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Best kids firearms

2K views 19 replies 19 participants last post by  Coalcracker 
#1 ·
Question - when it comes to children, which firearms are recommended for them and which are the best for them to use?

I've never owned a firearm before, and because of that -- I've had curiosity about the different types out there, their functioning, purposes, and reviews. With that being said, which firearms do you think are best for kids to use? For self-defense? Competition shooting? All-purpose? Power? Accuracy? Durability? Popularity? Affordability? Best hand guns? Best shot guns? Best long guns? Best for first timers? Experienced users?
 
#5 ·
When i was 12 i owned a couple of guns and by the time i was 16 i had 8 that filled my own gun cabinet.
 
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#9 ·
Disagree. Kids SHOULD own guns. Whether or not our legal system allows it is another story.

Depending on the maturity of the child (not the age) will determine whether or not he or she is "ready" for a firearm.

Physical characteristics will likely play a significant factor in what kind of firearm to start the child on. You can't hand a kid a 12ga because it's going to hurt and you don't really want that.

BB guns or pellet guns can be a good start. You move on from there.

--Wag--
 
#6 · (Edited)
Your lead off question is sort of provocative, seemingly trolling. Since it is quite illegal for children to possess/own firearms, the question might be better worded to ask which firearms are best to help teach children gun safety and sports. To that I might suggest a BB gun (air rifle) or rimfire rifles and .410 shotguns. There are several youth guns with a shorter length of pull that enable children to be able to learn proper sighting and handling techniques. As to your litany of questions, I must first ask, “Are you still asking in relation to children?” Because, if you are referring to children as the thread implies, you are, in my opinion, out of bounds. Since you refer to experienced users as one of the categories, I assume you are following up your question regarding children and guns with a litany of questions in general (not directed about children) that might be served with a thread each of their own. But, all these questions are drilling down into opinions that will certainly promote/provoke controversy and in no way settle the matter with a single codified answer for any of the questions.
 
#7 ·
A BB gun is a great place to start also.
There are several single shot .22 LR rifels on the market.
They are for supervised training not to just give.
Henry - Mini Bolt Youth
Cricket - Youth
Savage - Rascal
CZ - 457 scout
 
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#10 ·
My first "gun" was a Daisy Red Ryder that my parents gave me shortly after the end of WWII. However, they gave me my first "real" gun for Christmas around 1950 when I was 14. It was a Remington semi-auto .22. I don't remember the model but it shot great and I loved that gun.
 
#12 · (Edited)
#13 ·
Marlin model 15YN, aka the "Lil Buckaroo", a single shot .22lr with a stock that seems to fit most 6-8 year olds really well
 
#14 ·
There is no best first firearm for a child as many variables figure into the equation. How old is the child? How mentally mature is the child? How physically mature is the child? Where does the child live? Are the chlid's parent(s) active shooters? Does the chilod have a 'shooting mentor'? Etc.

Your questions:
Self-defense? I call BS
Competition shooting? ditto
All-purpose? ditto
Power? ditto
Accuracy? ditto
Best hand guns? SUPER ditto
Best shot guns? You're beginnig to get close
Best long guns? You're beginning to get close
Durability? moot question
Popularity? moot question
Affordability? moot question

The most important function of a child's first firearm is to ingrain safety handling/shooting procedures (by force if necessary) onto the child's brain. This is the primary directive.

My first firearm was a single shot, bolt action, .22 LR rifle. I was physically large and somewhat mature for my age. We lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere. My brother's first firearm was a break open, single shot, 20 ga shotgun. Both were considered tools to assist in pest eradication (after safety essentials were hardwired).

My dad believed non lethal firearms (air guns, BB guns, etc.) taught unsafe handling practices. We were not allowed to have them. I agree with him.
 
#15 ·
Eh I am gonna put a thumb in a few eyes I have had mine out to range a few times before they were 5. They are 10 and 11 now we still go time to time but because I took them earlier there is a lot more respect for the firearms and the damage that can occur. YES they even had privilege of shooting at 5 their hands in mine I wanted them used to the power and noise so there is a lot less Flinch factor today. Now yes a Ruger Sr .22 was the pistol used Perfect safeties for this practice, Crickets 22 lil Rascals are others However the Ruger Sr 22 is my go to for kids.
 
#16 ·
When i was young i ‘owned’ guns and get what you mean. Obviously my father owned them but it taught responsibility and ownership. On that, i was only allowed to see/use them with him around which taught safety. I suggest that IMO, enough said on that.

On the rest, i think Popeye hit it on the head pretty good. I did have a bb gun though. I would suggest getting comfortable with firearms yourself to help the kids.

With not much firearm background, i can see how all your questions came about (ZERO offense intended) but there is really no easy, black and white, answer to any of them.

Start with good training and habits for both of you. Maybe a local club or the NRA is always a good option. Being around firearms and people with quality knowledge will also go a long way.

As stated previously, best kids firearms, is kind of a loaded question but putting a world of gray scale into black and white... i’d say a decent youth sized 22LR is a great place to start. Recoil and report is nil and wont scare them but still very much a firearm to respect and care for.

Great road to venture down with the kids and will make lasting memories.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I owned many pellet and bb guns beginning at age 6 or so, then I got my 22lr rifle at 12 years old. Got my 12ga shotgun when I was old enough to hunt.
When I was a kid, we would walk to our hunting grounds a mile or so from home. 6 or so kids with shotguns walking down the street. NO ONE batted an eye. Today, almost everyone is triggered when it comes to guns and kids... we can see it right here in this thread.
I would have use my firearms for self defense if handy.

[edit]And I shot all the guns the adults had, when I was 6 or so. From the snub-nose revolvers to the 12ga shotguns.[/edit]
 
#18 ·
I don’t recall who said a child owning a gun is illegal but it’s not here in Illinois. For long guns at least. There is no age requirement at the federal level and at the state level, if you are under 21 you only need a parent’s written consent for a FOID. I can and plan to get one for my 5 year old, not because I intend to turn him lose with one but he should be allowed ownership in the event I or his grandfather want to gift one or will one to him. The responsibility still rests on my shoulders.

For the OP’s questions at hand. I agree, half of your questions aren’t serious. Kids/self defense? Really? Popularity should not be a factor and if you know so little, discussion of guns for competition isn’t even on the table. I am going to assume here that we are talking about a real gun and not an air rifle. If it’s a new shooter, the answer should always be a .22 and should never be left alone with it. I’d recommend something that requires manual intervention to chamber the next round, non-semi auto, like a bolt action, lever action or single shot. They have to learn from the ground up safe handling, operation, aiming and proving they can handle the responsibility of being in control of a gun. The person teaching them needs to already know these things. That’s not you. You need to get some experience under your belt before going forward with putting one in a kids hand.

Never put a semi auto anything in the hands of someone who doesn’t know what they are doing or what to expect. Each time one of my boys graduates to a bigger gun I make sure they can handle the load and experience the shock associated with the round before even thinking about handing them something that will auto chamber the next round. This means if it’s a semi auto, I load 1 round at a time until We are both comfortable with how he handles it. Then we move to 2 rounds, etc. I’ve seen experienced adult shooters double tap the trigger because they were startled or didn’t have a good enough grip when it was fired and even drop the damn thing, loaded and ready to fire. Seriously, do a YouTube search on gun fails, it’s quite common. Never do that to a kid. It’s the equivalent of giving someone who’s never driven before, the keys to your corvette and expecting that nothing bad will happen.

Finally, you need to be intimately familiar with their behavior. What’s their attention span, do they follow instructions well and responsible or are they careless and/or defiant? I’d take a responsible 7 year old who takes instruction well to shoot long before I’d take a 15 year old who doesn’t listen. Handing someone a gun is a huge responsibility for both of you. If they hurt themselves or someone else, it’s on you. You’re the adult.
 
#19 ·
I followed the guidelines my father followed.
Dad was a Police detective. I grew up around guns. lots of guns.
Dad would involve me in the cleaning and maintenance of his rifles and service revolver at a young age, guess I was about kindergarten age.
It taught me how they worked and how to handle them safely. It also took the "aura" away. To me guns where not this super special incredible thing I had to play with. Smart Dad.
About 8 years old I got my first BB gun. This was the 60's so I carried that thing around with me every where I went. My Nana made me a sheath for it so I could strap it to my bike. Good Times.
At 10 I got a bolt action .22 and went out shooting with dad in the woods with it.
At about that time my father took me to the morgue where I saw my first couple of gunshot victims. It left a lasting impression on me as to how final the decision to pull a trigger was.
At 13 got my first shotgun and 30-30 hunting rifle. Deer and duck hunting became a passion.
At about 16 dad would started training me with handguns. His .38 service revolver and the Colt 1911 he brought back from WW2. I was in love.
And form there I started my own gun collection.
I have followed these same steps with my twin sons who are now 25 and both are licensed carry holders and extremely responsible with guns.
Just take it slow, and remember not all kids are the same you are the best one to judge their maturity.
I also believe not all kids, just like not all adults are cut out to own guns.
 
#20 ·
Justin, are you the child in question that you are wanting to know what gun(s). Would be good? And on your other post about pull weights. Are you a child with disabilities that is being bullied in school? I sure hope you are not planning on doing something stupid like shooting the bullies. If you are please seek help. I hope my suspicions are wrong. But if they are not please seek help before you do something you will regret for the rest of your life.
 
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