Author Topic: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY  (Read 1999 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26939
  • Gender: Male
THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« on: August 06, 2020, 12:38:14 AM »
https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/the-best-22-for-teaching-kids-to-shoot-safely/

BY DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM                 MAY 2, 2019



Last weekend, I spent a full day on the range overseeing 20 kids between the ages of 10 and 13. Some had already been hunting and killed ducks and whitetails. Others had never fired a gun before. I’d brought several rifles with me, all chambered in .22LR, and we blew through more than 2,000 rounds.


Can kids shoot? Some can. This group was shot by a 10-year-old girl from 50 feet with a Savage 64.

Which .22?

As this was a gathering of friends, some brought their own rifles. One was an ancient Marlin. This gun was prewar, and had been refinished. It was a tube-fed bolt gun with its rear sight soldered in place. While it was a good talking point, it wasn’t a practical rifle for teaching accuracy and it weighed more than some of the kids.

There were others that we used to demonstrate mechanics and actions. One was a more contemporary Winchester lever action. That one rocked. Keeping track of how many rounds had been fired from its tube magazine, though, was difficult.

Another was a heavy barreled Colt AR conversion. It functioned well, but was too big for many of the smaller kids to handle.It did, however, allow us to talk about the way ARs function.

There are other options. The Cricketts are great for small shooters, and they’re single shot guns–which is an advantage. Henry makes good options. Browning’s new Buckmark rifles could be superb, but we didn’t have one to try.

The two that made the final cut were a Savage Model 64 and a Ruger 10/22.

Savage Model 64

There’s nothing wrong with a good Savage rifle. The Model 64 has its fans, mostly becasue it is a functional rifle that often sells for $100. As the day wore on and the round count increased, I fell out of love with the 64. The magazine has some edges that are rough on thumbs. The spring pressure in the magazine also makes it harder for small hands to load.

The optimist in me would say this; the 64 will teach you the virtues of keeping a gun clean.


This is a Savage 64 Takedown. Keep it clean, and it works like it should. A good option for teaching kids safety and how to care for a gun.

I had a can of Hoppes on hand, and we dumped most of it into the Model 64 to keep it running. We’d hose it down, and then oil it up, but it needed to be  deep-cleaned. We had some predictable failures. The first was that the second round in every magazine would fail to feed. Round one went in fine. The last eight would feed with no difficulty. Number two, though, would hang up in the chamber.

The problem was solved by only loading nine. After the 64 fired close to 1,000 rounds, even that fix wouldn’t keep it running. It had to be broken down and cleaned.

The good news is that it always fired and the kids had little difficulty hitting their marks at 50 feet. We had topped it with a 3-9×40, and the Savage performed perfectly (after a round was in the chamber).

The Ruger 10/22

The Ruger 10/22 was even better (not the accuracy, exactly, but the performance). There’s a reason why there are 5 million of these out in the wild. They work. We had two 10/22s, and both chugged along perfectly.


My old 10/22 in a rest. This is a great gun for teaching marksmanship.

The 10/22 has numerous mag options. Some hold 25. My favorite magazine for teaching purposes only holds one round. This allows the new shooters to get the motions of loading and dropping mags down without dealing with a gun that needs to be cleared.


The red plate marks this 10/22 rotary magazine as a one-round mag: a perfect teaching tool.

There are 10 round flush-fit mags and 15 round mags, too, all of which have their place in teaching new shooters how to shoot prone or from a rest. We had one 10/22 with a short barrel and fiber optic sights. That was harder to dial in than the other, which we’d topped with a 1-4×24.

As the day wore on, some of the kids moved to 100 yard targets. We put a single 1/2″ dot on a 8.5×11 sheet of paper at 100 yards, and gave them four shots (each narrated by an adult spotter). Considering the conditions (temperature in the low 30s and stiff winds), I’d consider this a challenge for anyone shooting a 10/22. Kids who had never fired a gun before, though, were putting rounds on target, some within an inch of that 1/2″ circle.

Conclusions

The best part is this: the Rugers never had a hiccup. Even with the filth and grime from these dirty little rimfire rounds, and even with one of the 10/22s being suppressed for the whole shoot, there was not one failure.

Comparing the 10/22 to the Model 64 isn’t really fair. One is a budget-conscious plinker. The other is just slightly more expensive, but it runs from what is, in my humble opinion, the best rimfire magazine ever made.


The Champion kit is a steal: two 10/22 mags, a spinning target, and a cleaning kit (tricked-out Ruger 10/22 not included).

And this means there are options. Ruger makes accessories and mags, but they’re not the only one. 10/22 mags are easy to find. Check out this package from Champion. It has two mags, both 25 rounders, a simple rimfire spinning target, and an Outers cleaning kit. This is an ideal combination for the 10/22, and a steal–the whole package is on sale now for $29.99.

 

GOT MAGS?

Check out the Ruger 10/22 magazine selection at GunMag Warehouse.

David Higginbotham

David Higginbotham is a writer and editor who specializes in everyday carry. He was a college professor for 20 years before leaving behind the academy for a more practical profession in the firearms industry.



Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline ironglows

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4387
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2020, 01:06:57 AM »
When one has a large group to teach, he has to gather up what he can.  However, with a small group, say 1 to 3, a single shot 22, that must be cocked by hand is probably the best.
  In that situation, the Crickets or Chipmunks shine.  I have an old model 67 Winchester that works the same way.
  The single load 10/22 magazine is a real plus, especially for the beginning hunter, who is out by himself.  Any single shot, teaches self discipline and encourages good marksmanship.

"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline two-blocked

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1155
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2020, 02:32:15 PM »
I think a bolt action is the best for teaching kids. My vote goes for a CZ Scout with a single shot adaptor

Offline Dee

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23870
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2020, 03:06:02 PM »
I don't think a semiautomatic rifle of any caliber is good to teach a kid how to shoot.


I guess if Higginbotham is a specialist in every day carry (whatever that is), then so also is a goofy uncle of mine who shot a hole in a coffee shop wall while demonstrating his knowledge of pistols to some other know it alls.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline ironglows

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4387
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2020, 12:19:59 AM »
Nothing wrong with an H&R .22, or other break action rifle either.
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline pastorp

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (46)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4697
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2020, 02:00:58 AM »
My family was not hunter/shooter people. But I had a inbread love for guns and hunting that could not be satisfied. So my parents sent me to the St. Petersburg, FL police pistol range where every summer the rangemaster taught shooting/ marksmanship classes to any of us teenage boys that wanted to learn. They had a lot of Remington single shot 22 bolt action rifles for us to use.

We were taught shooting positions and spent a lot of time learning breath and trigger control by dry firing. Fineally after weeks of practice we were allowed to actually,shoot targets. After I passed the course daddy took me to sears and bought a JCHiggengs 22 rifle for me. It was a bolt action, tube fed model,that I still have today 60 years after he gave it to me.

So my vote goes to a SS 22mbolt action rifle as a learning tool for a boy to learn how to shoot. And the NRA marksmanship classes are very good to use.
Byron

Christian by choice, American by the grace of God.

NRA LIFE

Offline Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26939
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2020, 02:38:28 AM »
I learned with a Winchester M74 .22 short only semiauto rifle. It worked for me.

I taught my grandson Wyatt with a single shot Chipmunk and followed that up with a single shot TC Hotshot.

When he outgrew the boy's rifles he started shooting my Marlin bolt action and then my Ruger 10-22.

Now he has his own S&W M&P .22LR AR he uses.

I guess there really is no right or wrong rifle to teach a child to shoot. I think it's how ya do it and the fact that you in fact DO IT that is most important.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline mcbammer

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2249
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2020, 04:31:39 AM »
   Most any single shot would be fine ,   I like my Remy model 514 .

Offline ironglows

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4387
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2020, 11:26:05 PM »
Seems like there are many nice training rifles available.  The Cricket/Chipmunk line, Marlin youth and the Savage Rascal, which is self-cocking.
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline Land_Owner

  • Global Moderator
  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (31)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4526
    • Permission Granted - Land Owner
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #9 on: August 14, 2020, 01:19:30 AM »
Keeping track of how many rounds had been fired from its tube magazine, though, was difficult.

Not if the author put ONLY the number of rounds in the magazine for which ONE shooter was responsible.  There is no reason to stuff the tube full in a teaching environment, unless you are going to allow that shooter to shoot till they're happy.

It is incumbent on the shooter (for new and young shooters - the Mentor) to keep track of the number of shots fired.  This should be one of the foundations taught alongside safety basics.  When you are OUT of ammo you are out of the fight/hunt/shoot.  KNOWING the impending nature of that event (knowing X of Y counting down to Y=X) could mean the difference between life and death.

Offline Land_Owner

  • Global Moderator
  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (31)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4526
    • Permission Granted - Land Owner
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #10 on: August 14, 2020, 01:27:33 AM »
There’s nothing wrong with a good Savage rifle.

The author should have couched his praise in the affirmative, rather than a back handed complement from the negative.  There is everything RIGHT with a Savage rifle.  You can take that to the bank!  Savage makes HIGHLY ACCURATE right out of the box firearms   That the name Savage does not immediately imply greatness is a function of advertising (imo).

If the author had made a "similar to the Ruger" comparison, to eliminate his bias, he would have found and used a one shot magazine in the Savage.  It should be expected that every 22LR shooting tumble lubed, lead exposed ammo will require routine and customary CLEANING to keep it functioning.  The expectation that any 22 should "Go The Distance" not hang up, misfeed, and simply keep going until the barrel falls off is disingenuous.

Savage is one of the best kept secrets in the industry.  Cost effective, accurate, available, and if you find one or buy one, don't let it go.  It may prove to be one of the BEST shooters in your arsenal.  That's my opinion and I approve this message.

Offline Land_Owner

  • Global Moderator
  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (31)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4526
    • Permission Granted - Land Owner
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #11 on: August 14, 2020, 01:44:46 AM »
I don't think a semiautomatic rifle of any caliber is good to teach a kid how to shoot.

Amen and amen.

I'm with two-blocked - a bolt action.  Mine is the Ruger K77/22RP and it is superb.  No extra trigger pull discharging unintended.  One cycle of the bolt for every shot.   Allowing new and especially young shooters the opportunity to double tap or any triggering of unintended consequences, could sour them for the rest of their lives.

If the comparison by the author was $100 guns, he should have qualified that.  He didn't say, but I am guessing the Ruger was at least 2.5 times the cost of the Savage, making the Savage, if kept clean, THAT MUCH BETTER!

Offline ironglows

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4387
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2020, 12:39:06 AM »
  " There’s nothing wrong with a good Savage rifle."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Well Whoop-de-doo! So condescending of the writer!  Yes, I agree, the Ruger magazine is perhaps the best ever designed.. but IMO the author's credibility suffers.

  To..as Landowner said, backhand Savage in such a way, was uncalled for. Yes, the Ruger has a great magazine, and their 10/22 action is remarkable.  However, as landowner said.. one could spend much money and not get the accuracy that comes out of the box, from the Savage works. My experience from several 10/22s, and I owned one of the first ones.. very early, serial # 66XX... as well as several other .22 makes, along with a number of  Savages. 
   With this experience I find the Savages to be most accurate out of the box, although I have owned some Marlins, Mossys and Anschutzs' which are also right up there. (e.g. a Marlin 880SQ), but $ for $.. a Savage is the best best for accuracy.

  I found one instance in the article quite comical.  The author said he narrowed the guns down to just the10/22 and the Savage 64, then somehow competed with them.
  Then he came up with this statement;
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   " The Ruger 10/22 was even better (not the accuracy, exactly, but the performance). There’s a reason why there are 5 million of these out in the wild. They work. We had two 10/22s, and both chugged along perfectly."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Notice how he passes accuracy off so lightly...when IMO, accuracy is the FIRST criteria of any rifle.

  But here is hyperbole.. I laughed when he said that a pre-war Marlin .22 brought in by one entrant, was heavier than many of the youngsters.  I wondered what his lower age limit was!  LOL ;)  ;D

  Perhaps he just uses such hyperbole as part of his normal writing.
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline northwoodneil

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 293
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2020, 02:15:26 AM »
Each time one of the kids has there first child I buy the new family a Savage Rascal. I think they are ideal to get kids on the right track in safety and shooting. They get a blued barrel, walnut stock and the accu-trigger right handed model. Yes, I've had to buy a left handed version and loan that out if my new grandson or daughter is "wrong handed" as my mom still calls it.  :)
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

― John Wayne "The Shootist"

Offline ironglows

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4387
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2020, 02:08:22 AM »
Each time one of the kids has there first child I buy the new family a Savage Rascal. I think they are ideal to get kids on the right track in safety and shooting. They get a blued barrel, walnut stock and the accu-trigger right handed model. Yes, I've had to buy a left handed version and loan that out if my new grandson or daughter is "wrong handed" as my mom still calls it.  :)

  Good move Neil !  My grandchildren are grown, now it goes with the great grandchildren, but thats my son's job now.
  I can't begin to count the many guns I have given to my grandchildren, but it is far more than I now have.
  A couple years ago, getting older I decided to finish cutting my inventory down drastically, so I parceled out most of my guns to my grandsons. 

  Silly me...Now I find myself building my collection back up !
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline Ranger99

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9581
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2020, 10:30:08 AM »
In this area,  I see a lot of people trying
to start their kids out way too young and
small of stature and most importantly,
TOO IMMATURE.
My personal belief is that a new shooter
should start only when they can handle
their own firearm by their own self in a
safe manner and are able to fully comprehend
and follow all safety rules.
I see way too many people that post on
the various forums " . .what's the the best
rifle to use for big deer and hogs for my
3 year old ? " . .
I personally started out with a Winchester
semi auto. 22, but would use whatever was
at hand that the shooter was mature enough
to handle.  If they're not mature enough,  they're
not ready IMO
18 MINUTES.  . . . . . .

Offline northwoodneil

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 293
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2020, 01:36:35 PM »
In this area,  I see a lot of people trying
to start their kids out way too young and
small of stature and most importantly,
TOO IMMATURE.
My personal belief is that a new shooter
should start only when they can handle
their own firearm by their own self in a
safe manner and are able to fully comprehend
and follow all safety rules.
I see way too many people that post on
the various forums " . .what's the the best
rifle to use for big deer and hogs for my
3 year old ? " . .
I personally started out with a Winchester
semi auto. 22, but would use whatever was
at hand that the shooter was mature enough
to handle.  If they're not mature enough,  they're
not ready IMO
I agree, I taught hunters safety for years and have seen 6 year olds who were safer and more reliant then some teenagers or adults. I started with a BB gun on the farm at about 7 then a 22 at about 9. My son was shooting trap with a 410 at the age of 7 and was much more aware and safer than half the shooters out there. I say start them young but ONLY in a supervised environment. I stood on the trap range behind him until he was about 9. At age twelve he won the preliminary doubles event in our state shoot, of course he wasn't using the old 410 anymore. He only hunted 1 year with me and it just wasn't he thing, to each their own. Now at the age of 35 he has found the love of hunting pheasants and I trade him venison for birds. I don't think a child younger than 5 (maybe much older) have any idea what hunting is all about and it should wait, I'll stick with the old rules of this state and say 12 years is young enough for hunting but target shooting , start them young.
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

― John Wayne "The Shootist"

Offline ironglows

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4387
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #17 on: August 18, 2020, 12:31:43 AM »
Former hunter safety instructor here too. I agree with Neil in that often the youth are better at practicing safety, than are older people.  Seems the kids are more willing to listen, some of them even giving rapt attention.
"They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet"      (Saul Alinsky) ...hero of the left..

Offline Ranger99

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9581
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #18 on: August 18, 2020, 11:12:52 AM »
I got to checking out when my
young nephew started shooting
with his little single shot. 22
kids gun I'd bought for him.
Been 10 years this last April when
he was 7. He held the gun himself
and kept all the shots on his
paper plate target.
I got to thinking and reminiscing
about those times while I was
thinking of the upcoming hunting
seasons.
Something new these last few years
that unfortunately can be depended on
is hearing people doing magazine dumps
around 10 AM.
How the h did that godawful trend
get started  ?
18 MINUTES.  . . . . . .

Offline northwoodneil

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 293
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #19 on: August 18, 2020, 01:20:55 PM »
Ranger99,  I believe the definition for mag dumps is.......The AR 15, a very efficient tool for turning full cartridges into once fired casings. I admit, for years that's how I felt that firearm platform. I broke down and bought my first AR about a year ago and built a couple since. I like them now and they shoot well with slow well aimed shots. Mag dumps are still for making empties and your pockets even emptier.  :)
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

― John Wayne "The Shootist"

Offline Ranger99

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9581
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #20 on: August 20, 2020, 02:40:50 PM »
Where I've been trying to hunt at, it's
peestollas more so than rifles doing
the mid morning magazine dumps.
I kind of jokingly call it the late fall
annual glock test
18 MINUTES.  . . . . . .

Offline northwoodneil

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 293
  • Gender: Male
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #21 on: August 21, 2020, 01:03:09 AM »
^ ;D
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

― John Wayne "The Shootist"

Offline VA Rifleman

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • *****
  • Posts: 705
Re: THE BEST .22 FOR TEACHING KIDS TO SHOOT SAFELY
« Reply #22 on: August 30, 2020, 10:30:02 AM »
A Win 75T.
Ammunition is like firewood. The more you have, the warmer you feel.