My 7 year old son loves to shoot .22 and we go out often. He has shot several different bolt actions with open sights and variable optics. All of them have been too long (LOP) for him, but he does well with them. I borrowed an M&P 15-22 and with the stock shortened all the way down it fits him great. My dilemma now is if I want him to "learn" with the semi-auto platform or try to find a bolt action that will fit him for a couple of years. My search thus far has basically led me with buying an aftermarket stock and having it cut down.

What's your vote? Go with the semi or custom bolt action?

Are there other options?

Added a poll just for fun.

Which .22 rifle should I buy the boy? single choice
	M&P 15-22 with adjustable LOP
	Bolt action with semi-custom stock
	Unknown option - described in reply
	Just buy him a $5k complete custom.
Votes accepted starting: 07/26/17 04:49 PM
View Results

Can you really even broach this topic without including a ruger 10/22?

Unknown option.

Cricket .22lr

I teach kids on anything that is not an auto loader, they're safer, and build in muscle memory. The Cricket has a LOP for kids, already.

Ruger American bolt 22 comes in a compact model. I'd start off with something like that.

^^^^^^^^
This

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/111639...annel-synthetic
If you get a 10/22 and put any stock with an adjustable butt he can use it for years. It can be customized however he likes as he ages. I'll go out on a limb and say no other 22 has as many options. You can never go wrong with a bolt though. I've loved my 10/22 for almost 2 decades now. I still use it. Will he be using that bolt in the future, or will it sit, full of nostalgia?

In my family, you learned on grand dads or dads 22 rifle, LOP be damned! If the rifle was too big, you got a BB gun until you could shoulder the rimfire. We learned to work around the long stock... My dad always said any firearm is a single shot if you only give them 1 round at a time.

Ruger is making those interchangeable LOP stocks now. While I think they are ugly, they seem to be nice rifles.

10/22 - it's a classic

100%- youth single shot or bolt action. The semi auto rifle is great for later on, once they understand firearm safety and can shoot better. My son learned on a Henry Mini bolt single shot when we was 6 or 7. He's 12 now, and shoots that rifle very well.

Quick story- A few weeks ago, 3 of us dad's took our 12 YR kids rabbit hunting at the deer lease. My son had his single shot, and the other 2 kids had semi auto's, all 22 LR. When we would get into position to shoot a rabbit, the kids with the semi auto's would miss A LOT! My son would make that one shot he had count. He killed a lot of rabbits with a single shot on the first round. The boys with the semi auto would not take the time to make an aimed shot. They would shoot, then shoot again as quick as they could, missing almost every shot. My point is, let them learn on a single shot or bolt action where you can slow down and aim with each shot. With a semi auto, kids think of a machine gun and shoot it as such. Plus, the boys with the semi auto's scared the crap out of me trying to unload the rifle when it was time to get back in the truck. A bolt action or single shot is MUCH safer for kids.

Great replies!

Ruger 10/22 and Ruger American Compact are just as long in the stock as the rifle's I already have.

FiremanJG:

I checked out the Crickets and they all have peep sights. This is fine, but at some point I would like to teach him with a scope as well. Is there a way to mount a scope? Or do you save that for when they are older and using a different gun?

ChadTRG42:

This is really the main hesitation of just buying him a semi. When he is shooting either my rifle (Savage MKii) or my Dad's old singleshot, he makes MANY more hits. That is even with them being too big. Knowing he has more rounds available, he just lets them rip.

Has anyone ever seen this unicorn in real life:

Cricket Precision Rifle

+1 As usual, completely agree with FJG with the recommendation for a bolt action that fits the boy with a decent scope. The key is to learn the fundamentals.

The Marlin youth bolt action 22 with a lightweight Leupold fixed 4x (which is the only Leupold I still own) has worked well for teaching my nephews, other kids, and even petite women.

Here is a link: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/674130245

For some reason the listing says "single shot," but they come with a 5 round magazine. Double check with the vendor though to make sure it is the model with a magazine so they learn how to load and work the bolt.

It is surprisingly accurate and fits them very well. The setup shoots lights out to 50 yards.

To them, with a scope up top, it looks like a "deer rifle" that the grownups are using, which is important in showing them respect.

Savage FV-SR or the Cricket Precision Rifle

I had not come across the Marlin youth model (XT-22YR). At 11.25" LOP that may actually work for him. Very interested in it and will be taking a closer look. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Single shot bolt action with a wood stock, with a good set of irons and receiver that is grooved to accept 22 rings. Cut the stock to the desired length of pull for a good fit. With my son I found a used stevens. At 7, he will rapidly outgrow what fits now, as well as probably put some bumps and bruises on it as he learns to handle it. For a while you can replace but plate with pads and add spacers, but he will quickly outgrow it. In the meantime you can teach him solid fundamentals and a good mount from the start, rather than have to correct poor fundamentals he has ingrained due to a gun that he can't shoulder properly. The single shot will teach him to make the first shot count. Good luck with it. That was a fun time for my son and me.

SAVAGE RASCAL , without a doubt.

adjustable AccuTrigger alone makes it worth the price (under $200)
VERY accurate , and made just for his size ( 3#'s and 11" L.O.P);
this rifle, right out of the box, will out-shoot anything at even twice the price!

Comes with very accurate peep sights; easy to put a scope or even dual-aperature sights for competition.

I recommend CCI-Standard Velocity ammo - $3/box (specs equivalent to target ammo) for target-score quality shooting.

We get them for $160 at budsgunshop.com ; ymmv . . .

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Savage-Ar...savage%2Brascal

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2012/10/16/savage-rascal/

Doesn't the Ruger American bolt come with two stock extensions, normal and short for kids?

Yes a couple, Its a miniature AI, tiny, not sure if you could hit anything with it. Crickets are not shooters just noise makers.

See if the Magpul 1022 stock will spacer down short enough. That would be a good one. Buy a couple single shot 1022 mags to learn function.

You mean this one https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod...ION+RIFLE+.22LR

Bud's has it for $298

Savage Mark ll fvsr
Ruger American

Both are excellent rifles and will serve them for many years to come.

Another vote for the Savage Rascal. My 7yr old is a little guy and it fits him well. Great little 22.

Any Single Shot
He / She needs to learn gun safety and to make the first shot count.

Vote for Savage Rascal as well... started my son with a Crickett but if the Savage would have been available then, I would have bought it. Both can have a scope mounted, but I would teach the child how to shoot with the peep and not worry about a scope.