Boys first rifle

[alfsauve]

While fit and good trigger are important, but ease of operation should also be considered.

My sons hated the small, single shot rifles, like the Cricket, because, while they could operate the bolt, the cocking mechanism was impossibly hard for their little fingers.

 

[andym79]

Hi guys, thanks for all the good replies.

For those who asked my boy is 9, he is also a lefty, I am a righty (good job for him most of my rifles are levers. A little late I know (but in the land down under shooting for under 8s is rare these days, though it wasn't so in the past and kids need to be 10 to shoot at the range) whatever rifle he gets I had assumed that I would be modifying the stock to suit his LOP.

I had considered the LOP and trigger, put not really any issues with cocking, I guess I have only ever had a rifle that cocks on open or close, never one that needs to be manually cocked.

A Savage MKii with a shorter stock would be good, here they cost about $500 new, whereas those on my list are $100.

 

[Varminterror]

@andym79 - where are you located? $500 for a Savage Mark II base model is way, way too much. There are certain Mark II models which will run $500, even $750, but the base models are pretty universally $350 ish.

 

[22250Rem]

Your boy being a lefty jogged my memory and I recalled left hand Savage Rascals from when I was looking at them, although that's not what I needed. Just checked the Savage web site and they still offer a left hand model in the Rascal line-up along with some of their other rimfires. The Rascal cocks upon opening the bolt and it's not hard at all but I have no idea about price in your area.

 

[andym79]

I guess in proper $ not aussies ones its about $360

Thanks 22250 I will see if they are around down here

 

[ThomasT]

I was going to suggest this. A Marlin youth 22 bolt action with 7 shot clip. https://www.marlinfirearms.com/rimfire/xt-series/model-xt-22yr
But with him being a lefty that might be out. And he will outgrow a single shot pretty quick. And just because its a repeater doesn't mean you have to load more than one round.

But since he is a lefty maybe one of the Henry lever actions. My oldest sons is a left hander but bats and shoots right handed and has a dominate right eye. So maybe check that before you buy. If he has a dominate right eye he will shoot better as a right hander.

Ruger also offers the Compact American 22 but I didn't see a left hand version.

 

[gotboostvr]

How about an Thompson Center Contender in 22lr?

Very accurate and plenty of stock (and caliber and even handgun) options as they grow.

 

[d2wing]

A lot depends on the size and age of the child. As Caribou said it should fit him and not be awkward to handle or aim.. When I taught kids as a certified instructor, we started them with an air pistol to learn sight and trigger control. I recommend BB guns to learn with as they don't have much noise or recoil to cause flinching. Then a .22lr that fits them. But most folks start with a .22 LR and that is fine with an older bigger kid. As long as it fits the kid I don't think it matters if it is bolt, lever or semi-auto. I would start with open sights. But scopes are ok. You can go back and teach sights after.

 

[Garandimal]

Ruger American Rimfire Compact .22 LR.

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With the interchangeable butt stocks for comb and length of pull. (although the short/low works fine)

And then add Tech-Sights aperture sights like this vid (which is actually the 18" Compact)​

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GR

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[bamajoey]

I would suggest a CZ Scout, either a 452 if you can find it or a 455. The trigger is easily modified, and can be returned to factory specs at any time. They are fine guns that he can use for years to come, by replacing the youth size stock with a larger one.

 

[SwampWolf]

When I was a boy growing up in the 1950s, gunmakers offered affordable firearms intended for kids, including single-shot .22 rifles and single-shot shotguns. Not so much, anymore. I've recounted this in the past but it might bear repeating: the greatest Christmas gift I ever received from anyone happened in 1957 (at age 14) from then until today, was a Winchester Model 67, .22 single-shot rifle (for which my dad paid less than twenty bucks for). Oh, how I loved that rifle! Last year, I gave it to my oldest daughter (age 47) for Christmas. The beat and tradition goes on.

 

[fpgt72]

I was really surprised recently, I had my nephew at my house teaching him to shoot recently with a few different guns. He has shot before but we were working on some new stuff like longer ranges and shooting offhand. He is about 10 and a big kid that plays football, but he had a real hard time getting through a whole tube on my marlin model 60 offhand. The weight was to much for him to comfortably hold out after a few tubes and we had to go back to the bench.

Different muscles are used.

Always gets my hackles up when idiots....err people say, oh to shoot you are not an athlete....to drive a race car you are not an athlete....oh really. Your nephew just found out that there are muscles that are at play here....and the stronger they are the more steady you are....this is why I have a very hard time shooting off hand anymore....and why I can't race any longer...nerve damage in my left side, so my left arm is very as in VERY weak.....I generally wear long sleeve shirts because the left is smaller then the right....it bothers me a bit.

As to the cars, you sit in socks, a ski mask, long underwear, gloves, helmet, boots, and then a snow suit in a car on a 90 deg summer day, then inside the car gets over 100 easy....now think....you you really have to think when you are driving....you are more (in the moment) then in anything else I have ever done, There is a reason sometimes they need help to get out of the car.

But I would give my left______ to do it again.

 

[entropy]

Your original post left out one of the best youth rifles ever-The Marlin 15Y. We used them for 4-H Shooting Sports for the kids that didn't either bring Grandpa's old .22 (My sons brought Great-Grandpa's Mossberg 42) or the tricked-out 10-22 Dad bought for them just for Shooting Sports. I think the Ruger American Compact would be what I'd buy now. I might have grandkids in a few years, my younger son just moved to be with his girlfriend........

 

[jak67429]

If you are looking at a single shot 22lr. the savage rascal is the 1 I would go with. I have 2 of them in my safe, both belong to my granddaughters. they are accurate, light and easy to use.

 

[mshootnit]

I'm going to go off of the reservation here.

Conventional wisdom says single shot, bolt gun.

But you're trying to teach ALL of the basics at once. I taught a junior rifle club for several years. We started out new shooters on bench rest with Marlin 60 semi-autos. The youngster didn't have to think about working the action or holding up the rifle. Just aligning the sights and squeezing the trigger.

when they consistently hit the 10 ring at 50 feet, from the bench, we transitioned them over to the match bolt actions. When they consistent;y hit the 10 ring with the bolt guns, we moved them from the bench to prone. When they consistently hit the 10 prone, we started teaching them the other positions.

This system cut our training time in half. Many of our kids were shooting high expert within a year.

I know this sounds backwards, but it works.

I have no problem starting a kid out on a semi auto but I have the belief that it should have a last shot bolt hold open feature, and the child should be taught to keep the action open in the house.

 

[El_Cabra]

Just going off personal experience, go with a tube fed or 10/22.
I started with those when I was little, never really had an issue. I wasn't a big kid, but I overcame.
If you give them a Just My Size super lightweight rifle you aren't conditioning them to be prepared to shoot anything they are handed. I learned to shoot a heavier rifle, so the weight of a gun has never been something I really thought of, ended up shooting a Savage .300 at a young age. I've even got really good deals on a couple guns from people complaining that it was too heavy.
Just something to think of.

 

[Bwana John]

Savage Model 30G, Stevens Old Favorite.

 

[Ironhand54]

I am going off the reservation here but I do not start any shooter with a 22. I start them with a good quality air rifle. Why?

A new shooter has a lot to get used to, all at one time. By using a air gun I eliminate two factors that worry newbies the most. Recoil and muzzle blast. Since hearing protection is not needed the shooter can hear instruction normally and is not distracted by the weird feeling of muffs or plugs.

Ammo is cheaper so they can practice more. That practice can be done safely indoors with a simple carpet backstop. Or in the backyard yard without disturbing the neighbors. If hunting is in the plan you can get a 22 cal airgun that will do the job.

I find that airguns allow new shooters to develop the fundamentals quicker and have less problems with transitioning to cartridge guns.

IronHand

 

[If1HitU]

Ruger American Rimfire Compact .22 LR.

View attachment 815926
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With the interchangeable butt stocks for comb and length of pull. (although the short/low works fine)

View attachment 815927

And then add Tech-Sights aperture sights like this vid (which is actually the 18" Compact)​

​

GR

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I'd like to own one like this one.

 

[tark]

would go with the rem 33 great little rifle, they shot very good and are simple as dirt. the 33s have a locking lug and the bolt handle for strength. make shore its not a smooth bore gun they made them for small bird shot.

Another vote for the 33. Troy summed it up quite well.

 

[627PCFan]

I started my daughter with my savage 17hmr. I wanted something nice and flat and no recoil, fit the bill nicely. Since then shes jumped up to my old Fclass 6.5 Swede. Im biding a year or two for a .243 Howa but she has taken up recurve bows.