Congrats. I think there's a single shot adapter for the XT-22. But, one of tbise youth rifles is a legit single shot rifle.

It's okay to think about buying a gun. If you see an irresistible bargain, you might snag it. But, there's so much other crap you're going to need to get for a new baby... Anyway, congrats!

 

The barrel contour is a bit different on the youth rifle, may need a good bit of stock work to move up to an adult stock.

 

good thing about rifles is, you can swap stocks when the kids get bigger or as the child grows you keep the youth stock(up until a point of course) and you can add recoil pads as the kid grows (i know someone makes recoil pads that you can adjust up by adding more pads). but generally for a child the shorter the barrel less weight on the front end, also depends on how balanced the rifle is. eventually though with enough trigger time the child will get used to the heft and have no issues or should anyways. as much as i love marlins, a great option for a child is the keystone arms cricket rifle, they are very balanced for a child, single shot(teaches them make your shots count) and a reliable firearm. also they make adult stocks. i think grabbing a youth rifle and using the recoil pads would be the cheapest option.

also note i believe youth rifles are around 12" length of pull, adult rifles are around 13 3/4" length of pull.

 

Congrats! I have a different take. I have two boys. Instead of changing stocks, just buy him a new gun every time he grows:biggrin: You may have other kids later that can use it, or even better, he can save it like it is and pass it down for his boy to learn on some day...

 

I have been working this exact issue as I am trying to get a .22 for my son on his 8th B-day. I have talked to Marlin and they have said the adult stock will fit the youth XT rifle with no mods but the Marlin made youth stock may need a little sanding for the full size XT. As for the weight of the rifle with the full size barrel with a youth stock going to be ok, that is all going to depend on the kid when he is old enough. My son would be fine but my friends kid... not so much. Both can handle the XT youth just fine tho. If you put an adult stock on the XT youth you simply turn the youth rifle into a carbine, no biggy there. Also in my seach I have found a couple other youth rifles you may want to look at.

Cricket:

Pros: Single shot, manual loading of each round, small and easy to handle, bolt action that requires manual cocking for extra safety.
Cons: Does not grow up with the child.

Marlin XT.
Pros: Same parts as the full size XT, Safety trigger, perfect size and can grow with the child, magazine fed so ammo handling is not constant.
Cons: hard to find.

Savage Mk II GY:
Pros: Same as the Marlin XT.
Cons: Hard to find, costs more than a Cricket or XT.

Ruger 10/22.
Pros: readily available, many options for stocks and barrels to fit any sized kid. Magazine fed to limit contact with ammo. Will grow with the child.
Cons: Semi auto not the best for young child, customizing options can get expensive.

Henry:
Pros: Looks and feels similar to his Red Ryder BB gun. Single shot lever action, tube fed for limited need to handle ammo. stock and barrel good size for both youth and adult.
Cons: cost, limited safety features, tube mags can be troublesome for young shooters.


This is my list at least. I am leaning for the XT in synthetic stock as I dont know that my son will be as cautious with the wood as I am. I plan on getting a wood stocked XT to go shooting with him.

All and all congrats on the little one and trust me when I say you will be teaching him shooting before you know it. I started my son off at 7yrs old with his first BB gun (Daisy Red Ryder) and told him if he got good at shooting it I would buy him a real rifle. He now hits the targets more than he misses.


Dom

 

Thanks everybody. I'm leaning now towards finding a good deal on a single shot youth rifle as a dedicated teach kids to shoot rifle and then as my son grows and learns I'll give him his own later. This way I can learn what he likes and give him something that will be special to him. (is it wierd if I speak into my wife's belly telling him that real men shoot leverguns?) Also it can be sort of a reward for an accomplishment, or in recognition of his demonstrating good gun handling with the kid rifle. I think that would make the gun even more special, if he gets to earn it in some way.

On a side note, my wife had never handled a gun or been taught about guns before I met her. For our second date I took her shooting. She was a little unsure about the whole thing at first, but once the first couple of targets went "tink" she was hooked. So, tonight we went to Target to register for baby items, and when the worker handed my wife the scanner she took it and held it with her index finger straight and resting up on the side of the scanner. I said "look how you're holding that" and she remarked that her finger must have known she wasn't ready to shoot yet. It made me happy to see that safe gun handling is so ingrained in her mind, and it made me look foreward to all the things I'm going to get to teach my boy.

 

Well my wife and I settled on the little Henry lever action rifle for my son. This one should grow with him just fine too. Plus he should really like how it looks just like his Red Ryder.

Dom

 

I've got an 880 from 1990. After doing some research, I ordered the youth stock p/n 71953 for the XT-22, hoping it would fit without too much trouble. The Marlin catalog says it's compatible with the XT and 900 series, but it fit my 880 perfectly. Even the magazine well cover plate is exactly the same shape. The only difference seems to be the newer models have two takedown screws, whereas the older models have one. So I would say that if you get any magazine fed bolt action 22LR from 1990 on, you could get the youth stock and it should fit as well.

 

Chris, congrats on the new Son! As far as stocks go, I'd be lookin into Kimberly-Clark if I were you...they make Huggies:ahhhhh:

 

Chris- Congratulations ! I have 7 grandson's and 2 grandaughter's- 12f, 12, 11, 9f, 9, 8, 7, 4 and 2. Purchased a new 20 ga Mossberg youth model (turkey) and this week I'm going to get the Marlin XT22YR with an iron site- make the kids learn to shoot- then spoil em with a scope one day. Found a new one in St. Louis. While my kids were young- I invested in school and diapers. Now we can have some fun !! Mulberry's in, nuts in the trees on the way-