Marlin 717M2

[gustmouse]

I'm looking for a new rifle for my Daughter see's outgrown her Cricket 22 caliber rifle. She doesn't shoot that many times a year. But on our yearly spring trip to the Maine camp she does shoot a lot. Its great seeing her chew gun while spinning cans. She out shoots the boys and even occasionally me! Anyhow I'm thinking about this rifle it a Marlin 717M2. I like the fact that it's has rifle sights. The length of pull maybe a little long for her, but I'm thinking It would be a good upgrade. Any thoughts or any other rifles in 17Mach2 with rifle sights welcome.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/boltaction/717M2.aspx

[Keith L]

While I enjoy shooting my 17M2, I guess I woiud recommend you stay with a .22.  I just bought a bulk pack of .22LR (525 rounds) for eight bucks.  That is over five times more than I can get with the M2s.  I like to shoot a lot, and my guess is so does your little one.  I would stay with a bolt action, not an automatic.  And maybe even a single shot for a while. 

If you are sold on the M2 then your choice is a good one I think.

Nothing more fun than taking a kid shooting.  Enjoy it!

[aulrich]

If she is ready for a semi another option is the small ruger 10/22ccr it's a smaller version of the regular 10/22 and it has the advantage that as she grows you can get her a bigger stock and any number of other upgrades.

[gustmouse]

Thanks for the input, 22LR are sure cheap to shoot and kids including myself love to shoot them. I did cut down the stock of an H&R model 760 that the kids also use.
It’s kind of an oddity being a single shot with auto eject. But it’s light and makes for a good camp rifle for them to shoot. I don’t think there’s many firearms offered in the 17M2 yet.
At least ones with open sights, I’ll have to check about the Rouge Chipmunk rifles ,CZ rifles and the other manufactures. I think she’s ready to move up to a little more performance. I have a Savage 17HMR, but with it’s scope it’s not easy for her to shoot. Savage does make the Mark II F in 17M2 their website says it comes open sight and weighs 5 lbs, so it’s maybe an option. But with It’s plastic stock I don’t think I could do much with it to easily shorten it.

http://www.savagearms.com/markiif.htm


The image below is of Winchester’s new Wildcat, which I thought looked like a interesting 22 rifle

[aulrich]

Funny you say it is easier without a scope (maybe because of lenght of pull) but all of my boys and especialy one found shooting with a scope way easier.

[gustmouse]

It's probably really not the scope, Just the whole rifle with it's varmint barrel, fairly large scope and also it's length of pull. I'm sure she would shoot a rimfire that fit her with a smaller 22 size scope fine. It really comes down to length of pull and weight. If the rifle fits and you're comfortable with it, you can usually shoot it better. That's why a few years ago she got the cricket. It was the lightest rifle and fit her good. I know we looked at the CZ Scout, but it was still too big. But maybe we should look at that rifle again. I just saw the Mossberg Plinster Bantam on thier site. It has a length of pull of 12 1/2 inches and weighs about 4 lbs.

[ironglow]

  That Winchester Wildcat looks good, just keep in mind that it is made in Russia..
 
   Better check the strings on that Mossy Plinkster..both here and over on        www.rimfirecentral.com/      they are inexpensive but I've read a lot of bad posts on them.
  If you want an auto..put $20 or so with it and pick up a Marlin 60 or just a very few bucks and get a Savage 64..

      Barring that..consider a NEF versa pack.22 LR/.410..for about the same price as the Marlin, works great for jrs. and you can buy the full sized stock later, when she needs it !