mr.t7024
Member
jakk280rem hit the nail on the head,good luck on your choice. BTW I have two rugers collecting dust, my preferred rifle is the Marlin 60.
Cliff
Cliff
.22lr rifle suggestions
- Thread starter centermass
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You can't go wrong with the Marlin or Ruger. I have both and like the Marlin better because of the tube and the wood. However, it is a little more picky with cheap bulk rounds. The ruger I have eats anything. I'd let him choose.
As for the CZ it is no doubt a fine weapon. However, when I let my kid choose a 22 rifle I did not want them shooting a semi-auto at first and they didn't want the bolt action rifle. We settled on a Browning lever 22 rifle. It is small and very enjoyable and can be had for under $500 new. They were torn between the T-bolt 22 and the lever that browning make. The t-bolt is just a pull backward as opposed to a regular bolt movement. We were in Whittakers for 2 hours deciding between the two Brownings and a remington pump 22. There are several options. For a general rifle I would say Ruger 10/22 1st and Marlin 60 second.
For teaching kids to shoot safely I would rank them as follows.
1. Browning Lever 22
2. Remington pump 22
3. Henry Lever 22
4. Browning T-bolt
5. CZ bolt
The CZ is the superior rifle to all of them, but most kids enjoy the levers or pumps much more.
As for the CZ it is no doubt a fine weapon. However, when I let my kid choose a 22 rifle I did not want them shooting a semi-auto at first and they didn't want the bolt action rifle. We settled on a Browning lever 22 rifle. It is small and very enjoyable and can be had for under $500 new. They were torn between the T-bolt 22 and the lever that browning make. The t-bolt is just a pull backward as opposed to a regular bolt movement. We were in Whittakers for 2 hours deciding between the two Brownings and a remington pump 22. There are several options. For a general rifle I would say Ruger 10/22 1st and Marlin 60 second.
For teaching kids to shoot safely I would rank them as follows.
1. Browning Lever 22
2. Remington pump 22
3. Henry Lever 22
4. Browning T-bolt
5. CZ bolt
The CZ is the superior rifle to all of them, but most kids enjoy the levers or pumps much more.
Rifle fit (and a decent trigger) will determine whether your son catches on and enjoys a successful learning progression, or becomes frustrated and walks away from the sport.
What action type and brand gun is, imo, of lesser importance so long as safe gun handling and trigger/muzzle discipline are part of each of your son's trips to the range or field.
centermass you already knew that ... just don't lose sight of your ultimate goal.
What action type and brand gun is, imo, of lesser importance so long as safe gun handling and trigger/muzzle discipline are part of each of your son's trips to the range or field.
centermass you already knew that ... just don't lose sight of your ultimate goal.
Southpaw here. (left eye dominant)
2 of my kids shoot left handed as well as 1 of my grandkids now.
Brought all of them up with 10-22's.
All of them still have their 10-22's, and most likely always will.
( Nothing fancy..... just plain jane wood stocked 18in bbl carbines)
I always add sling swivel studs, and 1.25in swivels to accommodate M1 Garand/M14 cotton slings. The rest of the rifle is OEM.
As others have mentioned...... the adult teaching them to shoot can simply control the amount of ammunition that goes into a given magazine at any time. In short....it simply works....and in my clan's case......better than bolt/lever/SS/etc.......
Never liked tube loaders here, but nothing wrong on folks who do. (Had a few M60's over the yrs too)
Note: Ruger has a "compact" 10-22 model with a shorter lop and 16in tube, but your's should be just fine with a std carbine.
They shoot plenty accurate right out of the box for folks who don't require a bench to shoot them from, and are just fine for teaching the next generation how to develop skills needed to become riflemen.
Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the experience while it lasts. They grow up real fast it seems.
2 of my kids shoot left handed as well as 1 of my grandkids now.
Brought all of them up with 10-22's.
All of them still have their 10-22's, and most likely always will.
( Nothing fancy..... just plain jane wood stocked 18in bbl carbines)
I always add sling swivel studs, and 1.25in swivels to accommodate M1 Garand/M14 cotton slings. The rest of the rifle is OEM.
As others have mentioned...... the adult teaching them to shoot can simply control the amount of ammunition that goes into a given magazine at any time. In short....it simply works....and in my clan's case......better than bolt/lever/SS/etc.......
Never liked tube loaders here, but nothing wrong on folks who do. (Had a few M60's over the yrs too)
Note: Ruger has a "compact" 10-22 model with a shorter lop and 16in tube, but your's should be just fine with a std carbine.
They shoot plenty accurate right out of the box for folks who don't require a bench to shoot them from, and are just fine for teaching the next generation how to develop skills needed to become riflemen.
Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the experience while it lasts. They grow up real fast it seems.
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I know at the time my boy was 12 he was growing like a weed....what fits him today may not fit him tomorrow.....just something to keep in the back of your mind....Keeping him in shoes was insane...seems like I bought new ones every week.
I think I am one of the only people on the planet that HATES the 10/22.
My wife still has her first gun a Remington 522, still shoots great 30 years later.
Personally I like to start kids off on bolt guns, makes them stop and think about each step....load, finger off trigger.....all that.
Another great gun you may want to think about is an older Nylon 66 or one of the CRC copies. They are very light, semi-automatic and pretty tough little guns. The CRC versions will run you a little more then a cookie cutter 10/22, and if you do get a real Nylon it will do nothing but go up in value.
They are very good guns and on the smaller side....they work real well for younger/smaller people.
IWAC
Member
My question is: has he learned the proper basics of shooting already? Giving a kid...any kid a semi-automatic firearm for their first gun will guarantee: 1. that they will empty the magazine every time, and 2. They will not hit anything! The 10-22 and Model 60 are fine guns, but a bolt action, either single shot or magazine/tube fed is probably the best first gun, if teaching marksmanship basics is the goal, IMO.
The 10-22 and Model 60 are fine guns, but a bolt action, either single shot or magazine/tube fed is probably the best first gun, if teaching marksmanship basics is the goal, IMO.borrowedtime69
Member
Go with the Ruger 10-22. I used to be a fan of Marlin but when Cerberus Capital bought them the quality control went bad.
If you can find an old Marlin Model 70 that would be ok.
The Ruger however can be nearly infinitely modified as he ages. I have done two different builds and love them like my children! LOL
For more info go to Rimfire Central online, they have several topics on Rugers covering every aspect
If you can find an old Marlin Model 70 that would be ok.
The Ruger however can be nearly infinitely modified as he ages. I have done two different builds and love them like my children! LOL
For more info go to Rimfire Central online, they have several topics on Rugers covering every aspect
Saleen322
Member
You said about having a Mossberg growing up. I recently bought a 146 (pictured) and I have a 46 just as nice. Got them for under $200 each from the local ads and they have REAL walnut stocks, have better triggers than my CZ 452 Varminter, and only go up in value the longer you have them.
You did have your location but I would not have a 10/22 as my only .22 as you are not permitted to hunt with them in my state so it is limited to plinker status. I like my CZ as it shoots pretty well but not like my better .22s.
...but if I had to sell all but one, this Kimber would be my keeper.
You did have your location but I would not have a 10/22 as my only .22 as you are not permitted to hunt with them in my state so it is limited to plinker status. I like my CZ as it shoots pretty well but not like my better .22s.
...but if I had to sell all but one, this Kimber would be my keeper.
centermass
Member
Thanks everyone! We figured out last night that he is left eye dominant, and really has trouble sighting with his right. That said, I think I'm going to do whatever I can to get him set up on a lefty rifle so it suits his needs best. Furthermore, for many reasons stated here, I think I'm going to go with a bolt rifle (at least as his first) so he can get the basics down pat. 900F mentioned the Savage line, and that looks to be a pretty good start.
Saleen322, those are some fine looking rifles. My Mossberg growing up looked pretty similar, except that it had a Mannlicher stock. Same trigger guard with the integral finger grooves, and yes, pretty nice wood. The folding peep sight was missing from mine, but the tapped holes were there! I had to deal with just the blade sights.
Saleen322, those are some fine looking rifles. My Mossberg growing up looked pretty similar, except that it had a Mannlicher stock. Same trigger guard with the integral finger grooves, and yes, pretty nice wood. The folding peep sight was missing from mine, but the tapped holes were there! I had to deal with just the blade sights.
Deltaboy1984
Member
This the 500 series are solid well built rifles.
vaupet
Member
I would never go semi-auto for a first, slow is better to teach the basics and I fel more comfortable instructing with a bolt action because there is some safe (unloaded) time after the should to give instructions before entering the next round in the chamber.
CZ is nice, don't know about savage, Anschutz is great
For my lefthand/lefteye son I bought a Browning T-bolt.
He loves it and works the straight pull lever with his right hand while holding his left hand at the pistol grip.
All that being said, I would mention all of my kids love that great american rimfire tradition called Marlin 39A, which is perfectly ambidextrous. That one would probably be past down to his children as the 'first rifle I got from granddad'.
greetz
Peter
CZ is nice, don't know about savage, Anschutz is great
For my lefthand/lefteye son I bought a Browning T-bolt.
He loves it and works the straight pull lever with his right hand while holding his left hand at the pistol grip.
All that being said, I would mention all of my kids love that great american rimfire tradition called Marlin 39A, which is perfectly ambidextrous. That one would probably be past down to his children as the 'first rifle I got from granddad'.
greetz
Peter
Fryerpower
Member
My question is: has he learned the proper basics of shooting already? Giving a kid...any kid a semi-automatic firearm for their first gun will guarantee: 1. that they will empty the magazine every time, and 2. They will not hit anything!
What you said got me thinking back to how I learned to shoot. I was given a daisy BB/Pellet gun at around age 10. We had an acre of land with farm land on two sides so there was plenty of room to shoot safely. The fact that you had to pull back a knob to load each BB (like a bolt and magazine design) and that you had to pump the air pressure up for each shot made me make each shot count. No spray & pray with that BB gun.
It is about that time for my son and I don't live on an acre in the country.
Anyway thanks for the thread. It is a good read.
Jim
teetertotter
Member
You might want to look up the NEW Ruger American on rimfirecentral. $269.00. I would have bought one if they had at the time.
I agree with others that as a first gun a light weight, magazine fed bolt gun is very hard to beat.
Tube fed guns are IMHO less safe than mag fed guns especially in inexperienced hands. If a round hangs up in the feed tube you can end up with a "hot" gun even if you believed it to be empty.
Tube fed guns are IMHO less safe than mag fed guns especially in inexperienced hands. If a round hangs up in the feed tube you can end up with a "hot" gun even if you believed it to be empty.
centermass
Member
Settled
I think I've decided on the Savage MkII lefty bolt rifle. Looks great, I've heard some pretty good word here and there about it, and it's packed with features in my price range. As much as I wanted to stick to the old standbys, after hearing from all of you, I reconsidered some things. Primarily, the tube magazine, partly because the technique doesn't transfer well to most other centerfire rifles, but more importantly because I don't want to worry about him sweeping the muzzle, even during reloads. Also, after serious consideration, I feel now that the bolt is the way to go, especially considering that I want him to slow down and to focus on the basics of marksmanship for now. I just needed to learn that there are more options out there than I first thought that will fit those needs.
This is precisely why I have kept reading this forum for the last eleven or so years, even though I don't post much. The collective knowledge and experience here is fantastic and a great resource. Truly The High Road.
Thanks to everyone for your insight and opinions, especially 900F, who went out of his way and provided some additional assistance via PM.
I'll be sure to post some updates after the purchase is made (which will be closer to Christmas) and we get some father/son range time in.
I think I've decided on the Savage MkII lefty bolt rifle. Looks great, I've heard some pretty good word here and there about it, and it's packed with features in my price range. As much as I wanted to stick to the old standbys, after hearing from all of you, I reconsidered some things. Primarily, the tube magazine, partly because the technique doesn't transfer well to most other centerfire rifles, but more importantly because I don't want to worry about him sweeping the muzzle, even during reloads. Also, after serious consideration, I feel now that the bolt is the way to go, especially considering that I want him to slow down and to focus on the basics of marksmanship for now. I just needed to learn that there are more options out there than I first thought that will fit those needs.
This is precisely why I have kept reading this forum for the last eleven or so years, even though I don't post much. The collective knowledge and experience here is fantastic and a great resource. Truly The High Road.
Thanks to everyone for your insight and opinions, especially 900F, who went out of his way and provided some additional assistance via PM.
I'll be sure to post some updates after the purchase is made (which will be closer to Christmas) and we get some father/son range time in.
I'll add two more suggestions:
If range protocol allows, I would pull a Bore Snake through the barrel every 50 rds. Most 22lr problems I have had (using decent ammo) came from fouled chambers. Also a tooth brush to clean the bolt face at the same time is a good idea.
The best ammo I have found for general use is CCI 40gr solid standard velocity if you can find it. CCI Mini Mags are also good but more $. This are not match ammo but it seems to shoot very well in the dozen or so rifles I tested.
If range protocol allows, I would pull a Bore Snake through the barrel every 50 rds. Most 22lr problems I have had (using decent ammo) came from fouled chambers. Also a tooth brush to clean the bolt face at the same time is a good idea.
The best ammo I have found for general use is CCI 40gr solid standard velocity if you can find it. CCI Mini Mags are also good but more $. This are not match ammo but it seems to shoot very well in the dozen or so rifles I tested.
ColtPythonElite
Member
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Ain't no need to boresnake a bolt gun every 50 rounds.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I wouldn't keep a .22LR rifle I had to snake every 50rds.
They are not. I never understood the hatred for tubular magazines. You typically get double or more the capacity than detachable magazines without an ugly protrusion, they're quicker and easier to load, they are readily topped off and you can't lose them. Been using them for 30yrs without a single problem emptying them but at the range, it's easier to just run them dry.
We got a 10/22 and love it so much we got another one. One is basically stock except for Tech Sights and the other one has tons of aftermarket parts. I think it is this flexibility and the fact that it is still a great rifle that makes the 10/22 a great choice.
Fella's;
As we should all know by now, every rimfire will have it's own idea of what it wants to be fed. That being said, I've never run across a .22 that liked being fed over-lubed gunky cheap ammo. If you use that kinda stuff, then yes, running a bore snake through isn't a bad idea, but if you use decent ammo it's not needed. Decent ammo does not mean high dollar, just not the bottom-of-the-barrel stuff where rounds stick together when you try to get 'em outta the box.
900F
As we should all know by now, every rimfire will have it's own idea of what it wants to be fed. That being said, I've never run across a .22 that liked being fed over-lubed gunky cheap ammo. If you use that kinda stuff, then yes, running a bore snake through isn't a bad idea, but if you use decent ammo it's not needed. Decent ammo does not mean high dollar, just not the bottom-of-the-barrel stuff where rounds stick together when you try to get 'em outta the box.
900F
Saleen322
Member
Savage makes a quality product and it will give a lifetime of service. I have had nothing but good experiences with them.
Uhh.....no. Tubular magazines are more expensive to make, set up, and fit than a simple stamped magazine but I don't equate cheaper to better.
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It sounds like you have made a good choice. A buddy of mine has an older model of the Savage .22 bolt action. I have shot it a couple of times. It is a nice accurate rifle. The iron sights on it are nicer than the sights on my Marlin model 60.
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