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Posted: 4/21/2008 7:13:23 PM EDT
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I'm a newbie to the AR platform (but have been shooting actively for 35 years), and I need help choosing a good barrel length for an AR I am building for my 11-year-old daughter to shoot. She is ready to graduate from her .22, and has fired an M1 carbine on two different occasions without complaint. She wears foam ear plugs and ear muffs, but is still a little muzzle blast shy. I am building her an AR due to the lower recoil in the 5.56 round and the fact that I can adjust the M4 stock to the correct length of pull as she grows. I have already purchased the pink Cav Arms set, and mounted it on a CMMG lower. I want the AR to be a rifle she can enjoy for the rest of her life (or at least until she decides to buy several more). The rifle will primarily be used off a bench to punch paper out to 100yds and shoot clay pigeons off the berm at 120 yds. She will predominately use a low power scope. Since she is small and muzzle blast shy, I am thinking a 20" tube would be a better choice (based on other discussions), but a 16" middy might be easier for her to handle. Does the 20" have noticeably less muzzle blast? Does the longer tube have any lower perceived recoil? What would you recommend if it were your daughter? Thanks in advance for the thoughts and opinions. -MosinBob |
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Off a bench, the shooter behind the rifle probably won't notice a difference in the concussion between the 16" and 20" barrels. I'd get a lightweight 16" middy. ETA: A lightweight 14.5" barrel with permenantly attached FH is another choice as well. Or even a 13.7" barrel with permenanly attached Noveske KX3--they do a good job directing the concussion downrange. |
I agree. I have a 14.5 w/ permanent FH, which keeps it short and light, but is a little snappier than my 20. However, the 20 is heavier. If shooting will primarily be off of a bench, a 20 with a bipod is a great choice, but if she's going to be shooting off-hand, then you should consider the 16 mid-length. |
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Let her try before you buy. If you can find a range that rents AR's you can let her try different models to see which one she likes. If renting isn't an option I bet you'll find some folks at a public range that would be happy to let your daughter try their rifle. |
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At the beginning of this month, I helped at a high power rifle clinic my gun club hosted. Each new shooter was paired with an experienced shooter. I helped a 14-year-old girl and another shooter at the spot next to mine was working with the girl's 11-year-old brother. The 11-year-old was about four feet tall and very slender. His sister was taller, of course, being in that 14-year-old growth spur phase. :-D Both kids regularly shot in my club's BB gun league. For the high power match, they were shooting 20" regular A2s, but with A1 stocks. The rifles did not have heavier-than-normal barrles. I was extremely impressed by how well both kids did from all three positions (standing, sitting, and prone) in both slow fire and rapid fire. Neither kid had any trouble with the weight of the rifles, nor the blast. They both shot pretty well too. Personally, I think a 20" rifle with a light barrel and open sights is a fine starter for a pre-teen. Go ahead and use a scope if you want, but I think that open sights and position shooting (not on a bench) are more fun. I was particularly impressed by these two kids and how their experience with the BB gun program transferred very well to center-fire high power rifle competition. Regards, -Drew |
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