Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires 22LR bolt rifle for a 13 year old?

Want to spend 300 + or -. Decent quality. He has a pellet/BB rifle now. He loves to shoot that.
Thanks

Savage Mk II FV-SR $260 from KyGunCo.com. Great accuracy for a reasonable price. Can also find standard, non-threaded barrel version for less. Ruger American Rimfire is also a good choice but pandemic build quality has suffered at Ruger’s Mayodan NC factory.

Lots of vintage used Winchesters for sale but might be difficult to find in that price range,

New Savage MK 2
Used a Remington 581 , 582

I picked the lower one for my now 9 month old grandson.

The Winchester 121, 131, and 141 series were good, but under appreciated, .22 rifles.

I've long wanted, but have never seen, a 145, the tubular magazine style in .22 MAG.

Nice 121. I've got one of those as well. Shoots way better than an iron sighted 22 should in my hands.
581 , Winchester 121 and 67.

So many choices out there. What action type do you prefer? What kind of shooting will he be doing? Hunting or target shooting? When I was 13, I had a marlin 60, Ruger 10-22, and a Savage semi auto. Do you want him to shoot with iron sights, target sights or scope? Want him to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship with the little plinker first?

Maybe start him with a Ruger 10/22 for the money mentioned. Lots of after market support. If wanting something nicer, a CZ 457 American.

Thanks and keep any ideas coming or if You have 1 for sale.

I’ve got a Remington 580 that I can’t bring myself to cut and thread that isn’t used enough taking up space in the safe.
If you’re interested in a single shot 22 I can send you pictures.

Win Model 67 single shot or Win Mod 69A with grooved receiver.

Don't overlook the thousands of older Marlin bolt rifles from the 50's, 60's and beyond, whether under the Marlin name, Glenfield or some chain store brand. Fortunately they aren't (yet) hot collector items so they can be had in very good shape well inside your budget.

Thank You

Not a fan of a semi for kids.

Most, quickly become fascinated by mag dumps more than marksmanship.
BTDT, but with manual guns!

Watching a father and 2 sons at the range one day, the had some steel set up.
At 25 yards, scoped 22 semis. All 3 were hosing down the berm. Fun is fun,
slow deliberate fire isn't exciting for 3 guys, but those boys were not improving
their marksmanship skills.



A bolt eliminates much of that.


Times like that, it's fun to pull out a handgun and shoot at the foot or so 100yard swinger, or use a 22 to tink the 200 yard one.

Not claiming to be a great shooter. I just like to show what is easily
possible. Maybe encourage them to try a little.

Troutnut-

I bet that 581 is a tack driver!!! Kool pic

Yeah it shoots pretty well. Been looking for the tube fed 582 to go with it. Thanks

Lots of great used ones out there. But otherwise i would suggest Savage

Not a hard issue to manage.

Still not really sure what the OP is looking for. What he's going to be using it for. Does he want it to teach the kid marksmanship. Does he want iron sights, target sights, or is a scope fine? What is he looking for? Single shot, or a repeater?

When my grand daughter turned 12 I got a Mod 70 feather weight in 6.5x55 thinking it might make a nice hunting rifle for her if she decided she wanted one. She like's her dad's AR rifles. watched her and what really tufne her on is seeing how fast she can pull the trigger. Gave up on her becoming a hunter and after about 15 yrs used it myself this year. One hog down, first animal I've shot at with it. My feeling about first guns for kids is a single shot 22. Then learning to shoot takes over from Hail Mary! His son just turned 12 and not really turned on at all by guns but is showing some interest in a 22 cal pellet gun, that could work. Doubt it right now but he could end up with the 6.5x55. Actually he much prefers video games!