My son’s 11, and has been shooting all his life. He’s got a decent bolt action 22 with a scope, but he told me he wants an old lever or pump 22. I found a pretty decent Winchester 62A today, but when I went back to get it the thing had sold. Is there sometime not thinking about I could find decent prices on one of these? I’ve been checking Gunbroker, but it’s a coin toss on used guns there.

PM sent (not selling, just some info).

You can't beat a Win, model 62! Nice Pump!
I like a Marlin 39, for a lever!
I almost forgot about an Ithaca model 49,
that my Boys grew up on, in a .22 cal Lever!

One of the most accurate 22's I have, is a lever. A Marlin 56. Made in 1955. You can get very close to 4 of 5 in one hole, on a good day, with CCI Standard velocity.

Marlin 39 or an old browning bl22. Winchester 61 or remington 141 would be good pumps.

The BL 22 is a good one, especially for a kid. They are pretty small. The Marlin is not! Either pump is pretty good too.

Agree with the BL-22 for a kid gun.

The Remington 12 is a great, vintage pump .22. Mine have been 100% reliable and problem free. Also, generally less $ than the Winchester pumps which have not been as reliable for me.

In your search don't pass up a Winchester 1906 if you come across one. This was my Dad's kid gun and my kid gun.

94-22 LR or 22 Magnum.

One of the best 22's Winchester ever built.

Virgil B.

I think killerv means a Remington 121. 141 might be a bit stout for a kid, especially the .35! A 121 would be excellent.

My first .22 was an old gun, a Winchester M62A. While I thought watching that mechanism moving and sliding through the top of that thing was pretty cool, I didn't think so when I was old enough to appreciate having a top scope mounted rifle. There is a M61 in the safe that is better though honestly putting a 2-7x33 Leupold on it did kind of mess up its easy carry attributes. Most of us own a 10/22 something, so be thankful he isn't coveting one of those ammo burners. For what you would spend on an old 62A or 61, you could get a less old Ruger 77/22 or Marlin 39A and have something that your son would appreciate more as he gets older.

Okay, I just reread the OP and see that there is already a bolt action with a scope in the family. Sure, then a nice Winchester pump or a Marlin lever would be on the shopping list. Wish my son wanted a rifle instead of another video game console.

The older ones are great guns if they havent been rode hard and put away wet.....
I have a Winchester model 490 I am selling soon if interested. Not as old, but you dont see many of them.

I'll heartily second the Remington 121. I've had two, still have one and it's a nice, fairly lighweight rifle at 6 lbs 1 oz unloaded with a good capacity and a long sight radius. Mine was made in 1939 and is still very accurate. It's also a takedown which an 11 year old might find kind of cool.

Prices are downright decent compared to many firearms these days, here's a list of ones that sold between $350 to $475 in various conditions: Remington 121 completed auctions

One consideration with any older rifle is the lack of mounting an aftermarket sight on it. Many were drilled and tapped later on and the quality of that work varies from excellent to something Bubba would be ashamed of.

The first Model 572 pumps which replaced the 121 had that old look with the corn cob forend but I don't know if those were grooved for tipoff mounts or not.



Mine had two holes d&t into the receiver, I'd give whoever did it a C or maybe B- on the work but it was good enough to mount that Skinner peep sight with an .860 hole spacing.

My 572 is.

He’s completely uninterested in mounting a scope on this rifle. He wants to use iron sights, and I’m good with that. His other 22 has a scope if he needs it, but he prefers irons.

You are right, I've had both and got confused. Let my 121 go in an local auction and got 650 for it, light freckling but otherwise in honest shape. Had a 141 in 30 remington. Let it go awhile back.

Dont rule out even an new bl22, something he'd be proud to own and pass down.

Check out Turnbull Restoration website for a nicely done BL22

My grandsons, 8 and 11 have many models and actions to choose from...and every single time they grab the little Remington #6 on the way out the door. The so called 'baby rolling block'. But, with a good bore, they don't come cheap.

That's the right way for a kid to learn!!!

You've got a smart kid there!

One can't have too many .22's!

Marksman 1941, has a nice Winchester 62 A!!

Maybe it's what your looking for!

It probably is, but it’s also probably more than I can afford.

Gotta throw in another plug for the BL22. My guess is that it will fit him better than the others. The sights on it are pretty fine. Too fine for me to even SEE anymore. If you CAN see them, you can draw a pretty fine bead. They also point pretty well. I used to just fold the rear sight down and shoot thrown cans. That was fun...

Unless I missed it I have not seen any mention of a Henry lever rifle. They are reasonably priced, very slick operation and they have quite a few variations of barrel and stock combos, and are accurate enough to keep a tin can bouncing out at 50 yards. While they are not heirloom quality they may fill the itch for an "old" lever rifle. And they are made in the USA.

link to a few of the various models - https://www.cabelas.com/r/shop/en/S...%20action%20rifle&numberOfResults=32
drover

Kinda depends on whether old means he has an actual taste for antiques or just wants something that looks old in style. An 11yo may not articulate the point.

Yep, that was my thought when I posted about considering the Henry lever rifle, they definitely have the "old" look and feel to them which I suspect may be what the kid wants rather than an antique rifle.

drover

"Son wants an “old” 22"

"My grandsons, 8 and 11 have many models and actions to choose from...and every single time they grab the little Remington #6 on the way out the door."

I'm impressed by any Kid that is into older guns and/or iron sights... Most today just want a sem-auto and a brick of ammo.

Raised right,


Jerry

Well, as to his definition of old, his favorite actor is John Wayne, he carries a pocket knife everywhere he goes, says he wants a square body Chevy or Ford when he can drive, and has never worn anything but big black framed glasses. He’s also heavily involved in his Boy Scout troop and is already a leader, tells every veteran he appreciates their service, and will stick his hand out to shake yours. I’m not exactly sure what I did to deserve my kids, but I’ll definitely take them. They aren’t perfect, and none are, but they’re on the greater side of good.

He’d be more than happy with a Henry, but I know when I hand him an antique rifle he’s going to be thrilled. I actually just got off the phone ordering him a Remington Mdl 12A made in 1917. It’s in really good shape and they made me a great deal on it. I’m as happy as he’ll be, maybe....😂

Great choice! Please post a picture when you get it.

Remington model 12 should not use high velocity ammo

I’ve got a ton of CCI standard and Federal Automatch. Those are the plan for now.

That's what I'd be looking for. Those are pretty sweet rifles..

That's cool that he wants to shoot irons. Many kids these days don't even know what iron sights are..

The Remington 141 pump action 22Lr is a fine rifle if you can find one.

My vote is for one of the Marlin 39a types, I grew up shooting one starting at about age 7 back in 1952. A few years back I acquired a couple of the shorter straight grip models, called the Mountie and enjoy it more, a little lighter and handier. I have them set up with a Marlin tip off mount installed and a couple of old Weaver K scopes, a 2.5 and 3x one with post and crosshair reticule, the other a heavy German #3 type, in some quick detachable rings, with adapters for the 3/8" tip off mount installed. These smaller scopes leave just enough room underneath for either one of the Lyman or Redfield receiver peep sights to be installed, so I can have a scope, and by twising a couple of little levers have iron sights a few seconds later.

Back in the Day when I used to set up at the O.G.C.A. Show in Cleveland, Ohio,
at the IX, Center, (the old Tank plant during World War 2), next to Hopkins International Airport.
My Buddy and I , who were Avid Winchester Collectors, used to try to each find one kid, and pick him out, and give him his first Winchester single shot .22 Rifle!
With their Parents Permission of coarse!

We thought that it was the Best way to keep kid's active in a great Sport, (hunting/shooting)!
It worked like a Charm, and all we told them was not to sell it! Enjoy, and Give Back, along the Way,
possibly, passing it along to someone else!

We had a lot of Fun Doing it! It was very Rewarding!