Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles First gun for my son?

Its getting to be that time when I need to start making my mind up on what to buy for my son's first rifle.

My first real gun and what I learned to shoot on was a Browning BL22. Loved that little rifle, and to this day I blame it for my love for leveractions in general.

Reese is 4.5 and tall for his age with long arms. He will probably be a lot closer to 5 by the time he gets the gun, thinking of fall to early chirstmas present.

I am after a 22lr he can learn on, not sold one way or the other on action design, single shot, repeater and so on.

Would love to hear what you guys have had good luck with for your kid's first rifle. I know a lot of folks go for that [bleep] rifle or whatever it's called. I've got a good mind to see how a BL22 fits him too, again any thoughts or pics/links would be great!

Thanks!

Matt

One thing I'm looking for it I'd like to be able to mount a peep sight on it to teach him to use. Any models that allowed that would be higher up on my list.

I'm at a similar point with my twins. They're almost 6 and I'm working on Momma, trying to get her to accept that it's time for them to start learning how to handle and shoot a gun.

After doing some research I've settled on the TC Hotshot single shot, break open 22. It comes with stock spacers to lengthen the stock as needed and it's break open design means I can easily teach them the importance of making sure the bore is always clear. Plus, I'm not sure they yet have the hand strength to pull back the cocking knob on some of the youth bolt actions I've checked out.

Good luck with your search and decision making.

BTW, the Hotshot comes with a peep style rear sight.

Single shot 20a gauge. After year or two a ruger 10-22. That's my plan anyways for mine.

My cousin (7 years old) has a little Henry single shot bolt action.

She bugs me whenever I go over there to take her shooting. She is a crack shot.

Is it wrong I am already thinking about the guns my kids are going to get?

That you're already thinking about kids of your own is impressive.

That you're already thinking of what guns to buy them is kinda heatwarming.

I bought my boys an H&R handi-rifle in .22lr w/ a 410 barrel... "versa pack" was the name? Youth model stock and the whole bit...

I can get barrels for $145. It is pretty accurate and an awful lot of fun to shoot!

Big lever fan, here. But for its basic simplicity and ease of cleaning and clearing, a bolt action is very hard to beat.

Something simple in a youth size, like:

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/24840

Not of my own, I plan on adopting if my future wife agrees.

Something about giving a child a chance at a good life is what gets me.

I bought my little Men a Savage Bolt action .22lr with iron sights.
One shot at a time at close distance to build confidence. Start with the basics.

Autoloaders not allowed, I watch my buddies Son blaze away with his .22auto, he seems to think it's cool to pull the trigger as fast as possible.

For a 22,I would go with a CZ 452 Scout.It's a little more expensive but it's a quality accurate gun.

I plan on a 410 this squirre season for my 8 year old daughter.I remember how frustrated I was when I first hunted with a 22.I'll keep teaching marksmanship with the 22 but I will let her hunt with the 410 so she can enjoy more success.

That TC seems to have a lot of the features I am looking for, thanks for the heads up.

My oldest son is 5. I have bought him a Savage cub, Marlin Buckaroo and a Cricket. The Savage is the best quality gun and it has a decent trigger with the accutrigger. The Buckaroo is a nice gun but the trigger is not the best. Both the Cub and the Buckaroo are easy to load with real working safety's that I like.

The Cricket I hate. Its a pain in the azz to load and you have the cock the stupid thing each shot. It figures that my son would like the cricket the best.

Dink

I cannot iterate this enough:

Get the Savage Cub. Only it is no longer called the Cub, it is called the Rascal.

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/finder/

Then buy Aguila Colibri's.


Travis

I agree. Savage Cub is a good one for sure.


First gun at Christmas: a BB gun
Next Christmas, the first rimfire: Savage Cub
Next Christmas, a bigger rimfire: CZ 452 Scout
Next Christmas, a semi-auto rimfire: Ruger 10/22
Next Christmas, the first centerfire: Winchester M70 Compact
Next Christmas, the first precision rifle: Gap Non-Typical in Edge
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

Better to get him something now and get him started. As he gets older he better do his chores and do well in school or he gets nothing...

BB gun is a good idea.

Or a pellet gun.



Mine has a receiver sight.

[bleep] that noise. Rascal/Cub and Colibris.


Travis

My first 22 was a Rem 121 Fieldmaster. I recommend a tube fed over a clip. Be hard to lose a tube�, The BL-22 sounds like a winner!

Laffin'. If I don't have one, the little guy isn't getting one either...

Just havin fun