My grandson is 7 years old and i would like to in
troduce him to shooting, what would you recommend
I start him on, I think a rifle first would be best. how did you dads start your kids?

My kids all started with a bolt-action Marlin Glenfield .22. I set it up on a bench, and loaded one round at a time. They all started around 5 years old. The only downside was the stock being a bit too long for proper form, but they adjusted and eventually grew into it.

As they got bigger I worked them up to handguns with my MkII (except my oldest who got to suffer through the SR22 and it's lousy extractor and crappy trigger). The oldest is almost 13 now and has his own AR and bolt-action Marlin. He was just asking me the other day what I thought he should buy next. He's considering either a lever-action .357 Marlin or a Remington 870. This afternoon he went with me to help teach his aunt (my SIL) how to shoot and I watched him make a one-hole group with the MKII at 5 yards. Proud dad moment .

There are options for kid trainer rifles out there, and if you have disposable income to dump into them that might be the way to go. I don't regret doing it this way, though. My kids have had to learn on bigger stuff, but on the upside as they get older and more capable, they enjoy shooting them even more instead of having cheap junk "kid" guns cluttering up the safe that nobody likes to shoot anymore.

Ruger 10/22
Years ago we started our daughters at 6 years old on Ruger 10/22’s.

An American classic.

+++ The 10-22. Its more fun for a kid and a great tool to teach fire discipline.

A semi-auto goes against conventional wisdom for a kid's first gun, but other than that, the S&W M&P15-22 is ideal, as its collapsible stock can start out short and be adjusted longer as he grows. CZ makes a great bolt-action kid-sized rifle.

Yep, if you want to start him with a bolt, definitely CZ.
A CZ .22 will make any kid grin with pride.

When starting, first check eye dominance.
Good to know what you are working with, right/left handed, right/left eye dominance.

I started my kids off with a Keystone Chipmunk rifle. The whole thing is scaled down for kids and works well up to about 12yrs old or when they begin to hit puberty and really grow. However, I found feeding it kind of a pain due to the lack of a feed ramp you had to place the round directly into the barrel. Works for kid size fingers, but a pain for adults.

I’d recommend the CZ 457 Scout as they are scaled down a bit for younger shooters. Top it off with a red dot scope and plink away. I’d spend some money on fun targets and tanerite, my son love shooting steel out to 200 yards now, he's 12 using my Ruger 10/22 and CZ 455 Varmint.

Tons of great rifles out there, Henrys, Browning Micro BLR, etc. Take him to a big gun shop and see what fits him and what he likes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jcsabolt2,

Don't overlook the Appleseed Programme.

An air rifle. Easy to set up in the back yard. Single shot, learn to make it count.

I started my son at 7 on a single shot Henry which required him to manually cock the firing mechanism. It had really nice fiber optic open sights which I thought would be better than starting him with an optic. We moved up to a youth model 10/22 about a year later. I still have both and plan to teach my future grandchildren when we are blessed with them.

quote:

Originally posted by SigJacket:
An air rifle. Easy to set up in the back yard. Single shot, learn to make it count.

Beat me to it. Much cheaper practice to learn the fundamentals. It’s what I’m doing with my son, who is seven.

Desert Eagle...

Okay, maybe not. SigJacket has the best idea that I could think of.

Cheaper practice sessions and also not worrying about hearing protection would be a huge plus.

Ruger precision rifle in 22.. The stock is very adjustable. They take all 10/22 mags they have a very good bolt. Great trigger.. And unbeatable for the price
I also have a suppressor on mine.. Kids love it

We started our youngest on a BB gun, then we moved up to my 10-22, and this Christmas we got him a Ruger American Compact in .22 to try and force him to try to focus more on the fundamentals instead of just blasting away with the 10-22. It wasn’t my first choice for a bolt action .22 but the magazine sharing with the 10-22 meant that I wouldn’t have to invest more in magazines.

Can’t beat the 10-22. Very forgiving and ammo is cheap.

I started my kids on airsoft. With eye pro it’s hard to hurt anyone. Then bb/pellet. Then a single shot falling breechblock 22. By Savage I believe. Takedown with a screw/bolt through lower receiver. Got the basics down on airsoft though.

For me it was a bolt action .22, I'd suggest the same.

I would suggest a 10/22 with a Blackhawk collapsable stock. Light and easy to adjust length of pull.