Hi. My name is Kelly. I am an archery hunter but recently started getting into rifle hunting. I live in Hawaii and hunt mainly sheep, pig, and axis deer. My daughter who is 10 is currently hunting with a 6.5 creedmoor that is a cheaper gun. My brother in law is in Arizona and does some youth elk hunts with his kids and my daughter and I wanna get out there. I’ve been watching a lot of your YouTube videos and they are awesome. I’m want to build another gun that both my daughter and I will use. I am so lost on what round I should start with. 7mm prc looks awesome and so does 6.5prc. But I’m so new I don’t really know. I guess my question to you is. What round should I got with? Something that I can be confident with elk and also use here in Hawaii. I don’t have a huge budget but the local shop here gives me a great deal for being a firefighter. I was looking at the tikka t3x roughtech or bergara. Something in that price range. I understand I also need to invest in a scope that can keep up with the gun. Could you help me out with some advice on what caliber and also what gun may be best for it? Scope options would be awesome too. Thank you and I hope I’m not troubling you to much
It will be hard to find a gun that fits a 10 y/0 girl and a grown man. Assuming you can, and your shooting less than 350 yards, a 7mm-08 would be a good choice. Anything PRC will have too much recoil for a 10y/o. That 6.5 Creedmore is a good option for her if it’s a shooter.
Agree with Ben, any of those PRC’s are probably bit too much at her age. Noise will also be a major factor, if you can swing it, a suppressor will do a to ton to help her not be afraid or develop a flinch.
Because you want something you both can use, I’d recommend a chassis system so you can adjust it to fit each body type. Backfire is coming out with their’s fairly soon and could be a great option for you.
The Rokstok is what I’d recommended if you want something traditional, it has a very short trigger reach and feels really comfortable for my 9 year old son to shoot.
Cartridge wise I think that 7mm-08 is a good suggestion. Tikka is also about to release a 6 Creedmoor that I think would be a fantastic option. Lots of ammo choices for both.
Does Hawaii have any restrictions on using lead bullets?
No lead restrictions.
If she shoots the 6.5CM well, then I’d just stay with that until she grows some more, and becomes more experienced with hunting. 6.5CM vs Elk is probably one of the most searched things on Google and YouTube. With the right bullet shot well, and at correct distances, they work.
Also discuss things with your BIL. How big of animals are they typically getting? What type of ranges are they typically shooting at? What has he seen that has been successful, as well as not?
I think that you should probably stick with the 6.5 Creedmoor because of her comfort level with that caliber. I would recommend using the Barnes 127gr LRX bullet to ensure deeper penetration and even more recoil reduction. You can also find factory ammunition loaded for practice and easy of use.
If you wanted to step up to the 6.5 PRC, I would use the same projectile. It has about 4-6 more pounds of recoil than the Creedmoor, but my Bergara Crest Carbon feels very soft shooting. Factory ammunition is also available for the PRC.
I like the idea of 6.5 prc, 270 win, and 7mm-08 for this rifle. Very small increase in recoil but added horsepower for elk.
But honestly a 7mm-08 is BARELY increasing power over a 6.5 creedmoor so it’s hardly worth an additional rifle. Maybe only 10 grains heavier bullet and still going slow, but a slightly larger caliber which is nice.
I have a 9 year old girl so i know how important recoil will be. Unfortunately, Hawaii bans suppressors that would be the obvious move here.
If it were me, I’d have her keep the Creedmoor. Much more important that she shoots it well. Shots should be 300 and in.
My second choice would be a 6.5 PRC. That would be a better choice for when you’re the hunter.
I like the idea of picking one bullet with different chamberings. Really keeps things simple, you really learn what that one bullet likes and how it performs in various conditions and situations.
The one thing I think we could debate till the cows come home is what is the appropriate bullet in this situation. The lrx certainly will probably be the best in the penetration Department. And that certainly is important. But since 6.5 mm is already considered smallish, would you not want a bullet that would expand more?
I’m in the camp of prepare for the worst and then things will have to be better. I have rarely had a game animal standing in a “perfect” broadside position when I have pulled the trigger. I have shot animals with ammunition like traditional cup and core, bonded, A-Frame, and monolithic type of projectiles and they have worked well in the way they were designed for, however when presented with a less than “perfect” shot I have had issues.
I am also in the camp of anchoring the animal as quickly as possible. I’m getting older faster than I care to admit…no mountain goats or mountain sheep for me…so I don’t want to have to be concerned about tracking animals if I can help it.
All of that to say, I think shoot the largest caliber that you can consistently hit the target that will penetrate through bone (or quartering shots) to drop the animal right in their tracks. In the OP, I think the 6.5 Creedmoor fills this need and this projectile gives the 2 hunters the most grace for less than perfect shots.
Thanks! Looking more towards 6.5prc just cause I was gonna get another rifle also. Put a real good muzzle break on it. Brand wise? Tikka or Bergara?
I think a 6.5prc tikka will be ideal. Tikkas tend to be lighter, smoother, and more accurate than a similarly priced bergara. Can upgrade stock etc down the road if you desire. If just look for one with a threaded muzzle and add a brake right away you’ll be set. It’s crazy what a difference they make.
As for scopes, all that matters is that it won’t lose zero which rules out almost all scopes on the market. The SWFA scopes are probably your best bet on a budget. I like the maven rs1.2 pretty well and the Trijicon Huron 3-12x40. I’d avoid all vortex, Leupold, and swaro for loss of zero issues. Link is a resource for zero retention testing on a variety of scopes.
What 6.5 CM does she have now. If it is shooting 2MOA of less, put it in a chassis, get a can on it (or a good muzzle brake), and shoot quality ammunition. I have found that Ruger, Tikka, Bergara, and many others shoot poorly because the money was saved on the stock and not in the action.
Aloha! Advice from someone in Hawaii. Ammo is very challenging to get and I highly recommend going with a caliber you know you can reliably get the same ammo for. On the islands that is 6.5 creed, 243, 270 and 308. I hunt Kauai, Molokai, Lanai and Maui and it is rare that you are going to get a good shot past 300 yards given the terrain. Axis deer and pig are hearty animals, stopping power is important. 270 and 308 make a lot of sense. I recommend the Bergara Stoke. It is made for smaller frame people. I have one for my 7 year old. It has the Bergara muzzle break and backstop recoil pad and is very manageable. I’m also able to shoot it with ease and I’m 6’3”.
If you think you can source ammo, 22 and 25 creedmoor would be interesting as well.
Awesome. Thank you!
Tikka. Bergara is good but nobody compilations about buying them tikka.
I built a bergara wilderness terrain in 6.5 prc. I put the barrel in a MDT chassis (mainly for the grip angle. The bergara stock is great). The barrel is a 5.5 contour, very thick and heavy. I also have a suppressor on it so the recoil is very mild. The barrel comes with a muzzle break which does pretty well keeping the recoil down. It’s a heavy rifle. Around 11 lbs with scope and bipod. But manageable recoil for the smaller framed people. Not too sure about a 10 year old but it wouldn’t take long to get used to.
Hi Kelly,
Look up scope reviews on YouTube Trijicon in the title. Trijicon uses the same internal parts in all levels of their scope lines high to lower end, the difference is the glass. I don’t think either choice on riels is a bad option. I would pick stainless steel.