best gun for when my son turns eight or nine?

[jfh]

If that is the same Cricket I evaluated about ten years ago, I would consider a bit on the 'small' size for 9 years and up. It's what might make sense for up to age nine. I think the patterns have gone through / over to new companies since I checked that one out--my sample was a bit too cheaply made, I thought, and had ratty sights.

Whichever gun one gets, make a project out of it--get him his own cleaning kit for it, and (with direction), have him help pick out new sights, or a new buttplate if you cut it down--that sort of thing.

With these Junior rifles, make sure they fit him fairly well; get the pull down to almost too big, but not a stretch. Then buy and fit longer stocks, or add buttplate extensions as he grows. By the time he's 14 or so, you can then have a second project--building up a 10/22. There must be as many aftermarket parts for a 10/22 as there are for 1911s--

Jim H.

 

[oneounceload]

My kids all started with a Marlin Lil Buckaroo - I still have it for my grandson (hope to meet him soon)...VERY accurate, single shot, and kid-sized

 

[kdave21]

I bought my boy a Remington 33, a single shot vintage rifle for when he is old enough. You can pick up a beat up one for 75 on gunbroker, or a really really nice one for about 200. It is a bolt style gun. I feel like the way it is set up which (in my opinion) causes it to be a bit safer than some other guns. Also, by the time he gets to be old enough to give it to his son, it might actually be worth something, as by then it will be about 100 years old. I think a 10/22 is a bit aggressive for a first gun if he is not used to handling it, but that is just me. I can see how it would be fun to customize as a father son project.

 

[youngda9]

My first gun was a reming 581S when I was 12 years old or so, I'm 31 now. This is a light bolt action gun that uses magazines(5 or 10 shot). It is a great little shooter. The stock could easily be cut to fit a smaller child(not sure how big your boy will be in 7 years). The gun doesn't cost much also, <$250.

My father and I glass bedded the action and free-floated the barrell. It will put 5 rounds of Fiocchi Match ammo into 3/8" at 50 yards, I did that just last week. She's a tack driver. I killed many squirrels with it while hunting with my father over the years.

 

[ghoster]

all 4 of my boys have a nef ( little partner ) i think thats what they call it.

single .22 with a 410 barrel. one screw in forestock to change between barrels. comes in a nice carry pouch with sling.

the 10 year old has got 4 tree rats already this year with the 410 and the 8 year old 2 with the 22. 8 yo is a heck of a shot.

4 & 5 year old have yet to use theirs but their deadly with their bb guns.

only paid like 90 bucks apeice for them and their pretty accurate.

 

[mack]

Browning BL-22, http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=005B&cat_id=024&type_id=100 a beautiful rifle a heirloom for him to take care of and pass on and one that he can be proud to shoot his whole life - can load one at a time if you want but won't load the next round until the lever is thrown. A sweet shooting rifle with a short smooth as butter lever throw. Well balanced with finely finished blue steel and wood stock. Also a cowboy style gun and very accurate and you can shoot any 22 from short, long, long rifle of any power - hyper, standard, or subsonic, feed any bullet type from hp to rn.

Also, having kids and having got them a single shot cricket - I can tell you that while it may be a good gun to learn on initially - they quickly outgrow it and it is not a gun that they will want to shoot long - they will not typically treasure it and will want to shoot an "adult" type gun. Correct me if I am wrong - but I understood that you were looking for your child's first gun - meaning it was to belong to him - by all means get a single shot if you want to teach/start him on one but you buy it and let him learn on it and then for "his first gun" get him one that he can grow with and treasure - one that his kid's will admire when they are growing up.

 

[DeadLiver]

I don't know if the Marlin 981 would be too big, but I really like the tube feed bolt action. Single shot .22's are a little aggravating for me, because the cartridges are so small. It gives you the capacity of a semi with the peace of mind of a bolt gun.

 

[RCB]

I started out on a Rossi 22 pump. I was shooting it when I was 5 (well the first time when I was 4, but still a little shy of being able to adequately hold it on my own).

My father later bought a chipmunk to start my brothers on.

 

[customizedcreationz]

I would say a single shot or bolt action clip fed 22 lr would be the way to go.

 

[CoRoMo]

I'd avoid buying a youth model for my kids. Once they hit a few growth spurts, the gun won't likely be touched again.

 

[CCWB]

My kid was just shy of 2 when I started her with the Remy 597. She sat on my knee, with ear and eye protection and pulled my trigger finger. Now at 3, she's got a bow she shoots on her own, and the 22 she can squeeze on her own. This poor old man just holds the rifle for her, and supervises all shooting sports. At 3, she shoots better than adults because she's having fun and has nothing to prove.

Get him a rifle and see how he likes it.

BTW, I know you really just want a new gun

 

[Chuck24]

I would get a single shot no matter what it is. I had a bb gun then went to a Speedmaster 552. I could handle a semi-auto, because I was trained in gun safety very well by my dad. But with the Speedmaster I knew that I had 18 or 22 shots to get the job done when plinking around. I think a single shot would provide more disciplined shooting. An "I've got one shot, so I better make it count attitude."

 

[wyohome]

I bought a Remington Model 514 new for $22 back in the day. I still have it and both of my boys learned to shoot with it. Hard to beat a single shot 22.

 

[KBT1911]

Anyone ever think about starting off with a blackpowder rifle? If you could find one in a small enough calibre it would teach the basics of what makes bullets work and the importance of hitting the target with the first shot. I used a blackpowder pistol to explain to my daughter what makes bullets fly and then demonstrated on a jug of water. It was great fun. BOOM! SPLAT!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

my first rifle was technically a 30-06 savage but i started with .22s about 3-4 years ago(i'm 16) I first started learning on a single shot match grade .22 and quickly went to the repeaters and semi-autos.

 

[PandaBearBG]

I say start with a BB gun, cheap, easy to practice, less dangerous for a youngster, and it's best to start with the very basics. Requires little supervision once rules and safety practices are ingrained and we all know little boys can focus in on their toys for HOURS and I don't know if you want to sit there all day every day if he really gets into it. Plus they can practice all day in the backyard without too much worry. No need to jump the gun (no pun intended) A BB gun can be a boys best friend at that age. Cheap, affordable ammo, low danger risk, no real supervision needed after he learns the basics.

 

[tasco 74]

i'd get a savage mkII bolt rifle for a first rifle for a boy that age....

LIFE IS SHORT.....

 

[fattboyzz]

I say start with a BB gun, cheap, easy to practice, less dangerous for a youngster, and it's best to start with the very basics. Requires little supervision once rules and safety practices are ingrained and we all know little boys can focus in on their toys for HOURS and I don't know if you want to sit there all day every day if he really gets into it. Plus they can practice all day in the backyard without too much worry. No need to jump the gun (no pun intended) A BB gun can be a boys best friend at that age. Cheap, affordable ammo, low danger risk, no real supervision needed after he learns the basics.

I agree 100% ...... start with a bb gun an teach him safety then when he is ready ....step up too the 22 bolt action ....

 

[m_kirk2001]

cricket all the way!

.22LR Cricket single shot bolt action all the way!

 

[BamaBob]

.22 in lever action lots of fun

 

[medmo]

Chipmunk single shot .22 lr. That is what I got for my son when he was at that age for his first rifle. The sights are good, quality is excellent and the rifle is super accurate. Don't buy a rifle for him to "grow into". If you want for him to learn how to shoot with something that isn't awkward, cumbersome, heavy and is a good fit get something his size now. You can upgrade to something else after the growth spurt later. They offer a full size stocks to replace the youth one if someone bigger wants to shoot it comfortably.

Here's a review:

http://www.gunblast.com/Chipmunk.htm

 

[ndh87]

Marlin Model 60

 

[Owen]

My first gun was a Marlin 15Y (aka the L'il Buckaroo, mentioned above). It was a good little gun. It's a bolt action designed to be single loaded. I don't know the answer to this, but if has the same receiver as the Model 15, you may be able to just put it in a adult stock when your kid gets a little older.