.22 rifle question
I have a 6 and 5 year old. I would like to get them each a .22 rifle, what are the thoughts as to a bolt action or semi auto for a beginning shooter? I am thinking bolt action. Which rifle is a good buy?
muss
muss
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I, personally, think that is a bit young for a firearm. I would start them out with BB guns and teach them safety and marksmanship with that. Some of my most memorable shots were made with an ole Daisy.
Don't forget ---- "You'll shoot your eye out, kid"...[;)]0 -
My first rifle was a Springfield (Stevens) Model 15 that I got for Christmas, 1948....when I was 13. My son still has it.
I agree with 1/2moa....that's a bit young for a firearm. Start with a bb gun, and in a few years, when they're ready for it, I'd go with a bolt-action, single shot .22........something like the Henry Mini-Bolt. http://www.henryrepeating.com/minibolt.cfm
I definitely wouldn't suggest a semi-auto for kids that young. Too many safety issues there.0 -
I have to agree with onehalf on this one. An air rifle would be my first choice, but if you feel they are ready for a firearm, then read on. I teach hunters ed to 12 year-olds, and I find that many of them have trouble working the bolt actions. Some of them struggle with it, and while they do they are usually waving the muzzle all over the place. For easy of operation I would recommend the auto. Another option would be one of those Chipmunk rifles. They are very small bolt action rifles. They may have less trouble working the bolt if the gun is much smaller.
"My faith, my country and my family guide me; nothing more, nothing less" -Gen. Tommy Franks
Jess Hoffman
Mooseyard Precision
LE Supply & Firearms
NRA Certified Instructor
Shawano, WI 541660 -
A single shot is absolutely the way to go both for safety and marksmanship purposes. Have you considered the Stevens falling block action as in the Favorite? ( http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=22710295 ) The Remington Model 510 is a good choice in bolt action, because the safety engages each time the bolt is cycled, but rather large for a child of that age. I can't remember the manufacturer at the moment but there is a combo single shot with interchangable barrels .22 and .410
Pay no attention to those who say 6 is too young. Drill them on the safety rules, get the Eddie the Eagle tape if you can, "Stop, don't touch, leave the area, tell an adult." Be sure to start them right with proper size ear protection and shooting glasses.
Definitely do not start a youngster with a semi-auto. Semi-auto's are not conducive to learning good marksmanship in a beginner of any age.
After you've taken them to the range a few times with the .22's consider getting them pellet guns to practice marksmanship with.
Semper Fi
Remember Ruby Ridge.
Experience is the best teacher and usually charges accordingly.
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Edit = Muss, your email, Muss@Cox.net, isn't working, or at least it didn't work this morning.0 -
The single shot combo referred to above is manufactured by Rossi. I had my first real gun at age 5, a .410 single shot, didn't get my Red Ryder Daisy BB gun til I was seven.
I would get a 22 single shot...bolt action or falling block, or whatever. Teach them how to operate it, all safety procedures, etc. and let them bang away under strict supervision. If they decide that shooting sports is not for them, then you haven't invested much.
Visit the pawn shops in your area and find one that has a good action and a clean bore, then haggle on the price.
Good luck and have some fun with your kids.
John
The original point and click interface was made by Smith & Wesson0 -
I made the mistake of getting my boys 10/22's for their first .22 rifles....after they went through 5000 rounds in one weekend I changed to bolt actions. Ammo consumption dropped significantly, they then concentrated more on breath control and marksmanship. 0 -
I started my son at 6 with a BB gun, then at 6 1/2 I bought a bolt action CZ for him. We would shoot with a group of people that
drilled, in a real positive way, safety. He had to recite from memory the rules of firearm safety before he could shoot. It was like a game, with certain rules that COULDN'T be broken. There was never a problem and the safe use of a firearm became second nature in a very short time. By the time he was 7, the game wasn't needed anymore. I made him use open sights until his 10th birthday and at 10 1/2 he completed Hunter Safety. Hunter Safety was more for the "Safety" than the hunting.
It's your call. You know your children better than we do.0 -
5 or 6 is just fine to start a youngen off , just remember you have to make sure that safty rules are followed at all times ,,, i started my kids off at around 4 years old , they're 8 and 12 now , never had a problem but understand they never shoot by them selfs , I'm always with them and only allow 1 to shoot at a time , that way i can keep an eye on them and make sure nothing goes wrong !!!!! one of the rifles I used for my kids was the Crickett , very nice little single shot bolt action , the one i have has a walnut stock and a receiver sight ,, over all lenght of the rifle is only 30 inches and its very light ,,, I use CCI 22long CB , they are a lower power load that has no recoil and very little noise
here is a link a Crickett rifle listed here on GB , this one has a red , white and blue stock but you can get them in Walnut or synthetic
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=224791640 -
muss,
on the GB auction, do a search for "chipmunk"
they are rifles that are 5/6 year old's size
there is nothing wrong with getting them involved young, as long as safety is taught & stressed including proper hearing & eye protection
a child that is taught the right way is less apt to have an accident from not knowing the proper handling of a real firearm
"all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten" Robert Fulghum
anyone who says "nobody needs a full auto" has never been in front of a brown bear charge0
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