I bought my kids each a Savage and added a scope for them to use at Appleseed. They worked well and at half the price of a ruger 10/22. They were both practiced shooters but I could not afford the Anschutz 22’s they learned on at the boy scout camp.
I just picked up an old Savage MK2 at a gun show for $50.
It’s a lot of fun to just plink around with.
I have a couple of scoped Marlin 795’s I use as Appleseed loaners. I cut down the stock by 2” on one so youngsters can use it.