Question...Starter Gun For Kids?
- Thread starter lukew
- Start date
My first rifle was a model 94 win 30.30
Started all my kids on a ruger youth .308 fit them well and is a tack driver
Started all my kids on a ruger youth .308 fit them well and is a tack driver
KHSRanger23
Active Member
The first weapon my kids and nephews shot was a .22 they are light and the ammo is cheap. Great starter weapon to begin with for weapon safety and basic marksmanship. Then they moved on too a 5.56, again easy to shot with not much recoil. When they were old enough to hunt they started with .243 which is a pretty versatile round and can be used for lots of different types of game animals. After that they can pick whatever they want to use some went with .270, others liked the .30-06 or 7mm. With the current price and demands for ammo I am still waiting for some of them to ask about taking up archery with me.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I started with a single shot .22. My first big game rifle was a 30-06.
I started my son with the same .22 I used at about 5 years old. Bought him a single shot 20 ga shotgun when he was 7. His first big game rifle was a Remington 600 in .243, got it for Christmas when he was 12. He still shoots it over 40 years later.
I am a firm believer in starting kids with light recoil guns so they can concentrate on accuracy, not recoil.
I started my son with the same .22 I used at about 5 years old. Bought him a single shot 20 ga shotgun when he was 7. His first big game rifle was a Remington 600 in .243, got it for Christmas when he was 12. He still shoots it over 40 years later.
I am a firm believer in starting kids with light recoil guns so they can concentrate on accuracy, not recoil.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,917
- 3,235
Stevens Favorite # 17 takedown .22
There is absolutely no telling how much stuff I killed with that rifle.
There is absolutely no telling how much stuff I killed with that rifle.
dan maule
Veteran member
For big game I started my kids with a 7mm-08. Started them off with 120 grain bullets to reduce recoil. After getting them the 7mm-08, I purchased a second one, I and they have become big 7mm-08 fans.
JimP
Administrator
I guess that I was a lucky one. My alcoholic uncle gave me his 30-06 when I was 5 or so.
My dad had a 22lr that we always shot but my first firearm was that old 06. I even shot it, I don't know if I hit what I was aiming at or much past the time that I pulled the trigger.
My dad had a 22lr that we always shot but my first firearm was that old 06. I even shot it, I don't know if I hit what I was aiming at or much past the time that I pulled the trigger.
Winchester
Veteran member
I started with an old .22 single shot rifle with iron sights.
My Dad wouldn't let me have a scope until I learned the basics with iron sights and could shoot well with them.
It was a great lesson ... I still think having a scope is a nice "bonus".
Then I moved up to his pre-64 Model 70 Winchester 30-06 with a steel butt plate (which I still shoot).
That kicked just a little bit more than the .22 ...
My Dad wouldn't let me have a scope until I learned the basics with iron sights and could shoot well with them.
It was a great lesson ... I still think having a scope is a nice "bonus".
Then I moved up to his pre-64 Model 70 Winchester 30-06 with a steel butt plate (which I still shoot).
That kicked just a little bit more than the .22 ...
Red Ryder, then an old semi auto .22 LR that my Dad had for years. I think that I own it now, or one just like it. Need to ask my Dad which one I ended up with.
My first was a shotgun, but I wasn't a kid when I got it.
For my kids I'm a HUGE believer in the Ruger 10/22. It's simple, extremely reliable, very easy to shoot safely (with proper oversight) and because it's a 10-shot it has just enough "fun" factor to set the hook. I have a scope on mine and it's basically impossible to miss with it, if you're shooting off a bag. Having some fun and early success really helps kids down the right path, IMO.
For my kids I'm a HUGE believer in the Ruger 10/22. It's simple, extremely reliable, very easy to shoot safely (with proper oversight) and because it's a 10-shot it has just enough "fun" factor to set the hook. I have a scope on mine and it's basically impossible to miss with it, if you're shooting off a bag. Having some fun and early success really helps kids down the right path, IMO.
dan maule
Veteran member
D_Dubya
Active Member
Hard to beat a 22 to start with, I started my son with 22’s at 4 or 5 yo. Some scoped, some iron sights. My son mostly likes shooting my old Marlin Model 60, on a good summer Saturday he would go though 3 or 4 hundred rounds back when ammo was available.
Attachments
My dad started me with a 30-06, i still hate shooting that caliber and have a horrible flinch when shooting 3006. Happy to leave it in the safe.
Started my stepson out with a 357 magnum rifle and 100 yard shot range. He's shot 3 or 4 deer with it. My wife also uses it. 12-15 deer been killed with that rifle.
Anyway - there is nothing wrong with getting a kid a light kicking and mild barking gun that they will grow out of.
22 semi-auto is just fun.
Started my stepson out with a 357 magnum rifle and 100 yard shot range. He's shot 3 or 4 deer with it. My wife also uses it. 12-15 deer been killed with that rifle.
Anyway - there is nothing wrong with getting a kid a light kicking and mild barking gun that they will grow out of.
22 semi-auto is just fun.
Colorado T
Active Member
My dad got me a single shot Chipmunk .22 and I passed that to my oldest son who learned to shoot on it. My other two boys got something similar. When they were old enough to hunt big game it was a .243 and .270.
dustin ray
Veteran member
My first gun was a 410 single shot my dad loved to hunt ducks he would send me out to jump ducks off ponds so they would fly hes way
he would only give me 7 shells per hunt he told me if can shot 7 ducks with 7 shells he will buy me a new 12 gage over and under one morning i came back with 7 ducks and i handed him one loaded shell . We drove to sears he bought me that over and under
he would only give me 7 shells per hunt he told me if can shot 7 ducks with 7 shells he will buy me a new 12 gage over and under one morning i came back with 7 ducks and i handed him one loaded shell . We drove to sears he bought me that over and under
I started with the red rider bb gun. ' shot my eye out , so I traded up for a winchester .22 lever when14 I had a .308 remington that I never much cared for so at around 16 I bought a ruger m77 .270 and been shooting .270 ever since for big game
Timber Stalker
Active Member
- May 22, 2020
- 314
- 666
My daughters started with my M70 25-06 (my first rifle given to me by my dad when I was 12)
I bought my youngest a M670 .243 due to the fact she’s very small and had a hard time with the long barreled 25-06. (And I got it for $250)
I didn’t want to go buy a bunch of guns till I knew they really liked hunting. The middle daughter is the only one who really like it and she was gifted a M77 270 and has since bought several of her own guns. She has more than me I’m sure.
I bought my youngest a M670 .243 due to the fact she’s very small and had a hard time with the long barreled 25-06. (And I got it for $250)
I didn’t want to go buy a bunch of guns till I knew they really liked hunting. The middle daughter is the only one who really like it and she was gifted a M77 270 and has since bought several of her own guns. She has more than me I’m sure.
buckbull
Veteran member
- Jun 20, 2011
- 2,166
- 1,353
I had them start with my RWS model 27 that was my first gun. I have a low power scope on it. My son was 6 and my daughter 5 when I took them to shoot. My son couldn't miss the soda cans we put on sticks. My daughter begged me to let her try. She ended up getting a bad scope cut on her eyebrow which is still visible today. Exwife reminds me of that day often.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
.410 of course.
then .270win....which in hindsight, I think a .243win would've served me better.
then .270win....which in hindsight, I think a .243win would've served me better.