What is the best kid's rifle?

[Roland Thunder]

I am hoping to get my son started shooting in 2026. The plan is bearcats for pistols and a light weight 410 coach gun, I am at a loss for what rifle to go with.  Any suggestions on a rifle for a very young shooter? Something that is rascal sized or just a bit larger.

[X Mark]

In a word -----Henry !!

[Eyesa Horg]

Yep, a Henry!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Henry.    I think the model number is H001.

 

The Golden Boy Youth might be too heavy if he is a small kid so you'll want to look at the

standard 'Youth' model.

 

..........Widder

 

[Roland Thunder]

Do they make one small and light enough though?

[Barry Sloe]

Depends on the individual. 

How big is he?  Good/stable stance?

You can download 38s with a light bullet so there is minimal recoil. Check the mfg catalogs to compare weights between 22 and 38 rifles.

 

Just a thought, 

BS

 

 

[Three Foot Johnson]

Henry would be a good choice. The youth model number is H001Y. It has a 16 1/8" barrel and a 13" LOP, compared to 18 1/2" bbl and 14" LOP for the standard H001. Retail around $370.

 

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/lever-action-22-youth-rifle/

[Eyesa Horg]

And then if he likes it, send it to Slater for the Widder Softstroke mod and trigger job. You'll love it too!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Assuming you are looking for a .22, there is nothing better than a Winchester 9422.   Yeah, you'll pay for it, but it'll be WORTH it.  

Now, if that's just not an option, see if you can locate a Uberti reproduction of the Winchester 73 in .22 LR, or even their 66 in that caliber.  Either one would be good "trainers" for when he gets older and moves to a full size main match rifle, especially if he goes with a 73.

Winchester's new .22 lever gun that sorta looks like the 9422 but isn't one, I don't know.   I've heard good things about it, and bad things, but have no experience.

You'll notice I've mentioned all lever guns, even though there are a LOT more SASS legal .22 pumps for very affordable prices, both new and used.  I figure that, unless it's likely he'll wind up shooting a Lightning, he's better off learning to use a lever gun.   If he's gonna go the Lightning route, or if he really wants a .22 pump, well, the Winchester 1890 and it's offspring are excellent rifles, and Rossi (I think) still makes a modern replica.   Can't got wrong with these.  Or, if you wanna be adventurous, a small frame Lightning...

Good luck

[Roland Thunder]

I'm thinking the henry might be the way to go. I am guessing I may have to cut the stock down and it would be easy enough to replace if need be.

[Rip Snorter]

My daughter is a small adult and the 9422 fits her fine.  Good and accurate gun.  One watchout for competition is that the tubular magazine follower assembly would fall out on occasion.

[Lead Monger]

If you can find one Browning has a very nice lever action 22 youth model. It is light weight and short. A bit stiff when new but has a very short stroke built it from the factory.

[Rusty D Bushwhacker]

2 hours ago, Lead Monger said:

If you can find one Browning has a very nice lever action 22 youth model. It is light weight and short. A bit stiff when new but has a very short stroke built it from the factory.

THIS!  I have one (Not the Youth Model) I use in our .22 league and it is the rifle of choice when we have youth shoots.  Henry's are great but I prefer the Browning BL-22, fastest shooting of them all.  Most accurate 22 rifle I have ever owned.  Retired it from being my squirrel gun when I started shooting cowboy.  Just missed picking up a second one due to my indecision.  Gets me every time.

Edited March 15 by Rusty D Bushwhacker
Clarification

[watab kid]

ihave a number of them the marlin 39 , win 9422 , henry golden boy , mosberg palomino , are fine for a larger young person , but the henry H001Y and browning BL22 are better for the smaller youth , 

 

you also might consider a winchester 1890 or 1906 - also made currently by rossie , these pumps are acceptable as they have hammers , 

 

and yes i have them all so i do know from where i speak , 

[Elkhorn Ernie]

9 hours ago, Roland Thunder said:

Do they make one small and light enough though?

They make a youth version. Model is H0001Y. It weighs 4.5 lbs.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Here's something to consider.

When the young man get's older, what is he most likely to use as his main match gun.

 

If a Winchester 73, 66 or Henry, get a Uberti replica 73 .22, or their 66 .22.   

If a Winchester 92, get a 9422

 

If a Marlin, get a Marlin 1892/39A

 

If a Henry Big Boy, get a Henry Repeating Arms .22

If a Colt Lightning, get a Colt Lightning or a Winchester 1890 or some other pump .22

 

You should see a pattern here.   

[Volga Vigilante]

The Henry .22 was a great rifle from the start for my boys.  Once they came back from Widder and Slater and they had done their magic they were Outstanding guns.  My only complaint was I could not get a main match rifle for myself that cheap to buy and get slicked up.

Enjoy every minute of shooting with your son, that time is priceless.

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

Henry youth rifle H001Y. I have one that my grandsons outgrew that I am sending to a gun auction soon. Great rifle! Never had a problem with it, or the full sized H001 I also have. You will be happy with a Henry .22.

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

Henry by Slater, Slaters in house guns. He was trained by Widder to do the Widdermatic work with soft stroke action. 
I would not recommend a .410 lots of folks think it’s less recoil but it’s not. 12ga AA feather lights, or your own light recoil loads if you reload. 

Edited March 16 by John Barleycorn, SASS #76982

[Outlaw Gambler]

2X what Mr. Barleycorn said regarding the 410. When I started my grandson he did not want to shoot the single shot 410 anymore, He said it hurts. I talked him into shooting my Win 97 with my wife's low powered shells I loaded for her. He grew up shooting a 12 gauge.

[Sixgun Seamus]

My grandson is 9 yrs old and weighs 64 lbs. He is by no means oversize. I started him shooting Cimarron Model P Jr's in 32 H&R. He actually wants to shoot my Vaqueros in 38. He has fired my loaded down 45 Colt with not problems. Don't underestimate the younguns. Centerfire cartridges in 32 and 38 can be downloaded for minimal recoil. He is shooting a Marlin 38 carbine and a Stoeger 12 gauge with cut down stocks. He has shot my TTN with blackpowder loads "outlaw" style. Basic high school physics class will tell you a heavier gun will have less perceived recoil. Don't be afraid to start with centerfire rifles or a 12 gauge. If cost is a factor, think about this. You will buy a 22 then have to buy a centerfire at some point, so why not buy something he will keep for the long run. (Although buying more guns is not a bad thing either ) A 410 might be a lighter gun, but with factory loads, it will kick more than a 12 gauge loaded down. Buckaroos only have to hit a target, not bow it to smithereens. 

[Captain Bill Burt]

My three youngest started with youth model Henry 22's slicked up by Widder and Slater.  They all started with SKBs in 12 gauge and Ruger .22 revolvers.  The two boys both moved to Uberti 73's and Vaqueros in 38 special pretty quickly.

[Roland Thunder]

Recoil is not my biggest concern for all the reasons listed, the main issues are size and weight. I an down load 410 unless I find a small enough 12 ga. The only guns he will need when he is older is a pair of rugers. I have the other bases covered. Provided I switch to a 44-40 rifle.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I bought everyone of my Grandsons a Youth model Henry .22 H001 rifle .

When they get bigger .

Henry will give you a deal on a longer length of pull stock to keep the gun fitting them properly. 

Rooster

[CASS, Singing Hills Ranch]

On 3/15/2025 at 1:04 PM, Roland Thunder said:

I'm thinking the henry might be the way to go. I am guessing I may have to cut the stock down and it would be easy enough to replace if need be.

Check current cost from Henry. This was my correspondence last year. 

 

Jim,

 

Thanks for contacting Henry. To purchase a replacement youth stock for $60 with shipping please call us at (866)200-2354.

 

Have a great day!

 

Thank you for letting me help you today!

 

Sincerely,

 

Nydia Soto-Serrano

Customer Service Representative

Customer Service: (866) 200-2354

[Fill Yer Hand]

My daughter and now son weigh 45-50lbs soaking wet and not able to safely manipulate the slickest sxs. This was our solution and it has worked out pretty well. The loads are a bit of powder with a 3/4 oz wad with 1/2oz of shot and some cheerios on top. 

[panhandle kid 113274]

I started my kids out with the ruger wranglers and a 410 coach gun and a henry 22  and cut down the stock to fit them 

[watab kid]

remember that they grow quickly in this time period , they will grow out of the youth items soon so keep your investment where you know you can recover and get them the next step up , you ,ight work with fellow club members that had or will have kids shooting to coordinate moving ahead , i sold off my 410 coach and kept the 22s as i tend to accumulate those 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

A few folks have alluded to trading in their kid's guns as they get older and out grow them.

To be honest, I find that distressing.   Even though they might "legally" belong to the parent, from a practical standpoint, they belong to the kid in question.   As they outgrow the youth model, they should become a cherished part of their collection, one that they can pass on to their own kids some day.

Probably the most dear to my heart gun is the tiny .22 rifle that I got when I was a kid.  I hardly ever shoot it anymore, but I'd never think of getting rid of it.   It was a not only a gift from my father, but it was also MY first gun, and started me on the road to being a shootist.

Just saying.

[watab kid]

 Uruah , i dont disagree with that sentiment and of thats the youths desire id be all in favor of it , wish id kept my original 22s as a kid [and others] but i didnt think i wanted or needed , so i paid a lot more to replace them all later in life , only think i never replaced was my original shotgun , 

 

that said ive treated my SASS guns as tools of this game , i bought them to use and abuse as needed , im not saying i purposely abuse them , i don't , i use them hard for this game thats their purpose , i have others i collect/accumulate , pr did , 

im hoping my cowboy guns will go on after im gone with others in the game ,  thats my intent , i have plenty of others for my heirs to use now and inherit later , i would like to think these that i use will continue being used for the reasons they were purchased , i treated the guns i bought for my grandkids the same way [they never showed an interest] i hoped they went to kids that cared , 

 

 

[Rip Snorter]

My first .22 is in the gun safe - it has served a couple of friends kids and and when I settled down, both of my own.  From even before that, my Red Ryder Daisy.  Both still work.  The single shot Marlin Microgroove 100 cost my Dad $10.95 - pretty good value all these decades on.

[Bison Bud]

As several other Pards mentioned above, the Browning BL-22 is about the finest youth lever gun that I know of out there.  It's diminutive size and ease of operation makes it just about perfect for teaching young shooters and I've used one to teach all the kids I've taken to the range and that's quite a few.  They aren't cheap, but would be worth whatever it takes these days and should last a lifetime.  I also like the Marlin lever gun, but it's a full sized, adult rifle that would he difficult for a kid to handle.

[Dacotua]

When my son wanted to do CAS, I got him:

 

Henry Youth Lever Gun in 22. 

Stoeger 410 Coach gun (You can order the Uplander YOUTH stock for it, it fits. Later in life you can stick the adult stock back on it and they can shoot it when older) - Or if you want to save money, you can buy the Stoeger Uplander SXS Youth model. (The youth model has 22" barrels). If you want 20" barrels, only way I could do it was buy the 410 coach, and the uplander YOUTH stock. My oldest son outgrew this, but my youngest son is coming into it. Later in life, I can put the adult stock back on it.

(2) Ruger Wranglers.

 

 

 

[slow poke gear]

I started my son on a browning 22 it has a very short stroke and is easy for kid of both large and small stature to work the lever no problem. 

[evil dogooder]

Mine started with a h001y my daughter weighed about 35 lbs when she started. 

 

 When comparing apples to apples a 410 is way less recoil than a 12.   Factory 410 to custom loaded 12, the 12 is less.   Light loaded 410 barely moves the barrel. Kicks like a 22.   Remember the young ones only have to hit the target. Not knock it over . 410 does have it's downsides. Smaller shells, smaller hole.