NOT a "for sale" thread; info for a friend.

[Steelharp]

Guys, I got an e-mail from a dear, close friend here in Nashville. Any recommendations from any of you that are far more knowledgeable than I? (Which that would be all of you.) It says:

--------------------------

Mike,

My grandparents are moving into an assisted living facility here in a few weeks. They are going to auction with most of their belongings.

I'd like to get one of his rifles that he and my dad used to hunt with. My mom will keep it up at her house till the young ones are old enough to teach them about gun safety and such.

I'm pretty ignorant about firearms. I can't spend a whole lot... is there one of these that you think I should look at. Probably not going to get a ton of use. Maybe take it to the range every now and then.

Dave

Shot guns; Brazteck 410 & 22, J. Stevens 12ga. Single shot, J.C. Higgins model 20 12ga. Pump, Ithaca model 37, Featherlight 20ga. Pump, Savage model 67E 410 pump.

Rifles; Remington model 572, Fieldmaster 22 pump, Mossberg model 640, K.B. Chuckster 22 bolt, Winchester Model 70XTH 243 bolt, Bishop stock Military 30.06 bolt w/3x9 scope, Winchester model 1890 saddle gun 22 bolt and 5 boxes of shells, Iver Johnson single shot 22 model XI.

[mikegideon]

I would personally go for the Winchester, but he may just want a .22. Got no opinions there.

[Guest hawkeye10]

It would depend on condition of guns. If the Ithaca 37 was nice I might want that. Don

[zybysco]

I'll second the Ithaca. A shotgun may not be the best for kids though. A 22 is always good for kids to learn on though.

[56FordGuy]

Get the Remington Fieldmaster. It's a tube magazine, pump action .22 that shoots shorts, longs, or long rifle. I had one for my first rifle, and I know a few others here did as well. Still have it. It's as accurate as any .22 rifle, and an awful lot of fun.

[peejman]

Given that they belong to his grandparents, why isn't "all of them" an option? I don't see anything really special there, but as family heirlooms, they might be priceless. Just seems odd that he'd have to buy them.

[Steelharp]

Given that they belong to his grandparents, why isn't "all of them" an option? I don't see anything really special there, but as family heirlooms, they might be priceless. Just seems odd that he'd have to buy them.

Probably other heirs, and financial issues involved, I would suspect.

[Ramjo]

I agree with peejman on this one. I would wonder why not all? But if I had to narrow it down to just 2 I say Ithaca or Winchester.

[Will Carry]

Those guns paint a picture of your grandparents. Those are working man's guns. Good quality but no fluff. Your grandfather was either a hardworking man and/or a man who set his priorities towards his family. I would keep them all but you can research which ones are more appropriate for kids. Good luck.

[Guest tnmedic]

if I had my choice I would get the model 70 but if at all possible get as many as you can, I regret not getting my grandfathers guns just for sentimental sake and family history.

[TMF]

As a kid I learned to shoot on a pump 410 and a pump 22. I was able to safely handle these firearms at the age of 5 and continued to use them until I was around 9 when I could step up to the .30 and the 20 GA. I would say one of each should be great for kids to teach the fundamentals of marksmanship as well as safe handling procedures. If it has to be one, I would go with any of the repeating .22's (bolt). At least with the .22 you can focus on accuracy out to distance as they get older which is something you can't do with a 410.