I am looking at getting our boys their first guns this year for Christmas. By way of full disclosure, I've only owned a couple rifles in my life (old marlin 22 rimfire and a savage 110 25-06) so I'm really not up to speed on what is good quality and what's not.

We live in the burbs and will be using these at a local range. I'm wanting to find something decent, for under $200 each. I've seen Mossberg plinksters advertised on sale, as well as a Savage 64f that gets decent reviews. Both of these are actually under $150.

Any input from this board is appreciated.

10/22

10/22 is not in the right price range

under your $200 budget:
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/marlin-model-60-22-lr-semiautomatic-rifle#repChildCatid=391278

Used model 60. They are at every gunshow.

and they are so money.

With a little time searching you should be able to find a 10/22 very close to $200. They are worth it. I know it is frustrating when someone says spend more but they will never need another one. I bought one for my BIL last year for $210. I will try to find some this evening when I am home. Future gifts could be stocks, Mags, Trigger. ect.

I bought a used CZ 513 for 200.00 and it turned out to be my favorite rifle. Bolt action teaches accuracy and it's magazine fed so you don't get those ghost bullets that are in tube magazines you could have sworn you got out.

You can easily find something in that price range. Marlin Model 60 is a nice gun. I'd lean towards a wood-stock older .22 than a polymer newer one. Just go check your nearest pawn shop.

Pawnshop around for 10/22s. You can get basic ones for like $210 new so that should put you under the magic mark.

Savage Mark II-F should put you in the ballpark.

Mark II-FV if you want the bull barrel

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/135396/28714/savage-mark-ii-fv-22-lr-repeater-rifle

I would look for a used Remington speedmaster or 10/22. I believe a speedmaster will shoot shorts, long and long rifle which is pretty nice. Both are great autos.

Sorry, but 10/22 is the best/only option I see for this purpose. It'll be a gun they keep and enjoy shooting the rest of their lifes. If you get them one of the decent bolt guns mentioned above and they like shooting they'll end up with a 10/22 eventually and only shoot that. Would mean more to get one now I would think.

I obviously don't know your situation, and I'm usually all for spending less to the extreme, but not with this. Buy some academy gift cards online for 10% off and pick them up for $190.

I would go to a gun show and find a quality pump, lever, or bolt action .22 and get that. I'm not a fan of teaching someone to shoot with a semi-auto. I have a Marlin 60, but everyone should have a manual action .22.

TheEyeGuy said:

---

Pawnshop around for 10/22s. You can get basic ones for like $210 new so that should put you under the magic mark.

---

Quote:

---

orry, but 10/22 is the best/only option I see for this purpose. It'll be a gun they keep and enjoy shooting the rest of their lifes. If you get them one of the decent bolt guns mentioned above and they like shooting they'll end up with a 10/22 eventually and only shoot that. Would mean more to get one now I would think.

---

These two gentlemen are spot on! I have been shooting my Ruger 10/22 for over 25 years now. It's the best firearm I own and I it will be the last one I get rid of. They are amazing rifles.

meggy09 said:

---

Sorry, but 10/22 is the best/only option I see for this purpose.

---

Only? That's crazy.

91AggieLawyer said:

---

I would go to a gun show and find a quality pump, lever, or bolt action .22 and get that. I'm not a fan of teaching someone to shoot with a semi-auto. I have a Marlin 60, but everyone should have a manual action .22.

---

That's what I was thinking. Personally, I'd go with a bolt-action or even a single shot .22 to teach kids.

91AggieLawyer said:

---

I would go to a gun show and find a quality pump, lever, or bolt action .22 and get that. I'm not a fan of teaching someone to shoot with a semi-auto. I have a Marlin 60, but everyone should have a manual action .22.

---

Load one round at a time. Problem solved.

91AggieLawyer said:

---

I would go to a gun show and find a quality pump, lever, or bolt action .22 and get that. I'm not a fan of teaching someone to shoot with a semi-auto. I have a Marlin 60, but everyone should have a manual action .22.

---

Same. I like bolt guns for entry level introduction.

Mtn_Guide said:

---

TheEyeGuy said:

---

Pawnshop around for 10/22s. You can get basic ones for like $210 new so that should put you under the magic mark.

---

Quote:

---

orry, but 10/22 is the best/only option I see for this purpose. It'll be a gun they keep and enjoy shooting the rest of their lifes. If you get them one of the decent bolt guns mentioned above and they like shooting they'll end up with a 10/22 eventually and only shoot that. Would mean more to get one now I would think.

---

These two gentlemen are spot on! I have been shooting my Ruger 10/22 for over 25 years now. It's the best firearm I own and I it will be the last one I get rid of. They are amazing rifles.

---

There are plenty of options to keep it interesting. I put a folding stock on mine and I get the 22s only every time I take it to the range. I see a stainless take down in my future also.

CactusThomas said:

---

Only? That's crazy.

---

What's a better option? What .22 has a better history? Which has better aftermarket support? Which has better reviews? 10/22 is probably one of the best firearm platform made. Why not get a gun that will be used for their entire life instead of one they'll graduate from in 5 years? Teach them with single shots out of a 10/22 if that's your perogative, but why start them on a gun and have that sentimental investment in a firearm that will sit in the back of the safe once they get a 10/22.

I vote for a used 10/22.

10/22.

But, if op doesn't want to buy one, if he insists on a bolt 22, get a crickett. 109 bucks new.

ATL Aggie said:

---

I vote for a used 10/22.

---

I know they are out there but, who sells their 10/22?

Crickett bolt action single shot is about $120 at Academy.
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/crickett-youth-22-lr-single-shot-bolt-action-rifle

91AggieLawyer said:

---

I would go to a gun show and find a quality pump, lever, or bolt action .22 and get that. I'm not a fan of teaching someone to shoot with a semi-auto. I have a Marlin 60, but everyone should have a manual action .22.

---

This, for me as well.

I actually like either a single shot bolt or a bolt action that you can load a single round into over an auto. Accuraccy over volume of fire is more important to me when teaching than anything. The fun of going through a mag dump can come later when they understand what they are doing and have been taught to appreciate the basics of shooting.

You can certainly do the same thing with an auto, no doubt. But I'm still old school enough to believe a good bolt action is an absolute perfect way to start.

OldAg92 said:

---

10/22 is not in the right price range

---

Cabelas and Walmart had them for $190 on Black Friday. They pop up fairly often on PSA for $180-190.

I like the idea of a single shot bolt gun as well. Maybe get one of each, although I know sharing can be an issue.

Generally, I prefer bolts for teaching. However, when you've done as much with youth shooting as I have, you quickly realize that not everyone has them. We had a lot of club bolt action guns (which are generally better for competition anyways) but would let a new kiddo use his own if they had them. About the only thing we didn't like, just because of the pain in the rear it was to use them, was tube fed semis. With a 10/22, since it's a detach mag, it's very easy to control the ammo supply and therefor the safety of the line. Tube feds were a completely different story.

Option three... get a cheap beater 22 bolt gun and use it to teach at first then sell it for what you had in it nearly and get them semis after.

Zastava CZ99 Bolt Action Rifle, 22LR, 22'' Barrel

Serbian built bolt action 22lr at $180 each for 2.

Gun Review: Zastava MP22R (Remington Model Five)
Rimfire Central compares CZ99 to CZ453

I bought a Savage Rascal for 150 + a $25 rebate not too long ago. I have an 8 year who will learn on it, but its going to work well for the 6 year old too. My 8 year old can't properly mount a 10/22 or ANY of my .22 rifles yet so I focused on getting the right size first, and the model second. Either way, a 10/22 is out of your budget unless you go used, so get a name brand bolt action in your budget. Don't make it harder than it needs to be. You can ALWAYS buy a 10/22 when the budget allows or the kids want to upgrade. You don't have to get the 'perfect' rifle right now. Plus, starting on a cheaper gun will make them appreciate a better one later.

Besides that, the 10/22 is not a great gun out of the box. It's an OK gun with a ton of potential.

Savage Rascal is an outstanding bolt, if you want to go that way. Both of my boys learned to shoot on one post BB Gun.

I bought my first 10/22 used 29 yrs ago. When my son was 5, I bought a used stock that I cut down for him to use. He got one round at a time in the mag. It still shoots great after shooting many thousand rounds. I put a new trigger and a hogue stock on it over the years. At some point I'll get a new one, but I'm hanging on to this one for plinking.

I am 69 years old. I still have the Single shot Remington 514 that my Daddy bought me for Christmas when I was 12. I still go to farm tanks and shoot snakes and turtles. I am a pretty fair shot with the iron sights and attribute my shooting skills to that single shot. Spraying lead is not the best way to learn to shoot. A magazine fed bolt action is ok as well.

Walmart usually has the 10/22 for $199 (at least at my local store)

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. For now, I am leaning towards the Savage Rascal after reading reviews. My only question for those who own one - is it too small for a 12 year old? Our sons are 9 and 12, and neither have shot before, so this will truly be entry level for both of them. Thus, I do want something they can handle, but I don't want it so small that it isn't enjoyable.

Also, they will probably use them once a month or so. For now, these are for fun to learn to shoot at the range on weekend outings with mom and dad.