gsganzer
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2003
- Messages
- 3,035
- Location
- Denton, TX
- Tractor
- L3800 w/FEL and BH77, BX 2200 w/FEL and MMM
I just wanted to share a nice little .22 rifle with those that might be looking for a kids first gun.
I bought this Henry Mini-bolt for my 5 year old daughter. I bought the black one. I don't think much of the flourescent orange, because I think it makes it look too much like a toy, which is the wrong message I want to send (IMO). I paid right at $200 for it.
The gun is real compact, although it's still a little too large for a five year old to hold up, unassisted. We used some haybales for a rest, until she gets bigger. It's a single shot bolt action, which gives you some flexibility on ammo. I started my daughter using .22 shorts, we'll work up to long rifles later. It will not take magnums.
Most important, the gun has some great safety features. First, the simplicity of a bolt is easy to understand and if the bolts open anyone can see that it's safe. Second, manual cocking. You have to pull the firing mechanism back to cock it, once you have a round loaded and the bolt closed. This also allows you to uncock it if needed. Thirdly, it also has a manual safety.
The williams fire sights are also nice. It's more intuitive for a kid to get the hang of what a proper sight picture should look like.
I'm real pleased with how it shoots. I took it to the range today to sight it in and give it the full run through. When I showed up at the range, I ran into Bird (you know, the TBN icon that is probably approaching 1M posts). What a small world. Maybe we'll hook up again and can have a day at the range plinking targets. I shot the gun using both .22 shorts and .22 longs. It shoots nice groups and handles very well. I might take a finishing stone to the trigger group so it's a little smoother, but the pull is acceptable for a kids rifle.
Just thought I'd share a nice find.
I bought this Henry Mini-bolt for my 5 year old daughter. I bought the black one. I don't think much of the flourescent orange, because I think it makes it look too much like a toy, which is the wrong message I want to send (IMO). I paid right at $200 for it.
The gun is real compact, although it's still a little too large for a five year old to hold up, unassisted. We used some haybales for a rest, until she gets bigger. It's a single shot bolt action, which gives you some flexibility on ammo. I started my daughter using .22 shorts, we'll work up to long rifles later. It will not take magnums.
Most important, the gun has some great safety features. First, the simplicity of a bolt is easy to understand and if the bolts open anyone can see that it's safe. Second, manual cocking. You have to pull the firing mechanism back to cock it, once you have a round loaded and the bolt closed. This also allows you to uncock it if needed. Thirdly, it also has a manual safety.
The williams fire sights are also nice. It's more intuitive for a kid to get the hang of what a proper sight picture should look like.
I'm real pleased with how it shoots. I took it to the range today to sight it in and give it the full run through. When I showed up at the range, I ran into Bird (you know, the TBN icon that is probably approaching 1M posts). What a small world. Maybe we'll hook up again and can have a day at the range plinking targets. I shot the gun using both .22 shorts and .22 longs. It shoots nice groups and handles very well. I might take a finishing stone to the trigger group so it's a little smoother, but the pull is acceptable for a kids rifle.
Just thought I'd share a nice find.