.22 for kids
 

So my daughters, 12 and 10, are asking for a gun. Well, I've got a 30-30 and a shotgun, but have no experience with .22s. I'm looking for suggestions for a good .22 for kids. Something that is simple and easy to use. I haven't decided single shot or clip yet so am open there. Something tapped for a scope would be good, although I won't put one on it until they learn to shoot open sights. And price, well I'm not saying I wanna gun for nothing, but the less I have to spend the better, I'm working on my wife to let me get a muzzleloader too. :)

RE: .22 for kids
 

my grandson (10yrs young) has a cricket, its a neat little gun around 100 bucks, the sights are a little chessy[:'(], i also bought him a birchwood casey resetable target, and it is neat. i like a 10/22 ruger and its only 60 something bucks more but maybe a little big for a youngster.

good luck, and let us know what you end up with

RE: .22 for kids
 

I would get a bold action. I started on a 10/22 and developed some bad habits cause I knew i had 8 more on the way.

RE: .22 for kids
 

I have a 7 and 11 year old pair of boys. . . .We started gun safety with BB Guns first, bought a bolt action single shot, one in one shot no mistakes. We have now moved up to another single shot but a .22, Russi, Rossi ? They run just over $100 and come in a number of calibers and can include a 2 barrel offering, I got the .22 and 20Ga one. Break open like a shot gun, so once again no supprises, one shell in one shot open and do it again.

As a bonus, I use .22 shorts in it to shoot Armadillos in my yard at night. Little laser pointer above the sights works out pretty good.

RE: .22 for kids
 

I started on a H&R single shot bolt action. it has a peep sight. i wouldnt want any other open sight. My farthest shot to date with it is a gopher at 125yards standing. lucky shot i must say but its one hell of a straight shooter. with a single shot you learn to take your time and get you aim right IMHO.

RE: .22 for kids
 

I have a uger 10/22 that my grandfather gave me.
I think it would be great for kids. it has an 18" barrel.
and it just over 6 lbs. short reach like 12-14 in I think not too sure on it but is
a very small reach for an average man.
I have a simmons 3-10x44 adj. scope and can hit dimes at fifty yards. every time with good ammo.

great gun for $90 tax and registration. and can be found and many pawn shops.

RE: .22 for kids
 

very good point i would also suggest a single shot or a bolt gun.

RE: .22 for kids
 

If you are going to be shooting in the yard at paper targets, think about a nice Gammo pellet gun for the girls. Make sure that they can cock it and load it. The ammo is cheaper than dirt and they are still deadly on targets and ground squirels. I like the ones that come with a scope as a package.

Pellet guns arn't loud and don't kick. The ammo isn't volitile (not like .22 shells are that dangerous but you never know) and, with the proper cardboard backstop and target, can be used inside if you have the room.

On the .22 I would start with the Ruger 10/22 youth model. It's really a life long gun. Kids can develop bad habits but I bet you will be out there shooting with them and you can control the urge to rip 10 rounds off in a blink. If you really want to control the rate of fire, get two clips and put just one round in at a time. Then eject the clip and insert the new one. No different than breaking a gun open or working a bolt.

Good to hear about some girls getting into it. Too bad they can't vote in Nov!

RE: .22 for kids
 

Isn't Savage making the "Favorite" again? I think that would be a good little rifle to start kids out with.I saw some a couple years back.Haven't looked for any lately.Just a suggestion.

Ruger Redhawk

RE: .22 for kids
 

Go with a gun for a lifetime, get a Ruger 10/22. Or the Marlin semi ain't bad. If you get crickets, or others, they do what I have seen with my nephew, they sit in the corner when they get a Ruger 10/22. Besides, they can give it to their kids later.

RE: .22 for kids
 

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...

RE: .22 for kids
 

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

RE: .22 for kids
 

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

RE: .22 for kids
 

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!:D

RE: .22 for kids
 

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.

RE: .22 for kids
 

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.

RE: .22 for kids
 

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.

RE: .22 for kids
 

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.

RE: .22 for kids
 

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.

RE: .22 for kids
 

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

RE: .22 for kids
 

I took a neighbors 10 year old boy out to the gun range with my Marlin 60 auto loader in stainless and set up a pop can at 25 yards and was trying to teach him how to site and shoot. He took 4 shots and missed the pop can and decided that he would empty the gun at rapid fire and finally hit the can and so proud. I had to tell him what he did was wrong and he needed to learn to shoot and hit the can with one shot at a time. So we tried again and the same thing so I started loading one shell at a time and after 3 trys he decided that he wanted to go home it wasnt fun any more. I let my neighbor know that the boy isnt ready yet all he wants to do is play and recommended he buy his boy a bb gun.

RE: .22 for kids
 

i couldnt agree more i have the 100 $ savage mark II 10 rd clip and its light and the straightest 22 ive ever had i have it in bolt