22 for a kid -- first gun

Looking for a first gun for my boy, and not so sure I want to go the Cricket route. My thinking is that with the right 22, he will still use it even when he is grown because of its size, weight and sentimental value.

I'd like to pick him up a decent little rifle that he can learn to carry unloaded. I have several 22's, but they are older Savages and are too heavy for him.

I might consider a snake charmer (.410) as well, but I'd prefer the 22 so I can let him work on his accuracy. What are your suggestions?

We've got the low powered air rifle covered for him (Red Ryder), and I have a high-powered air rifle. Way too hard for him to operate.

This is going to be a gun that he will have to carry with him unloaded for a long, long time before he begins supervised shooting.

Luke,

How old is your son?

The little single shot 22s like the Cricket is a great way to start a 6 or 7 year old. These guns will fit him and make shooting easier. This is how I started my son.
When my son was about 9 or 10 he had out grown the little bolt action 22 so I got him a compact 10/22. He is about to out grow it now (at a tall, age 13). Next, I will take the action from the compact 10/22 and put it in a full size stock so it will grow with him.

Have you thought about trying gone of the Steven's Favorites from Savage? Single shot, and light and compact.

Buy an older single shot rifle and cut the butt down as much as you need to fit him. Drill 2-1/4" holes in the butt of the stock before cutting the wood, so the piece cut off can be reattached easily. Stay away from the Cricket rifles and other like them. They usually have bad triggers. I did this for mt Daughter on a Remington 511-P and replaced the piece off the stock. You can hardly see the seam.

Doug

Youth model Henry lever gun in 22 LR

grasshopper wrote:Have you thought about trying gone of the Steven's Favorites from Savage? Single shot, and light and compact.

I truely love sigle-shots. I especially lovethe falling block type actions, but not for kids. If he can't shoot after cocking it he has to drop the hammer. That can be tricky. That is why I never recommend the H&Rs or Rossi as a first shotgun or rifle.

Shooter wrote:

grasshopper wrote:Have you thought about trying gone of the Steven's Favorites from Savage? Single shot, and light and compact.

I truely love sigle-shots. I especially lovethe falling block type actions, but not for kids. If he can't shoot after cocking it he has to drop the hammer. That can be tricky. That is why I never recommend the H&Rs or Rossi as a first shotgun or rifle.

Teaching/Learning how to operate your weapon is part of the parents job in training.

That's why I like Henry Lever 22's. You can shoot one and then watch him operate the the lever properly...but at least he does have to operate it and not just press the trigger again like a 10/22....Kids can learn how to ease a hammer down safely...mine sure did

Henry levers are well built...not terribly expensive and still made in USA

Here are a couple of options..

My first 22 that I was given on my 6th birthday was a Browning 22 Semi Auto.... But before that I shot a little nickle plated Rossi Pump that shot 22,22lr and 22 shorts. I still shoot that gun and so does my son who is 6... If you wanted something to pass down.. Then you could go with a TC Contender or Encore with a 22 barrell and then upgarde the barrell later on

What about a savage mkll?

msredneck wrote:

Shooter wrote:

grasshopper wrote:Have you thought about trying gone of the Steven's Favorites from Savage? Single shot, and light and compact.

I truely love sigle-shots. I especially lovethe falling block type actions, but not for kids. If he can't shoot after cocking it he has to drop the hammer. That can be tricky. That is why I never recommend the H&Rs or Rossi as a first shotgun or rifle.

Teaching/Learning how to operate your weapon is part of the parents job in training.

That's why I like Henry Lever 22's. You can shoot one and then watch him operate the the lever properly...but at least he does have to operate it and not just press the trigger again like a 10/22....Kids can learn how to ease a hammer down safely...mine sure did

Henry levers are well built...not terribly expensive and still made in USA

I agree to an extent. Until eight or nine most kids have trouble even cocking a Rossi or H&R. A good many still have trouble pulling back the handle to cock a Cricket. It is usually about ten or twelve before a kid develops the dextrity and hand strength to safely lower a hammer every time.

Trigger control, as in shooting too rapidly, is taught by the parent. If you set the rules and the rules say you engage the safety after every shot it becomes more than pulling the trigger. Also you are much less likely to encounter a gun with the safety off in the field. On youth hunts I have seen kids shoot a squirrel or rabbit and not engage the safety afterwards. The excitement of the hunt overcame thinking about safety. If it is second nature to do so it doesn't happen.

A good bolt or semi or pump without an exposed hammer is easier to teach basics with at any age. An old Remington or Winchester single-shot bolt gun that has been appropriatly cut down can be made safe if the shot opportunity passes by engaging the safety or by opening the bolt thus decocking it.

Before a kid ever pulls the trigger by themselves he or she should be able to demonsrate how to safely operate the gun in a manner that covers most situations. My girls felt shorted at the range seeng other kids blaze away while mom or dad did most of the work up to and including making it safe. They were stuck with what ever they had demonsrtated they could operate during a dry-fire exercise.

To each his own Neck, but if he was considering a Cricket he probably has a small kid and the hammer manipulation is going to be a big deal. Just like operating the clutch/brake/accelerator when trying to start up a hill from a stop is for new drivers.

You might want to look at the browning buckmark rifle. Its pretty small but a fun little gun to shoot. I use mine mostly for squirrel hunting but it is a accurate little gun.

Well if money is no object, the obvious choice would be a Savage Mark II

Sorta figure $ might be an issue...There's just no way I'd start a kid on a Cricket...sorry...can't do it

A pump might be good as well. They are harder to find...

Just depends on the kid I guess...I drove clutch tractors when I was 9 or 10, raced dirt bikes at 10...shot levers, semi's etc at an early age...it just did not matter

Trained mine on a Henry lever cause it was all I had at the time and I got tired of loading one at a time through the ruger 10/22.

Today if the situation presented itself...It would be a bolt action...and yeah I'd get a youth stock or get it modified to fit em...

Don't go cheap whatever you do....Make it a good experience

I learned on a Marlin 39A Golden, and still love it and to shoot it.

Browning .22 auto . A little expensive but a great little .22 . It will fit a kid fairly well and he could have it for life. It also breaks in half and each piece isn't but about 16" long .

10/22 if you want to stay away from the single shot route. If you buy a cricket, or savage and don't spend a lot of money, you can always get him something later like his own 10/22 Ruger. That's what I am doing.

Interesting replies - I appreciate all the response.

Anybody had any experience with the Chipmunk?

I was in Big D's Pawn and Gun in Magee today and they had a Remington 514 (single shot) made in Nov 1950 for $89.95. I'm sure that was negotiable.

mhead wrote:Browning .22 auto . A little expensive but a great little .22 . It will fit a kid fairly well and he could have it for life. It also breaks in half and each piece isn't but about 16" long .

If you have the budget this will certainly be an heirloom quality first rifle. Good size for a kid and something any adult would be proud to carry. It would definetly set the standard for his future purchases. After he masters the open sights you can drop a Leupold Rimfire Special on it. That would make a fine looking combination.