Youth .223 rifle

2

22guy

New member
Hi,
I'm looking for a youth .223 rifle for my son for predator. He is 12 and a little on the small side. I'm leaning towards a Savage Axis. It seemed to fit him pretty well at the gun store. But I'm not totally sure on that because I'd kinda like it to be rifle he could use for his whole life (probably replacing the stock at some point, as he gets older and bigger) and I don't know about the Savage's long term durability. So maybe I should look at another option?

Thanks for any thoughts!
 
The Savage has been around for a very long time, I bought my first Savage 110 in the early 1980's.

I build my target/varmint/hunting guns on Savage 10 series or Stevens 200 action some of these are at least 14 yrs old and going strong. Finding a adult stock as he grows would be a piece of cake. There are lots of accessories available, scope mounts, stocks, triggers, chassis and easily replaced barrels, bolt faces, mag boxes if you/he decides to experiment in the future. I have only one left in an original factory chambering 22-250 others are in 22-204,6mm-204, 25-204 and 222 Rem.

The only thing left from the factory on this one is the action and bolt. 222 Rem



 
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Savage is pretty hard to beat. Having a the reputation of being ugly and junk, they are winning over a lot of people and company's too. Look at all the triggers that are similar to the accu-trigger and all the rifles that are going to a barrel nut. Most Savages shoot really well out of the box and a $300 replacement barrel and 20 minutes and you have a new rifle all over again. What's not to like!!!
 
CZ Youth Carbine. It's the same as their carbine with a shorter stock.
You can always buy the full size stock from CZ down the road.
9 twist with a sweet set trigger and iron sights with a fiber optic front blade at 5.5 lbs makes for a nice little package.
I recently bought a full size that's shooting .5 with Factory Fiochie 50gr Vmax after some break in..

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-youth-carbine-223-rem/

I put detachable rings on my carbine so I could still use the irons if I ever want to.



 
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I guess it depends on your goals. The Ruger American is a great, accurate rifle for its price point. But if you really want a keepsake, I'd shy away. The mags are held in by a "spring" of plastic. These guns aren't really meant to shoot much in their lifetime. My buddy DID shoot his, and in one season and about 600 rounds he broke two magazines because the "spring" broke.

How long are they going to keep making the mags?

I have not ever shot an Axis, but I'd look at similar limitations.

The Savage 10, on the other hand, is much higher quality and more modulate to upgrade/replace. I'd go that route.

I'd also look seriously at any appropriate CZ offerings. Again, quality for a reasonable price.
 
Yes on the CZ! It's an incredible gun, fits my 9 year old (4'10 82 lbs) very well. Light weight and amazingly accurate.
 
If he's 12 now and you are thinking keepsake rifle, I don't think the Ruger American would be my choice. I think for a little more money you can find something of better quality that is worth keeping.
 
CZ 527's are hard to beat. More expensive than an Axis of Ruger American, but They are well made and will hold their value.
 

I believe is spoiling them early. I built my 11 YO Grandson an AR-15, in 5.56 NATO. He can shoot quality .223 ammo, or 5.56 plinking ammo. I put a red dot on it, so he can get comfortable with optic type sights, since this red dot has a number of reticles, including a cross. The nice thing about this style of rifle, is the stock is adjustable, so it can grow with him, and if he shoots out the barrel, I can replace it for him in 15 minutes. It is a great tool to teach gun safety, and gun maintenance, since everything is so easy, even the dimmest bulb in the military can handle it.
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Actually in the interest of full disclosure, I won a Tikka T-3, in 308 Win, at a DU Banquet, and he got that rifle too. But shooting the Tikka is limited to a few rounds, due to recoil, even with managed recoil ammo. With the AR, he gets much more trigger time. And I get some help with chores...He gets 15 rounds of 55 gr. SP ammo for an hour of work.
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Squeeze
 
Originally Posted By: tripod3The Tikka Compact has a 12.5" pull with 20" barrel.
6 plus pounds and a 1" butt spacer extra to lengthen pull.

^^^^^^ give this some serious thought. you would not be one bit sorry if you went with one of these.
 
I have a couple friends who both have Axis rifles in 243 and they love them, said they were good to go right from the box, I will admit I was a bit skeptical of the Axis when they first came out simply out of cost, but its hard to argue with results.
 
my buddy got a youth axis II with the accu trigger and a decent 3-9-40 weaver kaspa scope. with factory loads he can put 5 in a golf ball but he has never shot rifles before. If it were me and the kid will out grow it by 16-17yo id go axis.
 
Get an axis, then get a youth stock. He now has a rifle that will shoot well and grow with him. I have an actual savage edge, 1st gen before they had to rename it as axis. Topped it with redfield glass, it will one shot goats further than my camera will pick up, is lightweight, and i dont care if it gets a scratch. Thats the combo i personally want in a hunting rifle.

I have the vids of the long shot, until you hear the whump it looks like I'm putting lead into hillside
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I restocked the edge I've been using and shipped it out. The youth stock came from a pm member which i appreciate greatly. I dipped it myself and it takes about 5 minutes to swap. Its now on long term loan to a friend back in wyoming for his kids to learn on and hunt with.

Thats him, one of the daughters, and typical antelope terrain. No cover and they saw you waaaaaaaaay before you saw them.

I wouldnt give a new shooter a fancy rifle any more than I'd give a new driver a fancy car.

Fwiw i have a collection, and i got my 'keepsake' rifle when i was around 30, well into growing the collection. Its an old savage 30-06, in no way fancy. But its the rifle my dad carried every year we hunted together. Someday I'll get my 2nd, an old old old bolt ,22lr that was his dad's.

Imo keepsakes aren't something you pick up today at walmart.
 
I second the AR route. Adjustable stock, fairly accurate and easy to customize as he gets older. My 7 and 5 year old daughters love to shoot the AR with a suppressor.
 
Originally Posted By: Squeeze
I believe is spoiling them early. I built my 11 YO Grandson an AR-15, in 5.56 NATO. He can shoot quality .223 ammo, or 5.56 plinking ammo. I put a red dot on it, so he can get comfortable with optic type sights, since this red dot has a number of reticles, including a cross. The nice thing about this style of rifle, is the stock is adjustable, so it can grow with him, and if he shoots out the barrel, I can replace it for him in 15 minutes. It is a great tool to teach gun safety, and gun maintenance, since everything is so easy, even the dimmest bulb in the military can handle it.
grin.gif


Actually in the interest of full disclosure, I won a Tikka T-3, in 308 Win, at a DU Banquet, and he got that rifle too. But shooting the Tikka is limited to a few rounds, due to recoil, even with managed recoil ammo. With the AR, he gets much more trigger time. And I get some help with chores...He gets 15 rounds of 55 gr. SP ammo for an hour of work.
grin.gif


Squeeze

Very Nice! I just got my boy his own AR as a first centerfire as well.
 
Savage 10 or 11 is the ticket. Full size stocks are easy to find when the time comes. I actually like shorter stocks for cold weather. Bulky clothes make it fit just right.
 
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