Okay, I'll be a bit different. Consider the S&W M&P 15-22 .
We've got three of them in our clan as the grandkids think they are way fun. When I have a line-up of .22's to shoot they select the M&P 15-22's every time. My oldest son is in career military and to him the AR platform is quite normal. The collapsible stock adjusts for 8-year-olds and then out for adults. Comes threaded so (with an adapter) can easily put a can on them. Accuracy and reliability are well within acceptable modern planker standards. I very much enjoy shooting it.
The 10-22 comes in a similar version if the 'AR' look does anything for you. And like everybody has said the 10-22 has more accessories/upgrades available to it than any other model. I have the Take-Down version with a lot of upgrades and am very pleased with it.
