Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Cheap starter 22?

Are there any decent 22 rifles that would cost under $200, that I could start my kids off on?

TIA,

The Marlin 60 is a really good and Cheap starter .22 rifle. That would be my advise!

Since you live in a humid climate, FL, I'd suggest spending a little more and get a stainless rifle. The Marlin 980S is a nice stainless/sythetic bolt action .22 rifle that can often be found for around $200 NIB.

Jeff

If it was me I would haunt the used gun stores and be a ready buyer for a good used rifle. Do not start with a repeater especially and auto loading rifle. Gun shows are another place to look. Buy a single shot bolt action rifle for anybody you are teaching the fundamentals of marksmanship.

If you can find one of the marlin 15's, get it. They shoot much better then they ought to.

The problem with some of the kids 22's is the actions are hard to handle for a kid.

My first choice is the old Winchester model 67 boy's model, at this point whatever you can find might be your best bet.

You can find deals on 10/22's stay away from the Marlin Glenfield 60's..POS
CZ's always have a good rep,all depends on how "big" the kids are?

Henry mini-bolt. I bought one for my 5yo daughter and she has a great time with it (supervised of course). She shoots the 22 CB shorts with the gun resting on a haybale.

I took it to the range and sighted it in. It shoots a ragged hole at 25yds. I've been real impressed with it. I might do a little trigger work on it (awfully rough, but a little stoning will fix it), but otherwise it's fine.

The Marlin/Glenfield 60's are functional and cheap. Not a good trigger. I would suggest a bolt action to start, auto's do not teach what they need to learn. To easy to just pull the trigger again and again..

Cabela's has the bolt action Remington Model 5 on sale for $199 this week. That's a $100 off usual price. Maybe a Winchester Wildcat? I think you can find them for around 200 hundred bucks usually.

Rem Model 5's are a solid choice. A couple of guys have the Win Wildcat and are really pleased with what they have for under $200.

Plus for the CZ Scout, they are well made. Three of my kids have out grown the same rifle!

When I was growing up, my brothers and I got single shot 22's for our 10th birthdays. Wish I would have kept mine.

A cupple of years ago I found a Winchester 67 in a pawn shop for $100. and bought it.

Sure brings back a lot of memories.

Any Remington or Winchester single shot 22 would make a great "starter" gun.

Virgil B.

Yeah I was thinking a single shot bolt or break. Kids are 6 and 9.

Although they're probably not the best for kids I like the Marlin Model 60's. Dad bought me one when I was a kid after learning on a Mossberg 44. My 60 has never caused me any troubles and you don't have to buy expensive after market mags to get more firepower.

NewEnglad Arms makes a break open single shot in 22 RF. And Marlin makes kid size single shot.

Myself, I'd rather go used and get a winchester or Remington.

Good luck on your search!

Virgil B.

Why not a Rogue River Chipmunk .22 single shot bolt action. The have an aperture sight, at least the the one a proud little hunter showed me dozen years ago, did. I think BudsGunsshop.com sell them for way less than $200. I think they would make a great survival/smallgame/truck gun when the kids out grow them (way easier to hit with than a pistol for me and only a little over 2 pounds). With CB about the same noise as a pellet gun.

Oops no longer Chipmunks but got changed to Cricketts. http://www.crickett.com/

Good on you PowderBurnz for spending your time with your children.

I was thinking about adding a Marlin Tube magazine 22 to my varmint hunting arsenal...as you say.. at LOW Cost set up...

2.5 x 10 Tasco varmint scope on top ( $60.00)...

+1

I think the best starter rifle is a falling block single shot. Trouble is, there really aren't any decent inexpensive ones these days. My kids learned on a replica Stevens back in the '70s. The Remington mini rolling blocks are really cool.

They don't have the disadvantagess of bolt guns, which can be stiff or awkward for small hands. The break actions are nice, but hard to load in some positions. The vintage bolt action single shots with the separate cocking lever weren't as safe as touted to be. Hard for small fingers to cock, and could slip and fire.

As a practical matter, a small sized bolt action is probably the best available today.

Paul