Starter .22 Rifle for my 8 year old

I recommend a bolt action for a beginning shooting, single shot only. Semiautos
are for the experienced and more mature. Also I recommend an action where the kids have to learn to engage and disengage the safety, the sooner hey learn the better. Get a spare stock, cut it down and reshape as necessary, they will grow into the regular stock.
 
Hello Hallenbeck,,,

There have been a few threads lately asking about good rifles for young shooters.

I thought I would attempt to compile a list of what's on the market today.

I'm only including rifles that are available new from the manufacturer.

Crickett - My First Rifle:
Manufactured by Keystone Arms,,,
They don't get any more basic than this little rifle,,,
Manually cocking single-shot bolt action made from Alloy Nickel Plated Steel.
The peep sight is a bit crude but works just fine,,,
$115.00 from budsgunshop.

Chipmunk:
Manufactured by Keystone Arms,,,
Virtually the same gun as the Crickett.

Savage Rascal:
Very similar to the Crickett but with much better peep sights and the Savage Acu Trigger,,,
Unlike the Crickett or Chipmunk, this rifle is not need to be manually cocked.
$152.00 from budsgunshop.

Mossberg 801 Half Pint:
This rifle is somewhat similar to the Rascal in that it isn't a manual cock action either,,,
It differs from the first three in that it comes with a "single-shot magazine plug",,,
It will accept the 10-shot magazines made for the full size 802 Plinkster.
$184.00 at budsgunshop.

Henry Mini-Bolt Youth:
Manually cocking single-shot bolt action with a manual safety switch,,,
Stainless steel with Williams Fire Sights.
$239.00 at Cabela's (out of stock at buds).

Marlin XT-22 Youth Series:
Cocks on bolt opening single-shot with a manual safety
Adjustable open rear sight, ramp front sights.
Receiver grooved for scope mount, drilled and tapped for scope bases.

These six rifles are what I could find that are suitable for small shooters,,,
I think it's safe to call them dedicated children's rifles.

Aarond

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mxsailor803 said:
Now for your boy, take a look at the Ruger American Compact .22lr. I recently picked one up for my god daughter so she can learn on.
Click to expand...

How has she coped with the effort required to close the bolt?

This is much of the reason I think my choice may have been an error. The effort required is every bit as much as my CZs. The size and weight are OK, but I've instructed her to slap the bolt downward once it's forward.
 
Aaron, you left off the Marlin I mentioned earlier - definitely a gun designed as a child's first gun - single shot bolt action with a microgroove barrel that is amazingly accurate even with iron sights.
 
Hello FITASC,,,

You are correct,,,
I left it out of the last thread as well.

When you copy and paste from an older post,,,
You also copy and paste your omissions. :o

I'll add it to the post right now,,,
So when I copy it again,,,
It will be complete. ;)

Aarond

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