First rifle

[CSACANNONEER]

You need to post some pics of that Belt Fed when you get it..

On the overrated recoil issue. How old are you Sonny?

I'm only 47 and I've been shooting 50BMG competitively for the last decade. I don't mind a little recoil but, I'm not one of those chest pounders who feels the need for recoil. Personally, I just want to shoot and perceived recoil is just part of the game. Not something to prove you have testosterone. In fact, some of the best 50 shooters I know are little women. I laugh at the youngin's who brag about how the shot a 12g or a Mosin and how it proves they are a big bad man because they end up bruised due to not even knowing how to shoulder a long gun properly.

[AR22]

A 50 BMG is definitely a respectable Cartridge to shoot.

I do have about ten years on you. After 50 it goes down hill fast

I also have had some neck injuries when I was younger, those do not help out alot either..

[therealnickb]

I'm a little surprised that we have that many fathers promoting guns to their kids. I'm not saying its a bad thing. Im just really surprised.

Did you notice the word "guns" as part of the forum name when you joined? LOL

I learned when I was about 7. My kids started about the same time.

By the time we started playing paintball together, my boys shot well and safely. I can't tell you how many other little angels out there repeatedly pop off paint into their team mates because their tiny booger hooks never left the trigger. It got old trying to help them understand that one simple rule.

If they can teach safe sex and alternate lifestyles in school, firearm safety should be mandatory. No more expelling grade schoolers for chewing out pizza guns.

Rant off.....

[joea]

No a 10-22 really cannot grow with him. It will always be a .22 rimfire.

Ten is old enough in my opinion for a semi auto rifle..

I was like 12 when I bought my first Firearm through the mail. A old antique Mauser..I had to go to a little Gun shop when we went to a small town about 20 miles away and talk the old fella into selling me some ammo..Nice fella and he did it..

My Mommy never even knew I ordered it..I had to lie and sign a paper saying I was 18 I believe..Hope the ATF does not come after me after 40 years

[Teeko]

Save your money, go with the remington 597

[Spyguy]

It's nonsense to say that a child will outgrow a Ruger 10/22. My first rifle was a 10/22, bought 30 years ago and I still enjoy shooting it. I added no "tacticool" crap to it, only mounted an inexpensive Bushnell scope when I first bought it, and modified the bolt hold open. It has always functioned flawlessly and is a tack driver. I hope the current production is as accurate and reliable, because I just bought a new 10/22 Takedown for me, and a new10/22 carbine for my daughter who just turned 8yo.

However, the 10/22 is too large for her right now (length of pull and weight), so I just gave her a Rascal Savage for her birthday (with pink stock, of course ). It's the perfect size and weight for her to learn and practice proper form and shooting skills.

[stonx]

Savage Rascal with wood stock. Single shot, small size, respectable heft, adjustable trigger, peep sights.

[socal147]

10/22 is a great choice.

[CSACANNONEER]

You need to post some pics of that Belt Fed when you get it..

On the overrated recoil issue. How old are you Sonny?

I didn't want or get the lower but, this is the upper:

[Collector71]

My 10 year old just got a Marlin 795 for Christmas, which we just shot for the first time yesterday--fits her perfectly. Prior to that we practiced on a couple bolt action .22s. My kid is ready for the semi-auto, and we plan on doing an Appleseed.

Frankly, I wish every community had a place where young people could learn gun safety and practice marksmanship skills. Even in super-head-the-sand Bay Area, I'm surprised at how ignorant people are of firearm safety, and the given the fact that people have the right to own firearms in the USA, it's logical to know how to handle them than not. I guess it's better to pretend that guns don't exist, than to teach people how to be competent and safely enjoy the sport? Really stupid. Sorry for the rant.

Back to the question: which rifle? I couldn't find the Remington 597 nearby, so it was either the Marlin or the 10/22--the price and the last shot bolt open feature was decisive for me. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three. I wouldn't buy a youth model unless no regular rifle would fit and only if it would get handed down to a sibling or relative.

[Spyguy]

Frankly, I wish every community had a place where young people could learn gun safety and practice marksmanship skills. Even in super-head-the-sand Bay Area, I'm surprised at how ignorant people are of firearm safety, and the given the fact that people have the right to own firearms in the USA, it's logical to know how to handle them than not. I guess it's better to pretend that guns don't exist, than to teach people how to be competent and safely enjoy the sport? Really stupid. Sorry for the rant.

But then children would quickly learn that firearms are simply inanimate tools and not the evil purveyors of death that the Left makes them out to be. There was a time when virtually every child in America grew up around firearms and understood what they were, how they worked, and how to handle them safely and responsibly. But if children were still exposed to them and educated about them today, how could the Left propagate the fear and paranoia that they need to sell their anti-gun agenda? In fact, the Left is more than willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent children by withholding firearms safety training and education, just so they can achieve their goal of universal disarmament (thus leading to their unchallenged totalitarian power).

Furthermore, it's useful propaganda for the Left every time a child is killed by negligent handling of a firearm.

[jigenax]

Reading this thread and the only thought in my head is,

"Lucky kids! I had to buy my own first gun and I was 18."

It's a Ruger 10/22 and I still got it all these years later. But I did swap out the stock for a Hogue Overmold, replace the barrel for a Tactical Solutions fluted .92 barrel with compensator and added a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 Rimfire scope. Super sweet tack driver.

And yes, I still have the original parts.