TargetTalk

Not to hard to tell but this is my first post and I am seeking some experienced advice.

I have a 12 yr. old daughter that has been shooting in our local/area 4-H matches for two years. She has been shooting one of our clubs' Anschutz Achiever ST. She usually shoots in the high 80's to low 90's in prone and has just started shooting kneeling this year and has started to eek into the low 80's on the new USA/NRA 50 target. She has been to a couple of clinics put on by the AMU guys which have been phenomenal. This summer I hope to get her started shooting in some of the USA/NRA matches so she has been working on her standing the last couple of weeks. I have been looking at possibly purchasing her a new rifle. It appears that the rifles that are available are the Anschutz 1903 Junior, the Marlin 2000's, and the ishmash cm-2s. I know that this horse has probably been beaten to death numerous times but my main question is I pretty much know how the Anschutzs' shoot, but how do the others compare. The anschutz and cm-2 cadet seem to weigh about 7.8 and 7.9 lbs and not sure on the marlin. The barrel lengths are 21.5 for the annie, 19.5 for the cm-2 cadet, and 22 on the Marlin. Don't quite have the funds for the anschutz right now, so would I be doing her a disservice by purchasing one of the other two and should I just continue to let her shoot the clubs' rifle until the $$$ are saved up. She is still growing at 5'2" and 110lbs. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks
>E

I tell me junior families not to buy any rifle short of a free rifle. Our club owns 18 Achievers (now called 1451s), we're building a supply of 1903s (we'll have 7 shortly), and we pick up free rifles when we can. Our juniors can use the 1451s and 1903s as long as they are in our program, so I strongly suggest they NOT purchase rifles of that level (beginner and intermediate respectively).

It is much more worth your money to wait for her to grow enough for a 1907 or 1912. At 12 and 110lbs, she's just right for the 1451 she's using now. From what you have said, she has not tried shooting standing yet. The light weight of the 1451 will be needed for a person of her size.

She seems to be progressing very well. That's always great to see.

I've used both the CM-2 and the Marlin. The CM-2 is a much better rifle. It has a wooden stock so its easy to customize and modify if you need too. The Izmash rifles are also super tough. They are accurate and have nice triggers. The Marlins will work but are no longer in production making parts more difficult to locate and they must be purchased used. The CM-2 can be had for the same cost, or less then the Marlin and you have a brand new rifle. My daughter has used club guns and there is a cost advantage. Many clubs do not allow the family to bring the rifle home which diminishes the dry fire training she might want to do and having the ability to fit the rifle to her is a huge advantage. We can also shoot at other ranges/locations since she has her own rifle. My daughter also has more pride in "her" rifle and takes much better care of it. Overall, I believe having their own firearm does a better job instilling responsibility.

Our club has several young ladies shooting cut down 54 match rifles, either 1907's or 1912's.

Both the barrels and stocks need to be shortened for them. Then bloop tubes are added to bring the sight radius back up.

But if you don't have the funds for a 1903, then this will be way out of your budget, this is easily twice the cost of the 1903's that CMP has.

I'd suggest your daughter keep using the Achiever you club has until funds allow the purchase of a decent rifle. You aren't gaining anything over the Achiever by buying a Marlin or CM2.

I'd also suggest getting her a precision air rifle for practice at home.

Soupy44 wrote:I tell me junior families not to buy any rifle short of a free rifle. Our club owns 18 Achievers (now called 1451s), we're building a supply of 1903s (we'll have 7 shortly), and we pick up free rifles when we can. Our juniors can use the 1451s and 1903s as long as they are in our program, so I strongly suggest they NOT purchase rifles of that level (beginner and intermediate respectively).

It is much more worth your money to wait for her to grow enough for a 1907 or 1912. At 12 and 110lbs, she's just right for the 1451 she's using now. From what you have said, she has not tried shooting standing yet. The light weight of the 1451 will be needed for a person of her size.

She seems to be progressing very well. That's always great to see.

Thank you very much for the honest reply. I will keep her shooting the older ST and save up for a 07or12.

TWP wrote:Our club has several young ladies shooting cut down 54 match rifles, either 1907's or 1912's.

Both the barrels and stocks need to be shortened for them. Then bloop tubes are added to bring the sight radius back up.

But if you don't have the funds for a 1903, then this will be way out of your budget, this is easily twice the cost of the 1903's that CMP has.

I'd suggest your daughter keep using the Achiever you club has until funds allow the purchase of a decent rifle. You aren't gaining anything over the Achiever by buying a Marlin or CM2.

I'd also suggest getting her a precision air rifle for practice at home.

Thank you as well. I am looking at a Walther lg300 jr that one of the other shooters in our club has who is upgrading.

>E

I agree with the other posts ,if she can use the achiever a little longer her next rifle can be the one that will last her.I would suggest a 1907 action in 1912 wood stock or the 2213 aluminum stock.Watch out for the 1907 in the 1907 wood stock with hook buttplate as is being sold ,its length of pull is very long for almost anyone.I bet it will suprize you how much she grows in the next year.

welcome to the forum, see ya this weekend

blg wrote:welcome to the forum, see ya this weekend

Thanks. I need to talk to you and get on your email list. Kaitlynn wants to start coming to your league shoots.

>E

A lot has changed since I started shooting in 1966. I cut my teeth on a Remington 513T. The rifle served me well, for a couple of years. In the course of things, I actually owned a 513T, I received it as an award. I later found out that there was a debate on what to actually present, a 513T, or a Winchester 52D. The Remington proponents won out. It wasn't long before I outgrew that rifle, and was exclusively using the Winchesters. Even today, at 55, I still use a Winchester 52 (D & E) depending on my mood, and and what I am shooting. The Remington is a pleasant memory to look at in my gun safe.

I guess the moral of the story is, if you get into a larger rifle now, or delay the purchase of the larger rifle until later, you will have more "utility" or use of it over the years.

I would probably suggest she continue to use the club guns until she grows a bit more, and continues to show an interest in the sport. As suggested, a 1907 type rifle or above would be good for her first rifle.

John