Originally Posted by
Dennis Peacock
OK...it's only been many years since I've even been the slightest bit interested in a .22 caliber rifle. My son is 14 and he and I both feel it's past time for him to gain more experience with rifles. He wants to buy himself a .22 and I'm just trying to figure out what is the best rifle for the least amount of money I can get..either new or used...for him to see if he really likes a .22 caliber or not.
I do know he wants to get himself a deer rifle at some point in the not to distant future, but that's a whole different story there.
So what are your points, advice, and experiences.??
My dad found a .22 1950s-vintage bolt-action Remington sticking out of a trash can when I was 12-years old. He knocked on the door, and learned that the man's wife gave an ultimatum, "Me or the rifle."
So he was given the rifle and gave it to me for a birthday present. (I doubt you'll find a rifle in a trash can these days, that's completely irresponsible.) That was probably my favorite birthday. My first present was an 5-shot clip, then a small scope, and then the rifle, and then a brick of ammo. I doubt dad paid more than $10 back in the 80s for the lot.
But I still have it, and it's a good rifle (I don't need a scope for it these days). It's a great first gun for a teen, because the kick is non-existent, and the ammo is cheap. I shot thousands of water-filled soda cans at that age, and it was always a lot of fun.
It's a good way to teach a kid about gun safety, if nothing else.
Last edited by Eric Larsen; 08-18-2009 at 10:26 PM.
Deflation: When I was a kid, an E-ticket meant I was about to go on the ride of my life. Today, an E-ticket means a miserable ride.