Which .22 rifle?

[Bassbuster]

Which .22 rifle is good for a teenager to learn how to shoot and to practice with. I am not looking for the best, but something that is fairly accurate and that he will enjoy.

[teamlund]

Ruger 10/22 semi auto.... Awesome gun. Tough as nails. still fairly cheap.

[ret461]

Ruger is a good one for semiauto. Starting out I would suggest a bolt action or pump. If getting a semiauto use one round at a time.
The bolt action tends to teach technique&function also helps with promoting accuracy over ability for quick repetitive shooting. Starting out with a kid is the best time to get down the importance of sight allignment trigger pull.

[Bassbuster]

Ruger 10/22 semi auto.... Awesome gun. Tough as nails. still fairly cheap.

Thanks. I went shopping and they had all kinds of stocks, colors, etc. But the one that really stood out was one in pink. Who buys a pink rifle? No, I did not get the pink one. :D

[ret461]

My wife! Said couldnt lose it in the woods? ITS A FOOL WHO LOOKS FOR LOGIC IN THE CHAMBERS OF A WOMANS HEART! or is it HEAD?:bangin:

[Sportdog]

I don't think you can beat the Ruger 10-22 for value and functionability. They are plenty accurate and you can custom design one to suit you with about every kind of aftermarket goodies you can imagine. Nothing wrong with the Savage bolt action either. I bought one for my grandson and it's a real tack driver! The stock is a little too long for him but should be fine for a teenager. See which rifle fits him the best. I always hear lots of people say, "get them a single shot so they learn how to make one shot count". After they blaze away and come up empty a couple of times, they learn that lesson pretty quick! Good luck with your choice and don't forget that "brick" of ammo when you buy the rifle.

[Pooch]

Ruger makes a lever action model 96 built very similar to the 10-22. I have both the model 96 lever action and the 10-22 semi-auto. The lever action is inherently safer than a semi-auto as you do not have a live round in the chamber until you **** the gun. The semi-auto always will have a live round chambered until the clip is empty.

For a new shooter or an old dog like me, a live round in the chamber is an accident looking for a place to happen.

Both guns use the same clip and are pretty darned accurate.

Pooch

[ziert]

The best way to teach a new shooter is with a single shot rifle. They will have greater respect for everything they do.

[RANGER]

The Savage 10-22 is one of the best rifles for a young shooter!! It is an excellent gun for your applicatin!!!

[stinkycat]

sherlock12...what??????????

Bassbuster.... I would agree with the Ruger 10/22. Fantastic rifle. My buddies and I, back in the 70's, all had Ruger 10/22's and none of us ever had any problems. We all shot 1000's and 1000's of rounds with no problems. As far as single shot vs semi-auto.... like a previous post said after having fun and blasting though a bunch of rounds with no success they will learn to shoot the correct way. As a young teenager not only hitting the target where aimed is fun but just letting the lead fly at a couple of pop cans can be a lot of fun too.

One last thought.... we never really had to clean the ruger.... swab the barrel, spray gun scrubber, and add a little light oil... that was it!

Great 22!

[Bassbuster]

sherlock12...what??????????

Bassbuster.... I would agree with the Ruger 10/22. Fantastic rifle. My buddies and I, back in the 70's, all had Ruger 10/22's and none of us ever had any problems. We all shot 1000's and 1000's of rounds with no problems. As far as single shot vs semi-auto.... like a previous post said after having fun and blasting though a bunch of rounds with no success they will learn to shoot the correct way. As a young teenager not only hitting the target where aimed is fun but just letting the lead fly at a couple of pop cans can be a lot of fun too.

One last thought.... we never really had to clean the ruger.... swab the barrel, spray gun scrubber, and add a little light oil... that was it!

Great 22!

I think that you are right. When I first shot a semi-auto, the first thing that I wanted to do was let them fly. Then I was embarrassed by not hitting the bullseye and slowed down. There are some big kids (myself, wife) that are going to shoot that rifle also. I can always give the kids one bullet at a time.

[teamlund]

QA single shot would be nice for a beginner BUT he/she would out grow it real quick and you would end up buying a semi auto sooon anyways....

[Mike W1]

The 10/22 is a fine little rifle,BUT, the factory trigger is TERRIBLE. I would not advise it for that reason but I also think asemi-auto isn't a real good choice for a beginner.

[Phil T]

The Ruger 10-22 is a reliable rifle, but not the most accurate, and their triggers are terrible. (Okay, I'm a tough judge. I shot an Anschutz target rifle in college.) The Marlin bolt action is the best selling rifle of all actions and calibers. Accuracy can be anything from acceptable to excellent. I got lucky twice.
John Barsness wrote an article in Rifle magazine about accuracy in .22's. The secret is a short chamber, one that causes the bullet to get engraved by the rifling when it's chambered. It's also called a match chamber. The CZ 22 rimfire has such a chamber, as does the TC Classic semiauto. I have a TC, it's scary accurate, the trigger is very good, but that tight chamber requires a lot of cleaning for proper function.
A semiauto will encourage a "spray and pray" attitude. Buy a CZ bolt action, and never look back.

[jimmy4218]

I'll vote for the Ruger. My wife's cousin brought his over last weekend and WOW what a beautiful gun and a pleasure to shoot.

[Flip Silverlake]

Get a lever action with an expose hammer. Then you can tell at a glance if that rifle is off safe. The Ruger 10-22 is a good gun, in fact I own one but it has a cross bolt safety and you can't tell if it's in a ready to fire condition just by glancing at it. With an exposed hammer it's real easy. Lots safer to work with.

[Jimmy Jig]

Get a Henry Rifle, lever action with hammer. Its complete USA parts and labor!!:D

[Wormy]

WOW! I can't believe some of the stuff I am reading here. What is a Savage 10-22? Marlin bolt action .22 the best seller? Have you seen the sales figures on Ruger 10/22's? More of these are sold than any other 22 out there. A visible hammer is safer? WTF?

Those suggesting a single shot have a good idea if you don't mind your kid outgrowing it in 2 or 3 trips to the range. Plus good luck finding a quality single shot nowadays.

[Airwave(OH)]

I've had a Ruger 10/22 since I was a kid, it has shot hundreds of squirrels over the years. I mounted a 4x scope on it and it will light blue tip matchs I swear. Although I've never tried that...lol Very fun, affordable & dependable gun.

[hgmeyer]

I have always advocated starting out a new shooter with a bolt action, clip fed, .22LR with a lower (3X9 Var or 4X fixed) scope. The bolt action has some extra safety (it can be easily fed one round at a time to start with...just a precaution) and is less likely to have that surprise round in the chamber. Also, many of them have a positive indicator of a ****ed action.

The scope on a starter rifle is there to simplify the learning curve. A single focal plane and the crosshairs make "success" easier to obtain and don't distract from the initial need to teach/learn breath atrigger control.

Marlin, Savage, etc. all make viable choices for bolt guns. Tasco, Simmons, etc have serviceable .22 scopes that together will put you into a new setup for under $200.00. Even better, find one used.

Later, when the initial lessons have been learned, take off the scope and install a receiver sight and target hooded front sight. When the new shooter can impress him/herself hitting empty shotgun shells, twigs, etc. at 20-30 then 50 yards with those accurate target sights they will have a great deal of lifetime martksmanship skill.

I learned this from my uncle as the way he taught me. He was only a touring demonstration shooter for Winchester in the 50s and early 60s, but what did he know. He started me with a shoirtened Winchester Mdl 52 with a Weaver 4X that was later removed and replaceds with a Redfield Receiver sight. That Rifle taught me, then my nehews. My own kids started with a Chipmunk, then a Marlin and the Marlin had a Williams target sight set. After that they got their choice of .22 around 15 or 16 yrs of age. The two who kept shooting opted for Ruger 77/22 with Leupold Compact 4X scopes... identical to my favorite .22. I'm certainly not what I was once upon a time... But, I can still shoot well enough to not embarass myself among my friends.

[AllenW]

Kinda like asking favorite car or fishing rod..:)

Any of the major brands makes a .22 that would make a good plinking rifle, old man taught me on a Remington Nylon semi auto and would let me load only one at a time till I showed him I could shoot correctly.

I now own a half dozen or so (including that Nylon .22) and they all will shoot well with a bit trial and error with different brands of ammo.

I have a heavy barreled 10/22 and to say Rugers are not accurate is not true.
I use that .22 as a prairie dog gun, along with the Model 41 S&W .22.

.22's can be a lot of fun, personally I'd find one that fits the kid and has a recoil pad for when the kid grows a bit, by that time they can decide on whether they want a high end gun or not.

Gun safety of course would be my first suggested lesson..goes with out saying I guess, but every year someone gets shot because of stupidity.

Good luck.

Al

[shiprex]

Remington 572. Pump action, will last a life time, won't outgrow it, lets you shoot slow, lets you shoot fast, great accuracy and reliability. Put on a scope an watch the squirrels drop.

shiprex

[orchard frank]

Greatest .22 ever made, Marlin Mountie. Accurate, safe, looks very nice, has some history with it. I know I am an old poop, but semi-auto .22's just give me the creeps. Mechanically, the Ruger is great, no question, popular without a doubt, to each their own.