First rifle

[kenaihntr]

I will be buying my son his first .22 rifle this Christmas. I'm looking for suggestions and experiences. Good and bad. Thanks.

[AKmud]

How old/big....

is he? I have had my daughter shooting a Henry mini-bolt for about 4 years now (she is currently 9). It is a very simple .22. Stainless/synthetic single shot with some great fiber optic "fire-sights". It is a nice little rifle if you need a youth model. Lightweight too.

A photo of her with her first spruce hen -

[northriver21]

Take a look at the Rossi Matched Pair.
It is a single shot break open barrel. It comes with 2 interchangable barrels in .22/410.

I started my little guy with this gun it is a compact youth model. he shoots spruce hens with the 410. Having the option between shotgun and 22 is nice.

It breaks down and has its own little carrying case.

I think for the $$$ it is a great little combo.

Good Luck

[kenaihntr]

Age

He is 7 years old and is a fairly tall lanky kid.

[akfishinguy]

Couldn't hardly go wrong with a Ruger 10/22 (think they're also making a compact version of it now). That's what my dad started me out with, although a semi-auto might not be the best for a youngster. Maybe look for a simple bolt action .22LR.

[Paul H]

There are a slew of them out there. I would suggest taking him to a gunstore that has several and see how well he can actuate the action. Some of them have such small/short bolts it's hard to get enough force for a child to cycle the action. Getting a stock that fits is paramount to shooting well, and don't hesitate to cut down a stock if it's too long. I got a Rossi pump for my kids, and had to cut 3" off the stock. I did drill a 1/2" hole in the stock first, so I can use dowls to align the stock as I glue it back on.

My kids have shot the 10/22, what I started with as a teen, but I'd suggest against it as a first gun. My 7 y/o loves it, but he's more interested in how fast he can empty the mag than with hitting a target, and thats kinda counter productive.

Don't dismiss a little bb gun to start him out with. They are much lighter than a 22, and having a gun light enough for them to handle helps them shooting in different positions. My 9 y/o does pretty good with the 22, and thats because he's learned on the bb gun.

[aktomboy]

What a great Chirstmas present!

I got a single shot chipmuck .22 for my birthday and worked up from there. I loved that rifle, it was small enough for me and I learned alot from it.

[AKmud]

Single shot

Single shot is the way to go! It teaches them quality of their shot vs. quantity of lead flying downrange. I grew up with a 10/22 and went through many bricks of shells and didn't hit much for a long time. With this single shot I have for my daughter, she is proving to be a deadeye. I will eventually move her up to a 10/22, but for now she loves her single shot.

Also, after she shot my scoped 10/22 she has been bugging me to put a scope on hers. I told her no way! I want to see her master the open sights before we go to optics.

[Grizzly1]

Cz 452 Scout

Check out the CZ 452 SCOUT. It's essentially the same gun as the adult version the 452 AMERICAN, smaller scale stock with a shorter LOP and the barrel is shorter as well. It comes with a single shot magazine which can be replaced with a 5rd mag when you feel they are ready for a repeater. Adjustable trigger and a match type chamber make this little bolt action .22rf one they will want to keep on shooting, even after they grow up. The CZ 452's are one of the very best Rimfire bolt actions on the market for the money.........Very accurate!

[thunder chicken1]

NEF

NEF makes a 22 lr and 410 combo in a youth model so you have the best of both worlds.

[Murphy]

Little guns...

kenaihntr,

I would highly reccomend the CZ scout, as Grizzly1 suggested. I have six of these for my little kid classes. Kids learn to safely load, aim and shoot these at age five. I also have a couple of the basic (I think model 513) which is slightly longer on both ends but still very small and light weight. It comes with a five shot mag but will accept the single shot adapter.

First shots are usually sitting and holding on sand bags with help from a grown up but they can handle the rifles very quickly. I have a bunch of marksman grandkids.

AKmud,

Great pic of the cutie and her rifle. I have question about that Henry, does it cock with the bolt or do you have to pull it to cock like the old Winchesters? That looks like a good rifle, and of course a great kid.

Good shootin'.

Murphy

[AKmud]

Henry Mini-bolt

You have to cock it after you close the bolt by pulling back on the round knob behind the action. I worried about this originally because I thought it may misfire if she didn't get it pulled all the way back and released it accidentally. I have attempted to make it misfire intentionally this way and have been unable to do so. We really like the rifle other than the fact that the trigger pull is pretty stiff. Brand new less than $200.

[MFortie]

Another vote for the CZ Scout...

Regards,

Mark

[akfishinguy]

"My 7 y/o loves it, but he's more interested in how fast he can empty the mag than with hitting a target, and thats kinda counter productive."

PaulH,
That's exactly why I think a bolt/pump/lever action would be best.....heck that same principle still applies to me! My dad would usually let me rapid fire one or two clips, but the rest were regular "take your time and aim" shots.

[AKmud]

duh...

...I thought it may misfire if she didn't get it pulled all the way back and released it accidentally. I have attempted to make it misfire intentionally....

What I really meant was an accidental discharge....not a misfire. I had a brain misfire there.