A guy that i work with has had a really rough year (his fiance passed away after a long illness), and he has a 12 year old son from his first marriage. I feel that this guy probably won't be able to afford to do much for his son for Christmas. That being said, my wife and i have no kids and decided that this year we would just do for others instead of buying each other gifts. Since I love guns, and know that his son enjoys them too i would like to buy a .22 rifle for this guy to give to his son for Christmas. I would like to stay within the $100-150 range. My thoughts are maybe a Mossberg Plinkster 702, a marlin model 60 if they can still be found in that range, or maybe find an older bolt action off the used rack at one of the local gunshops (my favorite .22 is a glenfield model 25 that i got for about 60 bucks like that). Any other options that i might have overlooked?

If you can bump the price up just a bit........Henry makes a darn good first 22!

I think he would be thrilled at any 22 rifle you get him.
There is so many good little 22 rifles out there that it is
hard for me to come up with one gun. Just find one in
your price range and go for it. Don

__________________
"Don't worry be happy"

Take a look at your local pawn shops. Some diamonds in the rough can be found on occasion. I picked up a 95% J.C. Higgins Model 31 at a pawn shop last Saturday AM for $25.00 OTD ($13.73 + sales tax + $10.00 TICS). I bought it solely for the stock as the pawn shop said it didn't fire. Took it home and started stripping parts off of her. The bolt and receiver were so gummed up with grease/oil/dirt/burned powder that almost nothing would move. I stood the whole thing in a bucket of K-1 Kerosene and let it soak for four days. Checked it Wednesday evening and everything was freed up. I cleaned it, lubed it and put it back together Wednesday night and shot it today. It shoots great

Class III

If you can afford to bump it up a bit I would get something that he will enjoy as an adult. That way he can keep it (and treasure it) all his life. I don't mean a Weatherby or some such, but something that will always be a joy to have.

Edited to say I think your idea is wonderful.

I bought myself a Marlin 795 from Dunhams for $150 a couple months ago. Given that Marlin is offering a $20 rebate on the 795 right now, that would drop you down to $130.

If you have them around you I would call Dicks Sporting Goods, I've heard on a couple forums that they have them on sale for $120 and give you a $20 gift card. That would make it a whopping $80 after the gift card and factory rebate.

The 795 is a 10 round magazine fed .22 and comes with a little scope. I've had no problems with the rifle thus far and it has at least 1,000 rounds of Federal Bulk ammo from the local Wally World through it.

My first rifle was a Marlin Model 60... LOVED it.
See if you can take him shopping for it, get the fit right and you get to watch the light in his eyes as you shop together.


Jim

__________________
Big bullets leave big holes

i would take him shopping for it, but i want it to come from his dad not me.

I, too, would suggest a Marlin 60. A good used one around here goes for $75 to $100. Then you could buy him three or four bulk packs of ammo to go with it!

__________________
Insert short witty words here

The Cabela's Flyer I received today has a good looking Remington Model 5 on sale for 199.95. You might be able to beat that with coupons.

It's a very nice rifle, laminate stock, blue, d&t, 5 round detachable magazine. What more could a 12 year old want.

This gun will last him a life time.

If I could stuff one more .22 in the safe I'd buy one.

Bob

__________________
Bob
KDØQCE

I admire and applaud your selflessness, empathy, and approach to the "Christmas Spirit", (despite being a non-believer...).

In furtherance of your generous intentions, if you'll tell me how (PM me, provide PayPal account, or etc.), I'll contribute $20.00 to your rifle purchase budget, in hope you get the youngster a lasting treasure.

And, will invite any other members to do so as well...

Just bought my granddaughter [15] a Marlin Model 60 with 2x7 Tasco scope at my local gun shop $110 out the door. Used but just like new. Deals can be found but you just have to look. Giving the rifle to granddaughter for Christmas.

Would a single shot be acceptable??

Single shot would reduce ammo costs and reinforce accurate aiming.

Bekeart

Look for PM



BRAZTECH 20GA COMBO YOUTH W/EXTRA 22LR SYNTHETIC STOCK

Specifications:
GAUGE 20 GAUGE/22 LR
TYPE ACTION BREAK
MAX CHAMBER SIZE 20 GAUGE-3"
WEIGHT 20 GAUGE-5 LBS/22 LR.-5.62 LBS
BARREL LENGTH 20 GAUGE-22" / 22 LR.-18.5"
OVERALL LENGTH 20 GAUGE-35"/22 LR-31.5"
METAL FINISH BLUE
STOCK FINISH BLACK
STOCK MATERIAL SYNTHETIC
CHECKERING Y/N Y
GRIP STYLE PISTOL
MONTE CARLO Y/N N
RECOIL PAD Y/N Y
SLING & SWIVELS Y/N SLING SWIVELS
INT. CHOKE TUBES Y/N 20 GAUGE- MODIFIED.

I would get a used Ruger 10-22 and he will not out grow it and it will always have good resale value. CCI .22 CB Longs will work through the magazine but they don't have enough power to work the bolt so you have to manually operate the bolt like a bolt action rifle. That way he won't have semi-auto ability until he is old enough and ready for .22 Long Rifle cartriges. The CB longs are a little less powerful than a .22 short and are about as loud as a pellet rifle.

I snagged a great condition Marlin Model 60 for $100 earlier this year, so that gets my vote in the $100-$150 range. They run like a top, and the special rifling actually makes them slightly more accurate than other 22s in the same price range. Slap a cheap Simmons rimfire scope on it, throw in a box or two of 550 round .22 bulk packs, and he's set.

But if you can spare a little more scratch, we got our 12 year old a 10/22 "Wal-Mart Special" for Christmas last year, and he absolutely loves it. It's the version with the 22 inch stainless barrel (which is not found on other variations), no barrel band, and nicer hardwood stock that is sold exclusively at Wal-Mart. It was just under $250 after tax, IIRC.

One of the lever actions, like the Henry, may be the best choice especially if he may turn out to be left handed.
Maybe a gift certificate to the dad so he can take to son and pick one out together.
You and your wife have a heart of gold.

I would like to wish you both a very Merry Christmas, as moosedog said you both have a heart of gold.

I would look for an old Winchester 67 or similar single shot bolt action that has altready been cut down into a youth rifle. There are many of these great old guns out there and they have little or no no collector value as they have already been chopped. I generally see a few of those old timers at gun shows under $100. They often need just a little bit of work to bring them back to life, such as removing the rust, doing some trigger adjustment, and re-crowning the barrel. If you know how to do those thing it's very easy to get a whole lot of rifle for very little money.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

+1. I wouldn't get a kid's rifle. There are a number of choices, but if he is a beginning shooter, I would stay away from a semi-auto. I have a Marlin 881 bolt action that is very accurate and fun to shoot. As others have said, check your lgs and pawns. They may have a nice used one at a decent price, and they might even give you a little off if you explain what you're going to do with the gun. You definitely have a big heart, and are a wonderful friend! God bless!

__________________
Misty

+1.
Things are tough around here (I'm between jobs right now) but I would love to kick in to help make Christmas nice for someone who sounds like they really need it.
I agree with a posting about avoiding a semi-auto. It's nothing against semi's (I have multiple) but I think that a bolt or lever gun would make a better starting gun. I like the Henry Rifles (the boy will love the Cowboy aspect of the gun ). I'm particularly fond of CZ bolt actions, but I think that they've gotten a bit expensive for your price range.
Good luck, and let us know how we can help.
Doug

I agree with the Walmart Ruger 10-22. The basic version can be had for $140 around here, Wood stock and blued barrel. I have had one for nearly 20 years and have never had a problem with it after prob 50 thousand rounds.

Academy has a couple of rifles in your range. Mossberg 702 for $109 and a Marlin 795 for $129. I would google the rifles and read reviews for them.

I have never used either. I was just curious as to what is available locally.

I think a first gun should be a bolt...my nephew enjoyed plinking with my Nylon 66 and my Marlin Mountie but when he sat behind the peep sighted Remington bolt, he took his time and learned how to shoot...

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

I gotta agree "Used"... there are lots of nice used 22s out there. I had a Sears Glenfield (Marlin made) I stupidly traded in... got peanuts for it.
I have a Marlin, kid's rifle, single shot, 16" barrel... What's a 50s guy doing buying a kid's rifle? It's a nice trail gun... Learn to make all shots count! You could do a lot worse.
Russ

Check out this KARMA:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/...ope-karma.html

Pete (The Oldfella)

__________________
NRA, GOA Lifer

PM being sent.

Can't go wrong with a Marlin 60...

what about the winchester/cooey single shot bolt action ? there has to be millions of them out there ...used to be under 100 bucks ,everybody had one .
foolproofoak=st. nick

I was about that age when my Dad bought me a Remington "Fieldmaster" pump .22. Great gun, 50+ years later I still shoot it regularly.

I say a used Ruger 10/22 that way the rifle grows with him. There are so many things you can do with them and its not something you he will out grow.

I just wanted to say I think its awesome what your planing to do. We could really use more people in the world like you and your wife.

My understanding is that the Remington Model 5 is actually the Zastava out of Serbia that was later sold by Charles Daley. I have one of each and they are superbly built and very accurate. I'm certain this young man will be thrilled with whatever you find, but the "newness" factor would enhance his experience and you'd probably have fewer hidden defect issues. I don't think I paid much over $100 new for either one of them a few years ago.

I edited the above post, but for some reason it didn't take.

After I gave a +1 on the Remington, I remembered I wanted to order a minor part for my Zastave CZ99 (same gun) and found out that Remington discontinued the Model Five, Charles Daly went out of business and Zastava no longer produces the 22 rifle.

It makes little, if any, sense to buy a young man a rifle for which parts are already difficult to obtain. Too bad, it is a nice gun - sorry for the bad recommendation, and good luck finding this new shooter a 22 he'll remember forever.

Savage makes a fine youth rifle.

It's a single shot, bolt action, with peep sight and encourages great basic skills. It also features their 'accu-trigger' which is surprising in a rifle I've seen on sale for $129.00.

At that price, I wouldn't even feel bad if (as a twelve year old), he only got a year or two out of it, as long as he mastered good techniques and discipline.

I bought a savage model 64f for my ten year old. It's the semi auto one. I would stay away from that one if I were you. Thanks to the junk magazines it has way more reliability issues than it should. The Ruger 10/22 just cannot be beat, in my book.

It's been 3 years....I'm sure he got the gun by now....

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

Remington 514 single shot makes a great first .22. Bought one last year for my son to learn on for $137.00 out the door. I saw Gander Mountain had them in stock on black friday for $129.00 plus tax.

I was working part time for a FFL. Some contributions were made here to help the buyer with the purchase. I was the clerk who did the paper work and mailed the package to their FFL.

Bekeart