View Full Version : Starter gun for kids
When I grew up, I started with a Daisy BB gun, worked up to .22 bolt action and .410 shotgun, then various rifles and shotguns. That BB gun may have come along when I was 6 yrs old.
I didn't start practicing with a handgun until this year - I'm closing in on 50!
Got a 13yr old nephew coming into town, no prior gun experience of any kind, and grandsons that are still years away from being ready to learn. Thought I would have some fun with the nephew while teaching basic gun safety. What should I start with? Not looking to break the bank either.
- Air rifle or air handgun? Both have their intrigue - rifle easier to aim and brace...handgun has cool factor...
- keep to just .177 vs step up to .22?
- pump or CO2? I haven't priced those cartridges, but it sounds like they only last for 40-50 shots?
- best brands? I've seen a few inexpensive kits at Cabela's that include glasses/etc
Thinking of something appropriate to shoot on our land with acreage...about 4 acres. Don't want to scare the neighbors.
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Great-Kazoo
06-10-2016, 01:08
Check out the chipmunk, single shot bolt action.
I agree, bolt .22.
Chipmunk is likely too small for a 13 yr old, though. Savage MKII's are inexpensive and accurate. Re-stock it after he's gone and have something you'll enjoy, too.
If totally new to guns, I'd rule out anything auto loading. Too much risk.
Is .22 a little much for 4 acres and neighboring houses. We have a flat area, near the street, and a slope in back...but the upslope (to provide a backstop) would be FACING our house.
Believe me, I love the idea of the .22 - it was my favorite, most fun gun growing up! But is it too much without finding a range? Also, will it have that "rifle crack" that make the neighbors nervous?
This is in a subdivision between Fairplay and Alma. Acreage ranges from 3-10 acre lots.
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My opinion is that the .22 will be too much for the neighbors. Perhaps more importantly though, do you want the very first, possibly most influencing gun experience for a youth to be that is okay to be shooting a rifle around homes? Also, 4 acres is WAY too close if things aren't going well and you take eyes off him for a second. Trying not to be a Debbie Downer, but the initial impression of safety is just as, if not more important than the fun factor.
My thoughts exactly - so what is the best .177 or BB gun...and rifle or pistol..or inexpensive both of them for double the fun.
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Look at airsoft. Not super accurate but much safer for a kid and the plastic bb will peter out fast. You can get an entry level m4gery that is battery powered. Slap a cheap red dot on it, because the sights on them suck , and you are gtg.
Then you can practice in your basement too with a basic setup.
newracer
06-10-2016, 09:20
I'd recommend a Benjamin gas piston rifle.
I'd recommend a Benjamin gas piston rifle.
They make a good air rifle. Beeman and Gamo are worth considering for starters
I think I saw a few of the Benjamins at Cabela's - I'll take a look and see if they have any Father's Day sales.
Steer clear of handgun for now?
FYI, I saw several Gamos too...including handgun. And a few inexpensive Remingtons.
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Start with a rifle. Easier to hit with and a bit harder to hurt yourself with.
Get reactive targets. Steel. Clay pigeons. Balloons. Whatever you want to make it fun. I've trained alot of new shooters and have experimented many times. Steel is good because it's Re usable and gives instant feedback and a hit is a hit. Don't be too concerned with bullseye shooting until they start to show an interest in hitting smaller targets.
Grandpa had a pair of red Ryder and a pair of quarters. We'd race the coins by hitting them
Great idea on the reactive targets...I just shot at cans!
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Hmm, thought I had my ideal pellet gun for nephew now...and grandsons to grow into...but now rethinking the power. This is a great sale at Cabela's, but perhaps too powerful at 1250 fbs to practice on own 4-acre property? And even though it is supposed to be "Whisper" some reviews said it was loud.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/gamo-174-whisper-socom-tactical-air-rifle/2130484.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2F%3FN %3D1100283%2B4294750413%26Ne%3D4294750413%26No%3D1 8%26Ns%3DCATEGORY_SEQ_104185980%26WTz_st%3D%26WTz_ stype%3DSP%26recordsPerPage%3D18
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And the Benjamin I was looking at was 1200fps
http://www.cabelas.com/product/benjamin-reg-charger-np-air-rifle/1959999.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fair-rifles%2Fbenjamin%2F_%2FN-1100283%2B1000002778%2FNe-1000002778%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104185980%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_ stype%3DGNU
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newracer
06-12-2016, 10:55
You need to remember the pellets are only 8-10 grain, not a lot of energy.
Those fps figures are gathered with aluminum pellets. Which are inaccurate expensive and uncommon. Lead pellets will go much slower
Excellent - thanks. I'll probably go with the higher rated Gamo, then.
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Mick-Boy
06-14-2016, 09:56
I have no issue shooting a pellet rifle in the house. It should be fine on 4 acres.
For general "new shooter introduction" guns I'd like to offer a different answer; A semi-automatic .22 rifle with some type of optic.
My reasoning - For a new shooter I want the experience to be A) Safe and B) Fun
SAFE - A 13 year old should be able to figure out safety with a handgun pretty quickly but why set a new shooter up for failure right off the bat. It's easier to be cognizant of your muzzle with a rifle. It's also easier to keep track of where the shooter's muzzle is pointing. This allows corrections to be made before there's an issue.
FUN - Hitting is more fun than missing. It's easier to hit with some type of optic (scope, red dot, whatever).
With my oldest I bought one of those single shot, bolt action .22s. We took it out once when he was 4 or 5. I discovered that the sights are terrible for a new shooter (A tiny rear peep and a front blade made for a frustrating few shots before it went back in the bag.) and single shot doesn't make for a lot of fun (It's hard to make an immediate correction when you have to hand load another round). Switching that boy to a 10/22 with a red dot gave him the chance to apply corrections immediately when he missed and once he got on target he could clang away with however many rounds I/we loaded into the magazine. He hit more often (had more fun) and I didn't sacrifice anything by way of safety.
As he's gotten older (8 now) I've been able to revisit iron sights with him. In fact some of his favorite guns to shoot are a SP100 in .22 and a little Rossi .22 pump. But I believe that getting him on target quickly and letting him just bang steel with a semi and a red dot made it a lot more fun early on.
My favorite gun growing up was an open-sight bolt action .22.
The Gamo air rifle, with scope and producing 1,250 fps seems like a good compromise of what you describe while having a pellet that will not fly as far on those 4-acres. I'm also likely to get the Gamo pellet handgun currently on sale at Cabela's for $69...includes the blowback feature, should be fun, and I can teach proper gun safety and technique without a big recoil.
I do see a .22 in our future, but maybe next go-round. He visits annually, and I have two toddler grandsons that will grow into it.
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A couple years ago for mothers day I got the wife a Stoeger .22cal break barrel http://usa.stoegerairguns.com/x20-s2-suppressor to shoot rabbits around the house. It has enough energy to drop a rabbit at 25yds with good shot placement. She's probably run 1500rds <> through it and still shoots great and holds a nice sub 1" group at 30yds. The scope that came with it had the recital go loco and I replaced with a cheapo Simmons 3x9 I got of Amazon for $60.00. For the money it's a good rifle and has served the wife well.
I had the Gamo whisper a while ago and it was fun. I don't recommend CO2 for a new shooter for 2 reasons: 1) cost and 2) the necessity of owning every shot on a pump/break barrel because you had. to. pump. it. every. time. ... and who wants to waste a round they worked for?
Post #11 and #18 are the two I would consider based on my own experiences. I will add, a Hunter Safety class (CPW has a youth one) is a good idea, even if he does not want to hunt yet. Good job getting him started.
I had the Gamo whisper a while ago and it was fun. I don't recommend CO2 for a new shooter for 2 reasons: 1) cost and 2) the necessity of owning every shot on a pump/break barrel because you had. to. pump. it. every. time. ... and who wants to waste a round they worked for?
Love that built-in incentive. I'm thinking of CO2 because (1) I've never had one...I had the pump growing up before moving to the .22, and (2) that pump seemed to lose power fast. I want it to be a more enjoyable experience than my frustration...wasn't the shooter �� because I was always pretty good with a rifle - open sight and scope.
Post #11 and #18 are the two I would consider based on my own experiences. I will add, a Hunter Safety class (CPW has a youth one) is a good idea, even if he does not want to hunt yet. Good job getting him started.
Going with the general premise of those posts, but will lean to the .177 scoped air rifle.
Love that built-in incentive. I'm thinking of CO2 because (1) I've never had one...I had the pump growing up before moving to the .22, and (2) that pump seemed to lose power fast. I want it to be a more enjoyable experience than my frustration...wasn't the shooter �� because I was always pretty good with a rifle - open sight and scope.
Understood. The Gamo Whisper is a break barrel design, so it only requires one "pump".
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