Daughter's First Firearm?

[lukem]

Thanks for everyone's input. I'll keep you updated on what I decide to get but it sounds like a Ruger 10/22 will be my next gun.

[burley]

Started mine on a Marlin Model 917 bolt action ,very accurate

[Zippo74]

Hope Im not too late here but I kind of disagree with the guys and Ill explain why

My daughter is also 11 ... Turning 12 on the 4th of July....

April 21st will be her first hunt... She drew a turkey tag up here in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan and I could not be more proud.. She can not wait to start hunting.

I have had my daughter shooting now for 4 years and she still can not shoulder my stock Ruger 10/22

Its not that she cant handle it.. Its just that she plain and simply can not reach the Trigger.

So while I completely agree that a .22 is the way to go...I would really be scared of getting a full sized rifle for fear that she will not be able to use it comfortably..

I would recomend a Chipmunk .22

Its a very small Bolt Action Single Shot rifle

Not only does it fit her very well.. but its light enough for her to handle all day if needed.. I dont have to worry about her having to Lift hard to swing it around and potentially loosing control if it.

There is no Magazine for her tender little thumbs to get sore loading. Easy to teach maintance..

And another thing it teaches is accuracy.

Kids see a squirell.. Shoot... and then chase it with the other 9 rounds till the squirell is either gone.. or winged..

With a Single shot rifle you can teach accurace... you get 1 shot make it count type of thinking...

Which is why when we started looking at Turkey Hunting I had to find a decent solution for her to hunt with.. Nothing I had would work.. Either to big and heavy.. Or to much Recoil..

So I went out just last week and bought her a Remington 870 Express Junior Model. Its exactly like a 870.. but its a 20 Guage and everything is Smaller.. GOOD GOD I CANT WAIT....

Im a bit worried about a 20 Guage having the knockdown power needed to take a turkey.. Which is why Daughter will get the first bird... With Dads Remington SP10 ready to finish the job if needed.

But thats just my 2 cents.

I think a small revolver is a good choice.. I havent taken that step with my daughter yet...But when I do it will be a revolver..

Look into the Chipmunk .22 for me.

[HK4U]

Originally Posted by Zippo74

Hope Im not too late here but I kind of disagree with the guys and Ill explain why

My daughter is also 11 ... Turning 12 on the 4th of July....

April 21st will be her first hunt... She drew a turkey tag up here in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan and I could not be more proud.. She can not wait to start hunting.

I have had my daughter shooting now for 4 years and she still can not shoulder my stock Ruger 10/22

Its not that she cant handle it.. Its just that she plain and simply can not reach the Trigger.

So while I completely agree that a .22 is the way to go...I would really be scared of getting a full sized rifle for fear that she will not be able to use it comfortably..

I would recomend a Chipmunk .22

Its a very small Bolt Action Single Shot rifle

Not only does it fit her very well.. but its light enough for her to handle all day if needed.. I dont have to worry about her having to Lift hard to swing it around and potentially loosing control if it.

There is no Magazine for her tender little thumbs to get sore loading. Easy to teach maintance..

And another thing it teaches is accuracy.

Kids see a squirell.. Shoot... and then chase it with the other 9 rounds till the squirell is either gone.. or winged..

With a Single shot rifle you can teach accurace... you get 1 shot make it count type of thinking...

Which is why when we started looking at Turkey Hunting I had to find a decent solution for her to hunt with.. Nothing I had would work.. Either to big and heavy.. Or to much Recoil..

So I went out just last week and bought her a Remington 870 Express Junior Model. Its exactly like a 870.. but its a 20 Guage and everything is Smaller.. GOOD GOD I CANT WAIT....

Im a bit worried about a 20 Guage having the knockdown power needed to take a turkey.. Which is why Daughter will get the first bird... With Dads Remington SP10 ready to finish the job if needed.

But thats just my 2 cents.

I think a small revolver is a good choice.. I havent taken that step with my daughter yet...But when I do it will be a revolver..

Look into the Chipmunk .22 for me.

Luke here is another thought. I do not know how big you daughter is but if she needs a smaller rifle and you still want to stick with the semi auto, Ruger now makes a compact model. sSorter barrel and stock. The following site has a picture and discription.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/736676011681.html

[toreskha]

It sort of depends on the height/weight of the kid, the length of their arms, etc. Especially when kids are still growing, they may or may not be able to handle a full-sized gun yet.

Just go with what fits...let her try a few good ones out and see which one feels the best. If she can handle a full-size rifle with a modified stock, then that's great because she can keep it for a while and maybe pass it on later.

[Scarecrow]

another for the ruger 10/22. I've got the 22 inch barrel version that is only sold at walmart. mine is in stainless. I love it! lots of fun. cheap to shoot. not hard to clean and very well built. not to mention accurate as can be.