{"id":79139,"date":"2017-09-15T16:11:03","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T20:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=79139"},"modified":"2017-09-15T16:11:03","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T07:36:45","slug":"perfect-kids-rifle-browning-bl-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/perfect-kids-rifle-browning-bl-22\/","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Kid’s Rifle: The Browning BL-22"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can still remember the days when I longed for my first rifle; the thought of a long shiny blued steel barrel and glossy walnut stock of my very own almost more than I could stand. Now I saw the same look in my little son Josiah\u2019s eyes as he stood, hands shoved deep in his pockets, gazing with earnest shyness into my face as he answered my question. I had asked what he wanted more than anything for his upcoming ninth birthday. His answer? \u201cA gun!\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the right answer.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Browning Lever-Action is the perfect .22 for kids (adults too).<\/p><\/div>\n

I was in good shape, already having a brand-new Browning BL-22 <\/a>sequestered away for his birthday. I could hardly wait to see his face when he opened that long, mysterious package. The day finally arrived and his smile lit up the room as his friends Ooo\u2019d<\/em> and Ahh\u2019d<\/em> in envy. That night at bedtime he approached me, rifle clutched tightly, and asked if he could take the rifle to bed with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell yes, son, of course, you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what I wanted to say.<\/p>\n

But instead, I advised him to keep the rifle stowed carefully in his room, and to double check that it was empty.<\/p>\n

Starting Your Child Right<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>

Safety when shooting is of paramount importance. Train your youngsters to always maintain good muzzle control.<\/p><\/div>\n

Most kids love to shoot, and given the right guidance can develop a lifelong interest in the shooting sports and hunting. Who knows, that youngster may turn into your best hunting or shooting buddy. Here are some things to consider when introducing your child to the wonderful world of firearms:<\/p>\n

Choosing The Right Firearm For Your Youngster<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s super important to start your kid off shooting a gun that fits him or her, and is fun for them to shoot. Too often an over-ambitious dad will hand his youngster a 12-gauge shotgun or 30-06 deer rifle for their first shot. \u201cI wanna start him off right! He\u2019s tough, he can take it!\u201d Regardless of how tough a kid is that\u2019s pure stupidity. It\u2019ll install a flinch with an unconditional lifetime warranty right then and there.<\/p>\n

The best firearm to start a youngster on is a compact, well-balanced 22 long rifle, in either single-shot or manual repeater configuration. Recoil is minimal, the \u201cbang\u201d isn\u2019t too intimidating, and ammo is cheap.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Make shooting fun. A solid rest will improve a young shooter\u2019s accuracy dramatically, enabling them to hit more targets. More targets equal more fun.<\/p><\/div>\n

So why a single-shot or manual action, but not a semiauto? The answer seems obvious, but I\u2019ll elaborate. I can\u2019t count the times I\u2019ve watched a kid with a semiauto\u00a0.22 make a good shot, then turn to their parent or buddy and excitedly ask \u201cdid you see that?\u201d Meanwhile, their gun is pointed at their parent or buddies belly, finger still on the trigger, and a hot round – courtesy of the semiauto action \u2013 ready in the chamber. Kids, especially when they are excited, aren\u2019t really good at remembering that their gun gets loaded all by itself.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Test your youngster by having them look through a hole formed by their hands to determine which is his or her dominant eye, and then teach them to shoot with that eye. A right-handed person with a dominant left eye should shoot left-handed, and vice-versa.<\/p><\/div>\n

I start my little ones off at a pretty young age, using little bitty single-shot rifles of various make and model. Josiah passed his hunter\u2019s safety exam last spring with flying colors, outshooting all 18 other students including four adults that were in the class, with his little single-shot rifle. The rifle fits him, he\u2019s been well trained to use proper position and trigger control, and he\u2019s not afraid of it.<\/p>\n

My favorite type of 22 to get my children once they are larger, to keep for their own, is a lever-action. Not only are lever actions safe and reliable, they are also fast, easy to work, and ambidextrous. One of the finest available – the Browning BL-22 – is what I got Josiah for his birthday. (I\u2019ll give a full review later, once I climb off this instructional soapbox.)<\/p>\n

Safety, Safety, Safety<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The bottom line when it comes to safety is instilling the understanding that anything a firearm points its black muzzle at is at risk of being destroyed. It doesn\u2019t matter if the gun is empty, or on safe. I\u2019ve seen empty guns shoot more than once, and safeties fail. Train your youngsters to always<\/em> maintain good muzzle control.<\/p>\n

Article Continues Below<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fun Fun Fun!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Next to safety, your most important job as a parent\/mentor\/teacher is to make every shooting excursion fun. Keep it relaxed, use reactive targets (balloons are great) and have ready snacks. Snacks make everything fun.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Hearing protection will increase every shooter’s accuracy.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hearing Protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a common mistake to let children \u2013 or anyone for that matter \u2013 shoot a .22 without hearing protection. Yeah, a twenty-two isn\u2019t real loud, but it\u2019s a fact that a 22 report will cause hearing damage. It\u2019s also a fact that the sound<\/em> of a gunshot \u2013 be it a .22 Long Rifle or a .300 Win. Mag. \u2013 contributes significantly to the tendency to flinch. So if you want your kid to be able to hear a turkey gobble or an elk bugle, protect his ears. If you want him to be a crack shot, protect his ears.<\/p>\n

Two Elements Of Good Shooting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Besides making it fun, two things should be incorporated into your shooting adventures with your little sidekick. First, teach him good shooting positions, so he\u2019s able to hold his gun steady. Second, train him to squeeze the trigger. Do that, and he\u2019ll be outshooting you before you know it.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Prone; the steadiest position. Teach your youngster to relax flat on the ground, spread his feet, and place his off hand (left, for a right-hand shooter) under the rifle butt to steady it. Then squeeze.<\/p><\/div>\n

The BL-22 (Browning Lever-Action .22)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>

The BL-22 Grade I has a short lever throw, walnut stock and secure and fast magazine tube lock. Photo Courtesy: Browning Firearms<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

One of the finest lever-action .22 rifles on the market today, Browning\u2019s little lever-guns is well balanced and finely crafted. The BL-22 comes in several iterations including a super-tiny model called the Micro Midas, which features a 16 \u00bc -inch barrel, and a 12-inch length of pull \u2013 perfect for little-bitty shooters. I purchased the full-sized model for Josiah, knowing that he would grow into it, and it would serve him well for a lifetime of shooting and small-game hunting.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Kneeling; fast, not quite as steady. Only one elbow gets to rest on a knee, so this position is more like a bipod than a tripod. Still, the kneeling position is great for certain situations.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

This tight folding rear sight is adjustable for elevation via the slide, and for windage by drifting.<\/p><\/div>\n

SPECS Browning BL-22 Grade I<\/h2>\n