New Rifle today!! My son turns 8!! His First-- Pics---

Would love to see Pics of rifles purchased as a childs first; This is the proud dad Thread. Wife & I were buying for our son, turning 8. We were in academy looking at toy guns, and THE WIFE actually asked if it was time to graduate him to a real rifle. I have been looking at H&R Handy Rifles for years & always wanted one in .308 or 7mm-08. For an 8 year old, though, I really wanted a .243 to start him off with something a little easier on his young shoulder. We shot it in today & had to cut the range session short as they were closing, but I have it shooting minute-of-pig & am anxious to finish dialing it in. He got off a couple of rounds, felt center-fire recoil for the first time and has not quit jabbering about it. He is tickled pink. Here is his first rig---Show us yours!

Good times.......


Can't wait for my boy to be old enough!

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He has a hard time holding it, and has to sit on my lap to shoot it from the bench. He really needs another year to be able to manage it, but I figure it can't hurt to start early.

better to have it now then have to say; gee I wish I would have got him started back when he was.......

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My daughter is 11, and she has no interest in shooting sports or hunting. I have a lot of regret for not starting her earlier. I may err on the side of too early starting him this soon, but unless I get shot I think it will turn out OK.

Here is my nephew with his first gun and first deer at 9 years old. Remmington 710 .234. Deer was killed in South Texas. My son is only 10 months, I'll have to wait for him.

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Nice buck! That is a forever memory for your nephew. Big deer; I assume by "South" Texas you mean Webb county or the valley? I don't see too many hill country bucks that size.

Brackettville, about 30min from Del Rio. 160lb if I remember right. He was on top of the world that day.

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I took one a little smaller than that (140ish) last year not too far from there outside of La Pryor; I wish they grew that big anywhere near my Llano lease--I am probably more likely to post pics of him with his first piggy.

I started with a .410, then went to a .22-- first time I shot a "Real rifle" -- a bolt 30-06, I knew I was in a new world-- of course, I was probably 9 or 10, and not only was my butt in the dirt, my shoulder hurt and did for days...

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A proper right of passage. My first was also a .410; my grandpa thought it would be a riot to instruct me to hold the butt at least an inch AWAY from my shoulder. I was 10ish. He got a great laugh, I got a cool bruise that lasted a week.

Grandpas are so nice...

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I cannot dishonor his memory without a full explanation. He had initially instructed me to pull that stock firmly into my shoulder else that .410 would slap me pretty good. Of course, being 10, I knew far better, and told him it would not hurt at all if it was not touching my shoulder. He smiled, thought about the teaching opportunity for a moment, and said, "sounds great, give that a shot".

Do you guys think it's too early to start looking for a great little gun to buy and put away for her?

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You are in a biased forum for this question, friend. What do you think? I have more guns than I can count purchased with "Legacy hand-downs" as a primary justification. Never be afraid to play the kid card. This purchase was different and special in that it is the first rifle given as a gift.

Thanks so much. It is well passed bedtime for him @ 10:08, and he has yet to put it down. I think he may actually develope the arm strength he needs before this day is out!