22LR single shots
- Thread starter Mitlov
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A Model 60 is what I bought for my first 3 boys to start shooting with. They loved it. It was a bit long overall, but it had a slim profile and it was easy to load and manipulate. When my youngest got to be old enough to shoot, I opted to go with a lever action for him. I got him a Henry youth model. The Model 60 served us well, but kids just seem to have a propensity to want to just pull the trigger again quickly rather than making each shot count.
In the end, opinions and wisdom regarding how to teach kids to shoot matter little. All that matters is that the kids have fun, learn to shoot and be safe about it. When trying to decide which gun to use to teach your kids to shoot, it isn't so much a matter of getting the absolute right gun, but more of a matter of not getting the wrong gun. As long as you avoid something that is unsafe, inaccurate and problematic, there are many "right" guns out there to choose from. I'm glad that you found something that works for your kid.
The only thing that I do insist on doing and have done so over four kids and now grand kids getting to that age is that they learn to shoot with open sights and do so proficiently, before I put them on anything with an optic.
In the end, opinions and wisdom regarding how to teach kids to shoot matter little. All that matters is that the kids have fun, learn to shoot and be safe about it. When trying to decide which gun to use to teach your kids to shoot, it isn't so much a matter of getting the absolute right gun, but more of a matter of not getting the wrong gun. As long as you avoid something that is unsafe, inaccurate and problematic, there are many "right" guns out there to choose from. I'm glad that you found something that works for your kid.
The only thing that I do insist on doing and have done so over four kids and now grand kids getting to that age is that they learn to shoot with open sights and do so proficiently, before I put them on anything with an optic.
Ernie Bass
member
Heck, I want a Henry Single shot myself (trying to decide which caliber). I bet your grandson loves that gun. Single shots are great starter guns. Even if he out grows the Youth mdl , he would not have a problem selling it for sure. I started off with a Marlin MDL Bolt MDL81 with magazine. Still have it and now with a scope that cost much more than the gun. My Dad also got me into NRA Competition when I was young. Maybe your grandson will go that way.
One thing about single shots or bolt actions, they teach the One shot One kill. The ZEN of shooting. Start it now and it stays for life.
And One of the best ways to teach a Youngster is with a Air Rifle. This is how I started my son off. Some great guns and many competitions. Can shoot frequently, in back yard etc. And remember Airguns today are not your fathers Airgun. My last Springer cost me over $700.00
EDUCATION DAISY
https://www.daisy.com/education/
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Armorer 101
Member
Let me riddle you this: is this a race to the junk yard for a POS or is it a treasure hunt for the best you can buy for your child?
Perhaps if you forget new and look at nice used, you will find a treasure. A 22 rifle, if well maintained, never wears out through regular use. It can be something your great grandchildren will be proud to own. However, you must buy the quality, in the first place. I would look for a used, Mosberg carbine, a Winchester or a 510 Remington in nice condition.
Perhaps if you forget new and look at nice used, you will find a treasure. A 22 rifle, if well maintained, never wears out through regular use. It can be something your great grandchildren will be proud to own. However, you must buy the quality, in the first place. I would look for a used, Mosberg carbine, a Winchester or a 510 Remington in nice condition.
bassjam
Member
I have 4 children and agree with Varminterror. I started my stepdaughter with a semi-auto .22 at 5, and my oldest daughter with a semi-auto at 4. My son is 2 right now and isn't ready, but he's very mechanically inclined and may be ready next year at 3; I'll have to wait and see. My reasons may be different than Verminterror's, but there's nothing inherently dangerous about letting young children use semi-auto .22's. I'm right there with them with my hands on the gun at all times making sure it's pointed in a safe direction and ready to step in immediately. My goal at that age is to get them excited about shooting, and the slow process of loading a single shot just isn't engaging to them and honestly they lose interest after "so many steps". But if all they need to focus on is 4 things: "finger off trigger, finger on trigger, put red-dot on target, pull trigger", it's simple enough for them to understand especially if they can go through 10-25 rounds of instruction before we need to stop and reload. You can choose to disagree and raise your children as you see fit, but there's no need to make baseless claims about others somehow being dangerous. It's not like we're handing these firearms to the kids and sending them off to the range by themselves.
Just to be clear, are you calling the new Marlin Model 60 I bought him (see last post of page 1) a POS? It doesn't scream heirloom, sure, but it cycles well, it's accurate, and I don't see any fit and finish issues. He absolutely loves it and I enjoy shooting it too.
Shopping around from place to place to place for a good used deal that also fits him ergonomically is a challenge in a pandemic. The guy at the gun counter of this retailer was happy to talk with us, come up with a bunch of different options that they had in stock, and find something that fits all his needs, while being encouraging to him and understanding of his situation. When I get customer service like that, I want to reward them with my business.
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milemaker13
Member
Cant go wrong with an M60.
Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
It is silly to think that quality cannot be bought new today.
Even a nice piece of wood can be found nowadays, if that’s what makes an heirloom.
I think it’s more important that he found a rifle that fits the boy, is easy to manipulate for him and, most importantly, is one the son likes and will use a great deal. Even the nicest rifle is worthless if the kid feels like he can’t use it or scratch it.
I will completely agree with the idea. Just not the timing or situation. Now if the father was wanting a rifle...
I still would have said Anschutz 1761, CZ 457 VPT, Kidd Supergrade, not necessarily a VooDoo Apparition, but even a Bergara or Lithgow LA101. All brand spanking new, waiting to make their own stories...
Even a nice piece of wood can be found nowadays, if that’s what makes an heirloom.
I think it’s more important that he found a rifle that fits the boy, is easy to manipulate for him and, most importantly, is one the son likes and will use a great deal. Even the nicest rifle is worthless if the kid feels like he can’t use it or scratch it.
I will completely agree with the idea. Just not the timing or situation. Now if the father was wanting a rifle...
I still would have said Anschutz 1761, CZ 457 VPT, Kidd Supergrade, not necessarily a VooDoo Apparition, but even a Bergara or Lithgow LA101. All brand spanking new, waiting to make their own stories...
Dave DeLaurant
Member
I think Paul Harrell gave a pretty cogent set of guidelines in this video:
BTW, Harrell favors something like the 10/22 for the fun factor. Personally, when I was a kid I was delighted with a single shot -- still am, for that matter.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
I would consider 5 to be the absolute bare minimum age, and even then, only cautiously and if they can repeat, from memory, the four rules of gun safety and have gone through the Eddie Eagle program.
I understand the enthusiasm of wanting to share the shooting sports with our kiddos, but that must be balanced against safety concerns, the mental level of the kiddo in question, their attention span, whether they have a good understanding of what's going on, and how well they follow directions.
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Justin
Moderator Emeritus
No idea on the Savage, but I looked at the Rascal and Cricket models when shopping for a .22 for the kiddo. They're alright, design and price wise, but ultimately I went with the Ruger Precision .22 for a few reasons.
It's pretty apparent from the designs of the youth model rifles that most kids will outgrow them in a couple of years, so I wanted to find something that would have long-term longevity, while also being kid friendly. The Ruger Precision .22 fits this really well primarily because it comes with a fully adjustable stock that can be made very short. The grip is a bit on the big side, though, so that's not perfect; however, it takes regular AR15 compatible grips, so there's probably a good chance that someone makes an aftermarket one for small hands.
The rifle is more accurate than I had hoped for, and has a good trigger right out of the box. The bolt is easy to manipulate, and the action is simple to understand, even for a little one.
The biggest downside that I found is that the MLOK handguard is not perfectly to spec, and I ended up having to use a Dremel to grind down the screws on the bipod mount I put on the gun, otherwise they would push on the barrel.
The threaded barrel is a big plus because you can slap a can on the end of the gun, which makes it easier to work with a kid on the range because then you can shoot without ear pro as long as you're using subsonics.
The rifle takes 1022 magazines, and therefore you can opt to set the capacity to whatever you want. Load single rounds for a single shot, or more at your discretion.
I'll also cop to some of the decision for this purchase being maybe a teensy bit selfish; after all, I can shoot it, too.
el Godfather
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I could not agree more. In fact, such behavior and God forbid accidents arising out of such gives fuel to all those anti gun lobby.
Yes, single shot is a good way to start. It gives you and them more control over the training.
Rest, I dont want to say much as people have personal rules for their kids, but when it comes teaching children one must remember that a child is after a child- not just physically but mentally as well. Go figure if one thinks he can drum in maturity of an average grown adult into an average child. By the way who is held responsible in case of any misfortune involving children: range, instructor or the guardian signing off? Just curious.
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el Godfather
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Have you considered the Russian TOZ-8? single shot .22 LR. I trained my kid with it until he was well acquainted with shooting protocols to move up to a semi-auto Walther G-22.
Armybrat
Member
Am surprised no one has mentioned the Winchester Model 67 single shot, which was also made in a shortened boys version:
(Not mine, just an internet pic grab)
(Not mine, just an internet pic grab)
Ed Ames
Member
Oddly enough, I’ll be in a position to “need” a youth gun coming up in a few years. The boy is 16 months old so it’s not a rush, but I’ve been thinking about it.
I have my own personal wishlist for what the ideal training rifle will be, when his time comes, but single shot isn’t on that list. I’m not opposed to single shot .22s, but it isn’t a feature I would specifically seek out.
My list:
* Accurate
* peep sight
* swivels for a proper sling
* either threaded barrel or ability to feed shorts
* A stock that can easily be removed and adjusted
Years ago I wound up with a Remington Model 34 NRA Target riffle that had history. A previous owner must have been given it as a child and then grown to be a giant because the stock had about 5“ of wood grafted on in multiple layers, giving it an absurd LOP. I chopped it back down to fit a 6’ tall adult and it was one of the most accurate .22 rifles I’ve ever fired. Peep sight, sling swivels, it fed shorts or long rifles with equal ease.
And it had something I just can’t see with a Cricket or Rascal: it was obviously good enough that the owner wanted it to grow with them. Judging by the number of repairs to the wood, and overall condition, it was used a lot over an extended period, and I used it a lot 75+ years after it was built.
I don’t know what the current day equivalent of that rifle is, but that’s what I’m going to go looking for. Something that a 10 year old would still want to shoot when they were 30, and perhaps pass down to their own kid should circumstances allow.
I have my own personal wishlist for what the ideal training rifle will be, when his time comes, but single shot isn’t on that list. I’m not opposed to single shot .22s, but it isn’t a feature I would specifically seek out.
My list:
* Accurate
* peep sight
* swivels for a proper sling
* either threaded barrel or ability to feed shorts
* A stock that can easily be removed and adjusted
Years ago I wound up with a Remington Model 34 NRA Target riffle that had history. A previous owner must have been given it as a child and then grown to be a giant because the stock had about 5“ of wood grafted on in multiple layers, giving it an absurd LOP. I chopped it back down to fit a 6’ tall adult and it was one of the most accurate .22 rifles I’ve ever fired. Peep sight, sling swivels, it fed shorts or long rifles with equal ease.
And it had something I just can’t see with a Cricket or Rascal: it was obviously good enough that the owner wanted it to grow with them. Judging by the number of repairs to the wood, and overall condition, it was used a lot over an extended period, and I used it a lot 75+ years after it was built.
I don’t know what the current day equivalent of that rifle is, but that’s what I’m going to go looking for. Something that a 10 year old would still want to shoot when they were 30, and perhaps pass down to their own kid should circumstances allow.
SwampWolf
Member
Though I mostly agree with Varminterror's sentiments, there's no way in the world that I would be comfortable with any two year old being "instructed" with handling and shooting any rifle, let alone a semi-auto, safely. What's the rush?
But I think Varminterror's best argument is this:
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Interesting about gifting firearms to kids for Christmas. If I remember correctly, the single shot .410 my dad got for me and my brother to share, was right before quail hunting season started one year.
Now, regarding that 5-shot .22 youth sized bolt gun I bought for my youngest daughter, I bought that for Father's Day. So really, it was bought not as material gift to her, but as a gift for us to spend some time together. And we took that gun out on Father's Day to break it in.
BTW, from seeing the dates on the old photos, I gave the wrong age for my youngest. She was 9 with the break barrel air gun and 11 with the gun pictured below. I can't go back and edit the other post.
View attachment 920136
View attachment 920137
Remington Model 5 made by Zastava Arms. Youth stock above, adult stock below with cheap red dot added.
Varminterror
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Had my now 6 year old son out with his Savage Mark II this evening, shooting 200 and 300 yard targets. He also shot my 6 creed bolt gun out to 800 yards, only pulled one bad trigger out of 10 shots on 600, 700, and 800 yard targets.
We also took him out a last month for his first time shooting a new cut down stock in his great-great grandpa’s old .410 - he’s finally big enough to manage the muzzle weight offhand. No airborne clays broken yet, but he was breaking clays laid against the berm at 50yrds with aplomb - although the milk jug was his favored target, jumping in the air after each shot.
He started shooting on his mother’s 10/22 and a pellet rifle when he turned 2. Pictured here during an afternoon shooting hedge apples from the trees and porting the rifle empty around one of our properties to practice muzzle discipline.
I bought a Marlin 60 (pictured below) and the Savage Mark II (pictured above) right before he turned 3, such he could have his own proper length stocks, instead of fighting around the oversized stock of his mother’s rifle. Pictured here at 3yrs old, he was alternating shots from the bench between two steel plates at 50yrds with his Marlin:
Pictured here, he was 4yrs old, shooting clay pigeons at 50yrds from shooting sticks with a Burris FFIII and a (life threatening) semiauto Marlin 60:
At 6, nearly 7, he has somewhere around 12,000-15,000 rounds downrange. We’re hoping he’ll pick up enough height in the next year to be tall enough to start shooting some NRL22 and PRS Rimfire matches next season (many obstacles are simply too tall). Definitely going to need a better optic on his 22 (and better trigger, and maybe a much better 22) before then - but he has to pull in some group size before we get too concerned with entering too many matches.
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Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
That is awesome.
Good job, Daddy Terror.
Good job, Daddy Terror.
For starter rifles look at older Rem 500 series or Win single shots. Most have decent triggers and can be found under $150. Cut down the stocks, replace as needed.
As far as kids, our club runs a Sports Show pellet gun range using Daisy 753 rifles. Limit on age is can the child listen and follow directions. We've had VERY young kids sit on their parents laps to put 5 rounds down range while being supervised and assisted by an instructor.
As far as kids, our club runs a Sports Show pellet gun range using Daisy 753 rifles. Limit on age is can the child listen and follow directions. We've had VERY young kids sit on their parents laps to put 5 rounds down range while being supervised and assisted by an instructor.
I picked up a Crickett for $45 at a local pawn shop and must admit that it was fun to sight in and surprisingly accurate. I found cocking the striker to be tedious and of questionable practical value. It is in the locker for use when/if needed or to lend another parent.
I learned on a used Rem 514 BR, and while it taught me the manual of arms and care with the first shot, the rotary safety on the bolt was fiddly and I couldn't wait to get a Marlin semi-auto. I rebuilt the M60 that was shipped to us through the mail in about 1963 a couple times, then traded for a Rem nylon 77, an accurate and durable if goofy looking box magazine gun.
We use Savage Mk IIs in our huntsafe courses, and those seem to be good introductions to rifle shooting. Safeties are easy to use, triggers function well, and loading 5 rounds into the magazine is rarely a challenge. I have an FV-SR and enjoy it as a silencer host, even though there are other higher quality guns available. Much depends on the frame, and frame of mind, of the young shooter.
I learned on a used Rem 514 BR, and while it taught me the manual of arms and care with the first shot, the rotary safety on the bolt was fiddly and I couldn't wait to get a Marlin semi-auto. I rebuilt the M60 that was shipped to us through the mail in about 1963 a couple times, then traded for a Rem nylon 77, an accurate and durable if goofy looking box magazine gun.
We use Savage Mk IIs in our huntsafe courses, and those seem to be good introductions to rifle shooting. Safeties are easy to use, triggers function well, and loading 5 rounds into the magazine is rarely a challenge. I have an FV-SR and enjoy it as a silencer host, even though there are other higher quality guns available. Much depends on the frame, and frame of mind, of the young shooter.
I want to live where you're at. I haven't seen a decent Remington or Winchester single shot 22 rifle for under $200 in quite a while. I've picked up a couple of store brand rifles off of GB for the $150 delivered price though.
I'm still looking for a decent Remington 510 for under $200 delivered.
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