want a 7mm-08 and .223 for the kids which rifle to order and which barrel?

[PPosey]

I am looking to get a H&R handi for the kids, I want to get a full sized monti carlo wooden stocked model and cut it down myself to fit them so I can use a nice soft recoil pad and get a good fit,, I want to end up with a light weight 7mm-08 and a light weight .223rem barrel,,, would I be better off to order a 7mm-08 and get the 22 inch .223 barrel that I can get from the barrel add program? Or order a .223 that I like and add the 7mm-08,,, or does it make any difference at all?       

[tacklebury]

I'd say order the .223 Youth Ultralight.  They have em at Bud's now and it comes with a youth stock.  Then watch the forums here for a 7mm-08 barrel.  Later you can add a full size stock set for when they get bigger.    The .223 also comes with sights and it's best to teach a child with irons first IMO anyway. 
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/351/products_id/89093

[petemi]

The compact youth model is available in 7mm-08 also. My wife has one, and it is nice and light with a 20" barrel.  The catalog says 22 inch barrel???  It also dumps bullet on top of bullet.  Neither the .223 or the 7mm-08 show open sights in the current H&R catalog.

Pete

[tacklebury]

Shows sights on my screen for the youth superlight...  So does Bud's link I posted. 
 
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/handiRifle.asp - towards the bottom is the youth superlight

[petemi]

I suppose they could be older stock or a special run.

Pete

[quickdtoo]

I am looking to get a H&R handi for the kids, I want to get a full sized monti carlo wooden stocked model and cut it down myself to fit them so I can use a nice soft recoil pad and get a good fit,, I want to end up with a light weight 7mm-08 and a light weight .223rem barrel,,, would I be better off to order a 7mm-08 and get the 22 inch .223 barrel that I can get from the barrel add program? Or order a .223 that I like and add the 7mm-08,,, or does it make any difference at all?   

Welcome! H&R doesn't offer a compact wood stocked 223 or 7mm-08 with a light barrel, the compact 7mm-08 has a standard 22" barrel with a youth stock, the 223 Superlight that tacklebury linked to comes with a low comb synthetic stock, much harder to add a recoil pad to than a wood stock unless maybe a slip-on will work. H&R has made a compact lightweight 20" synthetic monte carlo youth stocked 7mm-08, but good luck finding one, model number is SB2-7YC, SKU# 72585, that barrel may also be available as an accessory barrel. Best advice is get the rifle of your choice, then swap stocks out, all modern H&R stocks fit all of their single shot rifles, add the accessory barrel you need.

Tim

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/77504

[necchi]

 I'd start'm with the 223. It's a huge step up from the 22 with very mild recoil. While the 7-08 is still a mild recoil for it's size with 120-140grn bullets, it's still got a bit of thump too it along with a louder report, Natural progression I guess lends me the opinion of 223 then 7-08.
(The 7-08 was my choice for the teenage boy's first "deer size" game rifle, it's been 4 years now and he won't give it up. No real need too  )
 
 
The Monte Carlo stock might give you a little trouble for a simple cut off, buy the time you cut enough off for a shortened stock w/pachmar pad your into the Monte Carlo raised section of the butt and need to re-shape that drop at the back too. I picked one up here on the NEF classifieds just for that purpose.
 If you find a Monte Carlo with a rubber pad on it, just removing it and putting a standard pad will drop the LOP nearly an inch.
How old are the kids?
Because when Dustin was of age, he was already too big for that 11 1/2" youth stock, but too small for that darn 13 1/2-14 inch they have on a full size. I cut a standard pallet wood stock to 12 1/2 an all was well.

[thejanitor]

If you can I would get the youth compact .223 they spoke of above and then see if the factory has a barrel left in the 20 inch light wt 7-08 and add that barrel while you can. The stocks are changable anytime, but getting that second barrel while they are in stock is where you will be challenged if you wait too long. The 7-08s show up used once in a while in the BGO classifieds but not real often, and none seem to be the small light one. So what ever you do, if you are looking for the light contour 7-08 I wouldn't wait too long. I sent a frame in last spring to have the 7-08 fitted to it for my daughter and she likes it very much.
Good luck with your project.  thejanitor

[OldSchoolRanger]

I am looking to get a H&R handi for the kids, I want to get a full sized monti carlo wooden stocked model and cut it down myself to fit them so I can use a nice soft recoil pad and get a good fit,, I want to end up with a light weight 7mm-08 and a light weight .223rem barrel,,, would I be better off to order a 7mm-08 and get the 22 inch .223 barrel that I can get from the barrel add program? Or order a .223 that I like and add the 7mm-08,,, or does it make any difference at all?   

No difference at all.  IMHO, I would personally order the rifle in 7mm-08, and pick up the .223 Rem barrel in the classifieds.  My reasoning is, you see more .223Rem barrels for sale in the classifieds than 7mm-08's.   Other than that, as I stated, it makes no difference at all.

[JB White]

Lots of great advice but I still feel compelled to add my 2d's worth.
 Picking up a used barrel can save some money but it may need to be fitted to the frame. Sounds as though the OP has been around the block a few times, but others may be reading this post and may not be aware of it.
 Since barrel fitting is a concern and the rifle will be handled by youngsters, I would personally go the factory option route if for no other reason than peace of mind.
 There is also the issue of using a monte carlo stock with iron sights. Some people such as myself aren't able to get a proper sight picture, or a proper cheek weld once the sight picture is obtained when using irons and MC's. Just tossing that out there for consideration.
Buying a youth stocked rifle with the short LOP and buying full sized buttstock, (or the other way around) is a reasonably priced option. Since fitting a recoil pad is something the OP appears to be capable of then fabricating a spacer and perhaps matching up some longer screws is an option for an intermediate length stock. A slip-on pad is another. Kids can grow quick. I had to swap stocks twice in two years on my son's Lee Enfield.
 

[PPosey]

Thanks for all the info guys, I should have added more info!

Kids are 9 and 11 but both are small and light for their age,, they have both shot a couple bricks of .22lr through a TC hotshot .22lr with peep sights and with with a small scope,,, last fall I bought a H&R youth .410 and still had to cut a couple inches off of the stock, I also replaced the recoil pad with a thick grind to fit limbsaver and took the stock down some in thickness while also reforming it like my old H&R 20ga without the pistal grip, both kids liked that stock better and they picked out the color for the stock.
https://skydrive.live.com/?sc=photos#cid=86F11E537CB9C8BF&id=86F11E537CB9C8BF!274&sc=photos

They have both shot this shotgun a couple boxes worth of shells and they have both also shot my .223 savage bolt action alot off of the bench, the stock is so big for them though that they have to crawl way up on it to shoot,  They really like using a scope now,, and Both kids like the single shot better and I like that better for them as well,

I want to make sure to get a monticarlo stock so it will be high enough for scope usage,, I can reform/modify the stock as much as needed, I also can fit barrels but as one pointed out prefer to get them factory fitted, Seems like I need to see what is availible with the lightweight barrels, the 20 inch .223 would be nice, not sure about a 20 inch 7mm-08, never loaded for one before, but I do have 2 at 22 inches in bolt guns and 2 inches should not make that much difference in powder burn,,,

[PPosey]

Currently planning on the kids using the .223 for plinking and yote hunting with me, next fall I hope they get a chance to use it to take a deer, have no reservations about the 70 grain speer semi round nose over 25 grains varget for a deer round,,  out of a stand under 100 yards,,,,,,

the 7mm-08 barrel will be for on down the road a couple years

Oh that raises a question,,, all new H&R .223 barrels are 1-9 twist arn't they?

[quickdtoo]

Yes, 1:9" on the 223 since about 2007. On the 7mm-08 loads, my 20" light barrel shoots excellent with Ramshot Big Game and 140gr TTSX  as well as Varget and 139gr Hornady BTSP, both under ½" at 100yds for the first two shots, third round opens the group to 1"-1½", but that's out of the box with no forend work, plenty good for deer. 

Tim

[PPosey]

Sounds good! 120Btip over varget gets my deer every time

[quickdtoo]

My 22" 7mm-08 doesn't shoot the 120gr near as well, but I never tried the NBT, I also had elk on the menu. 

Tim

[ibgp3]

Looks like a match to me.
http://texasguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=167636

Youth Handi-Rifle 7mm-08
Price : $225.00
Location : Fort Worth
Ad Start : Dec 12
About 20 reduced recoil rounds through it. Still little too much muzzle flip for my 7 year old daughter. Has a Simmons 3-9 8-Point scope on it. Loves 140 Corelocks. 1.25" at 100 consistantly.

Like new condition and kept in safe.

$225 or swap for Contender or another youth model in .223 in Saginaw

Call or Text 817-946-0144

[quickdtoo]

Looks like a match to me.
http://texasguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=167636

Unfortunately the only match to the OPs criteria is the youth stock, that looks like a standard 22" compact model(bottom of the page at link below) since it has a wood stock, the light youth model with 20" barrel(which is a much lighter barrel in contour as well as length) has a synthetic stock. As has been suggested, if a fella wants a light 7mm-08 barrel, best get one as an accessory barrel while H&R still has them if they still do.   

One other thing to be aware of when planning on a factory fitted accessory barrel, they have restrictions on older frames, so you need to be aware of year of mfr codes which are in the FAQs. http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

Tim

I want to end up with a light weight 7mm-08 and a light weight .223rem barrel,,,

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/Youth.asp

[PPosey]

The superlight in .223 will be the way to go, I just wish it has a scope stock on it, that drop stock will make it very hard for the kids to get proper eye position,, I need to call and see if any ultralight barrels are availible through the barrel fit program, no 7mm-08 barrel is listed on the website so I will check on that one as well

[quickdtoo]

You'll have to PM Brian56 to check on the 7mm-08 light barrel, Madison doesn't usually have any knowledge of it and a lot of other barrels.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=17873

[PPosey]

Well H&R says the lightweight is only availible in .223 and .243,,, and only if you buy the whole gun, no barrels in the barrel program,, anybody know what the weight difference is between a lightweight barrel and a regular 22 inch sporter weight barrel?  Since I will change the stock out anyway I may be better off to just get the regular sporter .223 with a raised wooden stock.

Ohhh just read the above post,, will do! thanks

[quickdtoo]

I don't have a 223 Superlight, but I do have a 243 Superlight barrel with no scope on it, barrel weighs 2lbs-12oz. For comparison I weighed a 22" 7mm-08 barrel since it also doesn't have a scope mounted, 3lbs-10oz, so I'm guessing the Superlights weigh about 1lb less than a standard 22" rifle. SB2 frames all weigh the same, stock weights are listed in the FAQs.

Tim

[quickdtoo]

The superlight in .223 will be the way to go, I just wish it has a scope stock on it, that drop stock will make it very hard for the kids to get proper eye position

See Make your own synthetic cheek riser in the FAQs.  You can always swap stocks, H&R, and other retailers sell the Choate synthetic stocks that come on H&Rs, same with the "pallet" wood stocks, H&R, Brownells, Numrich all sell them, they're commonly sold/traded in the H&R classifieds here too.

Tim

[okiedog]

I bought a 223 superlight compact a year ago for my son. I shipped it off last week to have the 7mm08 light barrel fitted for it. Acording to UPS it arrived there today . Although that barrel is not listed on the website, I did confirm with Brian56 that the barrel was avaliable.