Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best .22LR rifle for my daughter to start with

I’ve been researching Savage, Henry & Keystone Crickett but as a loony I felt like there might be more to consider. Money isn’t really an obstacle but I don’t want to be ridiculous.

.22LR is preferred & she is right handed.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Crickets are very small. How old/big is she?

My 12 yo grand daughter just got a Ruger American. It should fit her a bit better by next year & there's an add on piece to extend the stock more in the future. She did very well with it from prone & sitting at the bench. Under $400 with sights.

I started my son with CZ Scout. Very accurate rifle. They outgrow them fast so you can always get a standard stock and switch them out. It's been a while so I am assuming CZ is still making the Scout?

Ruger American would be an excellent choice.I've owned and shot a couple and they were smooth and accurate.

I would opt for a Tikka T1.

Then put it in a chassis that has an adjustable stock, as the chassis' that fit the larger guns will work for the rimfires. This way she has a gun that will properly fit her and is not struggling as so many young shooters do, then lose interest. Then as she grows older, you can adjust the chassis to fit her growing size, and eventually put the full size stock back on it, or keep the chassis on if they enjoy it the way it is.

The Tikka rimfires are extremely accurate much like their centerfire versions.

I’ll second the Ruger American but in the youth/compact model. My son is now 11 and has had his since he was 6 and has put thousands of rounds through it with zero issues. You can also get a longer stock module to lengthen the LOP once she gets older.

That rifle shoots great with pretty much any kind of ammo you put through it and seems to shoot the Winchester white box ammo the best. I also have a Tikka T1X and the Ruger shoots just as good and sometimes even better with cheap ammo.

Ruger RAR compact (18.5").

Like the one in this vid (misidentified as a std.), including the TechSights Aperture sight.
(Just drill the aperture out to 1/16")


And, w/ the modular stock included, it will grow w/ her.
(although, I'm 6'-2 and like the compact stock - really handy carbine)




GR

Savage Rascal

How old is your daughter?

I started my son on a savage rascal and it was great while he was younger and smaller, but he outgrew it by the time he wis 9 or so

I have an AR with a PSA 22LR upper and it's pretty adjustable to any sized person.

Easy to use, and just switch uppers when she wants to go hunting.

What's not to like?

What DW said.

I have a Marlin single shot bolt, been through my kids an halfway through the grandkids. It has a 3x9 redfield scope on it. No trick to head shoot squirrels with it.

How old is your daughter???
Hard to recommend no knowing her size.

Wow. Outstanding, fellas!

She is a tall/lanky 6 year old so a rifle being too small was definitely on my mind. I hadn’t considered a Ruger but certainly will now. I’ve got a T1x for myself but again didn’t consider a youth stock or chassis for her - but will look into that. I’ve got an old Marlin 25 that I’d considered chopping as well but perhaps her ‘own’ rifle might allow me to teach several ‘maintenance’ lessons.

Thanks all!

My boys at around six yrs. old started with the Cricket and promptly out grew it, then I made a new Dakota stock for it and they out grew that before I even finished it. Then as they became more responsible we switched to a 10-22 and a .223 Kimber of Oregon bolt action. My youngest was ready for a .270 when he was about 10 or 11 years old with slightly reduced loads. Your daughter will be ready for a .223 or a 6mm fairly soon so think of the 22 lr rifle as a four year or so proposition and then a stock up grade will be in order. Girls usually have their major growth spurt earlier than boys but wait till freshman high school before doing the final forever stock.

The CZ 427 is a solid choice and I think there are some stock options for them as well.

I have a like new pink camo TC hot shot with 2 adjustable stock extensions

Pm me if interested

My daughters maybe shot it 300 shots

Been in safe ever sense

Best beginner 22 ever made IMO

Easy-Peasy choice.

Buy a compact and add the standard butt module when she grows or buy a standard and add the compact butt module now and save the other for when she grows.

drover

I'll kick this dead horse again. Got my little girl a ruger American. All around perfect starter. Plus it can grow with her.

I have one of the RAR rimfires with the shortened stock module. It works great for my wife (just over 5 feet) and I like it too. My RAR rimfire works very smoothly and is quite accurate. You can get the trigger easily to 2-2.5 lbs by putting in a lighter spring. I think they are great rifles and of course you can get them with threaded muzzle. Hard to beat for value.

Working with 5th grade and 6th grade Boy Scouts several times a year rimfire shooting . I will tell ya kids have an easier time reloading "Tubular Magazines." on their own rather than clip magazines......just sayin.