First gun?

[LakeJake]

Ok gun goobers, I am in a pickle.

Assume you are expecting your first child, and praise God it is a healthy boy, what do you pick up for him now while you can still justify guns over diapers?

I am not looking for advise on a BB gun or a 10mm 1911. What would you pick up now and stick in the safe for several years until he is ready for it? A decent bolt 22, Ruger 1022, a deer gun, a shotgun? Fire away...

[AndyRealtree]

I'd get him a lever 22 so he can play cowboys and squirrels.. That's what my dad did for me.

[bluelund79]

I'd vote for a nice rimfire, something that they will never grow out of. I'd say a bolt action, but I'm old fashioned. I learned on a bolt gun, and so are my 2 young sons. The 10/22's will come out when I feel they are disciplined enough to make each round count. Browning, Ruger, CZ, Remington all make nice bolt action rimfires.

[txfireguy2003]

Yep, lever action .22. Then, when he's ready to start, you start with a Daisy Red Rider BB gun, then transition him to the lever action .22. Later, he'll want a 30/30 and by the time he outgrows that, he can buy his own dang guns!

[Mike D]

Get him a Cricket 22.

As he gets older and more capable, get him a nice lever action 22 or 10/22.

[Seacoal]

Brothers first gun came from my great grandfather. Very nice remington .22, the semi auto one (don't remember model off hand). He probably never shot it until he was 10. When we turned 6, we all got our own Rossi Single shot .410/ .22. That way we could do everything with dad (bird hunt, never killed a dove, deer hunt with our .22 in case a rabbit or dillo came close) I don't use that gun much anymore, but it won't ever be owned by anyone but me unless it's my kid

[Ecoboost]

Get him a Cricket 22.

As he gets older and more capable, get him a nice lever action 22 or 10/22.

We got our son the Savage Rascal. It works like a bolt gun, has a feed ramp, and no plunger to pull back to charge the rifle.

[eaglegolfj]

My first was an old Marlin 22 I was pickin off quarters at 40-50 yards at 9. I think any rimfire will be good, that is what my 2 yo grand son will be shooting in a couple of years.

[Coacheddy]

My GIRL's (might be!!) first one was my grandfathers pump 22. They had to rest it to shoot, but loved it. I enjoyed passing down this history. We both got something out of it. I'd try that first (if possible) before buying one. Otherwise, i'd go cricket then lever.

[jlmoses1]

Henry minibolt. Stainless and has a safety just like a large rifle. Both of my boys love theirs. the safety really helps in training.

[kumathebear]

Buy two: Any brand "single shot 22 & 410," what my Dad started me out with.

[Boomerang]

You said no BB guns but to start out he needs a BB first, then a .22LR, then a nice deer rifle. A .22-250 is aawesome. A single shot shotgun kicks. A semi auto shotgun is smooth. You can get the 1¾" 12ga or even light 12ga load. The problem for kids is just the size of a big shotgun. .410 are hard to shoot. So many options.

[TommyGun]

I started my daughter off on a 22 a little Davey Cricket when she's was 4 it fit her well. A little single shot bolt that she used until she was about 10. Then I built an AR for her ( and the family too) with an adjustable stock.

The day we went to sight it in, we also took mama's 7-08. She shot it once and handed it back to mama and said she was done. There was this little girl there shooting her dad's 243. I showed my daughter the difference in the ammo she said that she was ok she did not want to shoot any Moore. So, she sat there watching this little skinny kid hammering this 243. After about 10 minutes of watching this string bean shoot, she taps mama on the shoulder and asked if she could shoot her gun. And proceeds to shoot all of mamas ammo. When finished she turns to mama and says " that was fun can we do this next week"

Sorry I digress. If I had to do it over again I would have went with the T/C Encore/pro hunter/Endever. Since he is about to be borne you have time to build.here is what I would have done. I would have ordered the "pistol" T/C frame l would have ordered the youth stock a few months later. Then a .22 barrel. Fore end and rim fire firing pin insert later. Here is my reasoning and while it will be a bit expensive at first after you build the initial rifle. For about $250 to $300 you can buy the barrels to grow with him. From shot gun barrels to pistol barrels to muzzleloader barrels to rifles barrels ranging .17 hmr to .460 rigby.

[LakeJake]

Thanks for all the suggestions. He will start on a BB gun for sure, but that can be picked up closer to the day he needs it. I am thinking a nice bolt or lever 22 will be the next step.

"Cowboys and squirrels"... Thats awesome.

[deano70]

nice ruger 10/22 gets my vote. I burned a ton of bullets thru mine growing up.