First Rimfire for My Son: Some Advice / Help Reguest

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Wileecoyote

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Good day All,

My son and I have been out on the range a few times over the past number of months. I'm a long time shooter, have my RPAL and have all restricted guns: S&W M&P 9mm and .22, Colt AR .223 and a Chiappa .22 upper. We were out this morning and fired off about 2,000 rds with all platforms and I have to say, as a new and raw shooter, he is significantly better than me in both pistol and carbine. For instance, I had zeroed my .223 with an ELCAN Spectre 3.0 sight for 100m; after telling him where to aim and take his time on a 25 meter range, we looked at his target, he'd put 35 rds inside 4 inches, but as he said "I was aiming lower". I told him I had set the sight for 100m, and to aim "low" (meaning about 2 inches) on the next 35 rds. He put them all within 3 inches exactly where we discussed. This was the first time he'd ever fired any rifle.

So here is the question: what should I buy him for his first rifle? He turns 17 in 45 days and I've discussed with my wife about buying him a NR rifle for his birthday, to which she has agreed. I want to buy him a .22 lr so the the can continue to develop his skills with the possible end point of hunting (I don't, but I don't want to restrict him).

There are a few NR tactical .22s out there as well as straight rifle styles but I know nothing about any of them. So the questions:

1. What would you recommend as a straight simple .22 rifle of good quality? and / or
2. What would you recommend as a tactical .22 style rifle of good quality?

Thanks in advance,

The Coyote
 
CZ 455 Varmint, the last 22 bolt gun you will ever need. If you dont want to drop $900 on a 22, one of the Savage heavy barrel rifles won't let you down.

Tactical 22 guns are whatever, pick something you like the looks of and go. I've owned the STG and the SCAR, neither appealed enough to keep. 10/22s are best semi-auto IMO but not really tactical - and hampered by the magazine thing. There are a couple dedicated AR 22s I like but not NR obviously ;)
 
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If your son was a total beginner, I would say an entry level Savage Mk2, but he is not and in fact, he has shown great aptitude and lots of promise. Your son deserves at least a CZ452 or 455 Canadian or American, for bolt action.
 
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My son started with my SR-22 , he quickly moved to bolt.
Got him a CZ 455 from CT $499, he really likes it.
I’m gonna get him a .223 in a couple of years, he’s 11.
 
Not knowing if you have a budget or not, I would like to second easyrider604's suggestion of a Savage Mark II. Beginner or not, they are a nice rifle. As well, they do in fact come in many flavors (standard F and G models, to target models, laminate stocks, etc), and all I have heard shoot very well, and some of the 'higher end' ones rival or beat afformentioned CZ rifles. I am happy with a good ol Mark II G. Also, I was not worried about taking it out, getting a scratch here or there.
 
Like the others have mentioned either a CZ 452 or 455 would be a great gun for him to learn with and pass on to his kids. I'd suggest the Varmint version but any of the submodels are great.
 
I would get him a CZ 452 in regular barrel from the EE.... absolutely can’t go wrong. I had the 452 Varmint and it was a great rifle. The regular barrel has a little more utility IMO.
 
Rodder said:
Like the others have mentioned either a CZ 452 or 455 would be a great gun for him to learn with and pass on to his kids. I'd suggest the Varmint version but any of the submodels are great.
Click to expand...

I agree with the CZ455. The Varmint will give decent bench rest accuracy and the American is better suited to a hunting type rifle.
The American will also give lots of practice from the perspective of a centerfire hunting rifle.

The CZ's are solid rifles that will last a lifetime.

Although more money, the Anschutz 64 and the 1712 or 1710 have Varmint, Hunting and Benchrest capabilities. What I have spend on CZ's I could have had the best Anschutz but my 1416D might be 2nd best.
 
Wileecoyote said:
Good day All,

My son and I have been out on the range a few times over the past number of months. I'm a long time shooter, have my RPAL and have all restricted guns: S&W M&P 9mm and .22, Colt AR .223 and a Chiappa .22 upper. We were out this morning and fired off about 2,000 rds with all platforms and I have to say, as a new and raw shooter, he is significantly better than me in both pistol and carbine. For instance, I had zeroed my .223 with an ELCAN Spectre 3.0 sight for 100m; after telling him where to aim and take his time on a 25 meter range, we looked at his target, he'd put 35 rds inside 4 inches, but as he said "I was aiming lower". I told him I had set the sight for 100m, and to aim "low" (meaning about 2 inches) on the next 35 rds. He put them all within 3 inches exactly where we discussed. This was the first time he'd ever fired any rifle.

So here is the question: what should I buy him for his first rifle? He turns 17 in 45 days and I've discussed with my wife about buying him a NR rifle for his birthday, to which she has agreed. I want to buy him a .22 lr so the the can continue to develop his skills with the possible end point of hunting (I don't, but I don't want to restrict him).

There are a few NR tactical .22s out there as well as straight rifle styles but I know nothing about any of them. So the questions:

1. What would you recommend as a straight simple .22 rifle of good quality? and / or
2. What would you recommend as a tactical .22 style rifle of good quality?

Thanks in advance,

The Coyote
Click to expand...

Great advice from everyone. I would be in favor of a bolt action Savage for value and accuracy. On the other hand, I was 17 once and my second firearm was a 10/22. I shot my old bolt action TOZ17 and 10/22 so much growing up that... well, I still have a soft spot for both platforms. For just grins and having fun, a 10/22 cannot be be beaten. For accuracy, and 'serious shooting' times, the Savage is great too.

You know your son, I would find the rifle that will appeal most to his personality.
 
I'm 33 years old and rocking a Savage MKII with Tech Sights as my go to .22LR
Age has nothing to do with rifle type IMHO.
The Savage MKII is a wicked accurate and dead reliable bolt .22LR. You all should see what it can do with a set of precision tech sights on it and the uber long resulting sight radius.
I can explode pop cans at damn near 100 meters using bulk Winchester 555 pack as long as I paint the cans neon orange so I can see them ;)

It's also dirt cheap and a full size rifle length firearm which I like a lot. Mags are $20 for 10 rounders at every Can Tire across the country.
It's a must have firearm in every Canadian locker as far as I am concerned.
 
I am a new shooter and went in a slightly different direction. CZ 452 Lux. This model has the iron sights and shooting with them was a skill that I wanted to learn along with using a scope. I switch back and forth all the time and love the flexibility. To shoot with a scope I need a cheek rest to get a proper cheek weld as the stock is curved for sights, but dialing this all in is (for me) part of learning to shoot.

Also, have him shoulder all the rifles you are looking at... one will likely just speak to him.

Matt
 
Here's my take on the subject for what it's worth.
I shoot Anschutz target rifles for competitions and they are awesome, but they are also not for everyone.
If you are thinking that maybe your son would like to try competing in small bore a used CIL Anschutz 190 would be a great rifle.
They should be about $500-$700 depending on who is selling it, but make sure it comes with the factory peep sights.
Peep sights are required for 20 and 50 meter competitions.
The rifle was a bit heavy for my son's, who were quite younger and I picked up a Savage MKII FVT which also had peep sights.
The nice thing about the Savage is that you can easily mount a scope or buy a nicer wood stock.
The accu-trigger on the Savage is a great trigger out of the box.
As far as tactical rifles, I got my boys a 10/22 and it look nothing like it did when it came out of box.
There are endless parts and accessories you can swap on these rifle.
In my opinion, they are not as accurate as as a dedicated, single shot target rifle, but I know many will disagree.
Anyway, get something that he will enjoy and get him out to the range with you.
Happy Easter.
 
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