Looking for input re: 22 rifles

[krispos42]

Assuming my employment stays steady, I'm thinking about buying 1 or 2 .22 rifles at some point in the next year or so.


For me, I was thinking of a Marlin 981, a tube-mag bolt-action rifle. For my kid (when he gets a bit older) I saw a youth-size Rossi single-shot with switchable barrels, one for .22 and one for .410 shotgun.


Anybody have any experiences with these? Advice?

I'm on a budget so cheap is king.



Thanks in advance!

[Redneck Socialist]

1. Single shot

I have no experience with those particular models, but starting your son out on a single shot is the way to go. Many a long year ago a single shot .22 was my first rifle, simple to operate and safe.

I have a ruger bolt action .22, very nice rifle, but it is more expensive then those that you are looking at.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Marlins are nice shooters

The 925 (magazine-fed) is maybe a little simpler to use than a tube-feed.

A good starter for a kid might be an air-gun. CMP has some used Daisy M853's for $75, a pretty good deal:
http://www.thecmp.org/airrifles.htm

:hi:

[SteveM]

3. Can't speak to a .22 since mine is 105 years old...

but I tend to shy away from .410 shotguns for kids. I think this is a caliber best-suited for experts and not for kids because frequent misses (when hunting) can lead to discouragement. If, however, the .410 is used for squirrels, I don't see a problem.

Good luck!

[krispos42]

6. Well, hunting may or may not be in the picture...

My primary concern is the .22 part of the gun, with maybe the .410 to provide the first-time "big bang" for him. And maybe shred a few cardboard boxes or the occasional defunct appliance. :-)

If we ever hunt I'd probably move up to a 20-gauge for him... or at least have the barrel of the .410 bored out to "improved cylinder" and tell him to keep his shots really close.

[TheWraith]

4. FWIW, I like the Marlin Model 60 that I've shot.

They're simple, cheap, and widely available since I think they built about 550 billion of the things.

[krispos42]

7. My ex-brother-in-law had one

And it worked well, no complaints. I just don't know how the accuracy compared to a turnbolt. The 981 is suppose to have a new, snappier trigger system.

But unleashing 16 rounds of .22 in about 5 seconds is pretty fun, too!

[Euromutt]

5. I picked up a Remington (Zastava) Model Five Youth a few months back

My niece likes to go shooting when she comes to visit, and I spotted this one on sale at a sporting goods store that was going out of business. I think I paid under $150 for it.

It's a sweet little bolt-action job, actually made by Zastava in Serbia. It comes with one five-round magazine and one magazine-shaped plug that turns it into a single-shot. The furniture's very pretty wood, with a comfortable grip. There's a Weaver rail on top of the receiver if you want to mount a scope, but the iron sights are good. The rear sight's adjustable, and it folds down to accommodate a scope, which I thought was a nice touch.

[krispos42]

8. That one sounds good, actually

Thanks! :hi:

[X_Digger]

9. How about a Remington Speedmaster 552?

I have one, and it's the most reliable yet accurate semi-auto 22 I've ever had. It eats every size and brand of ammo I've ever thrown at it.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. "Dad always said, 'Never buy used furniture from a nudist."

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LOL

got it . .

:thumbsup: