Looking for a good rifle for 12 year old.

Howa Mini Action ORYX Chassis – .223 20” Heavy Barrel $980
The Howa Oryx is built with a mini action chassis that features a 12 percent shorter bolt throw than normal short action rifles. Additional features include a thread capped monolithic aluminum chassis with adjustable LOP and comb detachable 10-round magazine 2-stage match trigger and 3-position safety.

Created for the most demanding shooters the Howa Oryx Chassis by MDT provides complete ergonomic adjustment without compromising on design or functionality. Featuring a full monolithic aluminum chassis with an adjustable length of pull and adjustable comb height the ergonomic fine-tuning on the Howa Oryx Chassis Rifle enables the perfect fit to the shooter. Weight 8.8 lbs

• Full monolithic aluminum chassis
• Adjustable Length f Pull – 13.25 to 15 inches
• Adjustable comb height
• Two-stage HACT trigger
• Color options include FDE Gray and OD Green
• SUB-MOA Guarantee
• Lifetime Warranty

kjmdrumz3 said:

My son is turning 12 soon and has shown an interest in shooting more. He’s had his Crickett since he was 7. I’m looking for a bolt .223 gun that he can grow with. Budget is not a concern, per se, but I don’t want to spend thousands either. I’m looking for a “bang for the buck” type setup. I already have the scope. Would like adjustable length of pull and comb/cheek riser. Something I can easily put a bipod on. Recommendations? Thanks!

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Savage is pretty good for the money and he can beat it up without you feeling too bad. 110 tactical has the lop and comb riser kits

RUGER RPR? My 7yo has a Ruger Precision Rimfire and loves it. Might be worth downloading a 6mm CM for a year or two.

He also shoots my Ax308 as well as his older bother and mom. Hint: you can get a 223 conversion for it now.

Get a Remington 700p 223 and drop it in a KRG Bravo. Get it blueprinted later on with a PT&G one piece bolt when you change barrels.

Alright, I’m probably gonna ruffle some feathers with this one, he’s 12 years old, why are people talking about down loading a 6 Creedmoor for Christ sake, he should be able to shoot anything you shoot, that’s the problem right here, quit nerfing shit up for our kids, I’m not saying give him a 338 lapua with no muzzle brake, but damn, he’s 12, he ought to be able to handle anything up to 30-06, we did. My 3 year old sits behind a 6.5 and pulls the trigger, yes I understand he’s 3 and can’t quite comprehend the scope situation but he still takes the recoil, so a 12 year old should be able to handle something more than a 223 to take him to the next level from a cricket, let’s think more 308, 6.5, etc just not 223, he can do anything from prairie dogs to elk with that.
Just my 2 cents, but then again I was raised by a hard ass that raised hard assed kids!

His dad has decided for whatever reason that he is okay with the 223. I was small at 12 and my parents let me have a Honda xr80 for Xmas. Four months later they bought me a Kawasaki kx125 because I grew and was too big for the Honda 80. Parents have to decide what they are comfortable with because children don’t see the danger in things. His dad knows what’s best for the child and it’s his coinage. Just saying

Some 12 year olds are small... my son is about that age and he has some friend that are tiny.

I got him a CZ 527 youth a couple of years ago when they were being discontinued. It’s a great rifle that can always be re-stocked/chassied

The carbine could make a versatile setup and easy to handle

My 11 YO daughter shoots a 6.5 Grendel AR as her hunting gun for the last two years and shoots any bolt gun she can get her hands on including a .338 Lapua and hits to 1,000 yards.
Don’t be afraid to get into a .243 / 6.5 / 7mm / .30 caliber short action rifle, it’s easy to restock or put in a chassis when he grows larger in a couple of years
Right now, no ammo is cheap or readily available anyway.

Bundy said:

Alright, I’m probably gonna ruffle some feathers with this one, he’s 12 years old, why are people talking about down loading a 6 Creedmoor for Christ sake, he should be able to shoot anything you shoot, that’s the problem right here, quit nerfing shit up for our kids, I’m not saying give him a 338 lapua with no muzzle brake, but damn, he’s 12, he ought to be able to handle anything up to 30-06, we did. My 3 year old sits behind a 6.5 and pulls the trigger, yes I understand he’s 3 and can’t quite comprehend the scope situation but he still takes the recoil, so a 12 year old should be able to handle something more than a 223 to take him to the next level from a cricket, let’s think more 308, 6.5, etc just not 223, he can do anything from prairie dogs to elk with that.
Just my 2 cents, but then again I was raised by a hard ass that raised hard assed kids!

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My first thought as well. At least .243. That’s a great “first rifle” caliber for a wide range of animals. In VA it’s illegal to hunt deer with .22 caliber. Not trying to debate that low just saying there’s some merit to it. Poor shot with .223 and you may waste a deer’s life.

We buy each kid their first big game rifle for their 12th birthdays, when they can legally hunt big game in WY. They all have access to all of my match rifles, Barrett, 22s, Varmint rifles, ARs, anything they want.

There is absolute magic in a child carrying their very own rifle afield while hunting big game. Our middle boy got a Ruger American youth 7mm-08, and has been using it for elk and deer this year.

My suggestion is buying them something they can use all around, because going to the range gets old for everyone, especially kids. For range time, just let them shoot your stuff, especially ARs with a collapsible stock.

The 243 is one of my favorites. It’ll shoot everything from 55gn to 100gn. Varmint hunting to bagging that 12pt buck.

I would recommend a Remington Model 7. It is a nice rifle that is very handy and can be shot into adulthood with no problems. Easily modified and restocked as needed as well.

I disagree with Bundy that any kid should be able to handle a 30-06. Yes we did when we where kids and most of the time it was detrimental to good shooting skills and our love of hunting. I believe that there would be a lot more hunters and shooters today had thier first experience been enjoyable and productive instead of amusing for thier uncles and grand dad's. Having a scope scar your brow at the age of 12 is not a right of passage it is a sign of poor judgement on the part of the supervising adult.

I really like my model 7 in 7mm-08. Lightweight handy and a good base for any direction you wish to take it. I received my first center fire at age 9 or 10 a 243 and received my model 7 around 15 or 16. They bring me fond memories spent with my father. I was lucky to have been taught by him.

Ruger American Rimfire 22LR
Bulk 223 is now 70 cents per round.

I’m surprised nobody has suggested a Tikka T3X Tac A1. They make them in .223, fully adjustable to grow with him, and at $1600ish it’s reasonably priced. They shoot lights out. Only downside Is it’s pretty heavy (11.5lbs) but if he not packing it or trying to shoot offhand I don’t think it matters. My son is 9 and that’s the gun I’m eyeing for him.

Bingo!

leclairk said:

I’m surprised nobody has suggested a Tikka T3X Tac A1. They make them in .223, fully adjustable to grow with him, and at $1600ish it’s reasonably priced. They shoot lights out. Only downside Is it’s pretty heavy (11.5lbs) but if he not packing it or trying to shoot offhand I don’t think it matters. My son is 9 and that’s the gun I’m eyeing for him.

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Bingo!

kjmdrumz3 said:

A lot of good ideas so far. I appreciate it. I wasn’t thinking .223 for the recoil. I was thinking .223 because it’s cheap to shoot.

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Heck I'm 60 years old and I would love to have a good .223 bolt gun. What does he want to do with it might come into play though, if he wants to compete in local matches he may need to move up to a 6 or 6.5, if he just wants to shoot small game and targets a .223 might be just the ticket.

The Tika as mentioned above is always a solid choice but there are several others as well. Try to get one that fits him as best you can and that can be adjusted out as he grows.

Tikka T3X compact, either a 223 or a 6.5 creed

Model 700 Varmint heavy barrel in .223 and cut the stock down. As he grows, buy a chassis.

You can customize as needed... and when he wants a bigger cal, he is already familiar with the most popular bolt gun there is.

Parenting done right...

Sirhr

What about a Manners Compact Stock? Have one with a 20" Rem 5r. It works for the kids, other then the recoil pad is hard and thin.

I might have missed it but how much will he shoot.

When I was 12 more or less I was blowing through cheap Ammo at the range.

there wasn’t anything long range around either so when we went it was fun time.

my father was in the NGand and hunted but not longrange stuff, I figured that out on my own

if your going to allow him to shoot often any a lot go with the 223 just for the $ in Ammo and barrel life.

I’d do a 6br or 243 like suggested above because it’s superior ballistics and you can take the same rig and shoot long range or hunting but the Ammo is a little more and the barrel life is 25%.

I was also a skinny kid as well and my fathers 30-06 was too much for me.

If "...budget is not a concern, per se, ..." than get a Zermatt Arms Origin in .223, hook it up with a pre-fit barrel either a PROOF Research, or Bartlein, or any of the other great quality barrels out there, TriggerTech trigger, Patriot Valley Arms Jet Blast or Area 419 Hellfire muzzle brake, and drop it in a KRG Bravo chassis, and done. Great rifle, and a set up he will be able to customize and/or upgrade to his liking over time, and as he grows up and develops his own preferences. If budget is a concern do the same thing and get one piece at a time until you've got all the parts.

.223 tikka in a bravo all day every day. Kids don't like getting beat up on recoil, they like shooting the shit out of their rifles.

Kids then grow up and want something more capable to hunt bigger game with or have longer range or whatever. And they still have a kick ass fun to shoot .223

Howa mini action in .223 or 6.5 grendel would be a kid size rifle and gun. They are gonna do 6mm ARC is what someone was saying on another thread.

Other than that, I would get a 6 creedmoor in a full size. Cut the stock or put it in a chassis.

ruger american cheap easy to hold and operate nothing super fancy and a 1/2 decient optic something that wont break a bank should last him long enough to save up and buy something more expensive he may want down the road it could last for years to come you or he could up grade it pretty cheaply lots or extra's to be had 223 or 6.5 creed to start not bad choices or even a nicer wood 700 again you could customize it down the road or save towards a nicer chassis rifle good luck what ever you decide on hope you all get a lot of good use together with it .

kjmdrumz3 said:

My son is turning 12 soon and has shown an interest in shooting more. He’s had his Crickett since he was 7. I’m looking for a bolt .223 gun that he can grow with. Budget is not a concern, per se, but I don’t want to spend thousands either. I’m looking for a “bang for the buck” type setup. I already have the scope. Would like adjustable length of pull and comb/cheek riser. Something I can easily put a bipod on. Recommendations? Thanks!

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Are you looking for something geared more for target shooting or hunting? Or both? I’m looking to get my 7 year old daughter a rifle next year and am thinking a .243 but not sure yet. She’s doing well with her .22 and needs to move up. She also wants to deer hunt so that may be the best option for her. Savage makes a youth model .243 I believe and would probably be perfect for her.

The core of a ZAI Origin/KRG Btavo will stay the same whether you outfit it for mountain hunting, brush hunting, benchrest, PRS, and whether you shoot .223, or 6.5 CM, .308, or 6.5 PRC all it takes is a change of bolt head and barrel caliber, and the Bravo can be adjusted for all of the above. However whether you buy a Tikka, Savage, Howa, Ruger, ... you'll be selling them for a loss when you move to another caliber, custom beats factory every day, all day long.

kjmdrumz3 said:

My son is turning 12 soon and has shown an interest in shooting more. He’s had his Crickett since he was 7. I’m looking for a bolt .223 gun that he can grow with. Budget is not a concern, per se, but I don’t want to spend thousands either. I’m looking for a “bang for the buck” type setup. I already have the scope. Would like adjustable length of pull and comb/cheek riser. Something I can easily put a bipod on. Recommendations? Thanks!

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I got my son a Remington M7 in 7mm-08. But 7mm-08 or 243 win. great choices. Ruger makes a youth model too.

With the advent of the 6 Creedmoor. I buy or build a 6 creed. barrel life will be longer than a.243, shoots same bullets. recoil will be a little less.
A Rem 700 is like a 350 Chevy. Lots of stuff to go in and on it! You maybe able to find a youth stock and a full size stock on some PX for cheap.

My son turned 14 yesterday and shot a nice 8 pointer, making a better present than anything I could have bought him. My buddy Gray, that owns Swift Creek Rifles built him a 6.5x47 a couple Christmas’s ago. He also shoots my 300 win mag although it has a muzzlebreak/suppressor. If you’re buying him something I strongly suggest you buy him something that he’s not going to outgrow in a year or two. Before getting him the 6.5x47 he was hunting with 308 Blackout but outgrew it after a year and I sold it recouping half my money.

I have a Legendary Arms Works, L.A. W., rifle you may be interested in. This rifle started life as one of their Bobcat models which has a 12 1/2” length of pull. It started life as a .308. I had PAC-NOR barrels install one of their super match grade barrels on it in 6 Creedmoor. They also trued the action. These guns are top of the line rifles. Look their rifles up on line and if your interested get back to me and we can negotiate a good price. I put this rifle together with my grandson in mind and he’s not showing any interest. But I would like it to go to a deserving young man that was truely interested in hunting. I’m pretty sure this is the perfect rifle for your son. Later you could add a 1” spacer to the butte plate and he would be good to go forever. I will make you a price you won’t want to pass up. Like I said look these rifles up on their web site and you will see what I’m talking about. They no longer make this model but the gun is Brand new. Shot less than 100 times and the rifle is LIGHT. The stock is of Basner? (spelling )design and is super light. The barrel twist is 1-8 so it will shoot all 6mm weights. Like I said I will make you a price that will put your son onto the perfect rig. I just want to find this gun a good home with someone who will use it.
I-02


Daniel Hall
[email protected]

Bundy said:

Alright, I’m probably gonna ruffle some feathers with this one, he’s 12 years old, why are people talking about down loading a 6 Creedmoor for Christ sake, he should be able to shoot anything you shoot, that’s the problem right here, quit nerfing shit up for our kids, I’m not saying give him a 338 lapua with no muzzle brake, but damn, he’s 12, he ought to be able to handle anything up to 30-06, we did. My 3 year old sits behind a 6.5 and pulls the trigger, yes I understand he’s 3 and can’t quite comprehend the scope situation but he still takes the recoil, so a 12 year old should be able to handle something more than a 223 to take him to the next level from a cricket, let’s think more 308, 6.5, etc just not 223, he can do anything from prairie dogs to elk with that.
Just my 2 cents, but then again I was raised by a hard ass that raised hard assed kids!

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I second this opinion. It just depends on what you're planning to use the rifle for. If you do any large game hunting at all, or if you plan to, I'd recommend thinking about at least a .243 or larger. My son harvested his first white tail at age 8 with a Ruger youth model M77 .243 that you can pick up for less than $1k. We've had lots of great memories with that little rifle, it's taken dozens of white tail, coyote, varmints, etc... He's an adult in the industry now and that little .243 is still one of his favorite rifles.

matchbook454 said:

Are you looking for something geared more for target shooting or hunting? Or both? I’m looking to get my 7 year old daughter a rifle next year and am thinking a .243 but not sure yet. She’s doing well with her .22 and needs to move up. She also wants to deer hunt so that may be the best option for her. Savage makes a youth model .243 I believe and would probably be perfect for her.

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Check out the Ruger Youth Model M77 bolt action .243, as this was a PERFECT rifle for both of my kids (son and daughter) when they were in elementary school (age 6+) for the range and for hunting everything from ground hogs to white tail. The all-weather model with laminate stock is a bit heavier, which takes a tremendous amount of the recoil out for younger kids as well.

Went through the same thing a few years ago. Ended up with a savage 223 hog hunter in a XLR element chassis. Allowed him to shoot a lot and got very good out to 500 yrds. Then bought a 7-08 barrel and a new bolt face and he has taken 5 deer and 4 elk with it. Adding a 6.5 cm barrel to the mix for Christmas. Adjustable chassis is awesome as it grows with him. Easy to swap barrels and he learned a little about rifle construction in the process.

kjmdrumz3 said:

I have that rifle in 6.5 CM. But, I'm not looking to spend $1600 on his first "real" rifle.

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Don't you just love the way most live vicariously through your bank account !
check Bass pro and Cabela's , They have 700 ADl's for $ 430.00 or some Savage combo's

The 6.5 Grendel is a great cartridge for any age. 5.56 type recoil with ballistics to shoot 1000 yards + and take deer at a 1/4 mile (not that I recommend that). I've even seen a couple of videos of clean elk harvests with them. The ammo is definitely pricier than 5.56 though.
A 243 has a fair bit of recoil depending on the platform, his size and how much he is going to shoot. And it's no cheaper to shoot than the Grendel.

kjmdrumz3 said:

My son is turning 12 soon and has shown an interest in shooting more. He’s had his Crickett since he was 7. I’m looking for a bolt .223 gun that he can grow with. Budget is not a concern, per se, but I don’t want to spend thousands either. I’m looking for a “bang for the buck” type setup. I already have the scope. Would like adjustable length of pull and comb/cheek riser. Something I can easily put a bipod on. Recommendations? Thanks!

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I suggest the Savage 110 Varmint 223. It has inserts that allow for 12.5" LOP adjustment to 13.5", several comb height inserts, is chambered for 223, and can use those bipods which mount on the front sling stud. The price is reasonable, and it's a well known design that will grow with him. Accuracy-wise, the Savage rifles have and excellent o/o box accuracy history.

I own and really like the Mossberg 223 MVP Predator. It's pretty compact but I have no problem with my 6 1/2ft height. Paired with the Bushnell AR Drop Zone 223 BDC scope and Federal Fusion MSR 223 62gr load, it's a productive deer gun within reasonable distances, 150-200yd. It accepts AR magazines.

I agree completely with your choice of the 223 as his initial centerfire round. When the market steadies down, there are lots of of choices, and it's the ideal chambering to learn handloading on, too. The Savage 110's 26" barrel will handle 75gr Match bullets and keep on hitting the target out too 600yd and beyond.

In all, the Savage for Training and Varmints, and the Mossberg for Deer and Predator hunting. No reason not to have both. My Wife and I have trained a lot of Youth Marksmen, and that's my advice.

Greg

jbuck88 said:

What about a Manners Compact Stock? Have one with a 20" Rem 5r. It works for the kids, other then the recoil pad is hard and thin.

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Same thing I plan on building for my two boys in 6.5 prc