Kid's first rifles, Airguns and/or .22's

[2rocky]

Lets chat about kids and guns. My littlest (now 7) is a motivated shooter. She loves shooting cans in the backyard with her Red Ryder BB gun

How do you handle when your kids get to move up to a .22?

She had trouble seeing a scope picture on a Remington Nylon 66. Maybe I just need to stick to the open sight Model 514 for her.

 

[YoungNVHunter]

I agree with sticking to open sights. I feel that once my boys can be proficient with open sights on the .22 then moving to a scope on the .243 will be an easier transition. When I was first teaching them how to shoot I started out drawing the outline of the sights on a piece of paper to help describe how to line up the front post with the rear sight on the bullseye. Of course before either one is allowed to chamber a round they have to recite the rules of gun safety.

 

[chuckyd313]

My 9 year old daughter is a great shot with a Chipmonk .22 single shot rifle.

 

[Much2hunt]

Both my daughters started out with open sites and single shots, later came the scopes,clips and bricks upon bricks of ammo.
Notice the pink heart she carefully painted on the stock of her 10/22!! It's name is on the reverse side ..LOL!!!

 

[idnative1948]

Open sights and singles. Make every shot count. How we grew up and how the grandsons will (when they are with me).

 

[1_pointer]

My son got a air rifle last year for Xmas and will be getting a .22 for his 7th birthday this coming June. He's just now, sorta, kinda being able to use a 4X scope that I have on my 10/22. He has some eye/hand dominance issues (right handed, left eyed) and I've had a bit of a time getting him to use irons correctly. For us anyway, the red dot siight has been great! Easy to understand, put the dot where you want the bullet to go and since it doesn't magnify its easy for him to keep both eyes open. His .22 will have one as well.

Much2- Thats awesome you lovely daughters like to shoot and hunt! Well done!

PS- Forgot to add, one of the things I like about the air rifle is that we can shoot it in the garage. A cardboard box 4" deep stuffed full of plastic bags fully stops the BBs with 3-5 pumps. For use this is great as I live in hell (ie a subdivision ) and we can shoot more often this way.

 

[sbhooper]

Both my daughters started out with open sites and single shots, later came the scopes,clips and bricks upon bricks of ammo.
Notice the pink heart she carefully painted on the stock of her 10/22!! It's name is on the reverse side ..LOL!!!

Nothing like hot girls and guns! I'll bet their boyfriends tread lightly! Great pics. You are very fortunate to have girls that like to shoot and hunt.

 

[putm2sleep]

When to move up? Not sure it is age specific.
>imo : If you throw the kid out in the backyard with pellet gun and empty beer can, and it consistently comes back looking like swiss cheese! - time to take it up a notch to the .22. Go plinking with 500 rounds, if you can find .22 ammo
My son used(s) his great grandpa's long rifle open sights.
Might try them out with a .410 - to the range w/ clays, learn and drill on skills, technique and etiquette.
Voice activated - they can yell 'pull'.
Son is 8 and shoots a youth 20 gauge and 7mm08.

 

[putm2sleep]

much2hunt - nice work sir!

 

[putm2sleep]

movin up

Here are some action shots. I wish I had some hero shots! So bummed.

 

[idnative1948]

We still have jackrabbits in Idaho?

Both my daughters started out with open sites and single shots, later came the scopes,clips and bricks upon bricks of ammo.
Notice the pink heart she carefully painted on the stock of her 10/22!! It's name is on the reverse side ..LOL!!!

 

[MKotur325]

You could also look at some of the Short Stocked .22lr's from CZ. Scopes are easy enough to mount, but they also come with irons. First guess on the Nylon 66 is that the scope is just too far forward for it to be comfortable for her.

That being said... I started with an old single shot .22lr w/ irons. It is far easier to learn on Irons and transition to an optic than the other way around.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

Checkout the new Ruger americans they make compacts for youth, new ones have butt stocks that swap out for different sizes.

 

[HSi-ESi]

Add another vote for single shot .22 LR w/ Iron sights. My brother had a Chipmunk .22 (from Marlin). My first .22 was a Marlin bolt with a tube magazine. I would save up my allowance for a brick of .22 shells and then spend all day shooting.

I also really like teaching on the 'Red Rider' style BB guns. Simple to @#)(# - and they are slow enough that you can track the BB through the air. It really gives good feedback to a new shooter on what the BB is doing in the air. It'll help cement bullet travel when they get older.

 

[elkantlers]

I picked up a wood stock for a 10/22 on ebay several years ago and cut about 2" off the butt. It was perfect for the kids and really improved their accuracy.

 

[big28hunter]

My grandson is only 3. As soon as he was born I went and got him a Crickett Firearms "My First Rifle" from a company here in my home state. Depending on how he matures will determine when he gets it. For right now it's Cabelas Outdoor Hunter Foam Dart Rifle. I don't want to rush anything but I can't wait until his first African Safari hunt with his Pop Pop.

Love the kid hunt pics! Great stuff!

 

[SFC B]

My 9 year old daughter is a great shot with a Chipmonk .22 single shot rifle.

x2 but ours is a Crickett in pink!!

 

[1_pointer]

You could also look at some of the Short Stocked .22lr's from CZ. Scopes are easy enough to mount, but they also come with irons. First guess on the Nylon 66 is that the scope is just too far forward for it to be comfortable for her.

That being said... I started with an old single shot .22lr w/ irons. It is far easier to learn on Irons and transition to an optic than the other way around.

Cool thing about the CZ Scout is that it comes as a single shot, but can be fitted with 5 and 10 round mags. IMO, that'd be great to allow it to 'grow' with them. If they offered it in left hand my oldest would probably be getting one.

 

[Much2hunt]

Here are some action shots. I wish I had some hero shots! So bummed.

His smile tells it all....

 

[huntme]

I would stick with open sights,and take a good amount of time to spend with your daughter,teach her to use open sights,then put a scope on it.:hump: