Question: H&R 25.06 with thumbhole/handi stock

[redhedder]

I have an youth model .243 that my 11 year old son has shot in the past. I shoot a 25.06 and he has begun to want to shoot mine. I am thinking of moving him up to the handi rifle in the 25.06. I see some for sale with the thumbhole or handi grip? My question is 2 part. (1) has anyone hunted with these stocks and are they better/worse than the regular stocks for deer hunting. (2) how much heavier is the 25.06 (guess 26in barrel) than the youth .243? I appreciate everyones input.

[quickdtoo]

I haven't hunted with either of the t-hole stocks, so I'll let others have that one, but the barrel weight difference could be a lot, prolly close to 2lbs if the 243 is a 20", not so much if it's a 22", the 20" is not only shorter, but considerably lighter in profile.

Tim

[thejanitor]

The thumbhole lam is very comfortable  but on the 25-06 it all adds wgt the lams are heavier than pallet wood, and way heavier than plastic. And with the barrel wgt plus the stock wgt it is more noticable.... I sighted in my daughters before bear season with the thumb hole stock set and It is not a gun I would want to carry all day in the swamp.... in a stand it would be a great gun and very comfortable but carrying it it becomes not so cool. And I cut almost 2 inches off her stock. So comfortable to shoot and all but if I had to carry it and walk a lot I would get a set of synthetics just for the fact it is easier to carry. But at our house we all have the lam thumb hole sets and we mostly keep them on the guns that go to a stand for the day, not the swamp.  Hope this helps a little.   thejanitor

[redhedder]

Thanks for your reply. We hunt almost exclusively in the stand. however, I do want the gun as light as possible. H&R will put a 25.06 barrel on my gun, but it is more expensive in the end. what do you think is the lightest set up for the 25.06? as far as stocks and stuff? thanks

[Dinny]

The laminated thumbhole stock is not ambidextrous, the Handi Grip stock is. I hunted with a lam thumbhole stock and had to shoot left-handed to kill a deer that approached from an odd angle. It was unconfortable and I soon replaced the stock.

Thanks, Dinny

[quickdtoo]

The lightest stock is the Handi-grip(weighs in FAQs), and it's available as a complete rifle since you need the stock and the barrel, an acc barrel costs ~$160 with all shipping, fitting and tax, the stock is another $60, Bud's and Cheaper than Dirt sell the complete rifle for $260-$270 with shipping + FFL transfer fee, something to consider. 

FWIW, I put my 25-06 Ultra in the late style synthetic stock set, much lighter than the lam set, but it didn't shoot near as well(2" @100) without some work on the forend, so I swapped it back for the ½" @ 100yd groups with factory ammo. 

Tim

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_262/products_id/61737/H%26R+72688+Handi+Grip+Break+Open+25-06+Remington+26%22+Black+Sy

[YRUpunting?]

I'm hunting with a lam thumbhole on my 357 Maxi.  I've hunted a thumbhole 870 slug gun for years so it's normal to me.  Where your son may have a problem with the thumbhole (besides LOP) is reaching the trigger.  Instead of the stock resting in his palm it may rest more on his thumb.  I wouldn't think the 25.06 would have enough recoil to hurt his hand but it may be awkward.

I had a 26" Sidekick, it's now 20".  I hated the 26" barrel, it didn't balance right and is no fun to carry.  Most of my hunting is on the ground, the long barrel may work fine in a stand.

Just a thought but I believe there is a youth 7mm08 on gun broker. 

[quickdtoo]

If the the 7mm-08 "youth" rifle on Gunbroker has a 22" standard contour barrel, it's muzzle heavy for a youth, even me!!!  IMO it's not really a youth rifle, just a youth stocked adult's rifle due to the barrel weight, the 20" Superlight youth rifles are trully youth rifles (and suit me just fine too for the record), they've been made in 22Hornet, 223 Rem ,243 and briefly in 7mm-08 if you can find one. 

Tim