IA Born

According to Savage's website, they have the Axis youth 7mm-08 in a lefty! Good luck and get her out there!!

Two-groove rifling was common in the WWII rifles. In 1942, Smith Corona went to 2-groove rifling to speed up production. I believe Remington followed suit shortly after. Accuracy was not supposed to be affected, which would be obvious in the 1903A4 sniper variation (all/most 2-groove). Just send the first half of the SN (X,XXX,000). Not that I'll do anything with your info, but I just don't like seeing whole SNs flying around the web. Never know who is watching for what and I can tell you what year it is based on those first 5 numbers. I'll look for your PM and get you the year of manufacture as soon as I get a chance. I hope someone jumps on this deal!

My daughter is in the same boat. Last spring after she turned 9, we got her a Savage Axis youth in 7mm-08. Those run in the $300-$350 range. Hers came with a Bushnell 3-9x40 scope for about $370, I think. Cheaper without the scope package, obviously. We already had a Vortex scope so I threw that scope on a Marlin model 60. I had a muzzle brake put on it for her to dampen the recoil even more. That rifle is scary accurate for no more than we paid for it. She says my AR kicks harder than her 7mm-08 and she loves shooting it! My only gripe is that the trigger is something like 5 lbs. A Timney trigger is in the near future, but even with the factory trigger, I got hand loads to print sub 1-inch! Not sure if they come in lefty, but its worth a look! For that price, its worth the investment!

Actually, its a Remington Arms 1903A3. Remington didn't start making 1903s until WWII (Sept 1941) and they were all the A3 line by 1942. The 12-43 stamp on the barrel means the barrel was manufactured in December 1943. The only way to really know what year the receiver was made (and by who) is to look at the SN and manufacturing stamp (I wouldn't post a pic of it). Remington SNs start at 3,000,000. If you PM me the SN, I can tell you what year the receiver is (I have a book for 1903s). Based on the receiver's lack of holes tapped for a peep sight (common on WWI-era through 1930s), it appears to be a WWII-era A3, which would have had the M1-Garand style sights. All the 1903A3s had the Garand-style sights to make the sight alignment switch easier for those GIs using Garands. Sorry for the history lesson hijack. That's a great gun and I wish I had the cash laying around. I want a WWII 1903A3 to go with my Springfield Arms 1918 1903! By far, one of the best rifles ever made! Does that one have 2-groove or 4-groove rifling? I'll talk to my wife, but I won't get my hopes up!

The young ones taste great. When I get bigger ones (well over 100 lbs), I get the backstraps cut into loin chops, set the tenderloins aside, and then have everything else made into great Italian sausage and breakfast sausage. One with my bow is next for me!

X1,000 on Randy Lawson! He's done all the work on my rifles and I even took one down to him from Flagstaff a few years ago because he is AWESOME!!

Yep. Talked to her this morning. Glad it worked out for you both. She's good people!

To my son's school director or someone else?

I mentioned this to my son's school director this morning because she recently asked me if I knew of any '06s for sale. Price certainly is good!

I've been working up a load for my daughter's 7mm-08 using 140 gr Barnes TTSX. I'd have to get the exact data, but I know that the 95% max load of R15 produced a 3-shot .60" group. I think the 97% max load of RL15 is better, but the trigger on her Savage Axis youth is horrible. I'm pretty sure I pulled the 3rd shot of what would have been a sub-0.5" 3-shot group because the trigger is something like 5 lbs! I'm happy to get you the data I have if you want. I'm sure after I replace the trigger and the factory stock, it will be shooting much tighter.

Where do you live? Pretty sure I have one because I load for my brother-in-law's .300 WSM. I'll have to double check, but if you are in or near Flagstaff (or at least passing through), you can come borrow it.

That's awesome! Congrats to your daughter!

Congrats, Jordin! I can't wait to take my daughter out next year for her first hunt! Beautiful buck!

I think you are spot on right there and it doesn't even have to be 5+ years. They can choose that, in my opinion. Next year, I will be taking my daughter on her first hunt after she turns 10. I was supposed to take her to south Texas this Thanksgiving, but a family situation has come up and we won't be able to go. To that end, she and I have been having multiple conversations about harvesting her first deer and elk. At one point, I was trying to encourage her to try for the youth doe hunt on the Kaibab. She has been insisting on a buck tag for her first hunt in AZ. Ultimately, I'm going to let her make that choice, but I have made sure to instill in her that, at her young age, she should focus on the hunt and the experience and that whatever animal she chooses will be a trophy. This is actually a frequent conversation she and I have. I want her to focus on the hunt, itself, and not the size of the antlers when determining what a trophy is. I try real hard to lead by example. Sure I want that big set of antlers for the wall, but I also find my successes in the experience along the way, tag filled or not, and that a tag filled is still a trophy with the right mind-set. I make sure she understands that. We all know how difficult hunting can be in Arizona and if we, as parents/mentors, start teaching the youth to focus on antler size, we're going to lose a great deal of our next generation of hunters when they come home with empty tags. If the first buck or bull they see is huge, by all means, go for it. If the first legal buck they see is a spike or a small fork for their first ever big game harvest, go for it! Teach them success and that success is in the hunt, itself, not the size of antlers. From your post, I think you are spot on and your kids will enjoy every minute of it!

I just called my credit card because charges don't show up for a day or two. My buddy and I got our archery javelina tags (no surprise) and someone got drawn for turkey. Either I finally got my Gould's tag or my daughter got her first big game tag! She turns 10 on April 25, one week too late for the youth OTC tags and will be tied up with soccer tournaments when they reopen in mid-May, so I had to put her in for a regular tag. If I have to get skipped for my Gould's tag, I truly hope its for my daughter's first tag!!

Congratulations, Serra! Of course I had to come upstairs and read it when you told me about it! Excellent write up and a beautiful tribute to the elk!

I haven't spent much time down deep in 13A, but I've spent some time there and frequently drive from Flag to St. George, passing through 13A on the highways. Reception is very hit and miss and I have Verizon. Sat phone is probably your best bet, like Forlorn said.

I have a Rem 700 BDL in .300 WM and because its a family heirloom, I left the factory stock in place but had it bedded/floated by Randy Lawson when I lived in Tucson. You can't go wrong if its done correctly. Mine is an absolute tack driver with custom loads.

Someone once told me that if you can count the number of firearms you own, then you don't have enough. I lost count several years ago. I keep all of mine listed on a spreadsheet and last I knew, it was well over 30. I have a 28-gun safe and, with long guns and pistols, I need to buy a second safe, especially now that I'm shopping for my kids!

Figured I'd bump this back up to the top to see if there is any interest. I'll be down in the valley this weekend for a soccer tournament (Pecos Park), but could meet somewhere central on the way down Friday or way home, Sunday unless someone is close to Pecos Park. $30 for the box or trade for a box of TTSX 140 gr 7mm.

A while back when I was getting the components to reload for my daughter's 7mm-08, I accidentally grabbed a box of Barnes TSX 7mm 140 gr bullets. I meant to get the TTSX 140 grain bullets. I didn't realize what I did until I opened the box. The box is opened, but all bullets are there. I need to get another box of TTSX for her rifle. Would like to sell the TSX for $30 ($35 shipped) or trade someone that wants these for a new box of TTSX 140 gr. If you want pictures, I can take them and post them, but I figure you know what a box of Barnes TSX looks like. Thanks!

Took the words right out of my mouth. Great job!!

That's awesome! Congrats!

Are they available for the Axis youth? I'd love to swap that factory stock for a good after-market for my daughter's Axis youth!

I've got a brick of steel-cased .22 lr that I picked up for my daughter. It doesn't work well in her Cricket. Only 5 rds shot (495 left; 10 boxes of 50). I recently got a couple of bricks of Federal, so I don't need this stuff. I paid $40 for the brick back during the craze and will let it go for $30. I'll be in the valley for my daughter's soccer tournament (Pecos Park area) the weekend of 18-20 Oct. I can bring it if you want to meet me somewhere in that area. PM me if you're interested.