.22 rifle or 20 Guage?

[JJSPEC Racing]

This is for a 12 year old that has been exposed to firearms safety for a few years now and has outgrown the BB gun but really enjoys shooting and understands safety rules such as know your target and what is beyond your target, Know where your muzzle is at all times and keep it under control and all the other rules. I am debating as to which one to get as a Christmas gift. I have thought about the pros and cons of each

22
Pros:Cheap ammo, good for plinking around, low noise level, low recoil level.
Cons: Good for small game hunting only, range of over 1 mile(of course that goes back to, know what is behind your target.

20 Guage
Pros:Good all around firearm for hunting, skeet shooting, can be used for most all types of game, just change choke and load, shorter range is safer
Cons: Louder(sill be given proper ear and eye protection), slightly more expesive ammo, some recoil.

Input would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Truegiant]

.22 hands down will be the most fun for a youngin of that age unless he is planning on doing anything more than plinking and small game hunting. Pick up a nice little ruger 10/22 or marlin with a decent 3x9 scope and he/she will be set.

I can honestly say that shooting a .22 is still prlly one of the most fun weapons that i have done.

[JJSPEC Racing]

Cool, thanks for the input. Also, it any admins read this please edit the title to say 22 or 20 guage, please. Dont know what I was thinking when I wrote that, haha.

[81911SC]

How's that?

[JJSPEC Racing]

How's that?

Talking about the title, I put 12 or 20 guage, not 22 rimfire or 20 guage, lol! Thanks for correcting whoever did.

[81911SC]

Talking about the title, I put 12 or 20 guage, not 22 rimfire or 20 guage, lol! Thanks for correcting whoever did.I did and was talking about the correction. lol :goodjob:

[ekcivic1991]

I would have to say that if the child is going to continue hunting as he grows older then i would say the 20 guage cause it can be used for a wide variety of sport.

BUt IMHO i would say buy him a .243, it will not have a large amount of recoil but can be used to hunt larger game and he will probably wont out grow it untill he is much older.

[Truegiant]

yeah but a cheap box of .243 is about $14 for 20 rounds. For $14 you could get 500 rds of .22!

But .243 is a nice round for sure.

[JJSPEC Racing]

I did and was talking about the correction. lol :goodjob:

That is great, thanks!!!


I would have to say that if the child is going to continue hunting as he grows older then i would say the 20 guage cause it can be used for a wide variety of sport.

BUt IMHO i would say buy him a .243, it will not have a large amount of recoil but can be used to hunt larger game and he will probably wont out grow it untill he is much older.

I like waterfowl so the 20 does sound good. I have shot the .243 and I agree, the recoil level is low and it is an accurate gun to use and could be used for a most game in this area. That may be an option.

[Truegiant]

check into a quality over/under of some sort. '

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149042333
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149481586
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=148690670
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=148907198

[JJSPEC Racing]

My grandaddy had a Stevens 22/ 410 that I used to shoot, that was an awesome gun. It taught me to make the first shot count since it was a single shot.

[ekcivic1991]

if you go duck hunting a lot then i would recomend the 20 guage.

Im not sure if this is for your son or nephew but if you have the money you can get a gun with interchangable barrels

[ka24boost]

RUGER 10/22

[Slomaro Z28]

Maybe a bit much for a kid (price), but he'd love shooting it.

http://ruger.com/products/sr22/index.html

[Schroeder]

I say 20 gauge. You can do just about everything you want with a good 20. If you get the correct barrel you can even Deer hunt with one. And shells are inexpensive, not quite like a .22, but alot better than a .300 Winmag!!!

[SiRed94]

They will get a lot more use out of the .22 and probably have way more fun. The .20 gauge would be good to introduce them to bird hunting with. I had a gun of both calibers given to me at birth, and have been shooting them since I was 4 or 5 years old. Before I was legally able to buy a firearm I only used the .20 gauge maybe twice (bird hunting), but shot the .22 all the time. It is also way cheaper, as already stated. 500rds for $15 vs. 25rds for $5 for the 20 gauge.

[Slomaro Z28]

Get him one now and the other a little later, and have them both.

or

This and a 20 gauge
http://www.importatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?p=38606149#post38606149

[JJSPEC Racing]

Looks like Santa will be delivering a Ruger 10 22 with stainless barrel and composite stock fo Christmas.

[81911SC]

Hell yea man, good choice.

[Schroeder]

Hell yea man, good choice.


X2 :goodjob:

And right now is a great time to get into them since the ban on HC mags is no longer valid. Just stay away from the plastic lipped ones, they tend to jam alot more than the steel ones.

[JJSPEC Racing]

Thanks! Good advice.

[JJSPEC Racing]

Well, after taking my time with a stable rest, sand bad and about 10 rounds sighting it in, I am impressed. I havent shot a rifle in many years without a scope and I can free hand it and hit what I want to. It was definately a good gift and my wife even asked to shoot it. We put a good dent in the box of ammo that I got to go along with the rifle. Thanks for all the replies and advice. The 20 guage may come next fall as a birthday gift. Just got to wait and see.

[punkr6]

you can't beat the 22 semi auto rifle for fun and cheap bullets....

[nchbrandon]

I would have to say a 22. I got a 20 gauge as my first hunting gun at about that age. For my age that gun had a pretty good kick to it, so I was a little hessitant about shooting it for a little while because after a few shots my shoulder was done lol. But eventually I got used to it and could handle it after a year or so my dad bought me a rifle a 30-30 to be exact. It was a little loud, but I loved it I would shoot it like crazy very low recoil, It is a brush gun so it will only shoot about 150-200 yrds accurate, but it was great. I really have rarely shot the 20 gauge since it pretty much sits in the gun cabinet. So I would have to go with the .22 or another caliber without such a long range

[Slomaro Z28]

I would have to say a 22. I got a 20 gauge as my first hunting gun at about that age. For my age that gun had a pretty good kick to it, so I was a little hessitant about shooting it for a little while because after a few shots my shoulder was done lol. But eventually I got used to it and could handle it after a year or so my dad bought me a rifle a 30-30 to be exact. It was a little loud, but I loved it I would shoot it like crazy very low recoil, It is a brush gun so it will only shoot about 150-200 yrds accurate, but it was great. I really have rarely shot the 20 gauge since it pretty much sits in the gun cabinet. So I would have to go with the .22 or another caliber without such a long range

That's what he got :goodjob:

[Starrfire]

both lol
http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/hunting/firearms/rifles_rimfire&start=8&selectedSKU=0351-03613-2220