my oldest son turns 13 this year, so i am looking at .22s for him. got the decision pretty-well made, just want to throw it out at y'all..

what i WANTED was marlin's current version of my first .22 (the model 781), because it is a well-made, accurate rifle and it looks nice too. what they have nowadays is pretty much identical, but with one difference: my m781 has a nice walnut stock, while this new marlin has a nice synthetic stock. apparently they don't make it in walnut. here's a picture of the marlin m81ts



fine-looking rifle, and also a fine price. i can get it for 145$.

i don't want a semi-auto, and i don't want a youth model for him. that cuts out quite a few choices. i would PREFER a tubular magazine over a clip magazine, because i can see him losing the clip or misplacing it pretty easily.

i was looking hard at the m39a lever action from marlin, but wow, that was expensive. i am considering the cz, since i was told that they are available for under 200$, but to me that might be a little too much of a "purty" rifle for a kid learning how to hunt and shoot; it might get bumped around quite bit. also, it has a clip mag.



anyway, i am not talking about the next junior benchrest competitor here, just a kid who will go out shooting cans and gophers....maybe a rabbit or two.

i intend to top it off with a tasco .22 scope (3-7x20mm), but i know what the current thinking is on tasco, so i'll stay out of that fight. suffice to say that this scope has worked well for me on my own .22, and i can afford it!



whatcha think? the marlin is my top choice of the ones i have seen considering it's known quality, accuracy, and price. it also has everything i am looking for except for the stock, and even i can appreciate the fact that a 13-year old boy would probably be better off with a synthetic. i am sure i am looking over a few choices. any sugestions?

thanks in advance~!

tash

Either of the guns you mentioned are a fine choice. For me, I'd lean towrds the CZ or a 77/22 Ruger. I understand your concern about losing a mag., but they are cheap to replace and infinitely more handy than a tube to load/unload.

I think the Ruger is one of the best .22s on the market, and aftermarket goodies for it are unlimited for "down the road" enhancement. I wouldn't worry about the fancy stock, tell him what he's got and how special it is, and he will look after it.

As far as a scope is concerned, you are better off putting a cheap 1" tube centrefire scope on it. I would go with a fixed 2.5x or 4x. His field of view will be better with one of these, so target aquisition will be easier IMHO.

I bought a 72 repo crackshot had the barrel shortened to 16" and winchester buckhorn sights. cut the original stock to make the rifle same length as red ryder BB gun. gaave it to my son when he was 12 with the understanding it would pass generation to generation, the gun now sports AAA wood waiting for his son to fit the original stock (great mantle piece)

[ 03-09-2003, 08:17: Message edited by: Pokerplayer ]

The CZ can be had with the cheaper birch stock so if it gets dinged a little it's not a tragedy. Or the synthetic stocked Marlin is a good rifle also. I think the CZ will be more accurate.

I'd have to recommend the CZ because my father bought me a CZ (Brno) 452 when I was about 12 years old.

That was several decades ago... I used to shoot it in competition and it has well over 50,000 shots through it. The rifle has never needed any repairs and it still shoots extremely well.

jpb

I would also recommend the CZ Special (birch stock) and I would not spend a dime on those cheap scopes. Have him learn to shoot it with the iron sights first and then save up for a higher quality scope. Neither he or you will be happy with the quality of those cheap scopes and you'll just end up buying a better one in a year or so anyway (trust me on this) Don't fret the magazine choice. For target work/plinking take the clip out and put it away and have him single load. You only need a magazine for hunting.

Just a thought.....why not wait and put a scope on it later down the road. Let him learn to use open sights first.

Good Luck,

Bob

I understand your concern about semi-auto and mags, but the ruger 10/22 is a great rifle. I own two of them and they are very accurate. One of them has well over 10,000 rounds through it and it keeps on shooting. The mags are not that expensive and can be found almost anywhere. I also agree that you might want to consider using iron sights first. All of my rifles wear scopes, but I will never forget how to use my irons since that was all I had for many years of squirrel hunting. As for scopes, might want to look at a low-end variable, can really add some range to that rifle and will be appreciated when you son gets a little older. One of mine wears a 4X bushnell and the other a 3x9 Tasco. Just my 2 cents...