At what age did you buy your kid their first gun?

[csaws]

At what age did you buy your kid a firearm (not a bb gun type)? My little girl turns four today and I am trying to decide if now or next year is too soon.

Nothing wrong with bb/pellet guns but that is not the intent of the poll. If you would like to add that info then please feel free to post about it but do not use it as a firearm purchase.

 

[repair]

My son was 10 but I had never owned a gun before he was 8 and I feared guns.

I would say that 4 or 5 is fine as long as you are ready to teach her about operating a gun safely.

 

[Bubbajms]

I know of children who aren't even born yet who have their own rifles..

I think 4 would be okay, just keep it something small that she can shoot comfortably and you're good to go!

 

[fullauto 45]

I bought my grandson his first Ruger 10/22 when he was 8. His mom was a big non gunner. Until I showed him my machineguns and he was in heaven. I took his pictures of him holding the Thompson and I thought she would faint. Now I will be taking him hunting this year for the first time. He's going to be 13 in July.

 

[csaws]

Yeah we had her holding a cricket the other day and tried to have her hold a chipmunk but the cords at Gander were all jacked up. Those cords are a pet peeve of mine, you would think that they could get one of their minimum wage stock boys to untangle those things prior to them hanging them on guns.

 

[Bubbajms]

Hey man, don't mock the minimum wage crowd too much - it's rough out there!!

 

[csaws]

Not mocking them just stating it as I would bet that Gander doesn't pay much more than that. And stated that due to the fact it wouldn't cost them a lot of money to make shopping for a gun easier. By stock boys I meant one of the many teeny boppers that work at the one we go to.

 

[knobcreeknut]

bought my nephew a cricket for his first birthday. bought a savage youth for my son before he turned one. built him his first AR before he was 2. Now at 2 1/2 my son can open the bolt,check the chamber and close it on his savage.

 

[NWI40cal]

My buddies daughter, who is just like a niece to me, turns 4 on the 3rd of march, and I was thinking about getting her a cricket. Well, both me and her dad were. Mom said no to him, but I never said anything about it, and never got a no. (insert evil grin here) - Happy birthday Azalea!

I would say you can buy it for them no matter the age. But to use it they DO have to show a certain level of maturity, and understand exactly what firearms can do. My favorite is the water melon 12 guage/hi power rifle combo. No one can argue with an evil tango watermelon, and the kid will get it, guns CAN be dangerous if not handled properly.

Not only that, but if you do get it for her, you can dry-fire the shi+ out of it at home until they get the movements down before going to the range. (not muzzle sweeping, finger off the trigger) so on and so forth.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

Chipmunk rifle FTW! Each of my daughters received a firearm for their 10th birthday. They are both involved in 4-H Shooting Sports and are now getting their friends interested in the sport.

If I had boys, I probably would have started them off sooner.

 

[jontheturboguy]

Im not a father, but my dad got me my first bb gun when I was 6, and let me shoot the family 22 when I was 8.

 

[Joe Williams]

We got our son his first .22 rifle, a Cricket, at age four. This is his first trip to the range with it.

 

[Turtle]

4.... Picked up old but great condition marlin modle 20 for 50$ (bolt action 7shot mag) Will be a great learning rifle... slow and steady. But untill hes old enough its in the safe.

 

[bft131]

Bought our son his first rifle, Rem. 514 for $40 last year. Gave it to him for his 9th Bday! Boy is he proud!

Now the rest of the gang (2 girls, 1 boy) wants to learn!!

Isnt family great!

 

[Plague421]

I am not a father, but my Grandfather went and got me a Ruger 10/22 at a local pawn shop when I was 7. I still have and shoot it.

 

[gglass]

This is my daughter on her 5th birthday with he new Pink Cricket .22 rifle. She has been shooting with us at the range since she was about 6 months prior to this time.

All of my kids are taught firearms safety and we do not allow toy guns or BB guns in the house to avoid any confusion between the play guns and the deadly ones.

The rest of my children are much older and own at least one firearm. My earlier post in the general section tells how my 19-year old son just shot expert in both rifles and handguns... I couldn't be more proud.

As to the proper age to begin teaching firearm fundamentals and safety... As early as possible. As to when a child should have their own firearm... As soon as they show the maturity for it... Some people may never reach this critical age.

 

[NEOCON]

I bought my son his first rifle at 6 weeks old. Maybe just an excuse to buy a gun even if it is his. He has been through, NRA youth shooting sports a couple times at Redbrush, 4H shooting sports and shot Rifleman at his first Appleseed. He shot his first deer at age 10 hunting from a stand by himself, I was just over the ridge. Usually shoots in the 90s shooting trapp. I believe he is a pretty good shot and really enjoys shooting still at age 17.
My daughter got her first rifle at age 3 she has done the same but has yet to shoot Rifleman or Riflewoman I guess. She will be attending her second Appleseed and hopefully will get the 210. She is now 13.

There are loaded guns all over our house. Teaching gun safety is a must if you have kids. I know some people that shelter their kids especially girls from guns so if they happen to come into contact with one it could be a bad time. Let them have them, let them practice gun safety, get the curiousity out of the way.

 

[koenig clone]

bought a cricket for him at 7. perfect first gun. small. fit him perfect.

 

[dwh79]

Actually it was probably around 1 but she hasn't used anything other than the red rider I got her while she was in the womb. She is 5.5 now and has several that she will hopefully be into when she gets a little older.

 

[TopDog]

I didn't see an age for my daughter. Just this year I bought her first gun. She is 29. I took her to the range for the first time when she was 8 and she has shot with me a few times since then.