I'm going to be a dad! What do I buy?

[Skinned_knuckle]

My wife is due in December and I'm very excited. Hickock45 did a video for a 22lr Remington rifle and explained that the rifle was bought on the day of his son's birth with the intent of passing it down to him. i would like to do the same for my child. One of my prized posessions is a Colt Woodsman that I inherited from my grandfather. I'm thinking about buying a pistol and shying away from buying a rifle since I already have a Marlin 60. Also, the majority of modern 22 rifles don't seem to be heirloom quality.
I'm leaning towards a Ruger Mark IV Blued Target model but I'm open to suggestions. My main concerns are that the gun be 22 and be made with heirloom level quality.

 

[fiasconva]

IMHO, by the time it will be a heirloom there will be a Mark XX or something. Go with a K22. You can't beat a classic. In a few years that Ruger will be worth less than half of what you paid for it and the K22 will be worth more than you paid for it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Mark IV makes sense. New model... big change. You're about to get something new and it'll be a big change for ya.

Congrats!

 

[Jdavis]

Heirlooon quality .22 handgun puts you into early the S&W model 41 category. For a rifle, you can get a CZ American 455 for reasonable money and it is a quality rifle. Most have excellent wood and excellent accuracy.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Take a look at the CZ 452 Grand finale .22lr bolt action rifle.
The 452 is a quality rifle that after years of production is being discontinued.
The CZ 455 is the replacement. This year, 2017, CZ released a limited edition (1000) Grand finale edition rifles. Prices started at $1200 but have come down under $800.
Searching the internet you should find pictures, articles, reviews and discount sale sites.

At 55, I bought my birth year gun, a 1960 S&W model 36 revolver. It would have been great if Dad had purchased one for me.

Let us know what you wind up buying.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I'm going to be a dad! What do I buy?

A comfortable bed for your mother-in-law to use when she comes to visit.

Congratulations on the making of a family. A new lifelong adventure is about to begin.

 

[lrrifleman]

While I can't criticize the suggestion of a K22, I would suggest a S&W Model 34 (or 63) Kit Gun. You have no idea what your child's hand size will be as an adult, but grips can be made oversized to fit a J frame, but you can't readily reduce the size of a K frame grip! Then, on each birthday you can invest in a case of 22s, so he/she may have a lifetime of ammo on hand we they turn 18.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When Price is not an issue!

A friend of mine upon hearing of the impending arrival of a grand son ordered a Jackson Squirrel Rifle from Cooper Arms. This is a semi custom 22 RF rifle with many options to choose from ; including a Leupold scope with matching serial numbers (another option is, initials in the serial number!) The grade of fancy walnut in the stock, several options of checkering & cheek pieces, The list goes on and on.

My friend spent around $2500.00 on his grandson's 22, about 10 years ago. I have seen the gun shoot 5 shot groups the size of a dime @ 100 Meters with Eley Match ammo.

It will be a couple of years yet before grandpa lets the rifle go home with the intended owner, but said grandson gets to shoot his rifle when he visits every summer. Every year the groups get smaller, the distance gets a little further, and grandpa's grin gets a little bigger!

Ivan

 

[Ozark Marine]

Congrats to you and your wife.
How about a Henry lever action 22.
Just like your kid....Made in the USA.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When price is a concern.

I bought my 3 sons each a FIE GR-8 22 semi-auto for $66 each, on close out when the oldest was about 8. As the boys grey they got to take their rifles to the range on the farm and learn to shoot. As they moved out, they took the assorted guns (GR-8, 1911A1 and a 20 gauge) with them and have working guns, or trading material!

Ivan

 

[Rpg]

Always best to buy something you'd want.

When my son was born in 1977, I bought a M 29-2.

He never developed much interest in firearms.

Fortunately, I bought something I wanted!

 

[paul641]

Life insurance and a tax deferred college savings fund

 

[BAM-BAM]

A cz rifle ............22lr and see next post

 

[BAM-BAM]

A un- comfortable bed for your mother-in-law to use when she comes to visit.

fixed it for you..................

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Hard to beat the Woodsman you already have.

 

[Bullet Bob]

A 529 college savings program.

 

[vigil617]

I understand what you're asking, and it's a fine gesture.

If I might make a slightly different, but related, suggestion:

Buy him one of your state's lifetime sportsman's licenses and give it to him when he comes of age to have to start buying hunting and/or fishing licenses of his own.

What a great investment that would be. Wish I had done it for my own son when he was born, but I wasn't wise then like I am now.

 

[RV4driver]

Congrats to you and your wife.
How about a Henry lever action 22.
Just like your kid....Made in the USA.

Henry is more than happy to make a commemorative version of your Henry lever action .22.
Put junior's name on it and date of birth.

Other than that, I'd say you only need what you already have...earplugs.

 

[RV4driver]

Okay, darn it! I just read all the other posts...Bam-Bam nailed it.

 

[eveled]

I bought a plastic container, and bought every magazine, and news paper I could find. Then whatever else caught my eye that was dated and fit in the box.

Sealed it up and put them on a shelf. Plan on giving them on their thirtieth birthday.

If I were to have bought a gun, it would have been either a single six, or Bearcat.