcome.

    Option 1:
    ACTION: Impact action in something low recoil such as .223 or 6br/dasher. I am aware these are different bolts and about $500 for a bolt swap. I do reload my GT's and could stick with the GT, but wanted something with as little recoil as possible.
    CHASSIS: My son has always loved the XLR Envy Pro's and they were phenomenal in LOP adjustment as he grew with the TR2 buttstock. Could be configured light and short for her.
    BARREL: Not sure whether to go with a slimmer profile, or a shorter 1.25"
    TRIGGER: She likes my TT two stage pro curved
    SCOPE: Probably a Leupold MK4 HD with PR2 (Her brother and I run MK 5's with PR-2 MIL)

    Option 2: (More budget friendly)
    ACTION: Zermatt Origin action in something low recoil such as .223 or 6br/dasher. Swappable bolt head is not expensive to change. Never handled one.
    CHASSIS: MDT Acc Premier Gen 2 or an MPA BA Comp/Hybrid that could be configured light and short for her.
    BARREL: Not sure whether to go with a slimmer profile, or a shorter 1.25"
    TRIGGER: Still a TT two stage pro curved
    SCOPE: Probably a Leupold MK4 HD with PR2 or could go budget with something like an Athlon Midas Tac, or Bushnell MPED, or Arken EP5
     
    Last edited:
    If she is comfortable with the weight length beats diameter on barrel. I love my Impact actions. You could go long freebore on a 223 and load Berger 80. 5 full bores and get to 800 real easy. The GT shouldn’t be too bad though. Have you thought of a Manners CS. Sounds great. My only thing is Weight. My daughter at that age wanted to shoot on our club indoor team. She hated the Anschutz 64 based actions, loved a used Walther kk300. After 6 weeks it just wore her out , just too heavy at her age. At 22 she loves it again, but not at 13.
     
    If she is comfortable with the weight length beats diameter on barrel. I love my Impact actions. You could go long freebore on a 223 and load Berger 80. 5 full bores and get to 800 real easy. The GT shouldn’t be too bad though. Have you thought of a Manners CS. Sounds great. My only thing is Weight. My daughter at that age wanted to shoot on our club indoor team. She hated the Anschutz 64 based actions, loved a used Walther kk300. After 6 weeks it just wore her out , just too heavy at her age. At 22 she loves it again, but not at 13.
    I love the idea of the 223 to get her going. I just didn't want to put her at a disadvantage. I think if most of us hit everything inside of 800, that would be a decent finish at most matches.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: oldrifleman
    I like the idea of a 2 lug swappable bolt head like the Origin - start with 223 with the heavies, and have the ability to swap out to be for a few bucks.

    When my son starts shooting, I’ll probably grab him a Premier G2 - simple, economical, short lop, and can either stay with him as he grows or just swap it out for something he wants once he has a bit of experience.

    I’d definitely grab an Element Theos if I was looking at spending MK5HD money..
     
    • Like
    Reactions: ZCOklahoma
    My vote = Origin running a 6br. You can still use same bullets you are running for your GTs and maybe same powder depending on what you have. Recoil with brake should be easy. I also feel put as much weight in the barrel as possible - not the chassis. So go as long as heavy as she can handle and keep the chassis light in weight.

    I hope she enjoys it and best of luck!
     
    My daughter started shooting PRS matches with me at age 13-14 and is just now getting ready to head off to college. She's had a lot of success in PRS and it's been a great journey together.

    I personally like option #1 out of your choices, build her a competitive rifle in 6 Dasher that will let her be on an even playing field with the rest of the shooters. It's amazing how quickly a young shooter can get good when they get the opportunity to compete and practice regularly.

    I wouldn't go short on the barrel length, and I would try to keep the gun balanced. My daughter started out with a 17-18lb Dasher 26" Heavy Palma/M24 barrel and is basically shooting the same thing now, just with a thicker barrel and full weight kit (~20lb rifle).

    The main thing is getting her comfortable with rifle manipulation and transitions. My daughter's approach is to use both hands to lift the rifle vertical resting on her hip, then hold it in place straight up and down with her right hand while she moves between positions and manipulates the bag with the left hand. Then she uses both hands to place the rifle on the bag. She's super fast at it, usually she runs the PRS barricade faster than me.
     
    I love the idea of the 223 to get her going. I just didn't want to put her at a disadvantage. I think if most of us hit everything inside of 800, that would be a decent finish at most matches.
    I think 223 will be more of a hindrance than a help - I would go 6BR/Dasher for low recoil but more ability to see impacts
     
    If it were me I would go origin or the TL3. The TL3 has a lighter bolt lift and may help a little if she has any strength issues running the bolt, but either one will be fine. I would get what ever chassis lightest in the rear so u dont have to add weight to get it to balance. I would put that together before you buy a barrel and try to mess with weight and get a barrel profile that will balance at that point. I would try hard to keep most of the weight centered up and then get either 6BR or even a 6 arc would be a good choice. I wouldnt go smaller then a 6mm because it gets hard to spot misses and for people to call impacts on a big plate.
     
    Im a big Origin fan.
    Swappable bolt faces for $125 and prefits for days.
    Save a boat load over an Impact.

    Also a big 6BR fan.
    26” in a med palma or Rem Varmint contour

    Many good smiths.
    We have 2 6 BR barrels, one from Ern at Altus and one from Fritz at Black Canyon Customs.
    Both are absolute lasers.
    Not sure Fritz will do a prefit for an Origin?
    The one from Ern is, on a Bartlein blank