Rifle choosing

[mardo]

My nephew wants a rifle, and my sister gave me the green light to get him one. He loves shooting my 10/22, and that's what I was going to get him. He is going to hunter's safety in July. I asked him if he wants to hunt, and he said he thinks he wants to try it. I told him he could not hunt with the 10/22 in PA, and he was amazed.

So, do I get the 10/22 or get something huntable? I want to be practical, but I don't want him to be of the mindset that if you can't hunt with it what good is it.
Opinions? (if there is a get something he can hunt with verdict, I'll will be posting a new thread on what to get him, as I am not up on .22 bolt guns.)

[Dave in PA]

Marlin model 25 is a nice, economical bolt gun. It uses a 7rnd detachable mag, so you can easily load one round at a time to teach him the manual of arms.

If it comes down to only 1, I would recommend a bolt gun. But they're like lays, noone can have just one!

[MTechnik]

You could do a lever action 22, like a Henry or a Marlin.

[tdyoung58]

I'd choose a bolt, so he can hunt with it if he chooses.

Better yet, how about both . . . LOL

a 10/22 for the range and a mice bolt for small game hunting.

[chalmitch]

Get the boy what he would shoot, a semi-auto. As seen here in other threads that first gun gets to be special along with the people that made it happen. A hunt gun can come later, teach and instill the respect and reponsibility with the tool that lake him happy and proud.

Best regards,
chalmitch

[normanvin]

Get the boy what he would shoot, a semi-auto. As seen here in other threads that first gun gets to be special along with the people that made it happen. A hunt gun can come later, teach and instill the respect and reponsibility with the tool that lake him happy and proud.

Best regards,
chalmitch

Plus 1

He can always hunt with a loaner.

[bert304]

I would get him the 10/22 first then in a month or 2 get him a Savage bolt 22. I picked one up for 150.00 and 30.00 for the scope for it. The bolt is nice because you can shoot any 22 rim fire in it.

[nfafan]

Another vote for a Henry lever.

The base H001 can be found in the low $200's and can be had in normal and the handier "youth carbine" length.
It will handle shorts, longs, long-rifles in lead, copper-coated, and all hollow-points.

Best non-semi-auto fun-gun you would ever want. The action is as smooth as a soapy baby's butt.

[mardo]

Thanks everyone. I am likin' the multiple gun idea. He really wants a handgun, but he has to walk before he runs.

[Willie D]

Yeah, maybe he can borrow something to go hunting. Anything besides .22 is going to be too expensive for him to practice with in the long run.

I'm not a 10/22 fan (had one and sold it) and I would recommend a bolt rifle for learning. Makes you take your time and give more attention to each shot and fosters better technique. That said, get him something he'll be happy with.