first rifle for my son?

[Eljay]

I like the idea of the 10/22, starting with the youth stock, and then just swapping out the stock when that becomes an issue. Most people start the kids with 1 round/magazine to start to make sure they actually aim, plus the safety aspect, then they can really start using it as a semi auto later.

I'm thinking of starting mine out on a Kimber 82g when she's 8. It's heavy but it has a bunch of spacers on the butt and you can take inches off of the length of pull and then add them back in later. We'll see if the weight's an issue. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that you might be able to do something similar with the 10/22 - if you at some point need something intermediate to the youth and the adult stock just screw some thick rubber onto the back. Maybe somebody already makes something like that.

As an aside you might also consider archery. It teaches a lot of the same safety stuff, the other parents/teachers don't freak out, helps their upper body strength, and a basic kids bow is really cheap. That's what mine's doing and I'm going to upgrade her to a kids compound for a year before starting her on a rifle.

[wpod]

I would recommend a bolt-action single-shot, not a semi-auto.
Teach good first-shot skills and not "spray and pray"

[hooked on glock]

I would recommend a cricket , single shot bolt action ......

[beerman]

2nd on the cricket,,,,when he's a little older, go on a hunt for an old Remington Nylon 66...BB gun weight in an 18 rd semi-auto,fun , light and indestructible.

[iluvmycolt]

I would recommend a cricket , single shot bolt action ......

^^^this and they are affordable $130 - $150

[sd joe]

Get an old 10/22 and make one up for your son. My daughter got this on her 5th birthday.

[Vee3]

My Son was ~9 when I bought him a CZ Scout. Although the LOP was short enough for him and he could do okay with it, it was a bit too heavy for him offhand.

I bought a Rascal for him, which weighs a little over 1/2 of the Scout. It's a tiny rifle, suited to a 5 year old or smaller-framed older kids. Inexpensive, nice quality, accurate, easy to operate, good sights and (very importantly for a new shooter IMO) an excellent trigger. It's the same AccuTrigger they use on the Mark II; not a cheapened version. One with the wood stock would be easy to add length to as your son gets older.

However, my Son was liking my semi-autos PDQ as he got big enough to handle them. He still doesn't like heavy guns though, so last Sunday I bought him a 3.25# Christmas present...

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/selfloading/70pss.asp

[asphaltcowboychip]

As many of the others have mentioned I'd say a 10/22 ruger. He'll have the memories with rifle and in the future be have the ability to change the rifle to what he wants as he matures. .22 ammo is dirty and the one gun that has stood the test of time is the Ruger 10/22. ....on a side note the crickets are cute haha

[drkphibr]

Winchester model 62A

Get him a piece of history, something he will appreciate when he's older. He'll have a blast growing up with one.

[Vee3]

Winchester model 62A

Get him a piece of history, something he will appreciate when he's older. He'll have a blast growing up with one.

That was the rifle I shot most as a boy but I couldn't handle it offhand very well until I was ~8. I still have it...



You won't find many in good condition today for less than $500.

[mycrstuff]

a 10/22 is too big and heavy for a 5 year old. A Cricket or a Savage Rascal would be better.

[ElvenSoul]

I say single shot and you go from rimfire to centerfire as he gets bigger

TC Contender would be a good frame to build on

[M1NM]

Youth guns wern't in vogue when I bought my daughter her first gun. Got her an AR-7. Short/light enough for a kid. I've got a Norinco Chinese Browning 22 Auto knock off put away for the grandson. It's been sitting unfired in the safe since the late 70s. Too bad they POed the US and can't sell guns here anymore.

https://www.canadaammo.com/product/detail/norinco-jw20-22lr-takedown-rifle/

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=022B&cid=021&tid=001