Best old .22 to buy for my 13 yr old?

N

northerndad

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Hey folks,

My son has been shooting for the last few years, since I got my PAL, and damn, I think he loves to shoot and hunt more than me.

He's shot more than a few thousand rounds through his chinese bolt-action .22. I want to buy him another rifle for Christmas. I've been scanning the EE forums and other places like Tradeex, but I'm having a hard time narrowing down what to buy so am looking for your thoughts. Criteria:

- .22lr
- Bolt action a must - repeater for sure
- He prefers wood/ heavy stocks
- We will be mounting a scope
- I'm wanting a quality used rifle, something he could use, keep and pass on to his kid kind of thing

Sky is not the limit for price, would like it sub-$500 for a used rifle. Thoughts, advice, links welcome!
nd
 
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The older Mossberg bolt action rifles are very nice rifles , and priced right. They pretty much all have micrometer click peep sights. I own a half dozen of them in different models . All bolt action rifles . All of them shoot well . I had a CZ and sold it. My CZ just didn't group as well as any of my Mossbergs . I know the CZ's are well thought of , and very popular nowadays . but I think you can get a bad one , in pretty much anything. Apparently that's what happened to me. The crown looked good. It was a beautiful rifle.
I tried 9 kinds of ammo in it , trying to find something it liked. High velocity , standard velocity , expensive target ammo.
Like I say though , I'm sure I just got a bad one. I may buy another one some day. They sure are pretty.
Last year I bought a new refrigerator that wouldn't keep the food cold , it went back , and the replacement was fine.
Some guys have all the luck . lol
 
28 gauge said:
A Winchester Model 69A would be a good choice.
Click to expand...

I agree with 28 gauge , the Winchester 69 A is hard to beat & mags will be available 4 yrs .
Also agree with triggerman42 , the older Mossberg peep sighted target rifles are great .
I've owned these for years & always a great rifle.
 
When I was 13, my dad bought me a slightly used Browning SA for Christmas. I went on many hunts with my dad using that sweet little rifle. I still own it, more than 40 years later. A browning, given to you by your father, you keep for life. My daughter will inherit it.
 
My first firearm at 3yrs old was an old Cooey .22 bolt action repeater. (I still have it)
It will shoot all .22 ammo.(short, long, long rifle, .22 quiet) If you've never hit a gopher with a .22 short hollow point you need to !!
Tougher than nails.

The CZ are very nice too.
 
I wouldn't expect to find a CZ for under $500. Consider the Husqvarna 22 repeaters on Trade Ex for around $200. I have a Husky 30.06 and a single shot 22 from Trade Ex, both excellent -- accurate and very well made. Great value. Trade Ex condition descriptions are reliable. I have a CZ 452 and it is a fine rifle but maybe getting overpriced.
 
Thanks folks for all the suggestions. A few here I didn't know about (the winchester and mossberg). I would like to buy used. Part of it is that we love the idea of the history of a good quality rifle. I don't come from a shooting/hunting family, so I didn't inherit any guns (insert sobbing emoji here).
 
It might be tough to find for $500, but a Brno 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 might fit the bill, very well made, plenty of history, typically accurate and available magazines. The 3's and 4's are heavy barrels, the others are sporters.
 
heliace said:
When I was 13, my dad bought me a slightly used Browning SA for Christmas. I went on many hunts with my dad using that sweet little rifle. I still own it, more than 40 years later. A browning, given to you by your father, you keep for life. My daughter will inherit it.
Click to expand...

This is basically what we're wanting to do, get him a nice lightly used gun with some history he can pass on to his kids.

I considered getting him a larger cal rifle since he also comfortably shoots my 12ga and 30 cal now, but his .22 is his baby. Realistically most things he hunts on his own (grouse, rabbit, squirrel) are best taken with .22 anyway.
 
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