Yep you need a BB gun to teach the little ones. And a daisy red rider is just the ticket.
Of course you'll need a grown up bb gun just for grins. "Hey bubba watch me shoot that rat with my bb gun" POP "Gosh Rob, your bb guns sounds like a 22." "My bb gun IS a 22." Thats why we have RWS, Sheridan, etc.
OK the kid is growing up we need a 22 rifle. Something with a youth stock and in single shot. Mossberg, Marlin papoose.
The kid has out-growed (as opposed to out grown) that single shooter. Time to get a semi auto 22. Ruger 10-22, Marlin etc.
You take up bird hunting. Buy Remington 870 wingmaster.
You take up deer/elk hunting. Buy Remington 30-06
The kid wants to go Hunting. Buy Marlin 336 30-30. Buy Remington Express 12 ga 870.
The kid has grown tired of the 30-30, you tell him to buy his own damn rifle.
Buy nice old service rifle 1903a3, as backup rifle in camp. Keep hunting. Note Kid buys nicer rifle than you.
Buy 45-70 guide gun.
Kid buys deer barrel for shotgun, takes it bear hunting. Buy shotgun barrel.
Find a good deal on Garand/Carbine buy it.
Decide zombie werewolves on motorcyles and or alien vampires may attack this side of the tracks. Buy 223 that holds many bullets.
Note kid, now an adult has come to same conclusion.
Buy another, nicer 45-70.
Kid buys .54 hawken, asks you about black powder hunting.
Borrow kid's rifle. Break it, spend more than its worth to fix it. Swear never to shoot a Hawken again.
Kid asks you offhand if .375 H&H is overkill for moose.
Buy 22-250 varminter, tell kid you are too old to chase moose. Insist 220gr 30-06 is enough gun anyway. And when are we going?
The kid is now having kids, buys a red ryder bb gun...
(that one was for my dad)