Boy's First Gun

sockgirl77 · Sep 11, 2014

Boy is asking for his first gun. He is taking the Hunter Safety course this week. Guy teaching it is suggesting a 20 gauge. Man of the house is suggesting a 410. Boy is 10. He's right down the middle in being average for height/weight for a 10 year old, BUT he's strong as hell.

Any suggestions? I'm a momma who just doesn't want my son knocked on his ass or have a bruised shoulder. :lol:

eruby · Sep 11, 2014

.22 rifle - bolt action.

If it must be a shotgun, I'd go 410.

sockgirl77 · Sep 11, 2014

eruby said:
.22 rifle - bolt action.

If it must be a shotgun, I'd go 410.

He wants a shotgun. The course instructor was quite adamant about the 20 gauge being a better gun for him. He actually made a comment about .22 not being what he'd recommend because I assumed that he would recommend one. It always seemed to be the first gun in my family. :lol:

redneckhunter · Sep 11, 2014

Id say a single shot 20 gauge would be good for him. He can shoot low brass shells and they wont knock him over. And if he decides he would like to use it for hunting it will be a great squirrel/turkey/deer gun. You can not hunt deer or turkey with a 410. Plus he would out grow the 410. Best bet would be a 22lr for practice shooting and small game hunting

sockgirl77 · Sep 11, 2014

redneckhunter said:
Id say a single shot 20 gauge would be good for him. He can shoot low brass shells and they wont knock him over. And if he decides he would like to use it for hunting it will be a great squirrel/turkey/deer gun. You can not hunt deer or turkey with a 410. Plus he would out grow the 410. Best bet would be a 22lr for practice shooting and small game hunting

I think this is why he suggested the 20 gauge. He's growing quickly. I do not want something that I'll be replacing in a year. We're going to test a few this weekend and see what the boy can handle. I'm curious to know myself. I'm not much of a shotgun person myself, but I want to learn. The kid has just as much strength, if not more, than I do. To date, I've only shot one and it knocked me on my rear.

lawrencewendall · Sep 11, 2014

.22 20 gauge over under.

campns · Sep 11, 2014

lawrencewendall said:
.22 20 gauge over under.

I was going to suggest this as well, but you could peruse the racks of used shotguns to find a youth 20ga or even an Remington 1100 is a soft shooting shotgun.

with kids and youth you have to worry about getting something with too much barrel as it adds cantilever weight and makes them sit back in their stance rather than lean forward like they should.

campns · Sep 11, 2014

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=438896811

Sundazes · Sep 11, 2014

We use 20 ga in boy scouts for kids as young as 9 or 10 for trap. We offer a 410 if they don't like the 20, but most like the 20.

Tacticalglobe · Sep 11, 2014

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rossi-Youth-MP-Combo-Gun-.410-Bore-or-.22-LR/17200848

Bought my son a 22LR/410 with interchangeable barrels when he was 7.

Its a single shot, great leaning firearm.
Teaches patients, long enough barrel for safety.

The 410 kicks like a Mule though LOL.

LINK
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rossi-Youth-MP-Combo-Gun-.410-Bore-or-.22-LR/17200848

BossmanPJ · Sep 11, 2014

My dad started me out with a 410 and that was perfect

Alphabrew · Sep 11, 2014

Not a full auto micro uzi

sockgirl77 · Sep 11, 2014

Alphabrew said:
Not a full auto micro uzi

JoeRinMD · Sep 11, 2014

It depends on what he's going to do with it. If he's going to be hunting birds, or trying trap/skeet, then I suggest a 20 gauge shotgun. With low-recoil loads, he should be fine. A .410 is really an expert's gun. There's so little shot that it makes hitting a moving target with one very, very hard to with one.

OTOH, if the intent is for him to punch paper or shooting static targets like squirrels, then a .22 is the right choice. For that, you could also get him involved in a NRA-sanctioned smallbore youth program. I know they have one at AGC and also at AAFG.

JoeR

Kman · Sep 11, 2014

I have this one for my 10 year old (soon to be 11). He's a BIG kid, but he has handled this one well for almost a year.
I figured the puimp was more versatile than the single shot and the stock spacers give a lot of range to LOP.

http://www.kygunco.com/mossberg-500-super-bantam-field-20ga-shotgun-22vr-barrel-6-rd-blue-25952

Good luck.

sockgirl77 · Sep 11, 2014

JoeRinMD said:
It depends on what he's going to do with it. If he's going to be hunting birds, or trying trap/skeet, then I suggest a 20 gauge shotgun. With low-recoil loads, he should be fine. A .410 is really an expert's gun. There's so little shot that it makes hitting a moving target with one very, very hard to with one.

OTOH, if the intent is for him to punch paper or shooting static targets like squirrels, then a .22 is the right choice. For that, you could also get him involved in a NRA-sanctioned smallbore youth program. I know they have one at AGC and also at AAFG.

JoeR

He's going to hopefully shoot a deer or ten with the thing.

iH8DemLibz · Sep 11, 2014

Gotta go with the single 20 here too.

And a single bolt 22.

gc27 · Sep 11, 2014

My pops started me with a ruger 10/22 stainless. Then, when I was 12, winchester 1400 12ga. Still use both today

Doctor_M · Sep 11, 2014

I think Rossi makes a combo set with interchangable barrels 20ga and .22. I kid always remembers his first gun. Still have mine (single shot .410)... and still use it from time to time.

AntiGun · Sep 11, 2014

My first was a bolt 22mag but I would have been very happy with that Rossi combo especially if it comes in 20ga.

Boy's First Gun

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