SoCal Rifle Shooting

[Yorkie]

Hopefully this will not sound like a trolling email. My 11 year old son and I often head down the pistol range to shoot targets. He loves it. This summer, while on vacation, he got access to my brother's scoped BB rifle and would spend hours plinking away at targets. Now that we are back home in Southern California he would really like to do the same but we don't know what type of rifle to get him or where we can shoot. He is not really interested in hunting or sporting clays but loves target shooting. My question to the SoCal Rifle Brain Trust is what type of rifle should we get him (BB, 22, etc) and where in SoCal can a Father and Son enjoy some rifle target shooting? Thanks.

[id10t]

See if there is a 4h group in your area.

CZ Scout is a great rifle. If pure target go with a Savage FVT or 10/22 with Tech Sites installed.

[Brando]

A .22 caliber rifle would be great. Not sure what prices are but I got my sister a Remington for about $215 5 years ago.

As for places to shoot: Mike Raahauge's in Corona/Norca, there's West End Gun Club near Lytle Creek (members only), Lytle Creek Firing Line, and Prado.

Note: You can only use high-power rifles at most outdoor ranges. Not sure if Prado has high-power ranges anymore.

[masraum]

BB would be fine if you think you could get away with shooting in your back yard. If not, then I'd find a local place to shoot and get a .22. I'd look for a single shot bolt action 22. It'll take a little longer to go through ammo that way and therefore extend the fun.

[Taz's Master]

A .22 would be great. Savage, Ruger, CZ, Browning, Henry, all make decent .22's. Find out what he likes, if it is vintage stuff, Remington and Winchester made great .22 bolts. Maybe get one for each of you, if he likes semi autos, get him a 10-22 and get yourself a CZ 452, and compete. Don't discount hunting. If he has an interest, look into it with him, go to hunter safety classes, it is a remarkable bonding opportunity like few others. I treasure the time spent in the woods with my father, uncle, and grandfather. If you've never done it, it doesn't mean you won't be great at it. Because "it" isn't killing, it is hunting, and doing it right is about respect and discipline, not filling a tag.

[John Rogers]

I would suggest a Ruger 10/22 for several reasons. First it can be shot most anywhere including indoor ranges. You can modify the gun with a different barrel (carbon fiber, ETC) or different stock (laminate, carbon, ETC) or different optics (scope, red dot, laser) and the kid can do the work with help from you which is really cool. 22LR ammo is about the cheapest to shoot yet.

[Yorkie]

Thanks for all the advice. Quite intrigued about the hunting idea as I've never done it before so classes would be fun for the pair of us. Is a .22 ok for outdoor ranges?

[93nav]

There are also high quality airguns. Check out pyramyd air or airguns of AZ. Prices range from $ to $$$$. Some of these you would be able to shoot in the house (10 meters). Also, ammo is even less expansive than .22lr.

As someone else said, check out 4H or other clubs. There are clubs around for kids. I know of several girls who got full ride college scholarships because they were on the shooting team (I know he is 11, but long range planning).

good luck

[vash]

Pellet gun.

Any chance you have a safe place to shoot at home? The make pretty good pellet traps.

Good on you dad!

[mikester]

Get him into Boy Scouts and then you can take him most weekends to Firestone scout ranch in Brea for $6 day use (last I checked) and then I think it's $5 for 25 rounds. They supply the .22s and he gets what every boy needs from scouting (my opinion)

I do this with my boy and I'm in the same area as you. Otherwise I would love to find a good local range to take my .22s too for some shooting. The South Bay has some great scout troops...

[aigel]

Where do you live exactly?

I used to shoot at burro canyon in the Angeles NF.

I think a pellet gun will suffice. Even a cheap BB will keep him busy and teach him. I would go with open sights. It will be useful for handguns down the line and close in rifle shooting.

I would not buy a .22 leave alone an auto. It is deadly and you will have to closely supervise. My kids start out with a BB and full gun safety training. Then I sit back and let them shoot independently while we are out camping etc. more fun for them to be independent and just as good for practicing aim and gun safety.

G

[Yorkie]

We live in Redondo Beach - about as far from the great outdoors as you can get. I've put him and his brother through a couple of safety classes with instructors before but you are right about a BB rifle being relatively low risk.

[Seahawk]

Like many here I started with a pellet rifle and graduated to a 22. It was a Crosman 760. I wish I still had it.

Here is a good article about the state of pellet rifles. There are experts on this board, btw and I am not one of them

Truth About Air Rifles: 4 Guns You Can Actually Shoot | Field & Stream

Have fun.

[craigster59]

Here's one I ordered on Amazon after getting a few recommendations. Accurate and cheap to shoot...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006L89CUO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Rusty Heap]

A quality break barrel will last a life time.

Mine:

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Diana_RWS_34P_Striker_Combo/1689


Break barrel pistols too.


Don't skimp on a Walmart version.


Pyramid air is THE source.


And yes they have. 50 Cal air hunting rifles too.

[Vipergrün]

For places to shoot/learn, there are some fun places up near Ventura and Santa Clarita;

The Ojai Valley Gun club sponsors the following for kids and it's a great time, have taken both kids.

http://www.dock.net/ovgc/flyer_with_map.pdf

There is also OakTree in Newhall;

Oaktree Gun Club

There is also some BLM land off the 14, just North of Rosamond where you can go shoot anything your want...including blowing stuff up

[aigel]

To clarify - kids are to follow all gun safety rules independent of what they shoot, including bb guns. All I am saying is that the non-lethality of a BB gun allows you to back off and have them handle it independently. I would not let a kid under 16 independently handle and shoot a .22.

If you are in Redondo, Burro Canyon is about as far as Oak Tree. It definitely is a nicer place up in the mountains. Oak Tree is okay but a lot more dense in terms of how close you are to everyone. Taking my kids, I always try to be far away from other shooters.

If you go the BB gun route, you can go camping in any NF and take it along for plinking.

G

[scottmandue]

I know nothing about these guys but they are close.

Welcome to LAX Firing Range | Premier Indoor Shooting Range

I looked them up because my wife said "if we are going to have a gun in the house I should know how to use it" so I was looking for range close to us.

Plus I haven't been to a range in years and I should brush up on my skills.

These guys also popped in a search:

https://redondorodandgunclub.com/

[FOG]

Yorkie,

If you are thinking of a pellet rifle one of the best sources in the nation is Tim McMurray at MAC-1 in Gardena. I have two Crossman 600s he’s worked (one freshened, one mod’d), keeps my RWS 6M up, rebuilt my 1st air rifle (Hy-Score 809M built by RWS), modified a Sheridan, and finally did a serious tune/warm-up on a RWS 48.

I’m a believer in .22 pellets except for 10 meter stuff. .22 is easier too obtain than .20, .25, etc. I firmly believe the RWS is a better air rifle than the Benjamin Nitro, though the pneumatic piston is somewhat easier to shoot. Unless your son is strong for his age either the RWS 48 or Benjamin Nitro will be hard to cock.

I’d recommend something along the lines of an RWS 34/36 in .22 and have Tim tune it for smoothness not power. These are also less powerful and quieter which is a plus in Redondo Beach, assuming use on your property.

The PCPs are nice and easier to shoot. Down sides are costs to obtain plus additional gear required and easier to shoot accurately plus increased rate of fire. I view the spring piston difficulty as a plus as it requires good consistent technique to shoot accurately, one of the reasons I spent the money for the hot-rodded 48 from Tim.

If you want to shoot inside your garage than a used 10 meter .177 air rifle such as a FWB 150 of 300 series are very and don’t need a heavy duty bullet trap/back stop. I obtained a used FWB 150 for my 9 year old niece to use in their garage. Caution on these as they’re complicated (expensive) to work on.

.22LRs I recommend a good bolt gun. I have built a few 10/22s with heavy barrels and just don’t enjoy them as much as a good bolt gun. There are lots of good suggestions but if you can shop around look for a used Remington 541 of some flavor as they have better features allowing them to shoot better and allowing for mods later. Old .22LR target rifles often come up for sale at good prices.

I haven’t lived in So Cal for almost 30 years so no help on ranges.

S/F, FOG