So if you want a .22 and shotgun, Stevens made one gun that is both. It's an over and under and they made it in a .22 / .410 and a .22 / 20 Ga. They are very affordable $325 -$375 and I see them all the time at gun shows. They also came in wood stocks and tennite ( plastic). I prefer the wood. Nice little kids gun and most have a short length of pull, that is right for yunguns.


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Growing up with a woods behind me I got a .22 Glenfield/Marlin semi auto at about 11-12 yrs old and a single shot 12 ga when I was about 12-13. I did not use the shotgun much, but the .22 was cheap fun and I can assure you that many squirrels and birds avoided our backyard until I left for college. My dad was not a hunter, but my grandfather was and he taught me how to handle guns at an early age. From the time I got my .22, I shot whenever I felt like it unsupervised... not too sure how that flys in todays world.

I bought my daughters the same style Marlin .22 semi autos when they were about twelve and thirteen. While they did not use their guns like I did as a kid, they both still will on occasion will get one out to shoot a varmint or feral cat in the yard and the .22's are simply a handy gun to have laying around for taking a quick shot out the back door at a woodchuck or other varmint. To my family living in a rural area, it is simply like having a screwdriver or pair of pliers in the kitchen drawer.

My wife's youngest brother (8) has a bolt-action .22 and a 20 gauge shotgun. He loves the .22, and usually takes it hunting (even when it's nearly worthless for the game in question). The 20 gau. is a bit too much gun for him, between the heft and the kick. That might not be the case for a 10 year old, but I thought I'd throw it out there. .22 seems to be universally accepted as the starter gun of choice, you can't go wrong.

You live in Texas and have a 10 year old son that doesn't have his own rifle? I can't believe they continue to let you live there! :D

I got my daughter a Savage Cub .22 bolt action when she was 7. It has a peep hole sight that kids seem to find more intuitive to use.

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And she also gets to shoot my Ruger Single Six .22:

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.410 shells are going to cost you if you go that route. I think a box of Winchester AA at Wally world were like $9 the other day.

If you have room to shoot a 22 would probably be your best bet. Plus a box of 500 22 rounds is/was $8-9 last time I bought one. A box of .17 is a lot more than that.

I'd get a 22 now and a 20 gauge shotgun in a few years.

A box of 50 .17HMR is about $10.

I think the .17 HMR is a waste of money. That is a very small bullet, think .177 pellet, going awfully fast and is very effected by any wind. Plus the range it has is not for back yard shooting. The best would be a .22 and a 20. Both are very cheap to feed. Then you can move him up to a .22-250 someday, a very good all around rifle.

Just get the kid an AR-50 and be done with it. ;)

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to guns however I do own a few.

More importantly I'm a great big kid at heart and that great big kid says those .22 lever actions are just too cool for school. :cool:

Then again I did watch a lot of cowboy movies growing up. :D

I think for a kid who's 10, nothing beats an old "gallery gun" like a Winchester 1890 or '06 if you want an heirloom or get a new Rossi
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Lube,

I’d suggest a good .22 bolt action rifle. I started my son about that age on a Mossberg 44 that I mounted a red dot sight onto, no learning of iron sights while not trying too hard on a scope.

My son has used other firearms but prefers the .22s either an Anschutz or his late Great Grandpas Weatherby XXII. Once trained on the precision rifles people generally prefer to shoot things that can hit things.

I’m stationed at JRB Ft. Worth and live a bit West. The next time I may have some time off is weekend of the 25th. If you’re in the vicinity and work doesn’t get in the way I would be up for letting you son shoot a few .22 rifles.

S/F, FOG

I am able to hunt and target shoot in France quite easily. You will need permits to own firearms and larger than .22 pistols are difficult to obtain (I have rifles up to .375 H&H Magnum and several shotguns here in France). But the hunting lobby in France is very strong and protective. I also hunt in Scotland/England and Africa (just back from Nambia in July, and driven pheasant last weekend in England). Traveling with my rifles and shotguns is not difficult if you know the customs procedures and follow them.

And yes, jokes based on ignorance are always funny.

roflmao!

While I respect budgets...I still think it is best to buy a quality piece. Your child is not going to be out alone shooting that rifle unsupervised. He is going to be with you, so his damaging the gun is unlikely.

The Winchester 94/22 lever or the Browning 52 sporter, or a Kimber 82 BA sporting rifle are really wonderful quality for the money. They will definately be something the kid could hand down. They will not depreciate but appreciate over time if kept in good condition.

For instance an ORGINAL Winchester 52 pre 64 Sporter is north of $3500.00. A Browning 52 sporter is around $600....hmmm tell me about value?

And should the kid not like guns, guess what it is something Dad would love to have as well.

BUY QUALITY AND QUALITY NAMES....Winchester, Colt, S&W, Browning.....Secondary names are Ruger and even Remington can be considered to be secondary.

The Marlin 39 lever guns are nice, but have gotten pricey.

If budget is of primary import..then the Ruger 10/22 is the way to go...they havn't made that gun for 50 years for nothin.

You are right Tabs. My daughter (8) loves shooting both my 1911 and Ruger Mk II 22 pistol, and both my Marlin 60 and 10/22. She really wants to shoot my FN-FAL, but it is still a little too big for her and I don't have the bipod on it... :cool:

lol! Aimlitriuw!

Bingo:cool:

What do you want to shoot, Mike? Bring your boy along from there, with adjustments for his aptitudes.

Me? Me like shoot.

Scott,

I have found just the opposite when approached properly. Take kids whose knowledge is the tube or video games and give them some rudimentary training with a quality .22 bolt action rifle. Then move on to some other things, say soda cans or clay pigeons at 100 yds. Not the toughest targets but they have visual reaction.

Kids invariably choose the accurate .22 over AK or even the FAL as the .22 provides a greater hit percentages. Now give them a good bolt gun in one of the .22 centerfires and you may be having a new barrel screwed on.

Tabs,

Having Anschutz 54 action, Rem. 40X, Rem. 541X Rem. 513T, Moss 44, H&R 12, and Win 52 I strongly disagree with you assessment that Remington is of secondary quality. My rating is Annie, then Remington followed by the others.

S/F, FOG