Hi All,
I will admit I did not use the search, for some reason it was not working on my phone although I went back several pages to look for similar topics.
I am looking to get my 11 year old son into shooting more than his basic exposure to pellet guns. I have been looking for a magazine fed bolt action 22lr with iron sights. I was originally going to purchase him a 10/22 since they are in stock, accessible and something he can easily grow into. But a part of me, and a lot of what I am reading as recommendations, lean towards a single shot bolt action as a better option for a starter rifle for a new shooter. My concern with a 10/22 is discipline (sight picture, trigger control, thinking through the fundamentals before each shot, safety). I would prefer a magazine fed rifle so that he is not stuck loading each round by hand after every shot (I would purchase a couple magazines). I think manually loading a round after every shot would diminish the fun as a new shooter quickly. I feel a rifle with iron sights that is capable of scope mounting would provide for a future proof solution, but importantly teaching the fundamentals of marksmanship from the start.
Anyways to my dilemma, I was thinking that a Marlin XT-22 would be an excellent fit. Magazine fed, bolt action, iron sights, factory scope mounted options (not great quality, but good enough for a beginning shooter at 50-75 yards), which i would remove initially. However I cannot find any in stock anywhere. Does anyone know an online retailer that has any stock? I was planning a synthetic stock for weight and durability purposes, but I would be open to wood assuming I could find one.
Are there alternatives in the 500 cdn or less price range? Any thoughts on the Ruger American 22lr as a viable alternative?
Anybody disagree with my concerns on the 10/22?
Unfortunately I only have a .223 caliber presently (more of a handgun guy over the last 15 years). Otherwise if I already had a 22lr, I would just have him learn with it. Any investment I make today however, I can use it, same as my younger son (8) although he has not shown much interest.
I will admit I did not use the search, for some reason it was not working on my phone although I went back several pages to look for similar topics.
I am looking to get my 11 year old son into shooting more than his basic exposure to pellet guns. I have been looking for a magazine fed bolt action 22lr with iron sights. I was originally going to purchase him a 10/22 since they are in stock, accessible and something he can easily grow into. But a part of me, and a lot of what I am reading as recommendations, lean towards a single shot bolt action as a better option for a starter rifle for a new shooter. My concern with a 10/22 is discipline (sight picture, trigger control, thinking through the fundamentals before each shot, safety). I would prefer a magazine fed rifle so that he is not stuck loading each round by hand after every shot (I would purchase a couple magazines). I think manually loading a round after every shot would diminish the fun as a new shooter quickly. I feel a rifle with iron sights that is capable of scope mounting would provide for a future proof solution, but importantly teaching the fundamentals of marksmanship from the start.
Anyways to my dilemma, I was thinking that a Marlin XT-22 would be an excellent fit. Magazine fed, bolt action, iron sights, factory scope mounted options (not great quality, but good enough for a beginning shooter at 50-75 yards), which i would remove initially. However I cannot find any in stock anywhere. Does anyone know an online retailer that has any stock? I was planning a synthetic stock for weight and durability purposes, but I would be open to wood assuming I could find one.
Are there alternatives in the 500 cdn or less price range? Any thoughts on the Ruger American 22lr as a viable alternative?
Anybody disagree with my concerns on the 10/22?
Unfortunately I only have a .223 caliber presently (more of a handgun guy over the last 15 years). Otherwise if I already had a 22lr, I would just have him learn with it. Any investment I make today however, I can use it, same as my younger son (8) although he has not shown much interest.
