Ruger 10/22 good for beginner?

stsai465 · 05-17-2012, 19:28

My nephew is getting old enough where I've taken him shooting a couple times and I'm now thinking of getting him a rifle (would be actually owned and controlled by his mother). Is a Ruger 10/22 a good first rifle to own/shoot?

The_Gun_Guru · 05-17-2012, 19:33

YES!!!!

A standard 10/22 is about $200 or less.

The new 10/22 Takedawn is around $300 to $350 depending on where you buy it. Bud's has them for $349 shipped to your dealer.

TGG

Kloogee · 05-17-2012, 19:35

For my 7yr old son, I chose to go with a bolt action. I wasn't sure I was ready for him to be able to continuously keep pulling the trigger.

How old is your nephew? How responsible is he?

FLIPPER 348 · 05-17-2012, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Gun_Guru

YES!!!!

TGG

no

A young/1st time shooter should learn to shoot with a bolt action .22, then a semi auto.

The_Gun_Guru · 05-17-2012, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kloogee

For my 7yr old son, I chose to go with a bolt action. I wasn't sure I was ready for him to be able to continuously keep pulling the trigger.

How old is your nephew? How responsible is he?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLIPPER 348

no

A young/1st time shooter should learn to shoot with a bolt action .22, then a semi auto.

Ruger makes one-round mags for the 10/22.

TGG

Bob Hafler · 05-17-2012, 19:53

The Ruger 10/22 is an outstanding .22 rifle. Imo I think for the begining young shooter the bolt action rifle would be best to learn to shoot with. I think it slows them down a little and makes them think a little more about each shot rather then just blowing off 10 to 25 rounds in a matter of seconds where they learn little to nothing. Plus bolt action rifles are easier to maintain a little cheaper and just as if not more accurate then a 10/22. I can say first hand that I have a early 50's Marlin 81 DL bolt action 22 rilfe that IMO is more accurate than my one year old 10/22 and in some ways is more fun to shoot. Both are great little .22 plinkers but there's just something about that old Marlin that I really like.

racer88 · 05-17-2012, 20:15

Started my son (age 8) with a single shot bolt action (Crickett). 2 years later, I got him the 10/22.

bac1023 · 05-17-2012, 20:15

I would say so. However, I also think a bolt action would be better.

stsai465 · 05-17-2012, 21:27

My nephew is about 13. I've taken him shooting a couple times and his Boy Scout troop has some involvement as well.

So maybe a Marlin XT-22Y Bolt-Action instead?

vafish · 05-17-2012, 21:50

He will learn to shoot better with a bolt action.

He will have more fun with a semi auto.

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Caver 60 · 05-17-2012, 22:13

Started my boys with a single shot 22 and a single shot shotgun. After they learned to shoot, then we moved up to other types of actions.

jeager · 05-17-2012, 22:23

.22s aren't a penny a round anymore. I first shot at Scout summercamp and after a lot of reading and shooting with friends and their fathers with my dad got a Rem Bolt action/clip at 14yrs.
Open sights with a bolt (that's how one qualifies for the merit badge)
Got a Weaver scope for the vicious plague-ridden Beechy Ground Squirrels a year later.
Let him invest in his own semi when he turns 18.
There's shotgun, blackpowder, and archery MB's to keep him interested.

ronin.45 · 05-17-2012, 23:31

Get the 10/22 and meter the ammo out as you see fit. The 10/22 will shoot right along with most bolt guns in the hands of a kid and you can reward him with some extra rounds if he's doing well. The 10/22 has the ability to grow with the shooter. Unlike a single shot kids bolt gun that is oiled and stuck in a closet after a few years, he can modify the 10/22 to any form he wants and enjoy it forever.

Dan Glock · 05-18-2012, 00:37

Not trying to hijack but how well does the Remington 597 compare to the 10/22?

Kloogee · 05-18-2012, 01:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by stsai465

My nephew is about 13. I've taken him shooting a couple times and his Boy Scout troop has some involvement as well.

So maybe a Marlin XT-22Y Bolt-Action instead?

That is exactly what I got for my 7 yr old. It has been a great gun for him so far. However, for a 13 yr old (depending upon the kid himself) I would be extremely tempted to go with a 10-22. But I honestly enjoy shooting my son's gun myself. It shoots better than I do and with the bolt it does cause you to slow down a bit take more care with each shot rather than just blasting through a ton of ammo.

The_Gun_Guru · 05-18-2012, 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronin.45

Get the 10/22 and meter the ammo out as you see fit. The 10/22 will shoot right along with most bolt guns in the hands of a kid and you can reward him with some extra rounds if he's doing well. The 10/22 has the ability to grow with the shooter. Unlike a single shot kids bolt gun that is oiled and stuck in a closet after a few years, he can modify the 10/22 to any form he wants and enjoy it forever.

VERY well said!!!

I couldn't agree more.

TGG

vafish · 05-18-2012, 06:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronin.45

Get the 10/22 and meter the ammo out as you see fit. The 10/22 will shoot right along with most bolt guns in the hands of a kid and you can reward him with some extra rounds if he's doing well. The 10/22 has the ability to grow with the shooter. Unlike a single shot kids bolt gun that is oiled and stuck in a closet after a few years, he can modify the 10/22 to any form he wants and enjoy it forever.

My kids haven't given up their bolt guns.

On the contrary they shoot their bolt guns more then semi autos because they were taught to value an accurate rifle, and they compete in small bore rifle matches.

A bolt action rifle properly wielded can pay for college, a semi auto won't.

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stsai465 · 05-18-2012, 09:06

Wow... 17 posts in and not a single person has said "get both..." I thought that was the default answer when confronted by choices like that.

In terms of responsibility, I'm proud to say my nephew is a straight-A honors student and active in a lot of extracirricular activities (his grandparents are very strict). His shooting ability is marginal at this point; honestly the first time I took him to a public range, my emphasis wasn't any shooting skill but that he remembered and followed the 4 safety rules properly and exercised proper muzzle and trigger discipline. I'll have to teach him how to properly work a bolt-action since his experiences so far is all my semi-auto stuff.

b_oglethorpe · 05-18-2012, 09:13

It's good for novice thru expert. I love nothing more than taking out the old10/22. You can shoot all day for twenty bucks.

Kloogee · 05-18-2012, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by stsai465

Wow... 17 posts in and not a single person has said "get both..." I thought that was the default answer when confronted by choices like that.

Winner! Why didn't I think of that?

mac66 · 05-18-2012, 13:55

Buy him a 10/22. Rig it with Tech Sights and a GI web sling and then take him to Appleseed to learn to shoot it. He will then become a life long shooter and love you for getting him a 10/22 that he can use for the rest of his life.

bear62 · 05-18-2012, 14:57

It's a great guy ...... for the beginner or for people older than dirt .... like me......

07hemi4me · 05-18-2012, 17:15

Ruger 10/22 is a Great .22, own 3 of them. I learned on a bolt action .22, and taught both my boys and nephews on the same bolt action .22, than after a 4-5 yrs came the 10/22.

All the boys still want to shoot the bolt action still.