34 replies to this topic

[rott]

I was looking around at youth .22lr rifles for my 5 year old, and found the Cricket and the Savage Rascal.  Out of those two, I like the Savage a lot better, but, it's not perfect.

My wish list:

• .22lr
  
• lightweight
  
• magazine fed
  
• bolt-action (not completely fixed on this though)
  
• able to mount a red-dot

Can any of you recommend a nice starter gun?  The Cricket and Rascal are both around 2.5 lbs...I can't find anything else that weighs about that much.  

The ability to have a red-dot is more to make it fun.  She shot my .22lr AR15 with a red-dot and loved it.  I know I need to teach her how to use standard sights, but if the red-dot makes it more fun for her, I'm all for it.

Any suggestions?

Edited by rott, 10 June 2012 - 06:54 AM.

[Getzapped]

I bought mine a savage cub!  the cricket is junk! The savage cub has a real nice laminated thumbhole stock, it is single shot (i started em with single shot for safety purposes), and my kids love it!  i think i paid around 180 or so at gander mountain!  check around the prices vary from store to store!
http://www.ableammo....5.html?tbm=shop  here is a pic

Edited by Getzapped, 10 June 2012 - 07:44 AM.

[Tompo]

It's not bolt action, but I like the Marlin 795.

[Jeckler]

I bought my son a Rossi matched pair.  It's got a lightweight plastic stock and interchangeable barrels.  Single shot.  .22LR and .410 shotgun.  It takes less than a minute to switch.  Started about a year ago, shortly after he turned 5.  He'll grow into it.


Here's the best part...it was on sale for $99 at Dicks Sporting Goods.  There was a $20 mail in rebate at the time.  Net cost $79

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[TyGuy]

Tompo, on 10 June 2012 - 07:53 AM, said:

It's not bolt action, but I like the Marlin 795.

If they are old enough to handle the leng and weight I agree.  I got mine last year for $100.

Otherwise, for a small child, I too like the Savage.

[Murf]

I started my son on a Winchester Wildcat.  It's a full-sized rifle, but has a lovely slender profile.  It's not overly heavy at 4.5 pounds.  It's a very nice little rifle, easy to use and accurate, and was an excellent first gun for him.  It's one he'll never outgrow, and he's always liked it when the adults at the range handle it and immediately decide they'd like to have one too.

[willxjcherokee]

I would highly suggest the marlin 795 its cheap (125 bucks), reliable(based on marlin model 60), and fun as heck.

If you really want a bolt gun get the marlin XT-22, its a new .22 they make with adjustable trigger.

As you can see I love me some.22

[moparcardave]

Go with the Marlin or Savage or even a 10-22.  They can still shoot all of them later in life.  The Cricket, formerly Chipmunk is a cool item to look at later but pretty useless and if used much will give you problems. I guarentee any of the others will still be worth more then you pay for it by the time she is 15.

[rott]

looks like the savage has some support.  I would like to just get her into a 10/22 since i have one for me anyway, but they are about twice the weight of the savage...

Anyone have any advice for a CHEAP red dot or holographic sight for the savage?

[milq]

Find a used 10/22 and get the Blackhawk! Collapsible stock for it. The stock is very lightweight and adjusts so very small kids can use it. For a usable stock it's also reasonably priced, I paid about $58 shipped for mine.

Also, if you need one, I will very soon have a factory 10/22 barrel cut from 18 inches to 16 and 1/8 (that extra 1/8 is just so there's no question that it's legal). Though it isnt much weight loss, it will move the balance point back a little and should be good for smaller shooters.

I'll put an 11 degree crown on it and then test it, after that it'll be for sale for $25 plus shipping. I'm doing some accuracy testing and want to see how 16 compares to original and also to a tensioned barrel. I intend to leave the rifle with a tensioned barrel when I'm done.

[C0untZer0]

I am in the same boat.

But I was thinking pistol instead of rifle.  One of the things that I was thinking of was the Chipmunk (Crickett / Keystone Arms)



The other thing I was thinking about was the Ruger 22/45 LITE.

Right now we're shooting from bench rest. They're only 8,9 and 12 years old and I don't think they'll be able to hold a heavy pistol up for off-hand shooting, that's why the Ruger 22/45 LITE interests me.

I had kind of decided on getting the Chipmunk pistols - but those could only be used from a benchrest:

The other thing that is really tempting me right now is the S&W 617.  My middle daughter thinks it looks the best if I could get pink grips for it.

[rott]

My daughter actually wants a blue one....I tought she would want pink, so I was showing her those.  She promptly told me her new  favorite color was blue.

I am also thinking about a pistol, but assumed my MkII would cover that.

Now to decide between a Savage or try and get her to work with a 10/22...!

[C0untZer0]

I have three daughters and one wants purple.

Isn't LOP a problem with those full sized rifles?

[Jeckler]

C0untZer0, on 10 June 2012 - 06:22 PM, said:

I am in the same boat.

But I was thinking pistol instead of rifle.  One of the things that I was thinking of was the Chipmunk (Crickett / Keystone Arms)

pistolpinkblued.jpg

The other thing I was thinking about was the Ruger 22/45 LITE.

Right now we're shooting from bench rest. They're only 8,9 and 12 years old and I don't think they'll be able to hold a heavy pistol up for off-hand shooting, that's why the Ruger 22/45 LITE interests me.

I had kind of decided on getting the Chipmunk pistols - but those could only be used from a benchrest:

The other thing that is really tempting me right now is the S&W 617.  My middle daughter thinks it looks the best if I could get pink grips for it.

Did you flip that photo?  Or is that a left handed version?

[C0untZer0]

I didn't flip the photo, it's from Chipmunk's website.  Looking at actual owner's photo's on the Internet, all the pistols look like that - the bolt handle on the left side of the pistol:

http://www.chipmunkr...g44dc3gdrr61sd2

Here's a write up on a restoration project with one:

http://www.theboxotr...cs/edu118_2.htm

[TyGuy]

For what my opinion is worth (nothing) I don't like the 10/22.  I find the controls clumsy, the mags akward, with no hold open on the last shot.  I own a 10/22, but it the least favorite 22lr rifle that I own.

[rott]

I think I am leaning toward the Savage....but I still need a cheap optic to make it more "fun" for her...

[TyGuy]

Gander often has a red dot by sightmark on sale for like $30.  I've used it on my AR in the past, until I upgraded, and it held zero there.  It's nothing spectacular, but it holds its zero, has 4 reticle choices, and 7 brightness leves.

Oh, or the Bushnell TRS, but that goes on sale for about $65.  For a kid's gun I would go cheap.  In case it gets broken and what not.

[TyGuy]

Here is the camo version without the sale price.  If you check the online flyers every week you can get the all black for about $30-$35 on sale at Gander or Cabelas.

http://www.gandermou...ot&merchID=4005

[Bowfisher]

Take a look at the CZ Scout.  These are solid guns.  Some of the best open sights on the market for an off the shelf rifle.  They come with a single shot magazine but a five or 10 shot mag will also fit.  Might be a bit pricey for some but the quality is excellant.  Mags are not cheap either but the old say "You get what you pay for".

http://www.cz-usa.co...w/cz-452-scout/

http://www.championf...2LR-p/02050.htm

[rott]

Thanks for all of the input!  I'll have to watch for that reflex sight on sale.

[nocaster]

TyGuy, on 11 June 2012 - 09:10 AM, said:

Here is the camo version without the sale price.  If you check the online flyers every week you can get the all black for about $30-$35 on sale at Gander or Cabelas.

http://www.gandermou...ot&merchID=4005

I have one of these, and would definitely recommend it for the desired purpose

[C0untZer0]

I stopped by Gander  tonight because they are listed as an authorized dealer for Savage.  They don't carry the Rascal - or at least the clerk never heard of it.

I did see the Cricket though.  It has ghost ring rear -which I don't like.

The Savage Rascal has adjustable peep sights  

I've taught my girls so far on a Sheridan Bluestreak with rear blade and I don't want to transition to ghost ring.  Plus the Ruger Std I have has blade sights - I just want to keep it the same for now, but I'm leaning toward the Savage.

Another thing I noticed - that pink polymer gets dingy.  I guess being plastic it will clean up easily enough, but the pink really shows any amount of dirt.

My one daughter went nuts over the scopes.  She doesn't care about what gun she gets but she picked out a $549.00 scope that she has her heart set on.

I said we're going to learn on iron sights for a while.  

I'm also thinking about the Rossi and using some pink Krylon on the stock - or let my daughter pick out the color herself.

Edited by C0untZer0, 13 June 2012 - 09:13 PM.

[C0untZer0]

Just found out that Dicks has the Rossi matched set in pink for $159.00

[rott]

Nice catch...I assume you picked it up?

[C0untZer0]

Not yet, they have at least 2 pinks ones at two locations, I plan to get one tonight.

Dick's in Schaumberg has one...

[C0untZer0]

I'm wondering if the 410 is any good for a kid to learn shooting clay pidgeons...

[Jeckler]

Although it's only 410, it does have some kick.  The stock is very light and does not absorb much of the recoil.  You may wish to pick up a shoulder pad / vest as well.

With beginners, 410 is fun to shoot stationary clays on the backstop.  Trying to hit a moving target can be very frustrating for a beginner.  Heck, even the experts struggle with 410.

Put some clays against the back stop and let her blow 'em to pieces.  She will love it.

[C0untZer0]

^ Uh...  where in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago is there a shotgun range I can do that at ?

I bought the little pink Rossi Youth combo tonight at Dick's.

I have to wait 24 hours before picking it up to prevent me from going on a murderous rampage with the little pink gun.

I like the rifle sights - they are 3 dot FO, green/chartreuse rear and orange front.  I think that's closer to blade sights than ghost ring or peep.

Had to deal with salespeople who don't know anything about guns but I guess that's the way it goes.

[GoatLady]

rott, on 10 June 2012 - 06:53 AM, said:

Any suggestions?

Hi - I'm late to the question, but then again I'm new to the forum.

Cricket : The first we purchased back in 2000 was a nice little starter. Went through 3 kids and really helped their focus with the Single Shot. We picked up one in 2010 and the innards stopped firing correctly after about 50 rounds. Returned, lather, rinse, repeat - failures each time. Manufacture was nice, still think I'd find an older one for reliability.

When they became "serious" about wanting to tighten past the 4MOA, we advanced to RugerCompact @ 4.5#'s with scope optional per each childs preference.

The Henry Repeating Arms is a nice option as well @ 3.5 if it fits her body. For some reason the reach was just too short for our youngest 2 and the additional safety feature tended to complicate the issue.

Before you add the red dot, you might consider a bore laser to see if they like it. We have 1 who will dry fire it all day long, but the other two are "purists" and not so keen on it. Unless you have an extra red dot lying around that is.