Want a rimfire rifle for grandkids...which one?

[PALADIN85020]

Almost any gun show will turn up with one of these - the Winchester Model 67. Single shot, and has to be cocked after chambering a round to fire; very safe for that reason. Many thousands of young men and women got their start with one of these rifles. John Browning was responsible for the design. Still very reasonable to buy. The long 27" barrel makes for good accuracy and very quiet shooting, too.

John

 

[canoeguy]

My vote for kids 12 years and older is the Ruger 10/22. Very few .22 rifles offer the reliability, accuracy and fun factor of a Ruger 10/22. We have four of them in our family and the Nephews/Nieces spend many hours on my property shooting and learning the basics. Here's some pics of my 12 year old Niece displaying picture perfect shooting positions:







Pics of the family 10/22's:

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

By chance one has taught quite a few young ones safe firearms usage you would know some work better with air/ spring BB guns. Some easily adapt to actual firearms. The BB gun suggestion is just an Option. One easily picks up on kids or adults ability and comfort with firearms.

I do have a pump pellet gun, and a long bb gun that I may well start the younger ones on. We spend a great deal of time with our grandkids and have a pretty good idea who will take to shooting and who may not. We'll see.

 

[Buick]

I like the Browning BL-22 for ages 12 and up. Its a criminally underrated rifle. For younger kids a single shot bolt like the aforementioned Winchester 67 or Savage Rascal or Crickett is ideal. I really prefer younger kids to shoot bb guns till they're about 10 orc11 though.

 

[K Frame Keith]

My first rifle was the classic Winchester 67 single shot. I was a big kid and the large rifle was a good fit. We started our son much younger with a Savage Rascal, a scaled down single shot practically identical in operation.
Fast forward 25 years… started the grands out on a Keystone Arms Cricket, smaller still.
Our son still has the Rascal and the Cricket is waiting for the younger one to reach the right age. The Cricket is a very quality item.

 

[tops]

Those older full size single shot .22s are to large for a small (young) child and one will cost more than a Cricket.
When my son was 5 I bought him one but I had to shorten and thin the stock. I cut the barrel to 17 in. and used a 3 cornered file to cut a new dovetail for the front sight. I put a small set of sling swivels on it and had his name stamped on the leather sling. He still has it.
Fast forward many years and 2 years ago when my great grandson was 5 I took the easier and cheaper way and bought him a Cricket. He and I both like it. Larry