What gun for nephews? Christmas edition

[El Tejon]

Earlier this year I had asked what gun for my oldest nephew's 8th birthday.http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=186287&highlight=Gun+nephew


The CZ Scout was recommended, I acted on that recommendation and the rifle has become a HUGE hit with Noah, the 8 year old, who wants to shoot everyday if not more.

I purchased 5 extra magazines (4 five rounds, 1 10 round) and he is apparently getting quite adept at mag changes. My brother has ordered a proper small sized militree shooting sling and will (hopefully) soon start teaching him position shooting and get his off that *&#^$#@ picnic table.

Because of the response your recommendation for the CZ Scout created, I asked you again: what gun for nephews?

I need two presents for Christmas:

Noah, age 8, owns Winchester M67, Cricket, CZ Scout and Savage 101 pistol.

Josiah, age 5, shoots his big brother's Cricket, but lately has been asking my brother for "his own gun".

Recommendation for Noah? I am leaning Ruger Bearcat or case of CB longs.

Recommendation for Josiah? I am leaning Marlin 915Y.

What say you?

*Edit: No shotguns (yet).

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Ruger Bearcat is extremely cool, and probably the most durable gun I've ever owned. If I had to bet on which of my guns would survive being tossed out of a 20th-story window, I'd go with the Bearcat. Grip is a small as can possibly accomodate an adult hand, so works for big or little folks. Surprisingly accurate too.

Another big plus (for us modern heathens): it comes in stainless. Should probably last a couple centuries with proper care.

The only downside (again, for us modern heathens): it loads Colt-style, with the half cock. If you get it for a 9-year old, I'd use pretty close supervision on the loading/unloading process.

-MV

 

[El Tejon]

MV, yes, Bearcat is tempting. However, Noah was a premature baby and, probably until puberty, less than average in stature (he did not "bake" fully to use my mother's phrase).

Matt is going to bring him over to Indianapolis for the October gun show and we will "fit" him for a Bearcat to see if he can shoot it. He has shot my brother's Ruger MkII. Even if it does not fit him, he can "grow into it."

What about Josiah, MV? Do you like my Marlin idea? He's 5 but normal and a little taller than his peers (Noah is shorter than his peers).

 

[sm]

El Tejon...

Shotgun Disclaimer was because of Me wanting to recommend a 28 ga. Huh?
Save up your money Uncle El T, them nephews are going to get bigger and I get more determined and hard- headed as I age

--

Recommendation for Josiah? I am leaning Marlin 915Y.

AGREE!!

Noah, age 8 : Range Bag.

i-shot site is being updated http://www.ishot-inc.com/
I won i-shot's clay shooter's bag - see it here on TFL
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2028378&postcount=1

I have been assisting some ladies and kids, the kids vary in age and this bag is perfect for them to grow into. These kids are shooting .22 rifles mostly, and plenty of room for eyes, ears, ammo, and water bottle, mom's tape, mom's staple gun, mom's ...

Though a shotgun bag, the ladies messed with it for handguns too. So did I. Works very well for handguns...


Noah can grow into this with various shooting needs.

---
Books.

I am a huge fan of Ruark. If these guys do not have The Old Man And The Boy and its Sequel, they each need one and signed by Uncle El T.
In fact the young men should eventually have all of Ruark's works.

Never hurts to toss in extra ammo...




Steve

 

[RyanM]

Well, let's see. At ages 5 and 8, they aren't too big, so stopping power isn't critical. But they're small and fast and hard to hit, so accuracy, rate of fire, and magazine capacity will be critical. I recommend an American 180. Failing that, one of those Calico carbines should work. 9mm would be good, but .22 would probably work okay, as long as you place your shots well and use CCI Mini-Mags.

 

[El Tejon]

Steve, shooter's bag? Hmmm, you may be on to something there. Matt uses an ammo can for their gear for now.

No shotguns (for now) provision because we want the boys to master trigger control. Matt and I both devoured Jeff Copper growing up and agree than shotguns encourage less than optimal trigger habits when one is a beginner.

Disclaimer: I have nothing against shotguns or shotgunners. I own just a few shotguns myself and have been to gun skul for shotgun.

 

[Waitone]

Henry Lever Action .22LR.

It just screams "young man".

 

[sm]

El Tejon,

I was going to PM this, then got to thinking others are getting ideas for kids together as well.

I have a soft spot for working and assisting with kids. Kids want their own gear, and many adults still have guns and gear from long long ago and these hold special memories. Call me sentimental or sappy , I do not care, I do believe in passing forward as passed to me.

That i-shot bag for instance, the kids went nuts over it. So did the ladies. It may be a clays bag for a shotgunner, but the size and design is flexible for hand guns, rifle ammo, and all that. Real Important is the size is mangageble for a kid.

Shoulder strap adjusts and has a REAL nice wide soft shoulder pad that does not slip. I had it loaded with about 5 boxes of 28ga shells, 3 or boxes each of 9mm and 45ACP and whatever was left of a brick of .22 ammo - half a brick I guess.

Kids from smallest to a bit bigger hefted it up and toted it [modeled it] and it did not drag the ground.

Mine is the green one in case "Uncle Tejon" wants to get "Uncle Steve" a matching handgun case .

This bag does NOT look like a "gun bag", which I prefer and suggest to folks with gun gear getting to and from the vehicle, or being in the trunk when groceries are put in.


--

Other kids stuff. Gun sleeves, rifle cases, and Sack-Ups.
Most of these kids like the Sack-Ups and then put rifles and single shot shotguns in Baseball bat carriers - again, being discreet. Out of sight- out of mind.

Cleaning kits, the Otis .177 and the Patchworm pull thru kits for .22s are "neat" and do not take up much room. Granted the ,22 rifles are rarely cleaned , but rain and such may dictate otherwise.
One young lady talked grandpa out of a Otis Tactical Kit , now "she is really cool" at the range with that. Mom needed to "borrow it" and well , I mean...cool!
Oh we stick a straw in with the pull thru to protect crowns and kids do not clean without adult supervison of course.

One kid saved up and got a one pc steel rod in .177, that one is special and stays at home.

--

Rimfire cartridge carriers. This one is the leather pouch that fits on a belt and a box of .22s fit inside. I "think" this came from a Cowboy action supply.
place. In the event the kids go hunt, this fits on belt, and they access shells.

--

Spinning targets, the one with flat base for rimfire. The ones that just "poke" into ground are hard to get into hard ground. Extra can of spray paint and orange/ green targets too.

--Make a kid / let a kid assist making their own PVC target stand. This is great for if they have their own property and safe to shoot.

Blame me...everyone else does, and truth is, some stuff is worth getting blamed for.

Steve

 

[Will Fennell]

ET, SM is on to somethun'

If you aren't gonna let the kids start with a smoothbore yet[I understand], at least start lookin' for a proper 28 ga now so you have it when they are ready.

Range bags are great....

Best yet, find some really kool shooting/safety glasses that they will WANT to wear. I've had luck with these....

http://www.shopberetta.com/e2wItemM...2555&parentLink=012000100:008000173:008000092

I know, I'm biased, but they are good glasses, and I haven't had any complaints outta any kidz yet Whatever it takes to get them used to wearing safety glasses!

Here is another idea.....when I was 8, the gun I looked forward to shooting the MOST, was my grandfathr's M1 Carbine......the right size, minimal recoil, good sights, and is was way tacticool in a retro kinda way.

Don't scrimp on the 28 ga. Call if I can help..... its what I do.

803-328-9321

 

[sm]

Mr. Fennell,

Please call me Steve btw.

Re: Shooting glasses, do those ride high on the brow? You know what I mean and where I am going in regard to top of frames being high enough to not obstruct view with head onto stock.

Re: Ear Muffs, since we are speaking of kids, what are the Kid's sized Ear Muffs that seem to work best for kids? Ones they will wear , comfortable and such.
[No I did not check the site link above, that is too easy].

Reloaders: For bigger kids perhaps, still, we have some kids assisting mom with MEC single stage reloaders for instance.
A MEC single stage is not all that expensive and for a bigger kid this is a great investment in quality time and learning about shotshells and putting together quality loadings.

<Sure wish Beretta would bring back the single shot shotguns they used to do ...hint....hint...hint>

Steve

 

[Will Fennell]

Kids ear protection......

I usually take "yellow foamy" ear plugs and cut them in half to fit little kids. They are comfortable,a nd do a great job of hearing protection. Besides, kids like it when you "custom make them" to fit. For handgun and rifle shooting, Dillon precison......you know the company and the website.....has GREAT kid sized[works for ladies too] ear muffs.

Steve, you are right, SOMEBODY needs to make a 28 ga single shot. Until then, ARMUSA shotshells make 20 ga 3/4 oz target loads. I don't hav ethe website handy....google it and tell Ed Arrighi[ the head guy @ ARMUSA USA I sent you!

I just taught my SO's 11 year old niece to shoot a smoothbore with a ROSSI single shot and these ARMUSA 20 ga loads....worked great!

 

[Will Fennell]

I goofed....

Steve,
With regard to your first question...."....do they ride high enough...?"

Of course they do.....or I would not have recommended them

Sorry buddy, I couldn't resist

Yup, there is NO FRAME on top, so they give great FOV to the shooter...

 

[sm]

Mr. Fennell,

We are on the same page.

I kinda figured those glasses had FOV taken into consideration in design.

I have shot shotguns a time or three. Muffs , impeded my low gun mounting gun to face. So before the foam plugs had strings, I put strings on mine. In fact I tied two pair together simple because, if one takes out a ear plug, seems that one plug is never in the front shirt pocket where it was put.
If one is only wearing one pair, Murphy will show up and one-half of that pair will come off, or something . Two pair keeps Murphy at bay

E-A-R Plugs [tm]with the blue strings and similar [ forget the company] are what I use and the kids do as well as they want to do as I do and the other adults.

That is of course until they talk grandpa out of nice pair of muffs, now matters get interesting, "I'm confused" , "No you are not, wear both", "Okay" ...I dunno, wearing muff and two pair of plugs around the neck is fine by me.

Oh yes we also trim, and we let them wear two pair like I do , yeah I know scary thought kids wanting to emulate me. Still the kids do not lose plugs when they need them and they are real good about checking everyone else on safety rules and gear.

A box of these foam plugs are neat for a kid. Not expensive and we have done these for prizes. Be it a raffle or a shooting contest.

I lost the last contest btw, seems all the kids won something and they shared stuff like the box of plugs.

Oh yeah, I got beat by kids, not ashamed to admit it. Some of my best Mentors have been kids.

They stuck the ittiest- bittiest Jelly bean on a crosstie about 70- 80 steps downrange and I was to hit it using a kids single shot rifle, iron sights, standing.
I'd been tickeled just to see the jelly bean

"Where is the target?'
<giggle> "Down there"
<I peer, don't see anything like a target>
"Give me a hint"
"Its a black jelly bean on that dealie".
<I look at a spot about 20 yds out>
"No , further out"
<My head is rasied up, kid is pointing standing as I am kneeling, other kids giggling and snorting>

Hey, I could have gotten lucky, I hit the end of the crosstie that was facing us....jelly bean "stuck" real good in a depression of the thing.