What type of gun for my 10-year old.

[JamesCoste]

My son enjoys hunting with my FIL (a retired game warden). I enjoy fishing better so leave the hunting to them. I used to squirrel hunt and bow hunt for deer in Alabama when in college; however, North Florida hunting doesn't interest me too much and I got the aforementioned fishing bug.<br /><br />My son has a BB air rifle and he practices safely with it. I think he is ready for either a single-shot 22 rifle or a single-shot 410 or 20 gauge.<br /><br />Recommendations are welcome as I think this out.

 

[one more cast]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

IMO for a 10 year old I would stick with the BB gun for a few more years.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

In my state 12 is min age for hunting. Might want to check the laws there first before purchasing a firearm.<br /><br />When ready a bolt action 22 and 12g pump were my first guns.

 

[Ron G]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

Let him start shooting the 410 first,i started off at that age with a 20gauge remington 1100 and still hunt with it,when i was at that age dad was right there me.I wouldnt start off a with a 22 until a little bit older,if you are uncomfortable with that get him one of those hi powered pellet riffles first to practice with.

 

[JamesCoste]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

A friend of mine (an avid hunter) gave his 8-year-old son a 410. They skeet shoot a bunch and his son (while supervised of course) uses his 410. My son would like something no doubt.<br /><br />I'll check with my FIL about the minimum age for a child to hunt. My son goes hunting with him several times a year, yet without a weapon of his own.<br /><br />I keep all of my guns in a gun safe and keep it locked. Only my wife and I know where the key is to the gun safe.

 

[Rickfifty]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

Check these out. http://www.crickett.com/TheStore/Rifles/rifles.html

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

look at some of your sporting stores. My dad just bought a single shot 410/22. interchangable barrels and it was not expensive.<br /><br />I had my first 12 guage when I was in the 5th grade. My first 410 in the third, so he's at the right age to teach gun safety, hunting, etc.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

James, I agree with the majority that a 410 is a good first gun. I also don't see any problem with a bolt action 22.<br /><br />For those that think ten years old is too young to handle a firearm, please remember the conditions under which James' son will be using it:<br /><br />

Originally posted by JamesCoste:<br />My son enjoys hunting with my FIL (a retired game warden).

<br /><br />I think a game-warden-grandpa is probably the BEST person to teach his son about gun safety.

 

[JB]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I learned wing shooting with a 28ga, but the range of loads available is very very limited. I tried a variety of shotguns before settling on the 20ga.<br /><br />I would go with a 20ga. Loads as light as typical .410 (3/4 and 7/8oz.) are available and, if you get the 3" chamber you can go up to 1-1/4oz, which is sufficient for waterfowl.<br /><br />A .410 is, to me, an expert's gun. A 20ga patterns the same loads much better and is a more effective and versatile scattergun.<br /><br />I had my first .22, A Winchester mod. 1906, at about 9. An excellent little pump carbine with an 18" barrel. Small and light enough for a boy. A modern equivalent is the Rossi M62 carbine, which is a replica of the Browning designed Winchester 62, a development of the m1890 and m1906.<br /><br />Most people would recommend a single shot as a first rifle. I don't really disagree with that, but if the boy is well trained in gun use and safety I would prefer to give him a gun that he will use for years rather than discard for a more useful model.<br /><br />Which to get? It really depends on what kind of hunting he does with Gramps. Rifle for wilderness squirrels and rabbits, shotgun for birds or settled areas.

 

[one more cast]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I guess you guys are right. If he will be closely supervised then I guess I would go with the 410. Here in NY the min age to hunt was 14 now 12 so my thinking was its not a good thing to teach him its OK to break the law and hunt at 10.

 

[eeboater]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I think I started out on a 410.. then went to a 12 guage... I was proud because all my wussy friends were using a 20 guage while I had a 12

 

[Mark42]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I vote for getting him the 410 if legally allowed because I would rather have someone accidentally shoot me with a 410 than a 22. Especially from any distance. The 410 at 20 yards will be far from deadly. A 22 at 20 yards can go right through my head (depending on the amo/load). <br /><br />Just my 2¢<br /><br /><br />EDIT:<br /><br />Quote "A 22 at 20 yards can go right through my head..." Note this is not due to any special configuration or composition of my head.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I started with my dads .22 when I was about 8, under supervision of course. A lot of target shooting and playing around with dad which was easy living in the country. The next Christmas I got a single shot 410 that had been in my family since my great grandfather.<br /><br />Both are great for beginners depending on what he will be hunting. Only thing is remember to stay with a single shot or bolt action. No semi auto for that age first gun.

 

[neumanns]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

Growing up I had many gun's but one that found it's way under my arm on many forray's into the wood's was an over under 22/410. Squirrel's got the 22 and grouse got the 410. Oh simpler times....wish I had the time to wander around the wood's like that now, stop and take a nap under a big oak, wake up to a squirrel mad that I was there...pick him off!<br /><br />Come to think of it I would settle for an afternoon nap! and squirrel gravy before the nap don't sound to bad either!

 

[Holdimhook]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I agree with KK's suggestion of the 22/410 interchangable. I also agree with the single shot concept of "making one shot count" as well as safety and simplicity for a beginner.Sounds like this young man and his grandpa are about to make some priceless lifelong memories.

 

[NMplayer]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

22 chipmunk

 

[ehenry]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I'd go with a youth model pump 20 gauge...that was the first gun i gave my boy at 9 years of age...he killed his first deer with it that year to. 410 ammo is alot more expensive than 20 gauge too. You can get a 22 cheap and let him plink away with it. A Thompson Center might be something to look at too. They are all single shot and you can get interchangable barrels for them from 22 all the way up to 45/70 and you can also get shotgun barrels for the set up.

 

[heycods]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I agree with frog let FIL/Gamewarden handle the shooting training. My first gun was At 10 yrs, I hunted befour that but the first given to me was a single shot 410, used belonged to my great uncle. I still have it ,and use it. The gun is nearly 100 yrs old now. I like the Idea of the enterchanable barrel 22/410.

 

[JamesCoste]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

Thanks for all of the input.<br /><br />I will probably go to some of my local gun stores to see what they have to offer. <br /><br />A 22/410 hybrid seems interesting. I think he'll be happy no matter what he gets at his age. I also have a 6-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son that will inherit whatever I get him in 5-6 years or so and he will be ready for something with more stopping power by then.

 

[oddjob]

Re: What type of gun for my 10-year old.

I bought a single shot 410 for my two (10-12). They will share it until I feel safe enough to arm both. They have been bb trained for a few years. Last year when I took them hunting with their grandfather I let them target shoot alittle after hunting the morning for dear or a hog. I'm ready to take em one at a time with me for a morning stalk.