they still make the 77/22. Does the kid need a youth stock, or is big enough to handle a full sized stock ok.
I think one of the best guns you should own is one you use the most. Hard to beat a 22lr for rounds down range.
Still a good number of 22's with iron sights if you want them. I am down to 2 guns with peep sights. A lyman great plains flintlock in 54 and a marlin 917T with a lyman 90 peep on it. Was a sad day I coverted my marlin 336 from peep to scope.