BSA Shooting Program advice

[Insectguy]

This is NOT a request for funds, but merely a quest for experiences.

We've received a grant from the NRA and other sources to start a shooting program for the local BSA Troop. As such, we've got a total of about $5500. We have a local range who has volunteered range time, as well as a place to store the equipment (Scout Hut w/security), but that's about it.

I will affiliate with the CMP on Friday, so we may be pursuing rifles through them.

We will be buying a safe, which will be about $1200. The rest is available.

Although this will be a shooting program, we are not under the constraints of a shooting team (i.e., have to have the best). What I'm looking for is recommendations for rifles which meet the BSA criteria and are about $500 or less. It should be better accuracy than the average StuffMart squirrel gun.

BSA criteria-- single shot .22 caliber (can have a magazine as long as it's shot one at a time-- sleds?), trigger pull cannot be any less than 3#, and iron sights. That's about it.

The CMP sells the Kimbers, but I don't know if we want to go the route of such a rifle with no replacement parts. Perhaps a bit of paranoia from previous experiences.

If I can find a source of older Anschutz's, that would be ideal.

Thoughts?

 

[petrel800]

What about surplus romainian trainers. They are bolt action, 5 round mag, .22lr, with iron sites and mine has been extremely accurate. Right now they sell for about $60 wholesale, and parts guns can be bought for about $20-30 a piece when bought in lots of 5.

For info on the Romainian Trainers go here- http://www.surplusrifle.com/romanian1969/index.asp

Also, Southern Ohio Gun had straight pull bolt .22lr BRNO rifles in their flyer last month. Never seen or shot one personally, but they had a price of $150 on them I think.

Both would be effective trainers, and would leave you money to begin buying Garands and Springfields.

 

[Greg L]

The Romanians are a good idea. Our troop has old Remington & Winchesters bought from the CMP way back when they were a couple bucks each (& we turn 12 year olds loose on them ) but that isn't a financially realistic option for you now. Use the money on cheaper trainers & perhaps set aside some to get a nice rifle or two if you have some boys who can shoot up to the level of the weapon & won't be using them to pry up rocks to make a fire pit (don't ask :banghead: ).

One of the things that we are doing is looking into the NRA's marksmanship program. As it is now, our program is essentially get them on line, give them some ammo, & let them try to hit the paper. This will give them a structured course of fire & various levels to achieve.

 

[Cindog]

How about a CZ-452 Lux? It should meet everyone of your needs and it has an excellent reputation as a very, very accurate .22. Pricewise, you should be around $275 to $300 and you can get a single shot adapter for $11.99. If you want to spend even less, then consider a CZ-452 Special for around $200 which is similar to the Lux but with a beechwood stock as opposed to the Lux's Turkish walnut. Either way, I doubt you could go wrong for your purposes. Check out RimfireCentral for all you would ever want to know about the CZ rimfires.

 

[Bear Gulch]

Henry has special rates for rifle instrutor type folks. Check that out. In IDF&G Hunter ed (I teach both rifle and bow) use Remington 514s. I would assume that Remington would get you a good price if you wrote them through you council office.

 

[mainmech48]

IIRC, you may still be able to obtain surplus .22 target rifles through the CMP. I got two nice old Mossberg (can't remember exactly which model) .22s complete with aperture receiver sights and replacable insert fronts many years back from the DCM.

As I said, I don't know if there might be anything of the sort left in inventory, but it might be worth a letter or 'phone call to find out.

 

[Ironworker]

I have no idea if they meet the BSA requirements, but EAA has a line of Baikal-manufactured Biathalon rifles. Five round removeable magazines, chambering .22LR, and a neat and very solid feeling manually cycled toggle action. I haven't bought one yet, but it's on the short list of "rifles I will soon posess". They can be gotten new for about $350 per from your favorite gunshop.

They seem like the sort of rifle that can sustain a lot of shooting and the occassional oops without needing to get sent to another continent for parts and/or maintainance.

 

[Trebor]

Check out the CMP website at www.odcmp.com

I think they still have some Mossberg .22's that would fit the bill. See what they have on the sales page.

 

[ScottsGT]

Personally, I would stay away from any surplus guns. While they are inexpensive, if you have problems, you might not have a good resource to fall back on. I'm not going to recommend any brand, but I'd look for new rifles from a company that can provide new parts if needed.
After spending a wet, muddy weekend in the woods with about 500 cub scouts and Webelos, all I can offer is "GOOD LUCK"

 

[boofus]

Nice to see there is still a Rifle & Shotgun merit badge.

If the leftwing nuts ever take hold of the Scouts you can kiss goodbye to: fishing, archery, rifle & shotgun, cooking, crime prevention, nuclear science, pets, woodworking, etc...

 

[rms/pa]

while i cannot make any recommendations as to
rifles, i have trained groups of young shooters.

reccomendations,
do the four rules/safety/nomenclature stuff
at a meeting.

at the range a one to four ratio of adult to trainee should be the highest you go. one to one is best if all the adults are on the same page.

go over the four rule and do a demo shoot(you or someone who can SHOOT)
take a 2/4 put a saw kerf in it lengthwise, clamp the 2/4 to a target stand at 50'
put a quarter for each trainee or each group of trainees in the saw kerf. plug the quarters.(facesaving hint, have some pluged quarters in your pocket too) show them to the trainees go over safety stuff again

go over sight picture and trigger control

then put up some 25yds large bore pistol targets at 25 ' have the trainees shoot at them prone. with sand bag rests.

a useful item for each position is an ammo board. with a drill press in a 2/4 or 2/6 drill 100
1/4" holes half a .22LR deep.

have fun

rms/pa
sorry if this is a teaching your granma to suck eggs situation.

 

[Bear Gulch]

Acutially the BSA added a hunting Merit badge last year. Unfortunately the scout must photograph a critter, instead of harvest one, after stalking to earn the MB.

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Hunting Merit Badge

Actually, I WOULD like to have my Scout(s) take a photo of the critter -- but only after it has been harvested. Just wouldn't seem right, otherwise.