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.22 for introducing kids to shooting?

BowGunHunter
I know about the Cricket and Chipmunk but are there any other classic guns for starting a kid out on shooting.

My boy is 6. I need something very light and small.

I have a very nice Winchester Model 06 that I was thinking about. It is small and light. It was built in 1917 and I'm almost thinking it is to nice to use. I guess with proper supervision it would be ok.

Any other guns that would fit my little guy that you can think of?

Thanks.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • perry shooter
    I don't want to tell you how to raise your Kid but IMHO 6 is a little young for a pistol #1 most grips are TOO big. Maybe a ruger BEAR-CAT would work. But#2 more important as a instructor /father it is much better to be able to intervene with where a muzzle is pointed this is hard to do with a pistol and teaching someone under 10-12 years old how to properly aim a pistol / sight picture again in my opinion is a stretch YMMV.

    EDIT sorry senior moment. I don't know why I was thinking you were asking about pistol
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  • BowGunHunter
    Hi Perry Shooter

    I was not thinking pistols at all. I was thinking .22 rifle and bench shooting to start out. Very controlled environment. Looking for a rifle like the model 06 that might fit. Thanks for the input.
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  • 264fan
    Ruger 10/22. Shorten the stock to fit, as the shooter grows buy a replacement stock. Parts and acc. are cheap, they are reliable and accurate.
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  • iwannausername
    I did this, and added a TacSol aluminum barrel. Weight was 5lbs loaded.

    To light for me to shoot offhand, so I put a bipod up front, brought it up to 6lbs, kids still use it fine and I can shoot it as well.

    quote:Originally posted by 264fan
    Ruger 10/22. Shorten the stock to fit, as the shooter grows buy a replacement stock. Parts and acc. are cheap, they are reliable and accurate.
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  • Mossbergboogie
    Mossberg has a 801 half pint for youth and then converts to the 802 for older ages.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by 264fan
    Ruger 10/22. Shorten the stock to fit, as the shooter grows buy a replacement stock. Parts and acc. are cheap, they are reliable and accurate.


    In my opinion a semi-automatic gun is not really the best way to go for introducing guns to a little kid, since it gives them the temptation to fire off a lot of rounds quickly, and since the semi-automatic action is more complicated to run (you have detachable magazines, charging handle, bolt release, etc). Semi-autos are also more prone to malfunctioning and that's not ideal for an intro gun with a little kid.

    Ideally you want something where they can open up the action, put in the round, and see where it goes into the chamber (ie a single shot, or bolt action). One round at a time helps develop marksmanship and is also safer.

    I think a Ruger 10-22 is really a good gun for a slightly older kid (eg 10+ years old) since you can customize them all sorts of ways, and dress one up to look like all sort of other guns (EG an AK, AR-15, etc).

    Anyway, if you ARE going to go this route, there is a "youth model" Ruger 10/22 that has a short stock. Youth model short stocks are also readily available, and the gun action just drops right in with a screwdriver:

    http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=16635/Product/RUGER_reg__10_22_reg__YOUTH_STOCK

    If you want to save a few bucks, original 10/22 stocks are plentiful and cheap on the used market, since there are many shooters who buy the guns then replace the original stocks with something better.

    EG: Here's one that sold recently for $10, already cut down:
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=148639517

    If you get a full sized stock, cutting one down shouldn't be too hard, and if you want to refinish it after doing so, ordinary "Tru-oil" should work well.
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  • swearengine
    Remington has many rifles in the 500 series; 514, 511, 513, just to name a few. You may have to search for ones that have youth stocks.

    I have never picked up the Savage cub or cadet but the info on both of those rifles sounds promising for a beginner.

    Whatever you choose, think about who will be using it. Your child will use it until they grow into a larger rifle and if they can start with a rifle that can be duplicated; or a similar version when they age; it will not be a challenge when they switch.
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  • tocamoha
    Has your boy already worked his way through cork guns,slingshots bows,B.B guns,Pellet guns,etc.6 sounds a little young for .22's
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  • Herschel
    a CZ Model 452 scout rifle would be ideal even though it will cost more than the Chipmunk or Cricket. It has a 16 1/2 inch bbl, 12 inch length of pull and comes with a single shot adapter. This can be replaced with a 5 or 10 round magazine when the boy is ready for a repeater. The rifle is grooved for clamp on scope mounts. A rifle that is made as a youth size is much better than cutting down an adult size rifle.
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  • 11b6r
    If you can find one, Marlin 15Y. Singleshot, bolt action, scaled down for a young'un, still a very accurate little carbine, See them on the used market from time to time.
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