Aren't most youth rifles nothing more than a shorter length of pull and a shorter barrelled version of the full size rifle?

+1 on a Handi-Rifle. My first hunting gun was 12 gauge break open and my daughter learned hunting and shooting with a Handi-Rifle. Move her up to a nice bolt action if she sticks with it. I can't recommend brands as I am Ruger biased.

Yes youth and or compact are just shorter lop and barrels. They are now.calling them.compact because of more female shooters need the shorter lop and don't like them called youth. So compact fits them more so they don't think they have a kids gun. Just was marketing way to sell more. Even remington changed the model seven youth to the model seven compact same rifle different name.

Styer Pro Hunter "Mountain". Stock has a spacer system that is used to adjust the length of pull. With a 20" barrel, it will do just fine forever.

I'm HIGHLY surprised nobody suggested a Browning Micro Medallion A-bolt/X-bolt. IMO it's perfect. Also take a long hard look at the 7mm08 cartridge.

I really like the 7/08 better then the 243 myself. The ruger 77 compact would be nice. I have a ruger ultra light in 308 and 257 Roberts. They have standard lop with short barrels.

LOP is more important for a smaller-statured hunter than is the length of the barrel.

My daughter and niece both started out on Weatherby Vanguards in 243...when my brother and I bought the guns they came with both adult and youth stocks (not sure they do now days)...the rifle certainly isn't the cheapest out there, but we got a smoking deal when we bought the 2 we have....accurate as heck out of the box and the Howa 1500 action that they are built on is outstanding. That being said, my daughter moved over to a Savage 11 I built for her this last year in 250 Savage.

There are some decent cheap rifles out there like the Ruger American, Savage Axis, Remington 783, Mossberg, H&R Handi Rifle...of these the only one I actually own or have any experience with is the H&R...I have one in 243 and it's a real good shooter, but I am not sure I'd buy one for a first gun...break action rifles just don't seem to be great rifles to teach on.

If it were me, I'd spend the little extra and buy a Weatherby Vanguard (youth), Savage (10, 11 or 12), Remington 700 or 7...stocks will be easy to find if you need to shorten or lengthen them and the quality is just enough more that they will be a rifle for a lifetime.

Rem Model 7 is nice. My nephew got one in 7mm-08 that came with a youth and full size stock, so he could move up. He's now 19 been using the adult stock a good while. He didn't use the youth stock but a couple years I think.

I bought my son a Ruger M77 Mark II Compact, in .243. He started using it 8, was perfect. He's 16 and about 180lbs now, and I can't pry it away from him.

I would also 2nd the opinion on a Micro Medallion. Those are nice.


All these would make a nice setup for your daughter. Good luck

Ruger American compact model in stainless steel will be out shortly!