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Suggestions for 7 y/o's first gun
- Thread starter alabasterjar
- Start date
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weedsnager
Marksman
I went with a ruger tactical .22, it has an adjustable Ar type adjustable stock
ibe got the axiom stock on mine. Works very well for little arms. And doesn't break the bank either.
For my (at the time 9yr old) Daughter, I have my dad's old single shot 22 that he got when he was around 8 and a Ruger 10/22, both of them were "too heavy" for her. So I took her to the gun shop to try out different ones. I ended up getting her the M&P 15-22 for 3 different reasons. It is super light, It has the rail so I started her out on a red dot sight so she could hit things. (She quickly moved up to flip up sights) And the other reason I got the 15-22 was due to the collapsible stock, so it grows with her, and Adults can shoot it as well.
CDNN has the Colt M4 .22 with an adjustable stock for 12 cents under your limit....CDNN SPORTS - COLT M4 CARBINE 22LR
CZZ452 Scout youth. Best shooting 22 i have. It comes with a single shot mag but will take 5 and 10rd mags. Nice trigger too. I doubt you will find one in the less than $300 that will shoot as good. CZ 452 2E ZKM Scout .22lr Youth
I think a bolt action is a great place to start too. I have several 10/22's. My first 10/22 (first gun) came at age 12. I thought about doing the same with my kids, but ended up with a Savage Cub. It's an awesome little bolt action with an accutrigger. I started them with irons and eventually installed a low cost scope. I've thought about selling it several times, but $10 says I'd regret it once I'm older and little ones come around again.
I did the same thing for my son...Cricket .22lr with the polymer stock. My son was 8 at the time and he could not handle my older 22" Marlin 60. Too heavy and to large. The Cricket was small enough & light enough that it worked perfectly. The stock fit him well and it was so light he could handle it easily. And I got it for $109.
I preferred having the single shot as he slows down and works on his fundamentals. Now that he is almost 11, he can handle my Marlin better. But he likes to rapid fire it and finds it boring if I make him slow down. For some reason he does not find the Cricket boring since it is naturally slower due to being a single shot bolt gun. I also believe that although they are primitive, the peep sights that come on the Cricket are much easier for him to use.
We often setup a row of old pop cans filled with water on a 2x4 at 25 yards. With only iron sights, my son will usually hit 8 to 10 of 10 on the first shot for each can. This year we are going to move it to 50 yards and see what he can do. He LOVES doing that and has been looking forward to winter being over so we can go out again.
Strange thing is, I love shooting that little bolt gun too! And I can tell you that little inexpensive gun is darn accurate. It always puts them where I aim them without fail.
Overall, I am impressed with the little Cricket and I recommend them as an option. However, as many have noted in this thread, there are several other good rifles that fit into your price range as well.
Have you thought about getting a Chiappa Little Badger? It's a single shot rifle that is very light. It comes with some rails to mount a red dot too. It's great for storing too since it can almost fold in half. This is all for under $200 at most shops.
I bought my son a Henry Youth Golden Boy for his first rifle. It will be a bear to handle when he is younger, but it is something he will have forever. I plan on buying a Cricket for him to plink with until he is strong enough to handle the Henry.
We have a 13 month old and a (almost) 2 month old. I will most certainly be giving them the exact same rifles, as I don't need to hear them comparing who has the better gun.
We have a 13 month old and a (almost) 2 month old. I will most certainly be giving them the exact same rifles, as I don't need to hear them comparing who has the better gun.
I think a 10/22 like a lot of the guys are saying would be good. I also think that getting him one set up like an AR would be great because then he will be ready for a "real one" soon enough. You could also think about a 22 pistol of some sort depending on when you want to start him on those.
ncuster852
Plinker
Im getting my son (7 turning 8) a savage rascal. Single shot 22.
I really like the Cricket, my youngest son just bought one for one of his grandchildren he is raising. It is a inexpensive gun that really fits a child well. It is also one of the safer firearms to train with as it is a single shot so if the child gets excited after shooting and waves the rifle around it cannot fire a second round. (I know we all train our children for safe use of firearms but a young child can forget when excited, especially his/her first few outings.)
I don't like the idea of "passing down" firearms as my children really value their first gun. My middle son (near 50 now) is in process of having his Mossberg 410 professionally restored. He has several fairly valuable firearms ~ a collection of Henrys, S&W's including a 50 S&W mag., AKs, SKS's and Beretta's) but says the .410 is most dear to him!
I don't like the idea of "passing down" firearms as my children really value their first gun. My middle son (near 50 now) is in process of having his Mossberg 410 professionally restored. He has several fairly valuable firearms ~ a collection of Henrys, S&W's including a 50 S&W mag., AKs, SKS's and Beretta's) but says the .410 is most dear to him!
Gonna have to cast a vote for a Marlin 795. When I squirrel hunt my 10/22 and Henry both stay at home. That Marlin is very inexpensive, and very light weight. I shoot CCI Mini-Mags and its crazy accurate. At 25 to 30 yards, I can cover 10 shots with a quarter. Very inexpensive...would make a great first rifle.
