First Rifle

[vern]

I was wondering what a good little rifle for my oldest son would be, preferabbly a 22? He is only 5 soon to be 6, Is this too young for a 22? I let him shoot mine with me holding it and him trying to sight the scope. He seems to enjoy it and talks of shooting more than we do. I'm open to suggestions, I'm hoping he'll enjoy the shooting and outdoors as much as I do, and did as a kid. :D

[Jerry]

first gun for my kids has been a 410 shotgun. would have never thought about giving them a rifle as a first. 'course I didn't start taking them out until he was at least eight.

Must be a short stock for a six year old?

[Myk]

Look around at some of the 17HMR's. There's one that is for the tiny shooter. It's called Chipmunk. They also come in .22's if you don't like the 17. They are single shot and very small.

[Myk]

Here, they even have a heavy barreled version :)

http://www.chipmunkrifle.com/in_the_news.html
http://www.chipmunkrifle.com/
http://www.chipmunkrifle.com/models.html

[Dary]

You might want to look at the CZ 452 Scout. It has a shorter stock, adjustable trigger, the receiver is grooved for a scope, and has good open sights. The best feature though is it comes with a single shot adapter. Later when you son becomes more experienced you can purchase a 5 or 10 shot clip. Here's the information from the CZ site.

http://www.cz-usa.com/_p/pdt.php?id=44

It's what I keep behind the seat of my vehicle.

[Coydog]

Vern- I have three boys (ages 9-14), so my challenge was always trying to find one weapon that they ALL could use! :rolleyes:

There are a couple of great options...one Myk already suggested, the Chipmunk! Another GREAT option (and the one that I opted for!) is the Rossi Youth Combo!
Rossi Youth (http://www.rossiusa.com/MP-youth-rim.html)
You can get it in 22LR/.410 (and now they make it in a .17HMR version as well!) so it offers GREAT flexibility and a wide range of experiences for kids (from squirrel to bird to DEER hunting!)! For about $150, you can basically get him TWO weapons instead of one!! It worked out extremely well for us as when I bought it for them my youngest was about 6 and the oldest was eleven. I have since bought them a Mossberg 500 youth, which has stocks & forearms in three different sizes as they grow!!!

Just my 2¢...hope it helps!!!

BTW- Glad to hear that our heritage it being perpetuated, you are to be commended!!! ::talk

[vern]

Thanks for the replys guys, I checked all the sites you all suggested. I'll have to see what the local guys in town have on hand or can get. I like the idea of a 17, just for the reason I don't have one and can see how they work, maybe I'll want one for myself. Thanks again guys and take care. ;)

[Myk]

I like the idea of the 17 because of the better longer range target shooting. You can both go out and shoot at the 100 yard line. You could do that with a 22rf but I think you'd build more confidence with the 17 from what I've heard of their accuracy.

[Elkein]

Myk's got a great point there. The .17 hrm will reach out to 100 yards more accurately than the 22lr(which even under serious competetion is usually limited to 50 yards). The 17 is also fine for game hunting to 20 lb's or so when he's a little older.

['da law]

Vern,

I bought my stepson a Henry .22 lever-action youth model two years ago for Christmas. They are a darn good little rifle and well built to boot. I liked his so much that I bought one of the adult models for myself. I fell in love w/the little Henry lever guns, out shot my Win. 94/22 XTR and I gave the Win. up for the Henry. They run right at $190.00-$200.00 bucks dependin' on where you go! My .02 cents, take care all.

'da law

[vern]

Thanks a ton fellas, but it looks loke it will have to wait. Mom got a bee in her bonnet when I told her I was looking for a rifle for the little guy. I must wait another year she says, so I'll be good and listen. :(

[tcoop]

Vern,

You did it all wrong. Give the gun to your son, then tell the little miss. Or even better, let him tell mommy about his new big boy toy. I got more grief from the grandma's than I did from mommy.

tcoop

[Tifford]

Glad to be back!

First post on the new forum. Jerry got me straight.

Vern, I agree with the above posts and I'll add to the mix. How about a high power BB gun. Some of them fly out at 1,100 fps. That is pretty strong. noise (can a 22 hurt his hearing?) recoil and cost of ammo are real cheap.

I'm sure you have coached him on safety but do you know his friends that he hangs out with? I wouldn't want to get shot with anything but if I had to choose between a 22 and a BB gun......the choice is obvious.

If your with him when he hunts then a 22 gets my vote. Bolt action to teach him to aim and not to spray and pray.

When he gets older then I'd get him either a ruger 10/22 or a ruger .17

I wouldn't put a lot of $$$ into it now. Save the money and get him something real nice when he gets a little older.

Tifford

[vern]

I do have a 10 pump bb gun downstairs he could use, that was also a suggestion of hers. I was hoping to get him a rifle he could use now and his brother could use later, their 5 years apart. Pap said if you get one they'll argue over it later, I see his point. I guess i'll wait til later and get both of them their own.

[Evan]

my kid(s) whenever that time comes wont have semi aut rifle of anykind as there first rifle, anything bolt action, probly a chipmunk to start with, then as they get bigger a marlin bolt action 22lr or 22mag, the marlins standerd wood stock n stnaderd barrel is cheap, then ounce they get into to deer hunting theyl have 7mm08 243 or 25.06 in a compact rifle, actualy while Im getn them rifles they wont have any semi autos.

and will be started on open sites then graduate to scope

[rojo36]

Evan i just read your post about not let kids learn on a semi auto ,but have to disagree . All four of my kids learned on a couple of remington autos I had . I say had because the last kid ended up with both of them .As long as you give them proper supervision there is nothing wrong with it . I just wouldn't let any child use a firearm unsupervised until they proved they knew wha they were doing .