Hello Folks -

Happy Memorial Day. I have a 10/22 that we plan to teach our 7-year old to shoot with. I am debating whether to get a .22LR or .223 for my 9 year old. I am leaning to the .22LR. My only reason for the .223 idea is that she could 'grow into it'. However, I think she'd have more fun learning with a .22LR than a .223 and I'll be happy to get her a centerfire when the time comes. Thoughts from others having gone through a similar process are welcome.

Any voices for the following? All are bolt-action 22LR.

Anschutz 1416
CZ 425
Kimber SVT
Remington 504
Ruger 77/22
Savage Mark II FV
Thompson Contender G2

Peace!

.22lr first then graduate to a centerfire. Granddaughter went from .22lr to a 6.5X55, she didn't want anything else after shooting mine.

any of the .22's listed would be good, just make sure that the stock fits the shooter. If you have to cut it, save the cut off peice. It can be re attached as she gets older.

Lee L.

I love my 1416's. My choice for a youngster would be any .22 bolt gun. It will slow them down since they actually have to cycle the gun between shots. You have shown some nice rifles for choices. I would go for something a little cheaper and still very accurate. I like the Savage rifles, but they have that accu-trigger, and not the best for someone just learning. The 77/22 is also a nice choice. If you know they will always be shooting, the Anschutz is a great investment. They will only go up in value, and you can't find anything that will outshoot them on a daily bases. There are gunbs to shoot with them, but the Anschutz in my opinion is the most accurate .22 in the world. My first 1416 cost me $275.00. Now for the same rifle they are up to around $700.00. The Remington 504's I have heard are very picky and have to be worked on to shoot well. I also have one of the CZ's. That might be the best choice for the money. Very accurate. Not too expensive. The CZ might be the way to go.

Here is a good one and will fit her now.

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=5

Curious why the 9 year old can't use the 10/22 and then pass it down to the 7 year old. I agree with Gismo though, I don't think an auto-loader is the best choice for youngsters.

Went through the same thing two years ago with my then eight year old son. You have picked some nice rifles but the stocks may not fit the shooter. I chose a Marlin 915YS. I had to do a little fiddling and Marlin sent me different height front sights (no charge). My son and I are very pleased with it. Centerfires will happen soon enough.
Cheezywan

I have another thought for you to ponder. One father to another. .22 Hornet. It is kinda like a centerfire(reloadable) .22 Magnum. The key here is still in the stock fit to the shooter. I wonder if you could find a H&R Topper model chambered in that fine round?
Cheezywan

My vote goes for the 22 LR also. Don't want to scare them from the get-go. Not so much the recoil, but the noise.

You have a good list of rifles. You might add the Charles Daly to that list. CDNN Sports had a good deal going on them, and I got myself and a couple of my buddies one each. It's a bolt action w/5-round clip, and it comes with a nice little Simmons 4x scope with mounts and all - $149 + shipping & FFL fee. The three I've been exposed to have been very accurate. They need a very good cleaning when you get it, should you get it. It is a full-size rifle, but one of my buddies had his 12 and 9 year old girls shooting it, and they grow as fast as weeds at those ages anyway. Good luck.

Thank you all very much -

The voice certainly seems to be for the .22LR, which is fine with me. I appreciate the opinions and will follow this thread until it comes to a productive end before making a choice.

My 7 year old will get the 10/22. Like her mom; dainty. My 9-year old inherited the Scottish genes; she's stout like her pop. I must agree that going with the 22 is the safer bet. I'd like to get one that not only she can use for cutting her teeth but that also myself and my wife can use for rabbit hunting in the fall. So I am looking for something very reliable and accurate. It'll be hers, but dad will be 'borrowing' it for some rabbit stew!

Peace - God bless

Gismo -

Thanks for the comments on the CZ - I've heard they make excellent 22s.

Peace -

Gismo -

Thanks for the comments on the CZ - I've heard they make excellent 22s.

Peace -


I started both son & daughter out shooting with a Marlin bolt action .22LR and then after the first summer, they graduated to the .22magnum Marlin bolt gun. The following summer I added a rifle scope to the 22 mag. They steadly progressed up the ladder to present day. They learned the importance of Sight Picture, Breathing, Steadyness on target and Trigger Pull etc

The learning the fundamentals of shooting with iron sights is important. Also using the bolt action slows them down enough, so they don't get slopping in their shooting, as I have seen many young kids do who break in with a semi-auto before they get marksmanship accomplished.

Consider the Marlin Model 60. It was one of my first guns and it is still one of my favorites. She will have load of fun emptying the magazine into the side of a hill.

Thanks for the comments on the CZ - I've heard they make excellent 22s.
I have a CZ model 1 which is a 1950's version of their newer model 22 lr bolt action magazine fed rifle. It has been a wonderful rifle for years. CZ makes a very high quality firearm and you can't go wrong with that choice. I've also owned an Anschutz in 22 mag as well as a Voere black forest, also in 22 mag. Both of these were some of the highest quality rim fire bolt action rifles I have ever seen.

With that said, I will throw you a curve and suggest that you get a 22 (or 22 mag) 410 over under Stevens/Savage model 24. These are single shot but extremely versatile and since you talk about hunting with this firearm you can do no better than a combination rifle/shotgun. I have both a 22 lr and 22 mag over 410 and it is the cat's pajamas during squirrel and rabbit season. You can even get .410 gage 000 buck shot for those larger "horned" rabbits :D I guarantee that no one will ever "out grow" one of these.

I have hunted with combinations and drillings for way too many years to count and it is a rare occasion when I will take something different into the field (unless it is bird season and then I have no need for a rifle). With both a shotgun and a rifle in one firearm I am set for any situation, regardless of where I am or what I come across. Doesn't matter whether they are standing there smiling at you or running full tilt through the brush, just pick your trigger and take your shot.

Single shot firearms teach you to be a good marksman as by the time you get the breach open and another round inserted what ever you were shooting at is either lying on the ground or is long gone.

My vote is for the 22 rimfire in a single feed or bolt for a first rifle. Both of my kids started with my Stevens 66, that I inherited...

After that, I suggest a few rounds with a solid kicking rifle, like a hot 45-70 or .444, followed by a discussion with the person about what they are up for.

- This is the .22-Rifle that was recently introduced to a young-boy that I know-of...

http://www.savagearms.com/cub.htm

...it was an excellent-choice, and I just bought the new Ruger-10-22/Compact...that will be given to him once he show's he understands the discipline and meaning of "a-single-shot"...meanwhile I will get a decent-trigger and scope set-up on the Ruger...and have it waiting.

My vote is for the 22LR also. Can learn the fundamentals and do a lot of firing inexpensively. I have the CZ 452 and it is a fine 22.

Hello Folks -

I decided on the CZ 452 Style in .22LR and a Bushnell 3-9 Trophy scope. Thanks for all the input. I will still have my 10/22 with open sights (now that my airgun has the 3-9 Sportview) so that they can learn to use open sights.

Cheers,

Alec -

Hello,

When my son was eight years old, three years ago, I purchased a Marlin youth 22 LR single shot bolt action. I added a 4X scope and leather sling. The rifle has a walnut stock and really looks and feels great. I like shooting it myself!!! It was a good starting point for him. He was very proud to own this rifle and he was very interested to learn how to handle and shoot it. It was a great experience for both of us.

Good Luck,

Bill

My vote is for the .22lr. While you 9 yrs old will be able to shoot a .223 easily enough (Not any recoil to speaK of) the .22lr is cheap enough for you 9 yrs old to do a lot of shooting and learn the basics. I agree with getting a bolt action. I learn shooting a rifle with my grandfather's Bolt action Savage. I have it and still use it. Which modern Bolt action for you to get I couldn't honestly say. Check out several brands. I think Savage still makes bolt action .22LR and so does Marlin.

I'm a bit late with my vote--Good choice you've made. The CZ 452 is an exceptional rifle. My oldest son purchased one last year--now I think I need one. Sweet action, straighter than straight shooting, feels good, dependable.... Excellent Choice!

You listed the Thompson Center, why not a carbine in 22LR and then add a .223 barrel or 30/30 one later? NEF has their Handi-rifles real reasonable so after a .22 rifle then you can also get a centerfire with a youth stock. (there rimfire will not fit on the shotgun or centerfire frame, also spend a few more dollars for the rifle frame for later you can add a shotgun tube but no rifles bbls to a shotgun frame)

CD

The noise from the .223will scare the **** out of many people.........go with the 22LR or the 22 magnum.

The CZ gets my nod for the best rifle for the money...forget the 10/22 unless you intend to spend some time and money on it. The Cz is a good one hole gun right out of the box and the set trigger is wonderful once they get to that point



Hello Folks -

Happy Memorial Day. I have a 10/22 that we plan to teach our 7-year old to shoot with. I am debating whether to get a .22LR or .223 for my 9 year old. I am leaning to the .22LR. My only reason for the .223 idea is that she could 'grow into it'. However, I think she'd have more fun learning with a .22LR than a .223 and I'll be happy to get her a centerfire when the time comes. Thoughts from others having gone through a similar process are welcome.

Any voices for the following? All are bolt-action 22LR.

Anschutz 1416
CZ 425
Kimber SVT
Remington 504
Ruger 77/22
Savage Mark II FV
Thompson Contender G2

Peace!

I would say to go for the anschutz. I have a 1515/16 in 22 magnum. It was my 12th birthday present from my dad. I am still using it to take bunnies. Hardly an recoil, sounds like a cracking whip, and gives you a little more distance than a 22 lr. You wont go wrong with the .22 magnum. I havent had any experience with the other rifles so I cant voice a valid opinion. Hope your 9 year old enjoys whatever you give her.

Cheers

Hands down 22lr cheap amo,very little recoil,fun to shoot,easy to learn on 22lr will any game the 223 will,of course at a shorter distance.If you want to get him a centerfire I suggest 243 cal to 308 cal in a short action.That would cover the gamut of most types of hunting in North America.I would go with 22lr and a 20g shotgun before I would get a center fire.Once he or she is proficient with them.then I would move to a centfire for hunting larger game.

The nice thing about the CZ is you can get a single shot adapter for it. Get them shooting with the single shot version and then just replace it with the clip for a repeater.

I've never been for putting first time shooters behind a semi-auto. There's enough to learn without throwing that into the mix.

I started my rug rats with a 22lr with iron sights, I don't think the youngest shot any thing larger than 223 until he was 14 (his choice). He now shoots a Anschutz 2015 with a NCAA scholarship.

I have picked up some used .22LR bolt action rifles in single shot and repeaters with open sights and peeps for my grandkids target shooting. After we shoot targets, they spread clay pigeons on the berms behind the targets and I break out the Rem Nylon autos for some fun shooting. When they reach their teens, they graduate to .22Mags in rifles and handguns. I think the .22Mag is a great introduction to centerfire shooting. Good luck.
George

Curious why the 9 year old can't use the 10/22 and then pass it down to the 7 year old. I agree with Gismo though, I don't think an auto-loader is the best choice for youngsters.

For a brand new shooter that young I would stick to the bolt guns for safty sake. After a few years and good safe gun handling habits are established, then an semi-auto but not as a very first gun for a youngster.

my advise (it's been said by others) is get a .22lr bolt action and get one that fits the shooter. The Boltaction does slow down the shooter and forces the learning of good shooting habits and aiming at the target. Most of my early years of shooting guns have been with a bolt action rifle.