Setting Up A Browning .243 For My Daughter

[Booner Sooner]

GS braintrust, I need advice. I have my Dad's 1960's Browning .243 that I want to set up for my 10 year old daughter. It has the original wooden stock and Redfield scope.

Questions:
1. The stock is too big for her so I want to replace it. Is an adjustable stock a good option? (7 year old son will also use as he grows into it)

2. Is there anything, within reason price wise, that I can do to lessen the recoil for her?

Thank you in advance for your wisdom.

[Gummi Bear]

1 - you may look for an inexpensive replacement, and put the nice factory stock in the safe until the kids grow into it. Try the usual stock places, and also look at Numrich for takeoff stocks

2 - you can find reduced recoil loads on the shelf at many stores that carry lots of ammo. If you reload, you can develop some (Hodgdon H4895 Reduced Recoil Loads, there are published loads, and more if you call them up on the phone). I made some 7mm-08 reduced recoil loads for my daughter that make her rifle shoot with less felt recoil than a 223 AR. It is a cream puff.

I love the old Brownings, and that Redfield scope (I'm assuming it is one of the "TV Screen" style) is a fantastic scope. I have a 2-7x on my 35Remington, Pop has a 3-9x on his 30.06. Really fantastic glass, and a classic look that I really dig.

[Cajun Blake]

what model / action .... BAR , FN, BLR, etc...

best option is to find an old beat up stock and modify it to use spacers with a Pachmyr 1" decelerator pad . Mercury recoil reducer is another option (custom fit in butt stock)

[Daniel75]

what model / action .... BAR , FN, BLR, etc...

best option is to find an old beat up stock and modify it to use spacers with a Pachmyr 1" decelerator pad . Mercury recoil reducer is another option (custom fit in butt stock)

Not to hijack but CB, do you feel the Pachmyr Decelerator os the best pad out there? I have one on a Rem 700 .270 and it tamed it quite a bit but I know there are others out there, like a Limbsaver.

[ranchdog]

I started my daughter out with a 243 at 10 years of age and it turned out to be a bit too much for her. I had a TC and ordered a 223 barrel for it and she loves that gun. She has taken many a doe and spike with it. She needs to move back up to the 243 now but I would look into finding a single shot 223 until she is older.
But just my 2cents. Good luck.

[Booner Sooner]

Great info. I'm not a gun guy but I know it's a 1960's model bolt action Belgum made Browning. My great grandfather bought it for my Dad when he was a boy. Here are some pics.

[elkaholic9292]

That rifle doesn't look too big for her to me. I wouldn't touch it.

[BeerMe]

Nice gun. I agree it looks like your daughter can handle as is...

[Cajun Blake]

My honest opinion, don't mess with that rifle , pretty sure it's a Fabrique Nationale Browning

Leave it "as is" for a family heirloom and your kids can shoot it when they get older

Go buy your daughter a H&R Handi Rifle single shot 243 Youth for $199 and be done with it . Paint the H&R stock pink if you want as she will love it

[BigRed323]

My honest opinion, don't mess with that rifle , pretty sure it's a Fabrique Nationale Browning

Leave it "as is" for a family heirloom and your kids can shoot it when they get older

Go buy your daughter a H&R Handi Rifle single shot 243 Youth for $199 and be done with it . Paint the H&R stock pink if you want as she will love it

^^^ this. dont mess with that gun.

Don't change its history, let them grow into it.

[Cajun Blake]

Not to hijack but CB, do you feel the Pachmyr Decelerator os the best pad out there? I have one on a Rem 700 .270 and it tamed it quite a bit but I know there are others out there, like a Limbsaver.

No a LS fan as I've seen to many deteriorate due to the soft rubber

Hard to beat the Decelerator which has been proven for 25 yrs

[ranchdog]

My honest opinion, don't mess with that rifle , pretty sure it's a Fabrique Nationale Browning

Leave it "as is" for a family heirloom and your kids can shoot it when they get older

Go buy your daughter a H&R Handi Rifle single shot 243 Youth for $199 and be done with it . Paint the H&R stock pink if you want as she will love it

I agree H&R, BUT if she is afraid of recoil as you mention what can you do to lessen the recoil and or on the smaller light framed body size I would go with the 223 until she is dead on with it and then in a few years move her to the 243. Again, just my 2cents. My 10 year old daughter could not handle the 243 without recoil fear. She has taken deer every year with that TC 223 and double lungs them every time. Seeing the confidence she has in her 223 is crazy at the range and in the blind.

Ranchdog

[Booner Sooner]

Great advice gents. Thank you. I'm pretty sure that I will keep the .243 in tact and look for an alternative until she can handle the Browning.

I'll report back.

[lovemylegacy]

GS braintrust, I need advice. I have my Dad's 1960's Browning .243 that I want to set up for my 10 year old daughter. It has the original wooden stock and Redfield scope.

Questions:
1. The stock is too big for her so I want to replace it. Is an adjustable stock a good option? (7 year old son will also use as he grows into it)

2. Is there anything, within reason price wise, that I can do to lessen the recoil for her?

Thank you in advance for your wisdom.

A word of advice? Sell that gun to me, take that money and buy what she wants, then we will all be happy!.

[Booner Sooner]

A word of advice? Sell that gun to me, take that money and buy what she wants, then we will all be happy!.

You couldn't afford that gun brother. Sentimental value is off the charts.