My daughter just passed all the requirements for her Ontario hunter apprenticeship and wants a bolt action 22lr. She loves shooting and has been shooting an old Winchester 1901 but wants an upgrade and a “fun” coloured stock. What are you folks shooting or recommending? She’s 12 and my 10/22 fits her good. Looking for a full sized model, not youth. She’s not interested in a semi
Decent bolt action for minute of grouse?
- Thread starter TwigPig
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Without any "joke", could go a lot worse than an older Cooey 39 or a Cooey 60 / 600. From my era, a lot of small game taken - both guns have their issues, but inexpensive enough and Canadian icons, if that is important to you. They were about as "standard" as could get, back in the day. To quote some guy "all that you really need..."
If you have "deeper" pockets, then either BRNO #1 or a CZ 452 Scout come to mind - I have both of those here - I have never used a LUX, although I understand they have iron sights also. I was completely happy with a couple of Savage rimfire rifles - nothing wrong that I know about - just preferred the "snobby" of using BRNO and CZ. My eyes telling me that I am too old for barrel mounted rear sights, but I want my Grandkids to learn to use them - so both rifles ended up with QD Warne rings and Leupold scopes for me to use.
If you have "deeper" pockets, then either BRNO #1 or a CZ 452 Scout come to mind - I have both of those here - I have never used a LUX, although I understand they have iron sights also. I was completely happy with a couple of Savage rimfire rifles - nothing wrong that I know about - just preferred the "snobby" of using BRNO and CZ. My eyes telling me that I am too old for barrel mounted rear sights, but I want my Grandkids to learn to use them - so both rifles ended up with QD Warne rings and Leupold scopes for me to use.
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A CZ452 Scout would be hard to beat. I think the BRNOs are great too, and balance well for offhand shooting. Sights are excellent. I would think you'd have to be an adult-sized shooter to mange one of those though. The OP's daughter may very well be able to, but it would something to test/check out first.
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- the chesterfield
I've had a 452 and 457 scout and I kept the 457. Better, more adjustable sights, nice short bolt throw radius and when she grows too big, pick up a longer stock and order a match barrel.
The 452 lux and 457 lux (and trainer) share an excellent tangent sight setup and long sight radius, definitely a rifle you could never grow out of. Having the ability to adjust your sight between 25 and 200m without cranking an elevation drum (like on a peep sight) comes in handy.
The 452 lux and 457 lux (and trainer) share an excellent tangent sight setup and long sight radius, definitely a rifle you could never grow out of. Having the ability to adjust your sight between 25 and 200m without cranking an elevation drum (like on a peep sight) comes in handy.
I'd be tempted to check one out for sure, I've never had the chance to handle one in person but the 10/22 mag use is a bonus, 10 round flush mag is nice.
This one might make her happy, but it would need to be ordered through Prophet or some other importer as it's a dealer exclusive down south...
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Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
It wasn't a bolt action but I once shot a ruffed grouse at about thirty five yards along a forested survey trail with Winchester 490 and 4x Weaver Challenger scope.
Asked my two hunting buddies to help me find it. And a cursory search exposed nothing found. As we stood in small circle discussing my supposed miss the ruffie crashed to the forest floor mere feet from us.
Turns out I hit it base of the neck. It corkscrewed skyward kind of reflex reaction and it went upwards into the sky until this strange effect wore off. Then fell to earth dead as a doornail.
Asked my two hunting buddies to help me find it. And a cursory search exposed nothing found. As we stood in small circle discussing my supposed miss the ruffie crashed to the forest floor mere feet from us.
Turns out I hit it base of the neck. It corkscrewed skyward kind of reflex reaction and it went upwards into the sky until this strange effect wore off. Then fell to earth dead as a doornail.
A CZ Lux or Trainer with the rear tangent sight. Beautiful, quality rifles that are designed for hunting, and are very accurate and competitive at the range for benchrest and other competitions. If well cared for it will last forever and your kid will never outgrow it. The dovetail is always there to add a scope later if desired.
Personally I would go with the Lux because of the walnut stock and checkering, and its enduring value. However they don't come in the kid "fun" colours, maybe a deal breaker?
For an enhancement to the V-notch blade on the rear tangent sight, you can get peep sight inserts from J&P. Skinner sights makes a rear peep sight for CZ dovetails - I have been meaning to buy one for my 452 Lux but never get around to it.
My eyes are old, and I hunt grouse with my CZ 455 with a scope (season opens in a few days here, wuuhoo!), and I always keep the scope on it. When my eyes were younger I used to practice with my 452 Lux with the beautiful tangent rear sight and adjustable front blade, but eventually I put a target scope on it and then used it for many years for our club's 50m benchrest rimfire competitions, and did quite well with it against more expensive target rifles. CZ makes a single shot magazine adapter (just a mag, no tools needed), which I find is better for bench practice than having to continually load magazines. So its a versatile system IMO.
If you miss the grouse with a CZ, its not the rifle's fault.
Personally I would go with the Lux because of the walnut stock and checkering, and its enduring value. However they don't come in the kid "fun" colours, maybe a deal breaker?
For an enhancement to the V-notch blade on the rear tangent sight, you can get peep sight inserts from J&P. Skinner sights makes a rear peep sight for CZ dovetails - I have been meaning to buy one for my 452 Lux but never get around to it.
My eyes are old, and I hunt grouse with my CZ 455 with a scope (season opens in a few days here, wuuhoo!), and I always keep the scope on it. When my eyes were younger I used to practice with my 452 Lux with the beautiful tangent rear sight and adjustable front blade, but eventually I put a target scope on it and then used it for many years for our club's 50m benchrest rimfire competitions, and did quite well with it against more expensive target rifles. CZ makes a single shot magazine adapter (just a mag, no tools needed), which I find is better for bench practice than having to continually load magazines. So its a versatile system IMO.
If you miss the grouse with a CZ, its not the rifle's fault.
OP, you don't say whether or not you're looking for a single shot bolt action or a reapeater with either a box or tube magazine.
If you're looking for a sleeper, as far as accuracy goes, there are a few banner advertisers that are selling surplus TOZ8 rifles at this time, for around $200.
These rifles are usually very accurate and come with excellent, easy to acquire iron, tangental type sights
I had one of these for about thirty years and recently gave it to the daughter of a friend, she just turned ten last summer.
We took her shooting and let her shoot it off the bench first, then offhand out to 30 yards.
She has great eyes and great hand to eye co ordination, that go along with good upper body strength.
It's a full size rifle, built for adults.
She loved it. She made the comment that "it's to bad it isn't RED" She would quite easily have taken any Grouse she came into contact with up to 40+ yards.
Neither of them knew I was going to gift the rifle to they young lady and after the shooting session I took the stock off, sanded it down and painted it with RED boxliner paint, which gave it a nice pebbled appearance.
When I gave her the rifle, I told her that it was HER RIFLE, DO NOT LEND IT TO ANYONE, especially your DAD.
She took me seriously and when he asked her if he could take it hunting last weekend, like most women, she closed that door immediately. He mom laughed and that made it worse.
Still, they're a bit on the crude side but great shooters and with a bit of work, their triggers can be amazing.
If you're looking for a sleeper, as far as accuracy goes, there are a few banner advertisers that are selling surplus TOZ8 rifles at this time, for around $200.
These rifles are usually very accurate and come with excellent, easy to acquire iron, tangental type sights
I had one of these for about thirty years and recently gave it to the daughter of a friend, she just turned ten last summer.
We took her shooting and let her shoot it off the bench first, then offhand out to 30 yards.
She has great eyes and great hand to eye co ordination, that go along with good upper body strength.
It's a full size rifle, built for adults.
She loved it. She made the comment that "it's to bad it isn't RED" She would quite easily have taken any Grouse she came into contact with up to 40+ yards.
Neither of them knew I was going to gift the rifle to they young lady and after the shooting session I took the stock off, sanded it down and painted it with RED boxliner paint, which gave it a nice pebbled appearance.
When I gave her the rifle, I told her that it was HER RIFLE, DO NOT LEND IT TO ANYONE, especially your DAD.
She took me seriously and when he asked her if he could take it hunting last weekend, like most women, she closed that door immediately. He mom laughed and that made it worse.
Still, they're a bit on the crude side but great shooters and with a bit of work, their triggers can be amazing.
Funny that there are two toz suggestions as I was going to throw the toz 78 out as another suggestion, I bought it new for less then $150 taxed and shipped when they were available and have it set up with a williams peep sight on the back that matches up perfectly with the round front sight guard and makes for a great sight picture.... shoots like a lazer beam and if you can see it you can hit it with cheap bulk ammo.
It's the same gun that got re-branded as the wildcat for Winchester but has been discontinued.
Painting the stock would be a fun project and she could make it "hers".
It's the same gun that got re-branded as the wildcat for Winchester but has been discontinued.
Painting the stock would be a fun project and she could make it "hers".
p.Rundle
CGN frequent flyer
I really recommend the Norinco JW-15A, with the 13 inch barrel. I really, really, really like mine. I would venture to say that outside of some boutique centrefire semis I've owned, it's my favorite gun. It's an amazing option and everyone I know really likes it too.
