Ok, last year, i got my best friend's kids (6, 10, 12 years old) all BB guns.
the 6 year old (boy) got a Red Ryder (which bTW, is a REALLY neat little toy, accurate within it's range and quick to pump, i almost got me one
)
the 10 year old (girl) got a one shot pellet gun (she's the shooter of the bunch)
and the 12 year old (girl) got a CO2 powered semi-auto BB pistol
Did I steal christmas or what?
The other presents were completely forgotten as we all went outside to shoot (big backyard, into a field, with a 6 foot wood fence). I got permission to do this BTW, and it was a hoot, they all got pretty good
This year I've gotten married to a bigger gun nut than me and we went over to the friend's house (and once again we are spending Christmas there) and checked it out. Teh 6 year old just doesn't seem ready to step up to a real 22LR. But the girls are ready, and this time the parents have no idea what we are getting. The boy gets an full auto airsoft UZI (which again looks like fun and I might need one), and the girls get a Marlin 60 (each).
But no ammo, so this way they won't be tempted to shoot in the backyard on christmas day, a 22LR will go right through that fence.
I'm going to steal christmas again! (oh, this year we got the parent's one of those cheap gun lockers (stamped steel), but better than nothing.
So, yes, get him a BB gun, see how he likes it and handles it and if he's ready mentally to move up. AT least you'll know. and I vote Red Ryder, fun.