Looking for a good .22 cal rifle
 

My 7 year old daughter is really enjoying going to the range with me. I let her shoot my .22 Ruger Single Six revolver, but she is still too small to be very accurate with it. I've decided to get her a .22 rifle. But I want a good one that she will keep forever. One that holds its value. On the other hand I don't want some $1000 target shooting sport rifle. Just a nice one to go out and shoot with. Bolt or magazine or tube fed? Will not use a scope, just iron sights. I am a bit reluctant to get a single shot bolt action only because it gets a bit old having to reload after every shot. Thanks for any advice you have.

Ruger 10/22
Savage Cub

Kurt, the single shot is a traditional first rifle...and .22 is the caliber. I still shoot and enjoy my first rifle, given to me by Dad, when I was very young. It's a remington "targetmaster", 1930's or 40's vintage. No scope, iron sights.

It's a shame remington no longer makes them.

Today, single shot .22's come in a wide price range...and styles.

Whatever you select, I would advise against a semi auto as a first rifle.

Here's a place you can begin your research:

http://ocshooters.com/Gen/kidshooting/youth-firearms.htm

For the ultimate .22 rifle? One you could proudly pass down to your daughter when she grows to fit it?
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/kimber1722/customclassic.php

At 7 years old, she is probably way too small for a full size or even "youth" size .22. I started both of my boys when they were 6 years old with the Chipmunk rifle from Oregon Arms. It's the only .22 made for kids that age. It is a single shot .22, and it requires pulling back a cocking piece in addition to cycling the bolt, but you will come to appreciate that. I found I could keep much better control over the situation if the little fellers couldn't cock their own rifles. By the time they were strong enough to do so, they were veteran shooters and could actually be trusted to do so.

The single shot loading will also teach her to actually aim and shoot, rather than rely upon volume of fire to hit her target. Kids can be quite undisciplined shooters and can burn through a surprising amount of ammo, even with a single shot. It was not uncommon for the boys to go through a brick a day apiece at that age. They sounded like machine gun operators even with the single shots.

When they finally got "big enough" to use my 10/22 the volume of ammo went up and the quality of shooting went down. Now they both have bolt action and single shot rifles (rimfire and centerfire), and they have learned to shoot again. Keep the autoloaders away from the kids until they gain some skill; they teach very bad habits that kids are prone to use anyway.

You may be right on the rifle size. I like the Ruger 10/22, but the Savage Cub may be a better fit. It is also a bolt action. Here she is with the Ruger pistol. In the first one note the trigger discipline! :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1190600568.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1190600618.jpg

You can't go wrong with a Ruger 10-22...built tough and not too expensive. My 2nd son has one.

That said, my youngest son dearly loves this little .22LR pump (Model 62) from Taurus:

http://www.taurususa.com/images/imagesMain/M62R.jpg
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=428&category=Rifle

Good points made by Jeff.
.
On your way to obtaining 'the ultimate .22 cal. rifle for my 7 yr. old daughter', the Winchester Model 9422 lever action is worth a look. Introduced in the early '70's, as I recall.
When the rumors began to float about re: discontinuing them a couple of years ago, the prices shot up markedly.
I had one 400 yrs. ago but, like a dumba$$, I sold it.
Nifty little rifle...but for her, it could be a little on the heavy side...then again, kids grow quickly.
.
Good luck.

Wow, you're older than dirt. ;)

go to savagearms.com they have the best line of well priced 22's. Very accurate, well made and at a reasonable cost. I suggest this one http://savagearms.com/cub.htm Another good choice is the newer 17 cal http://savagearms.com/93r17f.htm and finally http://savagearms.com/markiigy.htm

These are just a few of the choices that Savage has to offer. You can't beat them for value and accuracy, especially with the accutrigger.

My 7 year old daughter has been wantin one of Chipmunk 22s... in pink of course.

first gun was a Remington bolt action with a little scope, it was a good choice by my father for a lot of reasons. It shoots 22 shorts to 22 LR, and a 22 short through that thing sounds like some one stepping on an aluminum can, no wonder they do mob hits with .22. Sweet action, easy to shoot well, which was very encouraging as a young gaffer. I thought a lever action would have been cool at the time, but grew to appreciate that Remington.

Later got a Browning pump action .22 which was probably the best gun I ever shot. Open sights, could hit the head of a nail from a good distance and put 2 shots

A single shot and iron sights is best to learn with. Make very shot count.

The stevens-savage rolling block is a sweet little gun. But dont dry fire it!

I'm going to check out the Savage Cub and Ruger 10/22, but now leaning towards the Cub. I might be stuck with a rifle I have to sell in a few years, but I want her to get started right and enjoy herself.

My first .22 was a lever action Marlin carbine. I still have it and it became my sons first .22:cool:

Don't be afraid to buy used.

Kurt,
You might want to check out the NRA's 'Eddie Eagle' program at a range near you. These coaches are great at teaching safety and gun stuff to kids. They also might give you good suggestions on a suitable rifle for your little gal.

I was taught on a .22LR bolt action single shot. My dad handed me a round, signaled me to chamber, aim, fire, eject. Then I waited for him to hand me the next round. Let him make sure I was being safe, deliberate, accurate. I still have that rifle, a Remington, and will use it to teach my kids. I would think you could buy a single-shot 22 rifle, used, for peanuts.

QUOTE: "buy a single-shot 22 rifle, used"
_____________--

+1

Pawn shops and no scope. A bolt action rifle allows the new/young shooter to see/understand the function of the firearm. Safe, controlled procedures.
Iron sights lets you explain the important 'sight alignment/sight picture' relationship of marksmanship.

Save the optics and auto-loaders for later/upgrades.

+1

Kurt...you are a member of the NRA aren't you? The 2nd amendment needs all the help it can get these days.

I am still in the single shot, iron sights club on this one.

Not an NRA member.

I bowed to the wisdom of the board and at lunch ordered in a Savage Cub. Should be in by Friday.

http://www.gunshopfinder.com/savage/cub_lg.jpg

[QUOTE=Kurt V;3494620]

1. I want a good one that she will keep forever.


2.One that holds its value. [QUOTE]

U violated your own principles.

I would have suggested buying the Winchester 94/22. Which is a lever action and discontinued. Current price range $600 to $750 and going to go higher. I would get the deluxe XRT model with checkering. It is good quality and something she could keep forever A second choich would be the Browning 52 Sporter or the new Winchester version. It is a bolt action rifle in the same $700 range. The Browning version is discontinued and will go up in value allbeit slowly The quality is superlative. Orginal pre 64 Winchester 52 Sporters are in the $2500 to $3500 range. Get the idea, it is a very popular rifle? A third choich is a Kimber model 82 which is another bolt action. If you buy an orginal Oregon made Kimber for around $800 to $1000 you have another superlative quality, certain to appreciate rifle.

These are guns she can grow into and will be $$$ well placed and not thrown away. Also buying used is the only way to go. Every new gun depreciates like a new car will, the minute U step outa the gun shop door. However a gun has a residual value, which is right below the wholesale price of the gun.