Nephews' Birthday Gun Recommendations

[El Tejon]

It's time to start shopping for two of my nephews' birthday guns this Spring. Josiah turns 7 in April and Noah turns 10 in early June.

Josiah, to be 7, already has (since there has been confusion over this, the guns are kept in one of my brother's safes) a Marlin 915YN, a CZ 452 Scout, and a Henry youth rifle.

Noah, to be 10, has a Winchester 67, CZ 452 Scout, Ruger 10/22 Compact, Bushmaster Carbon 15, and two pistols, a Savage 101 and a Smith & Wesson 317.

Josiah is fixated on telescopic sights, but my brother and I think it is too early and he must "earn" an optic. Both boys are "wiry". Not small but not big, somewhere in the middle in terms of build and limbs but both excellent athletes (football, t-ball/baseball and Judo). They have both been shooting since they were very young and have displayed outstanding range discipline.

Any ideas? I may just get them a bunch of .22 ammo, but I am open to any suggestions that THR might have. Please no shotguns yet (not anti-shotgun, but my brother and I feel it is too soon as we want to concentrate on sights and triggers and not let bad habits creep in).

TIA,

Uncle Kirk

 

[The Scout]

Can you be my Uncle?

I've always heard people talk about earning an optic, my family didn't really do that but it would have been nice. Can never fail giving ammo, maybe some cleaning kits or other accessories?

 

[searcher451]

How about a Ruger Bearcat? It's the gun that I learned to shoot with years and years and years ago, and I still enjoy taking it out to the range from time to time. They are handsomly made, surprisingly accurate, easy on little hands, and bricks of .22 ammo can still be paid for with paper route money.

 

[El Tejon]

Bearcat is an excellent idea and under consideration.

 

[BigGunsMoreFun]

Couple of suggestions

What about a Ruger Mark III semiauto for him. They are not bad little target guns and nice for plinking too. As already mentioned, a brick of 22LR is still pretty cheap.

If you are really feeling generous what about a mini-14 ranch rifle?

Joe

 

[Schutzen]

Remington Express 20 ga. Youth Model. Should be about $250. Then take them trap or skeet shooting.

 

[El Tejon]

Please no shotguns yet (not anti-shotgun, but my brother and I feel it is too soon as we want to concentrate on sights and triggers and not let bad habits creep in).

Again, no shotguns please.

 

[bogie]

Take 'em down to Knob Creek.

 

[Barr]

An old mil-surp rifle that they could grow into is always nice. Maybe an AK variant or if you are feeling very generous perhaps an M1 or even M1 carbine. The CMP still sells them for 500-600 dollars. They will go up in value over time. The M1 carbine would just about be ideal. Lightweight with low recoil with a big grin factor and history.

If you are trying to advocate low round count discipline and making every shot count a 357 Magnum lever carbine is always a good choice. Low recoil but still powerful enough for deer when they are an early teen etc. One of the excellent Marlins or a Henry will be a lifetime purchase. Or if you like the look and feel of a "classic" a Rossi, Uberti, or other reproduction can be very affordable.

There is always the option of a open sighted bolt action for now and maybe a nice scope for a future birthday.

 

[Barr]

My above suggestions are for centerfire ideas. If you want to stick to .22s only you could give either a Ruger 10/22 or parts to upgrade the accuracy of the gun in the future. Kind of a DIY project with dear old dad or uncle.

I would also have to second the idea for a good semi-auto .22 pistol. Either a Browning Buckmark or a Ruger Mark III 22/45. Both handguns would be very good understudy's if you wanted to teach them to shoot a 1911 in a few years.

 

[sm]

-Quality Air Rifles.

El Tejon, I know you and your brother want these young men to earn optics.
A quality air rifle , with optics removed, that can be put back on later would allow them to earn optics.

-Ruger Bearcat I agree with as well.

-Custom Puzzle.

This can be pictures of guns they have now, and/or exploded diagram of ones they have or something they want.

Some office supply places that do calendars of photos have this service.

So a Puzzle is custom made for them. This can later be put in a frame, that displays like a picture.

 

[CZ223]

Reloading equipment

The gift that keeps on giving. Time to teach them how to reload for that 223. If it is too early for that pehaps a couple of lever action rifles. A Marlin 39 and a 94 in 357mag. For what it is worth, my daughter started Cowboy action shooting when she was 9. She started with a pair of Ruger Vaqueritos in 32 H&R mag and a Marlin 94 in 357. Her shotgun was a Noinco 97 12 guage with Winchester featherlites.

 

[Regolith]

Man, I wish my uncle bought me firearms for my birthdays....


Funny thing, he's a lawyer,too....

 

[Barr]

Add Cimarron reproductions to that list.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

.31 caliber caplock frontstuffers. There's nothing much like a cloud of billowing white smoke hiding your target to encourage a boy to make the first shot count.

ECS

 

[def4pos8]

Since they both have CZ-452s, I'd just buy 'em a few thousand rounds of .22 and a bunch of targets.

The 452 is a great training rifle. Tell the boys that you'll replace the 452s when they wear 'em out!

 

[El Tejon]

Yesterday was the birthday party in downtown Indianapolis at my brother's mother-in-law's condo.

I gave Josiah money, a .50 ammo can full of Federal .22s (I dumped in 5K rounds), and a Simmons .22 mag optic (only after Matt gave me approval the night before when I went to Sportman's Warehouse). Matt said he would put on the telescopic sight (Josiah is enthralled with telescopic sights) only if Josiah continued his excellent safety and marksmanship. Josiah vigorously nodded his head that he would.

I took my own CZ452 Scout (I liked the rifle so much I bought my own) and, without the bolt, we worked on positions with Noah and Josiah on the living room floor. Then, we went outside and played stickball in the park and Uncle Kirk threw a few to Noah who is trying out for catcher in Pee Wee/Little League this Spring, to burn off the ice cream and cake.

I continue to be amazed at the lack of objection from anyone in the family. All these years that I have been supplying the boys, no one has utterred a discouraging word. Only supportive statements such as: "they have to start some time, might as well be now." Both grandmothers and a greatgrandmother are supportive of my efforts.

After the little kids were down for a nap and the two biggest went with grandmother to "Horton Hears a Who", Matt and I talked about the boys and their shooting and I pass along the following:

Pistol was too soon: Apparently the Smith 317 that I purchased for my brother so that 9.5 old Noah could shoot was premature. A revolver with its trigger spring is not conducive to proper shooting by a 9.5 year old. The barrel is tipped back upon hammer cocking and the trigger cocking cannot be utilized by his hand strength as of yet. Matt holds it in the safe until the end of summer to see if he grows into it soon. I was too quick with the handgun. Lesson learned.

Savage Cub: a masterstroke! For Christmas I purchased a Savage Cub for Obadiah as a first rifle and it has been a success. In fact, my brother uses it as a varmit gun, shooting crows, pigeons and feral cats around his place.

CZ 452 Scout: continues to be a wonderful training weapon.

Bushmaster Carbon 15 .22 is Noah's favorite and the weapon continues to run without hiccup.

Now for Noah's 10th birthday gift. I'm still thinking a GSG, maybe a Walther G22 though. Undecided at this point.

 

[Seancass]

Long lost uncle Tejon, how i've missed you. We have some "catching up" to do.

 

[jgo296]

i think hes about old enough for a 50 cal bmg