Whicn for a first gun? BB or rimfire?

[P95Carry]

Looks like the vote is running pretty 50/50 right now.

I tho will vote for a pellet gun .. rifle or pistol. BB's are a bit ''lame'' whereas a decent pellet gun is actually not only potentially quite accurate but .. requires just the same safety procedures of any gun .... and is sufficiently powerful to at least allow for ''ratting'' perhaps.

Mind you .. anyone starting with a BB gun had better be taught the safety drills - just the same!!

Once profiency in handling (is PROVEN) .... and the actual (competant)shooting of this starter, then ... a .22 is a great next move.

 

[Shel]

Don't shoot your eye out!

 

[NRA Instructor]

Pellet first to teach gun safety. BB's will richochet.
And with that first gun add eye protection that should be worn at all times.
These are not toys, they are real guns. Some pellet guns can even be used for hunting in Europe.

 

[TrapperReady]

.22

I've got a 5 (nearly 6) year-old son, and just went through this recently. Since we live in a suburban area, he is not able to shoot a BB gun in our backyard (and he's sure not going to shoot it in the basement by the widescreen TV).

So, when he shoots, it will be at the range, with me and/or my wife. Originally, I was going to get a pellet rifle, but most of the ones I checked out had adult-sized LOP and the cocking mechanism required a good deal of stregth and coordination. I really don't like messing with CO2 cartridges, so I ruled that out.

I then started looking at youth-sized .22s. The Rogue Chipmunk fits him perfectly, and the action is simple and easy to operate. Also, I like the additional safety and responsibility inherent in a single-shot for instruction. So, next summer, I'm going to teach him how to shoot...

Now, I just need to find/make a scaled-down 1907-pattern sling... hmmm.

As long as he does OK with that and shows the correct attitude and level of interest, I'll probably get him started with a single-shot 12ga (with VERY light handloaded shells) around age 8 or 9.

Darn kid'll probably be outshooting me by the time he gets to high school. Not that there's anything wrong with that.