Good youth bolt .22?

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platnumbob

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I am looking for a bolt action (or lever) .22 that wont break the bank but will be decent for getting my young kids into shooting with supervision. Obviously a short LOP is required. My oldest is currently 8, so I am leaning towards a single shot .22 or something a bit slower on the reload. I would also like to be able to mount a red dot on it to start - oldest is having a bit of trouble with irons but will get there eventually.

Any thoughts on the best options?
 
Savage Rascal
Both my son and daughter learned safe handling and shooting with this. They come with a one piece base for mounting an optic, or use the supplied peep.
 
My son has a Rascal too. He really likes it and so do I. It's super accurate and nice and light. I know guys that purchased ones for themselves as their grouse gun when they are big game hunting, so not just a kids gun.
 
Hitzy said:
Nork JW15 Hiker...
Click to expand...

Agreed.

I have a JW15A backpacker (the short barrel one). Out of my pile of .22 rifles, it's the one that my 9 year old daughter absolutely gravitates to. It's not just about the length of pull. The short barrel means it has a balance point further to the rear, which makes it far easier to hold and manage.

The bolt is easy enough for her to work, without being pointlessly overly "safe" like most of the "youth" rifles that make you have to #### the thing separately after closing the bolt. I'm deeply opposed to that entire mentality. It's an operation that exists in no other type of firearm, a silly thing to teach a new shooter.

A standard bolt action is plenty safe, and starts them on the right path to building good habits.

Match the 15a with subsonic ammo, and you have a real winner. My middle aged ears barely register standard velocity .22 ammo any more, but to a youngun' who's ears are sharp and undamaged, the crack of a standard .22 is a bit nasty, even with earpro. The subsonics really reduce the crack, and yes, for someone young, even wearing ear-pro, the difference in sound between the two types of ammo is very noticeable.
 
I would agree, the Savage Rascal is a good option and boasts the Savage accuracy and has the accu-trigger! Another good choice that was more popular when I was growing up was the Chipmunk or the Crickett, although im not sure who sells them in Canada these days? The only thing to keep in mind with the latter options, is that the bolt has to be cocked like some of the old bolt action .22's. Google them, Keystone Sporting Arms bought them up now I believe.
 
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Savage rascal and the Keystone Crickett are both budget single shot bolt action 22’s designed for kids. The primary difference in operation is that the rascal cocks with the action of the bolt, while the Crickett requires the additional step of cocking (pulling on the back of the bolt) after closing the bolt. This is sold as a safety feature (extra step required to fire) but i’ve taught 5 year olds to shoot with the Rascals, and I can’t see the need.
 
Savage rascal. My 2 boys each have their own. They each got to pick the color they wanted and will get to teach their kids with them some day. Over 1000 rounds through each without an issue. Great little rifles.
 
I have a rascal for my son hes 5. The only thing I found with it is he has trouble getting a good hold on the grip and getting his finger into the trigger guard at the same time. Perhaps he has smaller than normal hands or something. Or hes just not ready yet. I took him out a couple times and he found it awkward. He did have fun though!
 
If the child is very young/small, I honestly don't think you can do better than a Savage Rascal. Part of it is an ergonomic consideration, the gun is light..easy to operate, not intimidating, accurate, very good trigger, easy to add optics to/good irons if you don't, you can add a bipod, etc. I also have a 13" barrel Norinco JW15A, and it would be a decent choice once they are about 10-12 years old...or...grow "bored" of shooting a single shot.. Which brings me to my next point.

I've had the privilege of giving a number of young shooters their first experience, and have learned the hard way that kids can absolutely LOVE a single shot .22, and are likely to ask about shooting it often.

If that same kid is plinking away with a single shot 22 and then during a break...you (or someone else) grabs a bolt action repeater or worse...a semi...a single-shot 22 can "lose it's lustre". Which I think is a shame. The attention span of most young kids tends to be very short, so make the outing "about them"...prepare reactive targets like baloons, sitting clays, empty pop cans, metal gongs etc. :)
 
I was at Cabelas and had a chance to handle a rascal - looks like a great choice for my 3 boys (3,5 and 8). I will get a WTB up on the EE and if no one has an extra one laying around I will snag one at Cabela's - $230 does not seem like a bad price for the package.
 
The cz 455 trainer would be my go to. Plus once they grow up they can upgrade the stock and have a quality gun, not a savage.
 
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