I have a very smart great grand son
going to turn 7 on the 23rd. Even his mother is a shooter.

Am thinking of surprising everyone and buy him a new rifle to remember me by.

Am not sure what to get.

I would appreciate your suggestions and reasons
if you'd wish to share those too.

Thanks everyone.

George

Tc contender carbine, the gift that keeps on giving. Add different barrels every year as his lifestyle changes.

You can't go wrong with a good ol' 22LR . . . like a Henry lever action, (unless you want him to hunt deer with it). If deer, then 243 Win Ruger American.

The 22LR has no recoil and the sound won't scare him . . .

I forgot to mention that Henry makes a youth model - that's what I got my grandkids.

Regards,

Absolutely, a .22 rifle. I’d suggest a lever or bolt action.
A new .22 rifle to this kid would be like, well, think of Ralphie.
He will treasure it forever & always have the memories.
I know, I do.

RG

I would look for a Remington or Winchester Bolt Action tubular feed that a scope can be mounted on. This would be a grooved receiver in case he wants to mount a scope at some time. I would not worry about getting him a new rifle at his age. A good single shot .22 would also work.

All my kids got single shot 22's, and I still think that's the best way to start someone unless you want to start with a pellet gun but one of those will be too much for him to cock for a few more years and the hassle of a CO2 or PCP may as well get a 22.

There are still some NOS CZ452 22lr rifles to be had, just saying.

Agree with others here, got my kids bolt action 22LR's with scopes, so that shooting them is similar to a big-game rifle.

My son got a Marlin tube-load, daughter got a savage with a magazine. They have both put a lot of ammo through those. The Marlin is the more accurate of the two.

Bolt-Action .22 long rifle. No question.

I still have the one my dad gave me when I was six.

That's a great thing to do, George.

I won't get into specific models but will offer this: Make sure the rifle has a good trigger, a stock that fits his frame and is something that won't make him anticipate or fear recoil. Heavy triggers and recoil in a gun that's awkward to handle can ruin a young shooter's enthusiasm in a hurry.

The same can be said for the noise of a gunshot, so if he doesn't already have them, a pair of electronic muffs should go with the rifle to protect his hearing. A while back, a couple models in the Walker line were heavily discounted. I have a set (Slim Razor model, IIRC). You can vary the volume and easily hear conversations, but it still filters out harmful noise levels. They are light and fairly comfortable to wear -- and I can even leave in my hearing aids with these.

X2 on the Walker muffs.
I have the Walker XCEL Muffs.

Walker's Digital Electronic Muff-26db Nrr Noise Protection Sound Enhancement Shooting Safety Earmuff, 2 AAA Batteries

Not too expensive and very effective. You can hear a mouse going through a field yet when you shoot you hear a low thump.

George, a single shot 22.

My 8yoa grandson just revived one of these.

https://savagearms.com/firearms/model/rascal

A very nice rifle.

Unless your grandson is very big for his age.

He will not be able to handle a much bigger rifle.

At 2.5 pounds is is a very nice rifle.

As soon as I handled it I said I wished I would of had one as a boy

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Bolt-Action .22 long rifle. No question.

I still have the one my dad gave me when I was six.

In our youth shooting organization, virtually all of the kids do a season of air rifle before moving to single shot 22lr. There are many bolt actions and with magazines removed can be single shot. We have a bunch of CZs.

I prefer single shots like the Contender and Stevens for personal reasons but whatever you like.

34 years coaching kids, bolt action 22 and a air rifle for home basement range. Just be sure and buy something that fits but be prepared to up size as they grow. Nothing worse then to big

A single shot bolt action IF anyone still makes one. This type of rifles is most safe for teaching gun safety to a youth and lets them slow down to make each shot count increasing concentration on accuracy.

I suggest the Savage Rascal .22 LR single shot bolt action rifle. Simple and it works. It comes with an adjustable rear peep sight. It is also drilled and tapped for a rail if you ever want to go there. Then get on fleaBay and search for "Savage Rascal 3D Printed Adult Size Rifle Stock Extension".

The rifle is light and has a child sized stock with 11-3/8" LOP. There are two inexpensive stock extensions. The Youth extenstion takes LOP to 12-3/8". The Adult extension takes it to 13-3/8" LOP.

As noted many times, a 22 bolt action would be the ticket. Mag or tube fed. If he will be a fast grower, steer away from the kid size short stock rifles since once he grows out of it, he will want something regular size. Have him shoot and learn through the summer with open sights and earn his way into a scope for maybe Christmas or his next birthday.

Single shot bolt 22 50 pack of thunderbolts and small bucket of tar for holes in the barn roof. Get em

Wow!

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions.
For sure a bolt .22.

Had a long spell of: "the old mans back" since posting this. First I've been back.

Bought a big new safe and spent 3 days cleaning guns moving into it.

Then dug all the stash from the bottom section of the cabinet.
Found something around 7500 .22 shells,
plus many boxes of other ammo.
Will have plenty of .22 shells to go with the gun. Looks like the main hurdle will be getting that damn plaything phone away long enough to get him shooting.

Many thanks to all of you.

George

George, I dunno if you already settled on a rifle, but here is another .22 suggestion:
A Savage Model 72 single shot -- the modern version of the classic old Favorite -- fitted with Lyman tang rear and globe front.
No, it isn't newfangled, it is oldfangled but it is walnut and steel and teaches some great shooting habits -- just the one shot, how accurate iron/aperture sights can be and daring to be different when it comes to rifles. Heck, it might even get him into black powder cartridge rifle shooting someday.
I put one of these together 20 years ago and had a lot of fun with it -- and letting kids shoot it. I ended up selling it to Dave Manson to give to one of his grandkids.
It's a rifle that every boy in America would have recognized -- when Theodore Roosevelt was president.
https://www.shootingtimes.com/...vage-model-72/359213

We grew up with a Remington 510P, still in the family.
The 510X is harder to find but same action, a little more accurate.

my first little rifle was a Remington Model 41-P Targetmaster. that little single shot 22 was great for shooting short or Long cartridges. Other that that, I would see if I could get my hands on a CHIPMUNK RIFLE or a little 223 if possible...

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
George, I dunno if you already settled on a rifle, but here is another .22 suggestion:
A Savage Model 72 single shot -- the modern version of the classic old Favorite -- fitted with Lyman tang rear and globe front.
No, it isn't newfangled, it is oldfangled but it is walnut and steel and teaches some great shooting habits -- just the one shot, how accurate iron/aperture sights can be and daring to be different when it comes to rifles. Heck, it might even get him into black powder cartridge rifle shooting someday.
I put one of these together 20 years ago and had a lot of fun with it -- and letting kids shoot it. I ended up selling it to Dave Manson to give to one of his grandkids.
It's a rifle that every boy in America would have recognized -- when Theodore Roosevelt was president.
https://www.shootingtimes.com/...vage-model-72/359213

Agree….

I bought one many years ago new when they came out and still have it. Excellent little .22 that’s light, accurate and perfect for a kid to learn on. One shot makes them learn to make each one count.

I believe the key to developing new shooters is, it has to be FUN and they need to be SUCCESSFUL. I had two girls who I each taught to shoot and hunt and they both started with single shot bolt action rifle no scope (Chipmunk). Fast forward 20 years now I'm teaching my twin boys to shoot. The girls old Chipmunk was too slow to hard to load and they lost interest immediately. On my next trip to the range I let the boys shoot my semi auto .22 Glenfield with a scope. The range does not allow rapid fire so they had to stick to 1 round every 5 seconds. Starting the boys out with a .22 semi auto rifle with a scope had no effect on their future as shooters and responsible gun owners, in fact i believe it improved it. One son is an avid hunter and his brother works in the gun industry and he is also a competitive shooter.*NOTE* Both boys are much better shots than yours truly.

Young hunters need to be celebrated. No one was happier or more tickled than my mother when I would bring home what I had killed. My first bird first groundhog I was feted, made over and celebrated. Nothing outrageous, but everyone was called out to see what I had done. Hair was tousled, pats on the back, and they all sat and wanted to hear the story. I believe this is how young hunters have been encouraged since the dawn of time. When a little older I was bringing game home and my mother always fixed it for supper. I was contributing!! And it worked like a charm.

Those are great memories, Tomahawker.

From my point of view, if you reload, get him 22 Hornet or similar. You can spend time with him to show him how to reload and shoot own made ammo. Maybe not now, but in year or two...

Jiri

quote:

Young hunters need to be celebrated. No one was happier or more tickled than my mother when I would bring home what I had killed. My first bird first groundhog I was feted, made over and celebrated

My 8yoa grandson called my with his first kills with his savage rascal.

Two cotton tails that have gotten to close to the garden.

He had to call his Papa to let me know.

Appropriate praise was given.

His 2.5yoa younger brother was asked what to do with deer.

He pointed at a deer mount and said pow pow.

Good times to be a grandfather

Great story PDog. My first gun was a Winchester 60. Bout as long as I was tall. Next one I remember was Mossberg 151m. Shot that thing for years. Eventually settled into Browning blr that lasted decades. Loved the short stroke of that gun. She recently let me down on a groundhog, just wouldn’t fire. Now toting Henry Golden Boy, not sure how I feel about it yet. Stock drop is very noticeable and long stroke length compared to blr.

First real gun from my Dad: gave me my Granddad's Springfield- Savage 22 bolt rifle for Christmas. Shot great then, shoots great now. A true heirloom I cherish. I couldn't and wouldn't ever part with it. I show the old gal off at the range periodically.
So, bolt 22, can't go wrong in my humble opinion.
Cheers
Rick
Ps.A few years later he gave me Grandpa's Marlin 96 30-30 for Christmas. I was a damned lucky kid!

georgeld What is your budget? I had tons of fun with my semi-auto 22's.
Miroku made a dandy SA-22.
Pure class.

I think one of these might be fun.

https://www.cabelas.com/p/keys...e-shot-rimfire-rifle

Russian design these days? Sorry.

Good on you Mr. George! I got myself a Springfield model 2020 .22LR. I wanted a classic wood, bolt action that does not have a mag hanging down. This one is a flush fit ruger 10/22 mag.

My boy is 7 this year and he loves that rifle. Obviously the LOP is too long for him but i have a long eye relief scope on it and he shoots it great out to 40 yards. He's already claimed it for when he is older.

Something like that would be a classic gun for him to keep forever.

I have a tikka .22-250 with an 8"twist so to hunt our giant SC coastal whitetails, i bought another factory plastic stock for it and chopped it down to 10" LOP for him. gonna test that soon to see how he likes it.

If you bought a hunting rifle for him, you could get 2 stocks, chop one for now, and keep the original for when he grows into it.

I also officially gave him my old single shot .410 this year, and he loves it for his first gun. It was my first gun at 6. However, it isn't something he can actually use forever since it is so small. Something to remember you by, I think .22 as many have said.

Take er easy out there.

my kid started out on a model 7 .260 on a youth stock and when i found a featherweight m70 7mm-08 been using that since he got bigger. Still uses it and kills everything nicely with it. Many options pout there