fitting a 10/22 for my 9 year old

[mr_dove]

We recently moved into a rural area where target shooting is free rather than having to pay $15/hour. I'm anxious to get something my son can learn on. We were gifted a Winchester Model 67 but it is too large and too heavy for my son.

I've thought alot about picking up a Ruger 10/22. I think that a stock version would likewise be too heavy and too large for him though.

How about getting an extendable stock for a 10/22. That would make the length of pull adjustable. how would it affect the weight?

I have 4 kids right now so having an adjustable stock might make life better as the different children grow older and start wanting to use the rifle.

Any other tips of fitting a rifle to a kid?

 

[TonyAngel]

I had a similar situation a little bit ago. I started pricing some of the nicer kits that allow the use of an adjustable stock on the 10/22. The prices on some of them was just rediculous. With some of the rigs, you actually have to do a bunch of disassembly just to clean the rifle.

I considering the overall cost, I just went with a Smith 15/22. It's a fun rifle too.

I suppose it depends on whether you already have a 10/22. If you don't, you'll have to include the cost of the rifle in what you're going to spend.

Oh, I should mention that I also bought a Henry youth model lever action. My son liked that a lot more than the 15/22. It was pretty light too.

 

[Red Cent]

The Mossberg Tactical 22 is coming soon. AR look a like for $286.00. Hope it runs. Too much to hope for?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Consider the tapco t6.

 

[1KPerDay]

IMO Get a cheap OEM takeoff wood stock for 20 bucks and saw a bit off the butt, and use whatever pad you like. When kid grows a bit, put the original back on.

Don't put a scope on.. they're heavy and it's better to learn shooting with open sights (or a light/small red dot) IMO.

 

[wnycollector]

Another option might be the Marlin model 60sn since it only weighs 5lbs and runs $151 from buds. Here is the link http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_323/products_id/41693

 

[dsb1829]

Same boat as you. My son is 9 and on the mid-small end of the spectrum. I have a winchester 68 single shot I thought would be great. But it is a bit heavy, long in the barrel, and hard for him to pull the firing pin back on.

I also built him up a 10/22 SS synthetic. It is a little stiff to pull the bolt on for him, but he can load the mag and manipulate the gun much better. Because of that he enjoys it much more. For bench/range shooting he can work the 10/22 just fine. I am going to restrict his use to that for now. Maybe in 1-2yr he will be trained enough where I will get him out hunting. By then it should fit just right.

If I had to have it fit him now, I would put on one of the 6pos stocks.

 

[trueg50]

You could go with the 10/22 M1 stock.

It is quite a bit shorter and is the same size as the real M1 stock, so you can try that out at the local gunshop before buying it. I greatly prefer it over the existing stock; makes the rifle super handy in the woods and great for smaller folks.

Honestly though, if you want an adjustable stock rifle; go check out a Smith and Wesson MP 15-22. Super light, and the stock is fully adjustable to fit kids or adults (or where you need a compact rifle).

The following is from the Gunblast review

The six-position buttstock adjusts to fit shooters of all sizes. I often let my five-year-old grandson shoot this type of rifle, and the light recoil and adjustable buttstock, combined with the light weight of this S&W makes it an ideal trainer for youngsters, allowing the rifle to easily grow with the child.

 

[ShroomFish]

Check out this link for modifying the original stock to make it, well, lighter... : http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325320

Other that than that you could do like trueg50 said and do M1 Carbine stock, they are very light and very short...

 

[xplag]

Maybe I'm a bit off, but I think you should take your kid and allow him to hold the 10/22 or something you choose to see if it is too heavy for him (if this is possible/your LGS will allow it, I haven't seen any problems before). If the firearm is too heavy (or large), think of modifying then, but I think a 10/22 should be okay for most kids.

I think the Henry lever is a great idea, like TonyAngel mentioned. But maybe I'm a sucker for lever actions and completely biased...

 

[Strykervet]

I had a Marlin 60 at that age. My dad had the 10/22, and I wanted it. The Marlin was longer and unweildy (but at the time less than $100 at Wal Mart). The 10/22 was more comfortable and easier to use.

You kid won't be 9 for long, and there is a big difference between 9 and 11. If you get a child's rifle, just get a cheapo pump or some such and sell it off when he gets older. Otherwise, get him the 10/22 and he'll have it the rest of his life and always remember you when he holds it.

Note between the ages of 8 and 10, I went from a 20ga. single shot to a 12ga. --stiff, but doable. Never understimate a child.

Whatever you do, don't get him the tacticool stuff. If you want him to learn the fundamentals, stick with the basics. I think the 10/22 is about as technologically advanced as a child needs.