Thanks for the responses. I haven't made a decision yet, but have have done some checking around. The Rugers and Marlins I've looked at are nice. I'm interested in what Rossi has as well. They have a 3 barrel youth model. Comes with a .22 rifle barrel, 20g shotgun barrel, and a .50 caliber ML barrel. Thats not a bad combination at all. I've only found one price, was around $300. Not bad. Anyone have any experience with these at all? I'm just wondering how hard barrels are to change and how they stand up to use. I'm going to have to try and find one here locally and check it out before I decided what to get.
WisHunt, I thought about getting them a pellet gun, but decided to go straight to a .22. If I got them a pellet gun it'd be too hard to resist using it to take potshots at the neighbors cats that are always in my yard. Hrm..thats not a bad idea though...

Dont forget to check the gun regluations for what guns you are aloud to have!

I would have suggested a Ruger 10-22 but I thought you were looking for single shots.The Ruger is a great little rifle.Very dependable.This year they are making the 10-22 in the 40th Anniversary model which will add some value to it down the road.Wal*Mart has a special 10-22 in S/S with a longer barrel then the standard 18 1/2"bbl. I've been thinking of buying one myself. They run right at 200.00.Allot of people speak highly of the Marlin Semi autos. Years ago I saw tons of them with feeding and jamming problems.For the money go for the Ruger.

Ruger Redhawk

I had the same dilemma this year with my 12 year old son. While I already have a Ruger 10/22, and he has already shot it before, I cannot recommend any semiauto as a first rifle for kids. I bought him a stainless Marlin single shot, and he loves it. It teaches him some shooting discipline, which I did not really learn when my dad gave me the 10/22 years ago.

I totally agfree with other posts that recommend the Ruger on its merits of value and reliability, however, and once you are satisfied that your girls have learned the basics there is nothing wrong with getting a 10/22 as well.

After all, you DO have TWO girls!

I agree with this somewhat.... The common, Marlin Model 60 is always available, and is the worlds most cheapest .22LR - the most bang for the buck. [8D]

However.... Like Ruger Redhawk said, Marlin's are notorious for jamming problems - but only if you don't clean it regularly. Marlins are finicky and absolutely demand to be kept spotlessly clean inside and out. I mean, clean it by totally breaking it down and using an old toothbrush with bore cleaner after every 100 rounds. I still have my boyhood Marlin Model 60 and it is still a great shooter!

But again, if you want total ruggedness and reliability, go with Ruger 10/22. They are legendary.

Butch A.

dmacl , Ha ha ha , yea the cats would be running scared that's for sure.

I saw that Rossi and thought it would be a good thing also... but then I thought, "is that really the gun that they would do a lot of shooting and hunting with"? hmmmmm nope. So when they get old enough to start shooting they will start with a 22lr probably a ruger 10/22.

Another vote for the Savage Little Favorite. The can't be beat for simple light and fun to shoot. This 60 year old kid still loves shooting it. I started with one of the originals.

I started out with a Chipmunk. It is a single shot and shoots .22 shorts - .22 LR. I would start with single shot because with a semi-auto after they shoot there is another shell ready to go and when they turn around to say "I hit it" they dont realize there is another shell ready to go. But make sure that you do get them shooting so they know how to use guns and are not affraid of them.

go for the savage bolt, cheap, reliable, functional. Stay away from the semi-autos, they are much more dangerous than the others styles, not for beginners.

i would start them off with a clip a good 22 would be a savage has a ten clip magazine and scope already on it but you could take it off intill you need it it will run you about 100 dollars a walmart