[Molon Labe]

Our daughter will be turning 8 next year, and I'd love to get her a .22. I need a gun that's light. And ideally, I would like it to be a magazine-fed bolt action.

Any ideas?

[pauli]

i really liked the savage cub i handled a month ago, but it was a single shot bolt. VERY light, though, and seemed well made.

i expect the cz452 crowd will show up shortly to advocate the scout model ;)

[thatguy]

Since you have pretty much already decided what you want (magazine fed bolt action) I suggest you go to a big gun store and look at several and pick one out. I suspect any good name brand rifle will work just fine. I started with a Remington but others have memories of Winchesters, Savages, Brownings, etc.

[Don't Tread On Me]

I'm not 8 years old (at least not physically :D ) and I would love a 452 Scout.


I think most people who get a scout really want it for themselves and justify it for the kids.


What's so bad about a 4lb rifle that shots 1/2" @ 60 yards? Add a light 4x scope, and you've got a 4.5lb really accurate .22 that is ideal for carrying around all day in the woods with zero effort.


Let's not forget about the stock trigger that is better than some guns after being worked on.

[taliv]

assume you know about pink davey cricketts (http://www.crickett.com/CrickettRifle/crickettrifle.html#). crickets are not magazine fed. they are single shot only and you've got to cock them by pulling the end of the bolt, not simply cycling the action. i know you want mag fed, but i'd really recommend single shot for a starter at that age. YMMV

btw, i ordered my crickett from the company and they gave me the same wholesale price they give walmart. iirc i paid $70 for it. i could be off though; it's been 3 yrs.

http://www.crickett.com/CrickettRifle/m226/226b.jpg
bought my daughter and nephew one when they were 5. fit perfect. good rifles. nephew is now 8 and i just bought him a walther g22 because he's become a very good shot with his bolt action single-shot. the g22 is a great little rifle without the scope and light seen in the pic. it has two magazines, but is semi-auto, not bolt as you requested. it is good for youth because it's a bullpup, so balance is a lot easier, especially for girls. it's also easy to convert right to left handed. you can get it w/ or w/o the laser. doesn't come in pink afaik :)

http://www.waffen-lohr.de/Jagdwaffen/Jagdwa4.jpg

[jerkface11]

CZ452 scout would be nice. A bit pricier than a savage or a marlin though. But worth the money.

[Richardson]

Our daughter will be turning 8 next year, and I'd love to get her a .22. I need a gun that's light. And ideally, I would like it to be a magazine-fed bolt action.

Any ideas?
If you can settle for single shot, my kids love the Henry Mini-bolt. It has a great feel.
http://www.henryrepeating.com/minibolt.cfm
Caliber: .22 LR, .22 Short
Capacity: 1 round
Barrel Length: 16 1/4''
Length: 30 1/4'' Overall
Weight: 3 1/4 lbs.
Trig Pull: 4 lbs.
Stock: One piece fiberglass synthetic
Sights: Williams Fire Sights
Finish: Stainless steel receiver & barrel
MSRP: $205.00*

[m14nut]

I'd recommend that Crickett too.

Though not mag fed, a single shot will make her concentrate on every action of firing that rifle. I did this with my daughter.
I had a very old single shot JC higgins that is very similar. You need to cock the rear of the bolt every time to make it fire.
She got so good with it that I then got her into my Winnie 9422, then a semi tube feed, then a slick lil' 10/22.

For a first time shooter, I also brought along an apple, and proceeded to shoot it with a H/point. When that apple blew, I explained what a gun does and how once you pull the trigger, you cannot call the shot back.....


And safety, safety, safety.....

start them with the safety young, they'll practice it forever.

[Ad Astra]

Friend's looking for a .22 for his 10-yr. old. My Marlin 60's stock is just too long for him...

Wasn't there a .22 that had a stock with adjustable stages, so the kid could grow into it? Had block-type pieces to add on, I think.

Once you saw off a stock, or buy a "junior" .22 the kid will outgrow it... most good ideas have already been invented, just gotta find 'em.

[George S.]

There are a number of good .22LR rifles out there for kids. I would look at inexpensive bolt rifles (and a single shot is, IMHO, the best way to start teaching).

I would suggest something like a Marlin as the Marlin website also sells new stocks. Get the rifle and cut the stock so that it fits your daughter comfortably. Buy another stock from Marlin and keep it in the original box so that when she grows out of the cut down stock, simply swap the stocks.

Even if you decide to sell the rifle later on, you'll have a new stock for it.

There are probably other rifle makers that sell factory stocks or maybe even get a custom stock for it from one of the companies like Boyd's or Richard's.

[Molon Labe]

Upon further reflection, a single shot would be O.K.

The pink Crickett looks very nice. I'm going to order one ASAP.

Thanks

[jefnvk]

CZ! CZ! CZ!

Although I'd go for a Special, don't care much for the non-adjustable sights or trigger on the scout.

[Cindog]

Before you go and order that Cricket, check out a NEF Sporters Youth (http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=9) since you decided to consider a single shot. Great little gun and pretty cheap to boot.

[rockstar.esq]

If she can handle a full sized rifle, the Tula t07 is a great rifle. I really love mine . It came with four magazines two 5rd and two 10rd. The balance is nice and the trigger is fully adjustable for pull weight and creep. Mine set me back $170.00

[CB900F]

Molon Labe;

If nothing else, at least check out the Savage MKII bolt. It is available in a youth configuration, less L.O.P. & shorter barrel. The basic action is also available in either right or left hand bolt, depending the shooter's master eye needs.

The extra magazines were just under $10.00 each when I bought a couple of years ago. It's decently accurate & easy to work on if you care to.

900F

[pauli]

the little savage cub i examined looked more confidence inspiring than the crickets sitting next to it. wasn't available in pink or rainbow, though.

[mustanger98]

Just a couple of thoughts...

1- When I looked at a 452 Scout it impressed me, and I'm not usually one of the ones screaming that everyone must get a 452 every time this subject comes up. I would upgrade the rear sight to an aperture.

2- On the Crickett, is there a way to upgrade the rear sight from that non-adjustable peice of spring steel? It seems to me like a better aperture system such as Williams or Lyman could be had for this rifle. Of course, the upgraded rear sight may in some cases cost more than the rifle, but the improvement in accuracy and adjustability for different loads, IMO, would be well worth it.

Just me thinking.

[hksw]

i expect the cz452 crowd will show up shortly to advocate the scout model

I'm with that band wagon.


A few years ago, I had purchased a Marlin 15YN as a teaching aid for my nieces and nephew. My eldest niece, then 7 yo, was the first to go at with the gun. For her, the bolt was a bit too stiff to open so I had to help her on occassion. Plus it is a sigle shot.

Had I to do it over again, I would have bought (and probably still will buy) the CZ 452 Scout to teach the others. Better build quality and mag fed (start of one at a time but leter as a repeater). The actions of the CZs, though, do tend to be a bit rough at first as experience with the other 452s I have but these should smooth out.

[riverdog]

I'm with the CZ-452 crowd too, only I'm looking at the CZ-452 Lux in .22 WMR -- for me :) They really are nice guns.

[taliv]

- On the Crickett, is there a way to upgrade the rear sight from that non-adjustable peice of spring steel? It seems to me like a better aperture system such as Williams or Lyman could be had for this rifle. Of course, the upgraded rear sight may in some cases cost more than the rifle, but the improvement in accuracy and adjustability for different loads, IMO, would be well worth it.

umm... i'm not saying i've never padded my collection with the old "honey, you need a new gun" ploy... but cricketts are for children, not their fathers. it seriously does not need an upgraded rear sight, or front sight, for that matter. it's pretty much what kids need to learn on. if your 8 yr old girl is shooting 1/2 MOA groups, she needs an olympic coach and anschutz sponsorship, not a sub-$100 rifle.

i don't think my daughter or nephew have ever shot their guns past 25 yrds. the sights are pretty much "Minute Of Tin Can". i've never had to adjust them.

but yes, you could replace the sights if you wanted. in fact, i mounted a cheap scope on my nephew's cricket last year for his xmas present.

btw, don't mean to sound harsh, just setting expectations. clearly price vs quality here.

[Molon Labe]

Last week I ordered a Crickett Rifle (http://www.crickett.com/CrickettRifle/crickettrifle.html) from a local gun store. I ordered a stainless steel model 226 with pink stock. :)

The guy who owns the gun store called yesterday to say the rifle came in.

My wife was out doing errands today, and I asked her to pick it up. I got off the cell phone with her 10 minutes ago. The conversation went like this:

Me: Did you pick up the rifle?

Wife: Yes, and he wanted cash. So I had to go to the bank and pick up some cash.

Me: Does it look nice?

Wife: I looked at it very briefly while it was laying in the box. It has a pink stock.

Me: Great. So I guess the NICS check went through with no problems?

Wife: I didn't have to fill out a form or go through the background check.

Me: Huh??

Wife: He said I didn't need to go through the background check with this kind of rifle.


So THR members... what is special about the Crickett rifle that you don't need to go through the NICS check to purchase one from a gun dealer? Is it because it's a .22? :confused:

[pauli]

<_<

>_>

something doesn't seem right.

[m14nut]

uhmmmmmm...

Me thinks the clerk at the store "ucked up", unless Ohio laws are different from joisey.

[taliv]

he screwed up.

you definitely need a NICS check and to fill out the paperwork in ohio.


edit: btw, if your wife has to go back, since this guy doesn't know what he's doing, make sure she indicates she's buying the gun for herself. SHE is the buyer. otherwise the question intended to catch straw sales might fool her into marking YES, which would be bad.

[m14nut]

two lines of recourse


consider yourself lucky, as now you have an un registered rifle [wink, wink....note the sarcasm
Take it back to the store and fill out the proper paperwork tomorrow to save YOU and the MRS. from a potential jam if someone ever catches up with the stores "uck up".


I'd be back at the store tomorrow, looking for an explanation as to why there is no check with this kind of rifle.....is it worth getting jammed over a "cheapy" rifle????

[taliv]

i try to follow the "never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence" guideline... but the more i think about it, the more I'm starting to think pauli's right.

i've never been in a gun store that wouldn't take plastic. sure, they may prefer cash, but i can't imagine them sending you to the bank.

other than the fact that you ordered it and so your name is probably on a postit note somewhere in his back office, it sounds like he has no record of the transaction either, not just the transfer.


not only would i go back tomorrow and fix it, but unless this guy is someone you've been doing business with a long time, i'd demand an explanation.

if you're lucky, maybe it was a new clerk and the owner will thank you for fixing it.

[Molon Labe]

Hmmm. :scrutiny:

FYI, it's a small, one-man gun shop, operated and manned by the owner. He's been in business a while. From what I can tell after visting the store for the first time last week, he's really into guns. Even sells Class III stuff.

I talked to him for a few mintues during my visit last week. Seemed like he knew what he was doing. So why wouldn't he run a NICS?

My wife just walked in the door. I'll ask her to give me more details on the transaction.

I'll report back.

[Molon Labe]

I have the rifle in my hands. Looks O.K., but the action looks cheaply made. Oh, well. It wasn't very expensive. Stock looks nice.

O.K, I just talked to my wife.

Now keep in mind that, before she left the house to run her errands, I told her that the gun store would make her fill out a form so they could do a criminal background check.

According to my wife, the conversation went like this:

My wife: Do I need to fill out a form so you can do a background check?

Gun store owner: Nope, not for this rifle.

My wife: Are you sure? My husband said I had to fill out a form. Is it because it’s a child's rifle?

Gun store owner: Yea, you don't need to fill out a form. Not for this gun.

And then he threw in 50 rounds of .22LR for free.

She paid the cash, and out she walked with a Crickett .22LR rifle.

I also asked her about the cash-only policy. She said he could only take cash or check. And he charged 10.4% sales tax.

Something very fishy about this sale. :scrutiny:

[hksw]

Possibly it is from his own (private owner, not dealer) collection?

[jefnvk]

Better than the guy I heard in Gander Mountain arguing that he didn't need to fill out a form, because he was just buying a shotgun.

I would have a talk with the owner. If he doesn't prove helpful, the ATF may be interested in his practices. If nothing else, the distributor is going to have record of the rifle going to him, and he probably won't have record of recieving or selling the rifle.

[powderbrass]

diddo. If it were me, I'd have a conversation with the dealer.

[lycanthrope]

The CZ 452 scout would be great. For one thing, they shoot tight enough he'd never grow out of it. You can get a great trigger adjustability kit for $14 and it comes with a magazine blank so you can choose to only feed one at a time.

Excellent rifles.

[lycanthrope]

Double post.

[DougB]

I think this has been mentioned in a post or two, but just to be clear, the CZ Scout comes as a single-shot with a solid plastic block where the magazine can go. BUT, you can easily replace it with a 5 or 10 round detachable magazine. I got one for my son several years ago and he's enjoyed it (along with many friends, Boy Scouts, etc.). Somewhat to my surprise, kids seem to enjoy handling the ammo and loading manually for each shot (at least when bench shooting). I think the ability to convert between single-shot and repeater is a great idea. The CZ doesn't require manual cocking.

Also, this gun is fun to shoot even for an adult (I'm 6'2" and, while it is obviously small for me, I can still have fun shooting it).

Another point to consider: Many kids bolt actions require manual cocking. I originally thought this was a good additional safety feature, but I've change my mind. I think kids are better off learning that when they close the bolt on a cartridge, the gun is ready to fire without any additional steps required. No centerfire bolt rifle I know of requires manual cocking like some of these kid's 22s. I think a kid's bolt-gun should operate the same as any other bolt rifle.

Another option you might consider: A friend of mine just got a Taurus pump .22 with a 16" barrel in stainless. It is a really cool little rifle. It came with an extra buttstock in the box about 1" shorter than the standard one. This lets you easily adjust the rifle as a kid grows (or for adult use). I don't know if they all come with the extra stock or not - be sure to verify this. But this is a nice setup.

Doug

[Hawkmoon]

Ignore

Late to the party, as usual

[carolinaman]

Hi there,

Did your wife fill out a form 4473?

I wonder if he made the phone call discretely?

Chris

[Molon Labe]

Did your wife fill out a form 4473?No.

[mustanger98]

Another point to consider: Many kids bolt actions require manual cocking. I originally thought this was a good additional safety feature, but I've change my mind. I think kids are better off learning that when they close the bolt on a cartridge, the gun is ready to fire without any additional steps required. No centerfire bolt rifle I know of requires manual cocking like some of these kid's 22s. I think a kid's bolt-gun should operate the same as any other bolt rifle.

Actually, several makes/models of adult sized rifles require manual cocking. Sears Roebuck's JC Higgins single shot crankbolts come to mind. I learn to shoot on one of those as a kid. I can assure you I had no problem transitioning to .22's that cock on opening or centerfires such as Mauser K98 and commercial sporting variants. BTW, while Lee Enfield No.1 Mk3 cocks on closing, it does give the option of manual cocking if carried with the hammer down or in the event of a Fail-to-Fire. (I won't address any safety-related arguements on that here.)