When did you give your child their first gun?

[12many]

On my son's 12th birthday I gave him the same Ithaca .22 rifle that I received from my parents on my 12th birthday 45 years prior. I haven't given my daughter a gun yet, but she shoots and has virtually claimed several of the firearms in the safe!

 

[aclark]

Got my son his first Crickett for birthday #1. He wont be shooting it until I decide, but I thought it was a cool first bday present!

 

[Drakkule]

As soon as they told me they wanted one, around 4 for my youngest. About 5 for my middle one, and 7 for my oldest.

 

[Bfish]

Oh yeah she is ready… my dad gave me a bb gun he would load and cock for me at 3! At 6 for my 7th birthday he gave me a marlin lever action 22, he was too excited to wait… He was awesome! If you are contemplating the decision its then time she will love it

 

[sportsman223]

I gave both my daughters cricketts on there 1st B-day, They started shooting them at 5yrs with help. Then moved then up to G2 contenders they both have 22's , 357Maximums , 223 , .45cal muzzlerloader barrles. Had custom stocks made for them by Bullberry for palm swell and LOP. They shoot the 22's all summer and switch out to 357Max for deer season they are 8 and 10 and have both killed deer with there Max's. They shoot the ML with 50g pyrodex and a 200g Hornady
Oldest one will be getting the youth 1187 20g from santa this year, she is wanting to start shooting trap with old dad

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Dad, it's your call, only you know your daughter. The Christmas of their 6th year all of them got .22s.

I can recommend the Marlin 15YN, Winchester 67A, CZ452 Scout (my 1st choice-they make a pink one if she is girly-girl), and the Savage Cub.

Later on the Carbon 15, Henry youth underlever, Ruger 10/22 Compact, SW M&P15-22.

This is the oldest at 9, shooting for 3 years.

Noah Freeman's Science Project - YouTube

 

[cwillour]

Coming from a lefty, his options aren't limited, he just has to learn a little differently.

Did you end up shooting right-handed bolts, or go a different direction? I have not been able to find much on shooting a right-handed Bolt lefty.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I got my son a Rascal for Christmas the year he turned 6. Somewhat on topic, take a hard look at the Savage Rascal before you buy a Crickett. I think you'll find you get a lot more rifle for the money. Its got the accu-trigger and it shoots very nicely. It just feels better when you handle them back to back.

 

[remauto1187]

I bought my 3yr old son a .22 cricket in the middle of summer. Next spring or possibly this winter I will start working with him on how to handle it. He will be 4 on Christmas.

 

[Pinchaser]

Age is irrelevant. Physical and mental development is the determining factor. The muscular-skeletal development is the main thing physically. Far too many gap-toothed bubbas hand their kid a gun many years before their physical development is ready.

Don't be one of them.

 

[dwh79]

Sort of a loaded question. As I bought some for her before she was born. However her first gun as a gift was for her 10th birthday as she asked to go shooting with me and do an Appleseed. It was a slightly modified 10/22. She is tall but not as strong as I would like to see to truly take this gun hunting with. She is doing more bench rest shooting right now but is enjoying it.

 

[red46239]

I got my youngest boy a Cricket this year. He is 6. My daughter is will turn 4 right around Christmas. I will probably get her a Cricket next year for her birthday when she turns 5. Like many have said, it really depends on the child. If you think she's ready, she is.

 

[dubsac]

Id say when you and the wife thinks its time.

 

[Hoosierdood]

My two boys both got their first firearms for their first birthday. Of course they couldn't shoot them then. I think I took them shooting the first time when they were 4 or 5. Now my youngest is 7 and oldest is 12. They are great shots!

 

[DRob]

My standard suggestion: http://www.ruger.com/products/1022Compact/models.html

When she gets to big for it, it's piece of cake to replace the stock and barrel with full size versions. The receiver is the same.

 

[Rookie]

Did you end up shooting right-handed bolts, or go a different direction? I have not been able to find much on shooting a right-handed Bolt lefty.

I don't shoot a lot of bolts, but, when I do, I manipulate the bolt with my right hand. It's going to be slower because you have to move your face, cycle the bolt, get a cheek weld, etc. Pumps and semi are obviously easier. My dad wouldn't buy me an 870 because he thought the ejecting shell would be distracting. I have never had that issue, so don't let something as trivial as that be a limiting factor.

 

[Rookie]

One other piece of advice, figure out which is the dominant eye. My daughter is a lefty, but she's right eye dominant. I caught it quick enough to switch her to shooting right handed.

 

[ddavidson]

My son was 9 when he got his Mossy 500 20ga. He was 10 when he got his 10/22. He's 11 this year and says he "needs" a 9mm handgun and an AR-15.

 

[beachhead40]

My son is 5 and "owns" a 10/22 he will be allowed to posses it when the time is right. start them young with the respect for what they are and what they are capable of. Melons and bullets show them a lot better then holes in paper......

 

[dugsagun]

Bought the nephew his first at 9yrs old. A marlin 22 that his dad picked out. It was decided he was responsible enough to shoot one. Of course he likes his grandpas expensive browning 22 better, heh ,but we all like that one