Best .22 for youth initiation?

jeffQC1

jeffQC1

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Hi!

Sister recently gave birth to a healthy boy, and i've been thinking about initiating kids in my family to firearms. I believe this could provide an excellent opportunity for them to safely learn to use and operate a firearm from a young age and familiarize them to it, while being a fun activity as well.

Of course, i have a few requirements: A bolt-action, preferably mag-feed (can be single shot), cheap and light.

I'm here so i can ask: which gun would be ideal for this task? Also what age would be appropriate? I was thinking about around the age of 8, minimum.
 
Each kid is different with the ability to comprehend and listen to words of instruction spoken
and in which they react.
The judgement will be yours.

Lots of new models out there compared to days of yore.
Single shot is always a good way to go.
One twack and you know the firearm is safe.

Teach safety and accuracy over this pray and spray chit.

Have fun with it.
 
Hi there,

We just set my daughter up with her first gun.

Since its her first gun I wanted it to be simple. Something that she can learn on without having to do too much at once. Oh forgot to mention she's six

Here is the one we went with

Blot action, No mag (My preference is for it to be a simple gun to learn with), Doesn't weigh anything at all.

h ttps://www.cabelas.ca/product/36733/savage-youth-rascal-single-shot-bolt-action-rifl
 
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Can't go wrong with the Rascal for a kid. That's what mine is getting, maybe for her 8th bday in September.

As for what she is appropriate, that's a judgement call to be made with each kid. My son is two years younger than my daughter and he's closer to being ready, my daughter doesn't listen the best sometimes...
 
Rascal for my daughter as well. Lots of fun shooting with her last summer. She was six then. The aperture sight is easy for kids to master.

They do suffer from oversized firing pins which may cause light strikes. All you need to remedy it is a 1/16" punch and a fine needle file. Just pop out the firing pin and bevel the sides slightly to reduce frontal area. Takes a few minutes, then it works reliably.
 
Got a rascal for my god son when it was time. Such a simple action & easy to manipulate.

Once I had the sights set up, he was hitting everything out to 25yrds with cci quiets.

The only issue with it was deciding who’s turn to shoot it was - it’s pretty fun

This year I got him the sight bases for an optical sight for his birthday.

:)

The gun has stayed with us and will be used for my kid when old enough.

Ryan
 
About 25 yrs ago I found a nice used Anschutz for a young relative. That rifle has aged very well, dare I say it, better than most inexpensive .22LRs would.
 
Crikket and chipmunk rifles from keystone arms. The single shots come in a variety of synthetic or laminate or walnut. Blued or stainless. The ones ive seen have had great fit and finish as they are revolution stocks.
 
jeffQC1 said:
I was thinking about around the age of 8, minimum.
Click to expand...

I started at about six or eight (which I consider late). I'm in favour of sooner rather than later.

Like my father's generation, most of my nephews started at three. (Riflery, on a range.) At that age, they benefit from a rest. They need a rifle that: fits them, and; they can manipulate without deviating from safe gun handling, and; is equipped with sights that they can comprehend. (The best factory option I've found is the Savage Rascal, but even that is on the large side). And they need PPE that fits them. Finding all that is not easy, but it can be done.

With the proper instruction, PPE, rifle, rests, aperture sights, reactive targets, close supervision, and coaching, they'll meet your expectation.

By the time they're five, they're competent; they know how to do it, and safely. By the time they're eight, they're ready to carry a firearm to hunt (where legal). And by the time they're eighteen, they're ready to CCW (where legal).

Great success!
 
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My daughter did really well with a pink Rascal using the peep sight. I eventually scoped it once she became good with the irons. She was 8 then. Now at 11, she has absconded my Browning BL22 with a Bushnell Elite 2-7x32 scope. It is love.
 
Choose copper plated rounds...

For kids you should also take into consideration lead exposure. Choose copper plated rounds and proper hygiene after shooting (i.e. wash hands)
I saw a father and son shooting lead rounds awhile back, watched the kid reach into a bag of chips and stuff his face f:P:
 
I fully agree with your thought on a manually operated gun for the first gun to shoot/learn on. I have a Stevens Favorite falling block 22 I use to introduce first time shooters to the sport.

My father started my brothers and I shooting when we were around age 5. We three all remeber the first gun we got to pull the trigger on was a Hi-Standard revolver, dad held the gun but we got to pull the trigger. From there we went on to shooting the Winchester Model 61 pump 22 rifle, as we grew into them other guns followed.

Dad taught his grandchildren how to shoot, but in their case he'd bought one of the child sized single shot 22s, I forget the name but for some reason "Cricket" stands out in the mind. Dad passed away a few years back and that little gun has been inherited by the brother with grandchildren.
 
My boys each have a savage rascal. They started at age 7. They each picked out their favorite color and they will each get the enjoyment of teaching their own kids with their rascals one day.
 
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