Combo guns

[Freezer]

My nephew has twin boys that have just finished their hunter safety course. They want to shoot and hunt this year but he needs to get them firearms. They'll rabbit squirrel and deer hunt this year with my brother. I own an NEF and like it but Rossi offers a combo pack with a .22lr barrel which fills all the firearms needs at once. The Rossi is also half a pound lighter I was trying to find the Mossberg Ssi buy I'm not sure they make it any more as I couldn't find it in the catalog. What's your opinion? Is there something else on the market?

[petemi]

My wife and I own 19 H&Rs; 17 rifles and 2 shotguns, all complete firearms.  You'll understand I'm prejudiced.  We gave up on the barrel swapping early on and fitted all of them to their own frame and stock.  Complete guns store easier than loose scoped barrels, and the one you want is ready to go when you are.  Also, swapping barrels effects accuracy by not having a constant forearm fit.

I don't know what kind of customer service Rossi offers, but H&Rs has become outstanding.  In addition, they're made in the USA to our quality standards, and are helping to keep American jobs at home. 

Especially when dealing with kids, with deer rifles and shotguns, the half pound weight difference is not an asset, but a detriment.  Lighter weight = more felt recoil.

In short, I'd go (have gone) the H&R way.

Pete

[tacklebury]

I don't know how you could get much better than a Rossi Trifecta for kids:
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=S2022243YBS&mfg=Braztech&mdl=Trifecta&cat=2&type=All&cal=All&fin=&sit=&zipcode=48858
There are other combo's available too.
The new Rossi Wizard might be good also, but little more dough.  For about 100 dollars more, it'll let them add different calibers later without gunsmithing or anything like an Encore. 
 
Good luck in the hunt!

[Freezer]

Thanks guys, this is what I'm looking for. I have an NEF  with about nine barrels. I really like the concept but I believe with the .22 barrel the Rossi is superior. In addition the Rossi doesn't need to be fit when you switch barrels. I myself would prefer an Encore and own a Contender. This guy has two twelve tear olds to buy for, who knows if they'll like hunting. He's a wounderful dad and will take what ever path these boys take him on. Thanks for the input. What happened to the Ssi?

[tacklebury]

Yah, I really wish H&R would make versa packs or an offset barrel even in .22LR for the centerfire frame.  That's all the Rossi does.  8(

[Farrier Matt]

Ive got a Trifecta, 243/22lr/20ga. Its a neat little gun and woudl be great for introducing a kid to the sport. Real light weight, though, which makes even the 243 and 20 ga kick a little harder than normally. One other thing, my 243 barrel is rifled with a 1-14 twist, and wont shoot anything heavier than 85 gr bullets with any kind of accuracy. Their neat guns though, and Ive shot the 243 a bunch, with max loads, and it seems to be holding up fine.

[leadman]

H&R does make youth guns that are a little lighter than the standard guns.
 
My experience with the Rossi guns is from several years ago trying to help a couple at the range with a 243. The accuracy was so bad I would not take a shot past 50 yards at a deer with it. Maybe they have improved, hope so. Also from looking at the drop on the stocks it would be my guess this would increase the felt recoil.