Gift for my Father's 50th.

[wh!plash]

I kind of out-did myself a few years back for my dad's Christmas present. He's a huge shooter, and there's pretty much nothing off the shelf I could get him he doesn't have. So I did a set of laser-engraved Alumagrips, and they turned out awesome.

His father was a pharmacist, and they ran the (only) drug store, soda shop, and movie theater in their small Oklahoma town. He still has the old malt machines, coke memoribilia, etc in the house. So I designed up a logo for the old drug store (in the Coca-Cola style) and had it laser-etched onto some smooth alumagrips. Was definitely a hit. Really hard to top it the next year...

Design:

The look matches a Kimber Eclipse pretty well:

 

[youngda9]

For my dad's 65th I paid for us to go on a Pheasant hunting trip with guides and dogs. Was time well spent together. We had a great time in the field doing something we've never done together. Had some good eats afterwards as well.

 

[knotquiteawake]

Not sure he'll hunt, he just easing himself into comfortability with firearms.

I like the looks and price of the Marlin Model XT-22 http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/xt/XT22.asp

Any of you guys know anything about it? I can get it for under $200, it seems more readily available too. It says it takes .22LR does that mean it cannot take the 22 shorts? They own a acre property but thats within a "gated community" with CC&Rs that prohibit shooting, but i know his neighbor there has said he just uses the "sub sonic" rounds at the back of his own property and it sounds like nothing more than a cap gun.

 

[youngda9]

How about a membership to a range and boxes of ammo?

 

[highlander 5]

Someone suggested a Sharps and if you want the real deal and not the italian version,hold on to your wallet and beprepared for a wait. I bought a Shiloh Sharps 20 years ago and I waited 2 or 3 years for the rifle. It was well worth the wait when it arrived. I would suggest a Marlin 39a and a Ruger Super Single Six.

 

[knotquiteawake]

How about a membership to a range and boxes of ammo?

he buys his ammo 1000 rounds at a time. He's kind of an accessory/ammo nut already.

I think I'm definitely going the Marlin (or even Glenfield, the Sears branded Marlin) .22 route. I just have to find the right one in the right place.

 

[cluttonfred]

Within your price range, here are a few ideas:

Mosin Nagant M91/30, 7.62x54R, with all the accessories. You could pay extra for "hand select" and a few boxes of ammo and still stay under budget.
Marlin Model 60 .22LR
Ruger 10/22 .22LR
Benjamin 392 pump .22 pellet gun. With that he could shoot in the basement or the backyard when he doesn't have the time to go the range.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

If he is turning 50 in 2011, you're looking at 1961, right?

 

[knotquiteawake]

I've got a lead on a .22lr Henry Golden Boy for just over $400 (not bad for the rual area they live in and for no shipping costs or extra FFL fees) right in his hometown. I'm polling my other 3 siblings for help. So far I've got $100, and $50 promised from two of them, just need to see what the sister wants to help if anything at all. Even with that $150 I might be able to make it work. The dealer is willing to help me make it happen even though I'm long distance too.

 

[RyanAnchors]

Most definitely needs a rifle!

Get him that .22lr or maybe something more exotic.
Since you are his son, you can interfamial transfer anything to him that is legal in California.

Check out this website and ask there if you need references for shops, laws, etc www.calguns.net
That is my home forum. A lot of the members there are members here too.

What part of California is he in (like which county)?
If he lives in one of the counties that issues CCW, I say you pay for his CCW fees!!

 

[youngda9]

For the man who lives in a gated community and clearly has some money...I would suggest a neat event other than any item which he could easily afford. Everyone is always trying to find a "thing" to buy...I find myself doing that for my father. My father has money enough to buy whatever he wants...and he sure does. So for me to find something that he would want that he hasn't already bought for himself is quite difficult. All of this things are fun until the next week when he picks up another and is onto something else, the next latest and greatest...so it's hard to keep up.

The best times that I've had with my father are going to events...for us that is hunting trips, car shows, gun shows, etc. The hunting trips are what means the most to me, and I know him as well. I can't remember what I got my dad for last Christmas or his birthday last year...but we will never forget our times together doing fun things out running around.

I would suggest you take your dad somewhere next time you are together, do something fun that you both enjoy or wouldn't normally do. Something that you know he'd like to do but doesn't because he doesn't want to spend for it or has nobody to do it with. Take a road trip overnight somewhere. It'll be something that he'll remember...and it will be especially memorable since you now live in TX and he is in CA. Time together is limited as-is. Not sure if he will want or use a firearm since he doesn't seem to be the type to acquire them.

 

[rodensouth]

I love the sentiment youngda9, as I'm 16 hour drive from my dad and my folks feel like gas/plane money for me to visit is a gift.

I'm not suggesting the OP doesn't visit often.

You could fly there and go buy a marlin 60 with him and go burn some ammo, although I haven't priced tickets in a long time.

 

[splithoof]

Get him some good quality steel targets, AR-500 grade. I really like MGM and Salute Products. You can order their products online, and have it shipped directly to him. The Salute 10-8/EAG with large spring base is a very durable reactive steel target that will last a long time, and can be used in a variety of ways. He will never wear it out with pistol rounds, and at 100 yards it will take many thousands of rifle hits before its time to change the plate.

 

[InkEd]

Good idea on the grips. He could get a set for the Beretta.

 

[RyanAnchors]

Yeah AR500 is a good idea too if you can find it.

I got a raw sheet of it and made my plate and sold the rest (quadrupled my money!)

It holds up to anything without even a ding. There are a few rounds that will put a hurt on it (.50 BMG, and some others), but .30-06 surplus shatters like glass against it.

 

[flanker08]

My dad just had his 60th birthday. I found a K-22 on Gunbroker made in 1951. Seemed to be a real hit.

 

[Ogham]

you can get him a nice hand-picked mosin-nagant and engrave "happy 50th birthday dad" in the stock or get a Savage Mark-II/ruger-22 and do the same

 

[knotquiteawake]

Looks like I got my siblings to all kick in a little bit of money to help me buy the Henry Golden Boy .22lr. Its a beautiful rifle and everything I've read says its fun to shoot. He really likes collectibles so its right up his ally. In fact the Beretta he bought was the 25th anniversary of the m9, so its already got beautiful wood grips with a special logo and everything.

 

[olafhardtB]

gun for dad

Henry makes some plain 22levers that might work. I see a lot of good 22's at gun shows. I have run into some ridiculously cheap bolt actions at shows. Buy one, shoot it if you dont like it or you do go from there. You might try this. Go into some pawn or gun shop and ask"What is the best deal you can make me for a used 22 for $100. 00. I want to give it to my dad for his birthday." BTW You can send a rifle through the mail.

 

[1911fan]

I've heard, from a source I consider to be fairly reliable, that the "gold/brass" finish on the Golden Boy scratches pretty easily. I have no knowledge of this myself but it might be worth considering.

Anybody out there got hands on experience?

The Marlin .22's you were looking at seem pretty good, I'd suggest a tubular mag. Even though I have a 10/22, I'd suggest the Marlin model 60. Semi-auto .22's are lots more fun plinking.

Check California laws and postal regulations, no need to have whatever you buy confiscated then scrapped and melted...

ed