Kids First Rifle to Learn Shooting

[Buffalotears]

My son just turned seven and is showing some interest in shooting. What are your gun recommendations for a small kiddo new to shooting? 22lr because he is pretty sensitive to noise still too. Thanks!

 

[wesfromky]

My son just turned seven and is showing some interest in shooting. What are your gun recommendations for a small kiddo new to shooting? 22lr because he is pretty sensitive to noise still too. Thanks!

Bolt .22 with a silencer and subsonics. Buy a threaded ruger mark iv as well and shoot it with the can and subs. So. Much. Fun. And totally not intimidating.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Suppressed 22s are amazing. Also, read this:

Kids rifle manifesto

I've chimed in on so many different "what rifle for my age XX kid?" threads that I thought I'd try to consolidate my thoughts here. My oldest son is 14 now, started shooting centerfire rifles at 9. My younger kids started shooting centerfire rifles at between 5-7 yrs old. 5 kids shooting now...

rokslide.com

 

[Buffalotears]

I like the those rugers it’s been a long time since I shot one. I’ll keep an eye out for one.

Thanks for the link!

Suppressed sounds nice! I really haven’t done any research on suppressors. Now I need to look into it. What’s the best recommendations on suppressors? Are they different for pistols and rifles?

 

[ResearchinStuff]

For 22s the cans seem all more or less the same. Centerfire there are lots more options and variations.

 

[Buffalotears]

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

My son is also 7. He shoots a Ruger 10/22 chambered in 17 Mach 2. He used a custom lightweight wood stock that we cut and formed and then stained it red together.

Here is his last 10 shot group at 50 yards. 1” square.



For Christmas I am putting together a bolt gun for him. It’s a tikka .223 barreled action in a shortened Roktok. He will shoot reduced load 62 grain ELDVTs out of it until he’s 10 and can legally hunt big game. He’ll switch to 77 TMKs for that.

 

[Nine Banger]

My son is also 7. He shoots a Ruger 10/22 chambered in 17 Mach 2. He used a custom lightweight wood stock that we cut and formed and then stained it red together.

Here is his last 10 shot group at 50 yards. 1” square.
For Christmas I am putting together a bolt gun for him. It’s a tikka .223 barreled action in a shortened Roktok. He will shoot reduced load 62 grain ELDVTs out of it until he’s 10 and can legally hunt big game. He’ll switch to 77 TMKs for that.

Please post pics of the stocks when you can...My guys are 5 and 8.



Lefty is on Jakes list for a T3x. Poncho is into red guns too.

 

[Buffalotears]

That’s awesome! It means so much more to them when they get to put effort into making their stuff. I have been thinking about reworking my 10/22 to fit his short arms.

 

[nodakian]

My two started on a Cricket single shot. Simple to operate, sized right, very affordable. The grandthings have it now.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I also have a cricket, it's a lousy weapon. Feeding, extraction, trigger, and scope mounting are all awful.

 

[Buffalotears]

I also have a cricket, it's a lousy weapon. Feeding, extraction, trigger, and scope mounting are all awful.

Is there a better similar alternative you’d suggest?

 

[Loper]

Is there a better similar alternative you’d suggest?

I bought a Savage Rascal single shot bolt action for my 7 year old to shoot. Last month there was a rebate from Savage. From the reviews, they are better than the Cricket. He won’t get to shoot it though until after Xmas.

 

[ccthomasjr]

My 7yr shot his first few deer this year. Shot a .22 for a year or 2, let him shoot a .222 some this summer and built him a 6.5 Creedmoor with a suppressor and that gun he loves. He shot 40 rounds 3wks ago in a row practicing before I ran out of ammo. Since kiddo is 7 I’d say .22 without suppressed to get them used to it and then anything up to a 6.5 Creedmoor suppressed is perfectly fine.

 

[swavescatter]

I’ll be the odd one out and say BB gun. I would spend all summer giving hell to pigeons and sparrows, even prairie dogs. I’d plink all day in the backyard. When the rifles came out less often I was well prepared.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Is there a better similar alternative you’d suggest?

I really don't know. I'd try a Tikka or cz, but my 8 and 6 year old mostly shoot 223 and crossbow now.

 

[Bobcat]

the CZ 457 scout has been great for my boys.

 

[jimh406]

I'd also consider one of the accurate air rifles.

 

[Ikmclean]

Today's my boys 8th birthday, we got him a Tikka T1X 22lr, he has shot mine alot and is getting pretty good. He is going to be very happy to have his own on range trips, especially since he needs a wrong handed one.

 

[CMF]

Hard to beat a Ruger 10/22. Affordable adjustable stock for it, below. Get a 25 round magazine. I've done the cricket and bolt action, but to get more rounds in while shooting I'd go semi auto. My kids take turns, one is shooting while the other loads the magazine. I paid $100 for our 10/22 from a buddy probably 20 years ago and have put thousands and thousands of rounds through it and rarely clean it.
A red ryder bb gun is good for toting around and learning how to handle.