BEST YOUTH .22

[SHOEDOG]

Hello all,
I am getting my 7 year old son shooting and am looking for opinions on the best .22.He is currently shooting a Rem nylon 66 with a cheap scope on it, he has to crawl all over the stock to get alignment.He also shoots an old Rem model 12 with open sights.I will scope whatever we get.
Also any information on helping youth shooters would be welcome.We constantly talk about firearm safety on and off the range,I want him to be a responsible and safe shooter.
Thanks in advance.
Shoedog

 

[Cort]

I think the Cricket is about as good a starter rifle that there is. It is stocked to fit a child, is a single shot, bolt gun in .22 LR and has a decent trigger. I plan to buy one for my grandchildren once the oldest one reaches shooting age (very soon ;-)).

Cort

 

[nosualc]

I got a CZ scout for my two boys a couple of years ago (10 & 8 yo at the time). I put a little leupold scope on it. It fit them both very well, although is probably a little small for my now 12 yo (he's probably about 5'4" now). Once my younger son outgrows it, I'll sell it.

It's rather plain, but well made, and shoots well enough with all the ammo I've fed it. It comes with iron sights, and a single shot magazine insert. The trigger is decent, although certainly not a target grade trigger. I have not been disappointed with it in the least, and would recommend it. With it they have learned the basics of marksmanship and safety.

It was rather inexpensive, although more than some of the real el-cheapo plastic stocked youth rifles. I can't recall exactly how much it cost.

-nosualc

 

[cmillard]

well, a marlin model 60SS was my squirrel and rabbit gett'r for years. can't complain one bit about that little rifle

 

[MK 19]

The best rifle for your boy will be the rifle that has a stock that fits him the best, any good wood stocked rifle can be modified to work properly for that. Plus if the stock is cut properly the segment that was removed can be re-installed as he grows. What I will recommend would be a single shot bolt action, not a semi-auto. The single shot will teach him to slow down and to make every shot count. I made the mistake of building a 10/22 for my daughter when she was 7. At first she did very well as I told her that the magazine was only 5 rounds, but when we went shooting one day her grandfather handed her a 25 rd mag. All of a sudden it sounded like she was shooting a M-60 pulling off 3 to 5 rd burst. Thanks Dad.

 

[morpheus]

Check out the Savage Rascal. My 3 daughters love theirs (we have 2). We had a Crickett but the ergonomics of the Rascal are infinitely better. Plus it comes in several colors (plus wood) so they can pick out what they want. It's a bolt-action single-shot with an accu-trigger and is sized for kids. MSRP is around $160 and they're readily available.

 

[Dave Garrett]

Savage made a Cub 22lr youth gun... it has an accu-trigger and a thumb hole stock and is a single shot... They came in different color laminate stocks. For the $200 they cost I think they are one of the best buy... The stock fits my 7 and 10 year old grandsons very well.. Dave

 

[bheadboy]

Marlin makes the 915y, a single shot bolt, 22 that has a youth sized shorten stock and forend, I have one for my 10 grandchildren and they all learned on it.,

I put a 3x leup on it and it is very accurate, trigger is a little firm but can be improved with a little polish.
the design is for youth and works very well.

they are less that $200, I think I paid $165

Bob

 

[snert]

winchester 67 or 68

 

[Outrider27]

winchester 67 or 68

I still have the Winchester Model 68 my grandfather gave me in 1950, when I was 6. It was and is a great training rifle, but it (or at least the specimens I've seen) will require the services of a gunsmith to attach a scope to a 67 or 68, as they pre-dated .22 rimfire dovetailed recievers, and I'm not sure anyone still makes the side mount base that was commonly used back then for this conversion.

 

[Acme7]

I bought a ruger 77-22 had the trigger adjusted to a crisp 4 pounds to match the model 77 their older brother started with,( a . .260 rem.) it has been great to have a similiar gun with a similiar trigger a combo that has worked on deer elk and bear.

 

[Fotheringill]

If a good shoulder fit now, a CZ 452 Scout with a single shot adapter. It is a bolt rifle and a lot more accurate than the Crickets and such. MSRP is $312. It can be had for less, obviously. Great for shooting discipline. Trigger can be adjusted up to about 5 lbs. and down to 2.5 lbs. without any mods.

Stock can be replaced later on with a full sized one.

 

[SShooterZ]

I bought a Zastava .22 Youth for my 8 year old and it fits him just about perfect. Found it LNIB for $200 at a gunstore in Tomahawk, WI. Slapped a Weaver 2.5-7 scope on there and he's pretty good shooting cans, bottles and rocks >50 yards. The only complaint I have is that the magazine is a bit sticky to get in and out.

 

[snert]

With a little bit o work the 67/68 can be tapped and scoped, with a small block and riser, in front of the action and onto barrel. I have seen it done pretty slick and nice. i saw one on the varmints den or here...can't remember which, in the last 2 years.

Bit I did not see the scope part....but at 7 hopefully he can shoot without a scope as good as us oldsters with one!