Re: First rifle for kiddo
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Is 18" too short for a 223?
Most AR's sport a 16" barrel and do quite well.
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Anyone make a 19" 223?
You could always have a take off barrel shortened or order one.
16.5" could be a nice handy length to have to keep the weight down for him and to use as truck gun build when he is ready to upgrade calibers.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
you could gain a half inch if you spun the rear base around
Re: First rifle for kiddo
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Originally Posted by keeki
you could gain a half inch if you spun the rear base around
I just noticed that in the pic. Good catch. I think that will work.... I will spin it tomorrow. I like I have a set of rings... somewhere....
Thanks, Tim
Re: First rifle for kiddo
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Originally Posted by bootsmcguire
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Anyone make a 19" 223?
You could always have a take off barrel shortened or order one.
I guess I wasn't clear. I am chopping this barrel off. Just trying to figure out how short. Tim
Re: First rifle for kiddo
Re: First rifle for kiddo
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Originally Posted by tiny68
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Originally Posted by bootsmcguire
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Anyone make a 19" 223?
You could always have a take off barrel shortened or order one.
I guess I wasn't clear.
I am chopping
this barrel off. Just trying to figure out how short. Tim
Sorry tiny, didn't mean to rile you up. When you asked:
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Anyone make a 19" 223?
I guess I assumed by using the word "make" in that question you were referring to a custom or prefit. I guess after reading threads for awhile and seeing the word "Make" used to describe prefits almost exclusively your brain just gets wired to think one way.
Just trying to help. :-[
Re: First rifle for kiddo
Not a problem and didn't intend in my reply that it was. I know lots of guys shorten and re-crown to improve function/accuracy. I am long barrel guy and have no experience with short barrels (less than 24"). Funny you mentioned the ARs. I personally can't stand black guns. Maybe someday they will grow on me. I seem to be the only person on the block that doesn't own one.
Anyway, I wasn't offended but just wanted to clarify my goal. Luck, Tim
Re: First rifle for kiddo
It's cool, no problem. I have just recently tried a "black rifle" and have to say that other than chasing brass, it is a nice handy little carbine. I got to say that I don't like the implication that AR platform gives off, there are a lot of 18-25 yr old guys (and older ones too) that show up at the range and just blast through a couple boxes of ammo without even trying to hit anything and then take off after making sure that everyone there knows that they have an AR. Upside is many of them go out and buy Hornady Tap ammo so they are extra "tacti-cool" and then leave the brass lay. Easy Pickens.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
Since it's for your kid, I'd say 20" would be good as going below that will start quickly increasing muzzle blast. As little as 16" would work fine though.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
I'd opt for 20", that works well with the issue infantry rifle even with the military 62 grain load.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
I have a factory mod. 10 LE with a 20" bull barrel that shoots .19's-.2's all day using 60gr Sierras.
That being said going from 22" down to 20" is not going to gain much in weight reduction with the sporter barrel and just might cause problems with muzzle blast and rise.IMO let learn with it the way it is and as he progresses to a larger caliber think about making changes.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
I made a youth model Savage in 243 Winchester for my 10 year old son. Had the barrel cut and crowned at 18.5". Chopped off the butt stock an inch or two and added a Pachmayr youth decelerator grind to fit recoil pad. Mounted a Minox ZA-3 3-9x40 scope on Burris double dovetail bases and Burris Signature rings. Painted the stock, added a sling.
It has become one of my favorite, most accurate rifles. Muzzle blast is a non-issue even with full power loads. With reduced loads it is like shooting a pop gun.
My son likes it too :)
Re: First rifle for kiddo
Think that the SSS trigger is overkill (and maybe a bad idea) for a first rifle.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
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Originally Posted by Eric in NC
Think that the SSS trigger is overkill (and maybe a bad idea) for a first rifle.
Valid concern - I'll just let you know my boys will/have break the trigger using a snap-cap using their rifles 500-1000s times before they ever use do it with a live round. They shoot 250 plus rounds before every going hurting. We hunt mainly paper. They have been shooting 22s with 1.5-2.5 lbs triggers for a long time. Trigger break and placement of the trigger finger are things we discussed each time they pick a rifle up. It all depends on your practice and training.
Case in point, one of my son's friend and his dad brought over their new 22 Marlin. When it was my son's turn, he picked it up, aimed, and squeezed... After a few seconds he turned the safety on, handed it me, and say it wouldn't shot. I was puzzled as first and then realized what happened. It had a +8 lb trigger. My son had never squeezed a trigger so heavy including our shotguns.
I respect your advice and would agree for most kids, Tim
Re: First rifle for kiddo
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Originally Posted by keeki
you could gain a half inch if you spun the rear base around
FYI - that did the trick... :P :P
Re: First rifle for kiddo
My bad - thought it was his first rifle as the subject said.
Re: First rifle for kiddo
Still a valid concern and it should be the thing we are concerned about when we hand a rifle to a kid. It will be his first centerfire to call his own. We should always encourage each other to thing about things like that to avoid an avoidable accident in the future. Luck, Tim
