That’s a special cartridge and a great one for children, especially youngsters new to shooting. \u00a0More on that in a moment. \u00a0But, if you haven’t already, make sure you’re up to speed on this “Kids And Guns” series.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/bearcat-small-400x265.jpg\" "\\"Is")
<\/a>The Ruger<\/a> Bearcat is perfect for teaching small hands how to use a revolver and shoot single action guns wtihout a lot of weight and recoil.<\/p><\/div>\n Rimfire is\u00a0one name for a .22. \u00a0Twenty-twos used to be the only thing that was rimfire, but today there are a few other options in rimfire. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For clarification, what separates a rimfire round from a centerfire round is that for a rimfire, the primer material is in the rim, and it is ignited by the firing pin striking the base or rim of the cartridge, whereas a centerfire cartridge is ignited when the firing pin hits the primer in the center of the cartridge. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The most popular rimfire round\u00a0is .22 Long Rifle. \u00a0That is the round we\u2019re going to consider as the focal point of this article and\u00a0what\u2019s generally thought of when you use the term “rimfire.” \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Twenty-twos come in a plethora of forms. \u00a0There are single-shot\u00a0Crickett Rifles<\/a> made by Keystone Sporting Arms, .22 conversions for an AR platform, Ruger 10\/22s, Ruger Mark I, II, III, IV, Bearcat .22 revolvers, and .22s pistols in semi auto. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can shop for an array of firearms chambered in .22 LR on GunsAmerica:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=22%20long%20rifle<\/a><\/p>\n Rimfire guns are sure to put a small on any child’s face.<\/p><\/div>\n Rimfire guns are small, relatively quiet, and they don\u2019t pack a lot of punch, meaning the average recoil felt is much softer than a large caliber round, which makes them ideal for small frames and small hands. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rimfire is a great way to introduce a child to shooting in a very\u00a0controlled environment; free from things that can startle or scare them. \u00a0You want them to have the physical ability and confidence to hold up the gun, fire it, and not be pushed\u00a0off balance or intimidated by the recoil impulse.<\/p>\n If you look at the measurements of kinetic energy in a .22 LR versus other popular rifles, you\u00a0find that a .22LR (168 j) cartridge only packs a fraction of the power found in a .223 cartridge (1,854 j), and much less than a hunting round, like .308 Win (3,217 j). \u00a0For your reference, these measurements are from a table found here<\/a>\u00a0and kinetic energy is measured in Joules<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To put the power in a .22LR into perspective for your kids, you can share that Tiger Woods’ drive carries about 180 joules, and a hockey player’s slap shot about 240<\/a>\u00a0joules. \u00a0This might help convince the timid shooter that a golf ball is more menacing (at least from a physics standpoint) than your tiny .22, and it definitely explains why rimfire .22s are so great for teaching new shooters, as little to no recoil can really help one focus on the fundamentals of shooting: breathing, stance, grip, target acquisition, trigger control, etc. When a new shooter\u00a0can focus on the fundamentals instead of controlling recoil, they\u00a0can really begin to learn how to shoot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Targets for your Rimfire come in all shapes and sizes. You can print some simple ones at THORGDG.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Using a light, small gun and what historically has been cheap ammo is also a great way to teach the fundamentals of marksmanship. \u00a0Kids can shoot a .22 in preparation for hunting and learn how to aim, align the sights, squeeze the trigger, and follow through without having to use more expensive rounds. \u00a0To build the muscle memory and familiarity with handling firearms safely, .22s make a great training tool. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But what\u2019s fun about tiny guns? \u00a0You can\u2019t blow stuff into pieces\u00a0like you can with a shotgun or larger caliber rifle. \u00a0And kids love the idea of blowing stuff into pieces. It\u2019s in their nature, right? \u00a0Well, let’s take a look at a few\u00a0ideas of fun things to shoot with your .22.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 1: tape quarter well, preferably over a backer like a stick so that it won’t go flying when you shoot it. Step 2: shoot it (the fun part). Step 3: flatten it in a vice or with a hammer. Step 4: Make something fun with it. We made a keychain for a friend who lost his quarter that he shot.<\/p><\/div>\n Quarters:<\/strong> Forget about party favors at your next birthday bash, let the kids each shoot a quarter with a .22 and make a bracelet or keychain out of it. \u00a0This fun task requires good sight alignment\u00a0and trigger control. \u00a0Quick tip, paint the quarter orange so if it falls off the target once it’s been shot, you can find it rather easily. This will prevent tears, I speak from experience. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The best way to shoot quarters is to tape them to a paper target, and take aim from a safe distance while using a rest. Take the time to do this because there’s no use hitting just the edge and wasting the quarter. \u00a0Once the shooter has shot his quarter, all that’s left is to flatten them, and every kid loves hitting things with a hammer. If a hammer isn’t available, a vice will work nicely to flatten the artwork. But be careful and on the lookout for any sharp edges. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This Hogue<\/a> stock came from the prize table at a 3 gun match, and author’s sons put it on as soon as they were home because they like that the cheek rest is higher and works well with optics. The grippy texture is another plus for hot days on the range.<\/p><\/div>\n Soda Cans:<\/strong>\u00a0Every kid on earth should have the enjoyment of shooting soda cans. \u00a0It\u2019s cheap\u00a0and provides instant feedback and gratification. You can make a\u00a0tower, stack them in a row, or use them in a shoot-off to see which shooter can hit five or ten cans first. Then, when you’re finished,<\/span>\u00a0you can recycle the cans and add in a lesson about being good stewards of the environment. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Plastic Toy Animals:<\/strong> You know the Cowboys and Indians you played with as a kid that were the size of toy army guys? \u00a0The farm animals in that shape make a challenging target too. \u00a0As a kid, my six siblings and I spent days shooting these with a BB gun from across the basement and running to reset them and shoot again. \u00a0A .22 is going to damage them, but for a cheap, fun target you can\u2019t beat these tiny chickens and pigs — it’s almost like mini silhouette targets.<\/span><\/p>\n Tannerite:<\/strong> Yes, they make a .22 version<\/a>. This is actually a good way to teach kids that guns hold power, and that using them is not a game. \u00a0Always wear eye protection and strictly adhere to the directions for any explosive target. Take this very seriously and your kids will learn valuable lessons: safety is paramount when shooting, especially when it comes to shooting binary targets. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Small targets teach trigger control and patience, both skills kids will put to use when hunting or participating in target sports.<\/p><\/div>\n Self-Resetting Targets:<\/strong>\u00a0The rubber type that you shoot and roll come in various shapes. Gunfighter Targets makes self-resetting steel<\/a> that will move when hit, and then spring right back to where it stood. \u00a0And you can buy tiny steel plates that you reset by shooting the top target – endless fun!<\/span><\/p>\n Balloons and Playing Cards:<\/strong>\u00a0 Balloons provide obvious instant feedback when you hit one. Plus, they are\u00a0inexpensive compared to reactive targets like Tannerite. Playing cards are another cheap option with a huge upside in that you’re only limited by your imagination when it comes to dreaming up fun games. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For additional Ideas:<\/strong> Trick shooters have a huge following on social media. Check out trick shooter\u00a0.22 plinkster<\/a> and some of the fun videos he has made. Be inspired and take your kids out this weekend and make some noise and have some fun.<\/span><\/p>\n Once your kids are done plinking, you can take them to shoot Steel Challenge<\/a>, you can take them small game hunting (of course, they\u2019ll also need their Hunter Safety Certification), you can search out a local smallbore<\/a> league, or just keep plinking on your own. \u00a0Here’s a great link to youth programs through USA shooting<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However you decide to start teaching your children about firearms, whether it’s with a .22 or another popular caliber, remember that the best approach is to be present and engaged throughout the learning process. \u00a0Don’t just go through the motions of teaching gun safety. \u00a0Do more! \u00a0Make shooting entertaining! \u00a0Take a creative approach to teaching them about firearms because the more fun it is the more likely the lessons will stick and what was a budding interest in firearms will, before you know it, turn into a lifelong passion that they will carry on into future generations. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rimfire guns are small, relatively quiet, and they don\u2019t pack a lot of punch, meaning the average recoil felt is much softer than a large caliber round, which makes them ideal for small frames and small hands. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":64093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,491,234],"tags":[126,132,586,578,168],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-63784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-becky-yackley","9":"category-columns","10":"tag-22-lr","11":"tag-buzz","12":"tag-column","13":"tag-kids-and-guns","14":"tag-rimfire"},"yoast_head":"\nThe Series<\/h2>\n
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What is Rimfire?<\/h2>\n
![\"Centerfire](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/4\/44\/Centerfire_%26_rimfire_ignition.gif\" "\\"Is")
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\nBy BBODO<\/a> – Own work<\/span>, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, Link<\/a><\/p>\nWhat does rimfire have to do with kids?<\/h2>\n
![\"Rimfire](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/andrew-all-the-22s-194x300.jpg\" "\\"Is")
![\"Targets](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/star-targets-400x265.jpg\" "\\"Is")
Things to shoot with your rimfire:<\/h2>\n
![\"Step](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/quarter-sequence-400x80.jpg\" "\\"Is")
![\"1022-hogue-stock\"](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/1022-hogue-stock-400x246.jpg\" "\\"Is")
![\"Small](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/sean-22-scope-small-400x265.jpg\" "\\"Is")
Where can you take your rimfire gun?<\/h2>\n
![\"22-rimfire-small\"](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/22-rimfire-small-1024x506.jpg\" "\\"Is")
<\/a>\n