Help me pick a rifle & shotgun for a 12 year old

[Rolhammer]

My son and I are looking at getting him his first rifle and shotgun. We're both getting into this together and plan eventually on moving onto big game and bird hunting. To start out though, the initial plan is to get some dirt under our fingernails at the range or with the clays as well as some varmint hunting (coyotes and crows).

He's small for his age though - probably more like a 10 year old. In a few years or so though this'll all change. So for right now, he needs something on the lighter side that's not too barrel heavy and with reasonable recoil. And because I'm viewing these as transitional, there probably won't be much wrong with them being entry level to start with. Once he’s closer to full adult stature we can look at investing more into some long-term solutions for him. So, for a shotgun I was thinking either the Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam or the Remington 870 Express Compact Junior in 20 gauge. For the rifle, I was looking at a Savage Axis in 22-250.

Reasonable choices, or there other options I could be looking at?

 

[SuperCub]

I'd start him with a bolt action 22LR.

 

[hoytcanon]

Browning Micro Midas BPS in 20 gauge and a Micro Midas X-Bolt in .243... .243 is a better game option than .22/250, with reasonable recoil.

You could also go with a Ruger M77 Compact in .243 or .260... and the 870 Junior 20 gauge... personally I would not go .22/250 in you situation... if it is just to learn to shoot centerfire then a .223 is a better option, but if deer is even a remote possibility then go with a .243 and up.

 

[Rolhammer]

I'd start him with a bolt action 22LR.

Great point! I didn't mention, but we both used this as our starting point. Range exclusively so far, but anticipate doing some plinking on gophers in the spring.

 

[hoytcanon]

Great point! I didn't mention, but we both used this as our starting point. Range exclusively so far, but anticipate doing some plinking on gophers in the spring.

Definitely the .223 if gophers are as big as you are going on game.

 

[Rolhammer]

...but if deer is even a remote possibility then go with a .243 and up.

Fair point. I was thinking by the point we're ready to go for big game though that we'd already be upgrading him to something larger. Oh also, part of the reasoning with the 22-250 was to minimize pelt damage on the coyotes.

 

[Rolhammer]

Definitely the .223 if gophers are as big as you are going on game.

No sorry, as I mention in the OP big game is the eventual goal. I was just talking about SuperCub's suggestion of the .22 there - that we'd already started at that point and were planning on taking it beyond just range shooting and taking it out plinking too.

 

[jrcarbine]

I'd start him with a bolt action 22LR.

+1.

 

[Brian46]

How about a full stock Zastava M85 in 7.62x39 ? there is one on the EE with scope

 

[blasted_saber]

.223 is better then 22-250, especially if you;re worried about pelt damage. It costs half as much and is still a good,easy, gopher killer out to 300m.

 

[Rolhammer]

How about a full stock Zastava M85 in 7.62x39 ? there is one on the EE with scope

Hmm...

.223 is better then 22-250, especially if you;re worried about pelt damage. It costs half as much and is still a good,easy, gopher killer out to 300m.

Great info, thanks!

 

[Bartledan]

How about a full stock Zastava M85 in 7.62x39 ? there is one on the EE with scope

Is that the one where the guy cycled the action a bunch with with polishing compound in it? I'd avoid that one. Lord knows where the grit got to!

 

[Brian46]

Is that the one where the guy cycled the action a bunch with with polishing compound in it? I'd avoid that one. Lord knows where the grit got to!

if that is a worry, having any work done to smooth an action is not for you as the process could leave grit in the rifle

 

[cpbird91]

grab him a mosin, it'll turn him into a man real quick

 

[Bartledan]

if that is a worry, having any work done to smooth an action is not for you as the process could leave grit in the rifle

That's nonsense.

Many processes use something other than loose media. Stoning, filing, sanding, burnishing...

Lapping a detail stripped action lets you clean out the compound by immersion/soaking prior to reassembly.

Putting rubbing or lapping compound in an assembled firearm is just foolish amateur-hour hijinks. Who needs a lapped trigger pin?!? A lapped safety? A nice round sear engagement? You'd never get the compound out of the 100 other places you don't want it.

At least the guy who posted the ad admitted to ruining the gun.

 

[Brian46]

That's nonsense.

Many processes use something other than loose media. Stoning, filing, sanding, burnishing...

Lapping a detail stripped action lets you clean out the compound by immersion/soaking prior to reassembly.

Putting rubbing or lapping compound in an assembled firearm is just foolish amateur-hour hijinks. Who needs a lapped trigger pin?!? A lapped safety? A nice round sear engagement? You'd never get the compound out of the 100 other places you don't want it.

At least the guy who posted the ad admitted to ruining the gun.

how do you know it was not stripped and cleaned both before and after the polishing/lapping process? or even what was done exactly?

seems like a lot of hypotheticals are being posted, have you viewed the rifle to be able to state all these problems are present and something was in fact done improperly causing damage?

If someone was concerned, they could have a gunsmith look it over prior to purchase to satisfy any concern with the current condition.

 

[Found]

I bought my son a Baikal 20 gauge youth single shotgun when he was ready. One shot is safer and teaches them to make sure of the shot before they shoot. As for a rifle he was not smaller and could handle recoil so we bought him and Savage in 308. I would give a good look at AXIS II XP Youth in 243, they are smaller and the recoil will be low. As for a 22 LR we had a Cooey Youth Model 39 to hand down to him when he was younger.

 

[Rolhammer]

Hmm...just spitballing here but how about a 30-30? Some of those lever-actions are fairly light, smaller guns. Bit limited in terms of range, but I'm thinking it would be a kind-to-coyote-hide option that could also be pushed upward for bigger game when we get to that point. Is this reasonable thinking?

 

[Flappy the Corn Clown]

If you want to get him a rifle and a shotgun, and you're already looking at Savage's products, why not meet half-way and get a Savage Model 42? It's a .22/.410 combo and, while it's only a single-shot, it's a nice little piece. A buddy of mine recently got one for his kids to use (10 and 13), and they handle it like champs. Might be worth considering, since you said he's kinda small for his age.

 

[Bartledan]

how do you know it was not stripped and cleaned both before and after the polishing/lapping process? or even what was done exactly?

seems like a lot of hypotheticals are being posted, have you viewed the rifle to be able to state all these problems are present and something was in fact done improperly causing damage?

If someone was concerned, they could have a gunsmith look it over prior to purchase to satisfy any concern with the current condition.

Ah, I apologize. Just went to look at the ad again, and saw that you are the seller. Nothing personal, I didn't realize.

So, *did* you detail strip the action and bolt before you added the polishing compound and cycled the action some number of times? If so, you should add that info to the advertisement, because right now it reads like you're selling a possibly dangerously bubba-gunsmithed project rifle.

I'm actively looking for a micro-Mauser, and I passed on your gun because the process you describe can result in an unsafe firearm if done poorly. (Rounded seat engagement surfaces, worn safety engagement)

You should amend your ad to include the proof that you did it properly.

My uncle Joey used to say "It's not what you don't know that gets ya, its what you think you know!"