need advice for kid training rifle

[Dand]

Let my 6 yr old shoot the R7 this weekend. With a rest and using the scope at 2x he was able to put 5 shots inside nickel size groups at 18 feet. Pretty good for a first time I think. Stock and pistol grip are way too big though. And the gun is too heavy for him without a rest.

So I'm in the market for a small light but decent single shot pellet rifle for him.  A number of contributors here are giving good marks to Tech Force guns.  I want a wood stocked gun that I can cut down and alter to fit my boy.  I'm looking at the TF 11 or maybe the TF 22.  Its cheap and pretty light so I wouldn't risk a lot on it.  A big problem for little guys are the pistol grips and reach to the trigger. Hope to fix that with bondo or some other glue job.

I'm also playing with the idea of a Crosman 1760 or TF 78 that I could rework the stock.  The advantage of the CO2 would be that he wouldn't have to change position to cock and load - more like a .22 LR bolt gun. Drawbacks are higher initial expense and ongoing hassle/expense of CO2.  My thought is I could get a full size replacement stock once he grows a bit.

On the Crosman would I have to remove the CO2 cylinders after a session or can I leave partial cylinders in the gun for extended periods?

All the lighter weight synthetic stocked pellet rifles still have too much length of pull and too great a reach from pistol grip to trigger. Too many are multi shot or smooth bore.  If he was bigger, I'd be looking at the Crosman Challenger, TF 78T or Daisy Avanti series (953?) but he's not there yet. He did so well with the R7 I want to get him something that will shoot well and is safe.

 Any opinions these guns? Any better ideas?

thanks guys

[Lawdog]

Dand,

Of the Tech Force rifles you mentioned I would go with the TF 22.  Main reason is it is grooved for scope mounting where the TF 11 isn't.  I don't care for the Crosman CO/2 or it's TF clones as I have heard that they leak air at all the wrong times.  Like when you need it to knock off some pest and it doesn't have enough power left to swat a fly.  Lawdog
 

[Dand]

Hey Lawdog thanks for the comments.  I just got an email from Compasseco saying that current TF 11's have a groove for scope mounting.   Maybe they have added that improvement.  

I may have found a cheap QB78 for my needs.  Was consulting some reviews etc and it sounds like pumping some break barrels and pump guns gets hard for smaller marksmen so CO2 sounds appealing.  Don't want my gun beartrapped or shaky from pumping.

[durant7]

Dand:  Here is some information which you can use as you like.  I have spent the past 2 years acquiring youth gear for a 4H club so let me share my first hand info.

First, there is a huge BB gun program for kids in his age group.  Not your normal BB gun but one that has micrometer sights and is called a 499B from  Daisy.  Youth programs can buy them directly from Daisy which is the only way they are sold.

Next, the 853.  Although a good bargain and VERY accurate, it takes a fair amount of umph to get the last 2 inches done on the pump.  Hard to get a finger caught given the shape of the handle but I would avoid unless you have big kids.  Also, it is not optimal for 3P because you have to break position.  753 is an adult stocked version of the 853 with an "improved" mircometer sight set from Gamo.  That is a no go.  Then there is the 888 of which we have 6.  Great little rifle. But, if you have only one gun the tank and adaptor make it an expensive solution for one gun.  Got a bunch of kids or want to start a youth program, than it's great.

Ok, some hate c02.  Well, PCP is too much money.  SSP are nice but are 85% of the cost of PCP or sometimes 95%.  Vintage target guns are being collected and are commanding a strong dollar.

Check out my website which you can find under my profile and spend some time looking at the youth stuff.  It's not tidy but a good collection of info.

[Dand]

durant7  thanks for the info.  I'll check out your site.  You list a number of reasons I didn't go with the Daisy / Avanti 7,8, 9 53 rifles.  My 6 yr old is darned strong but I didn't want him to be over worked with pumping or breaking barrels.   And I'm not keen on BB's for lack of good target trap and lack of adaptability for hunting small game.  I did take a look at the 499B on the Daisy site though.  

Since I posted this thread I found a couple sites reviewing guns for kids and things to consider.

I'm buying the QB78 Brad Troyer was advertising, even though he offered me a beautiful little RWS youth target break barrel.  Didn't have the $$ for the RWS and didn't want the distractions of the break barrel.  

I plan to modify the QB stock to fit my boy and go from there. Since I'm certified as an NRA firearms saftey instructor and Alaskan Hunter Safety instructor I hope I can work up a good program for my boy.

Thanks again and hope all have a great Thanksgiving.