Rabbit hunting with 10/22

Hi all. I have been shooting rabbit around my block for a few years with my ruger 10/22. My kids are now showing interest to come along and I am not liking the idea of a semi auto around kids and or dog. I really like my rifle so I would like to know if there is a safer way to use a 10/22 around kids and dog? (Not letting the kids use the rifle). Can a ruger 10/22 be used like a bolt action somehow? The only thing I can think is to load only 1 bullet and make it a single shot. Any ideas? How do people use their semi automatic after a kill? Drop the mag and empty the chamber before to proceed?
Many thanks.

I would stick with the idea of single loading.
Easy peasy
Depends how old the kids are too and how quick they pick up safe firearms practices etc.
Comes down to situation as well.
Walking around where a young person may not be so diligent to laying down being a sniper and you could have a couple of extra shots in there

I use one extensively on rabbits in Central Otago, they are what they are. A semi auto with a ten shot mag , that's how they were designed and made to be used.
I rely on the safety 100%.
There is the Kiwi ethos that you don't trust or rely on the safety but I think personally this is a dated out look.
All the world's military rely on safeties , police and other law enforcement agencies'. As a gunsmith once pointed out to me all the firearm manufactures would have been sued into non - existence by gun owners in the states if safety's failed and people were killed or injured.
Like you I don't think a semi is the best rifle for a kid or new shooter to learn with and there are some cheap and effective little bolt .22's out there like the Norinco JW15.
Teaching the kid's safe handling of the rifle like where the muzzle is pointing, back drop's , target identification etc etc.
Only way to make the ruger a single shot is to only load one round.
Teach them well, I was and 40 years on still carry the basic safety lessons taught to me by my father and his friends.

Thanks Viper and Mimms2. I also trust the safety and pointing in a safe direction when hunting alone. I’m just not confident when my kids around. Probably using it as a single shot is my best bet for now. My boy is only 4 years old. He just want to join me when hunting. He his not near touching the rifle in a hunting situation.

As an alternative rifle I would be looking at a bolt action or lever action. Preferably stainless as I am right on the coast and it doesn’t seem to matter how much oil I put on my rifle I get rust problems. Any suggestions on something of similar quality and value to a stainless ruger 10/22 if I decide to sell it?
Thanks

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

I would stick with the idea of single loading.
Easy peasy
Depends how old the kids are too and how quick they pick up safe firearms practices etc.
Comes down to situation as well.
Walking around where a young person may not be so diligent to laying down being a sniper and you could have a couple of extra shots in there

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All very applicable. Thanks

you could put a slide lock on it

or a very heavy buffer/recoil spring so you have to rack it like a straight pull it each time after the shot

its not hard to make a gun not work so just do something thats reversible for when you want to use it yourself later

If you keep the 10/22 (which has a place) only load one in the mag & have another mag ready, either full for you or with one in it again for the child, I think 4 is a little young to be shooting a real rifle, but not to be coming with you & carrying the rabbits as I did as a child, I had to drag them as could not hold them high enough, got the bash for dragging lol !

When I was 8-10 I got to use the .22 on my own when visiting a farm & it was a tube mag Sportco semi, danger danger there, but it was a great rifle, all open sights in those days

A lot to be said on open sights & field of view for a beginner to, eg safer when stock or such may wonder into firing zone, latter scopes are better to identify animals from humans in the bush & on dark !

Think Bill999 is on the right track. Replace the bolt spring to a very heavy one, so the fired round cannot eject the spent case and load the next round.

Or get something like this to do the same job. http://www.colossic.com/defenseproductboltlock.html

Alternatively the bolt action idea is a good option. When training my boys I went for a bolt for all the traditional reasons including quick follow up shots, safe mechanical action etc. You could buy a basic bolt fairly cheaply eg the Norinco JW15 below, and get your money back when no longer needed. Little Norincos often very good shooters:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hun...98be9192fc-002

That’s cool! I didn’t know that existed. Very interesting product. Thanks

I think using as a single shot or even a second round in the mags would make me happier. If I take a shot and don’t need a second shot, cycling the bolt once to eject the last round is not too much hassle comparing to having to remove the mag first and the cycle the bolt. I would not be able to justify getting another rifle if I don’t sell my ruger and can’t think of any better value for money (stainless) as my ruger. I really appreciate all inputs. It made reconsider keeping the semi and using it differently.
Cheers

Something you could try if you want the convenience of a full magazine of ammo but only want it to function single shot (straight pull bolt action style) is buy some of the cci quiet segmented hollow point. They will not cycle a 10/22 bolt and therefore you have to manually pull the bolt back to cycle each round. Like the name suggests they are very quiet, I use them back home in a 10/22 and several pistols when I need to dispatch ground squirrels and rabbits etc. around the house as California doesn't allow suppressors. They actually kill these animals pretty well within 30-40m but you will need to adjust your zero.

Spend the time to teach your kids how to use the rifle properly, you will know when it’s safe to trust them and be able to stand back a little. Who cares if a few bunny’s get away in the process.

Or a Chiappa Little Badger, I got one for my kids to practice on. Single shot, light weight, fits a kid, and is easy for them to hold.

If the kids aren't using the rifle then I wouldn't be too concerned. as long as you are exercising safety properly and retaining complete control of the rifle.
Once you have fired the .22, remove the mag and unload the live round if you think it will make it safer. If you treat the rifle correctly and safely then it is no more dangerous than a bolt action.
Once you have the kids firing it then yes single round through the mag, perhaps a couple of mags to swap over.
My suggestion would be head out to Kelly Country, and pick up a cheap second hand bolt action or single shot for the kids to use.

On my own when using my 10/22 I just put the safety on and put the rifle down. With the kids I would only load 1 round in the mag ( although you can buy single round 10/22 mags), but still remove the mag and cycle the action incase there was another round in the mag( very unlikely but always err on the side of caution).

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Originally Posted by Benomobile

As an alternative rifle I would be looking at a bolt action or lever action. Preferably stainless as I am right on the coast and it doesn’t seem to matter how much oil I put on my rifle I get rust problems. Any suggestions on something of similar quality and value to a stainless ruger 10/22 if I decide to sell it?
Thanks

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The Stainless steel / synthetic stock Tikka T1X is a nice and light little bolt action rimfire rifle.

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Originally Posted by rugerman

On my own when using my 10/22 I just put the safety on and put the rifle down. With the kids I would only load 1 round in the mag ( although you can buy single round 10/22 mags), but still remove the mag and cycle the action incase there was another round in the mag( very unlikely but always err on the side of caution).

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That reinforce what I am thinking.

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Originally Posted by 2post

Spend the time to teach your kids how to use the rifle properly, you will know when it’s safe to trust them and be able to stand back a little. Who cares if a few bunny’s get away in the process.

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Yep, agree 100%.

I taught both my kids to hunt using the 10/22 on rabbits. Both started at around age 3 and slowly progressed from walking behind, to walking beside, to walking in front. As youngsters they only carried the rifle when it was unloaded. As they got older they got to carry it when about to shoot and by the age of 12 or 13 they were both extremely competent and able to carry, load, shoot, make safe and store the rifle.

I watched with absolute pride as my recently turned 16 year old daughter provided a full-monty safety talk and demonstration on how to use my .223 to a young lad who came rabbit shooting last weekend. She applied for her FAL the day she turned 16 and is now just waiting to do the MSC.

Although it shouldn't matter, I find a semi-auto makes you very conscientious about the way you carry the rifle. It's not a bad way to learn at all.

There are some ok single shot rifles out there.. and good bolt actions for under 300. At 4 I reckon he would be happy with even a slingshot if he could go out with his dad doing boy stuff. I would also think about using a supressor and subs. You don't want him to develop a flinch this early in his hunting career. Less recoil as well. I would give a thumbs up to the norincos as well. I know a bunch of people who got one of these as their first rifle and 30 years on are still shooting it. It is cheap enough that you won't be traumatised by the treatment a kid gives it.
I wouldn't bother with the air rifle route either unless you are just shooting targets. I know adults who are frustrated by how hard it is to be accurate with an air rifle. Must be worse for a 4 year old.