It will soon be time for my sons first gun help out

[Saltwater60]

I did not discuss which guns I liked when I was young but which one I bought for my son as his first. That was not so long ago that tactifool guns were not out there then. Yet somehow, a bolt action rifle, plain and simple, was good enough in his eyes. As I said, it is one of the best and safest as a first gun, in my opinion. The OP asked what we thought and I told him what I thought based on my experience. Sometimes we old men have a bit more experience and sensible suggestions than you young whipper snappers care to admit.

You need to remember, the OP is not looking to buy his son some cool toy with which he can play but his first firearm. In such a case sticking to the basics is usually the best choice beccause it leaves the coolness factor where it belongs - out of the equation.

Yes and thank you all for your input. I asked because I want real life input from intelligent people who know. My son does not play call of duty. Maybe I'll go bolt action and make it appeal to him with a sniper appeal. Scope, bipod, cool sling, and some stickers or something.

The only thing I dont agree with is it was not my opinion about not liking bolt guns it's what he's drawn to. He loves his M4 BB gun and that's what did it. My older son was the same way. I bought him his first gun and he would not do anything other than a left handed semi auto. That was tough to find. Thank god savage makes a lefty model 64 for like $150 or I'd have bought the browning a22 for $600.00.

I just want him to like the gun so he uses it and I'm afraid of its not semi auto he will loose Intreat fast.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Do you think he'd like something like this?

You can even convert the Mini 14 to .22 LR

Mini-14 Kits

 

[Saltwater60]

Do you think he'd like something like this?

You can even convert the Mini 14 to .22 LR

Mini-14 Kits

That's cool. I had no idea.

 

[Glenn B]

I just want him to like the gun so he uses it and I'm afraid of its not semi auto he will loose Intreat fast.

Saltwater60,

Think of this, if you give him all the bells and whistles now, when a semi-auto starts to get boring, what will you do to stimulate his interest then. Will you regress to the basics of a bolt action and would he be willing to do so? That is one of the reasons I recommend starting with the basics and working your way up. You know your son and I do not - so if you really think a bolt gun would bore him to tears then I would say go with a semi-auto.

Of course, you can try to see how he might feel about a basic bolt action gun before that. You don't need to dress it out to make it look like a sniper's rifle to do that. My idea of teaching my kids to shoot was to train them in the basics when young and was never to make a gun appealing to them, at that young age, by way of equating it with killing people. I did not make guns look tacticool to impress them because tactical (whether cool or not) essentially always implies the gun is for the killing of people and I did not want that to be the main thing that drew my children to firearms and shooting at least not when they were pre-teens or even young teens. I have no qualms about guns being used for self defense or for police or military purposes but I sure did not want to plant the seed in my youngsters' heads that killing type guns were the only useful, worthy, cool or exciting ones. Self defense stuff came in dribs and drabs at first and in big chunks in later years but all after they got the basics down with basic equipment.

So, first I taught them to shoot targets with a bolt gun, then with a semi-auto, then moved onto shooting small game with my son (my daughter had discovered boys by the age to advance with guns and that was it for her shooting career) with the bolt gun (they also got in some limited shooting with my semi-auto 10/22). Thus, I geared his first gun toward one that would be inherently safe, would do well on targets and squirrels or rabbits and I used one that fit him well (I cannot over-stress how important is the fit to the child). The thrill was not in the gun being cool as much as in him owning his own gun being the cool thing, added to that was the actual range time, and sure enough there was a coolness or enjoyment factor in the anticipation of the hunt and in prepping for it. It was a growing, learning, and responsibility experience done at a good pace. Learning to shoot the bolt action safely, properly and accurately was part of the trials my son had to pass as he prepped for hunting and as he prepped for his next gun - one in semi-auto. Bear in mind, if you are not opposed to hunting, you could take your son hunting after his next birthday if you are so inclined. It is a wonderful experience and will help form a bond unlike many others when you trust him to walk through the woods with you (and under your subtle supervision) while he is holding his own rifle and has to pick his own shots.

I have to wonder, for such a young child, why bother making a rifle seem like a sniper rifle as if it is some sort of tacticool game piece? Why not make it out to be what it is - a serious and potentially deadly tool! Later on, when my son was older and much more mature than when he got his first bolt gun at 9 or 10, he got his first semi-auto. Note that he had progressed to larger bolt actions in between and also shot some of my semi-autos like my 10/22 before he got his own. When we could do so legally, he also began shooting pistol (on trips outside of NY State to free states). As a side note I am pretty sure that, by the time he was in his teens, had someone broken into our home and threatened us with death or great bodily harm, he would have defended us if he got the chance because we had discussed self defense often enough; that was all without him ever having owned a tacticool gun back then.

As he progressed, he got some training from me in self defense shooting, probably not enough based on my knowledge and experience as an instructor, and I regret that now since he has moved away but there were few if any ranges near where we live in which I could train him in SD or tactical shooting. Hopefully he will take a self defense style shooting course since he recently got his concealed carry permit in AR. Who knows, maybe I will get to spend a couple of weeks with him and give him some training in the near future. All along though, since that first bolt action rifle, he has maintained his interest as he has progressed from one level to another. That method has worked for us and has been working for many, many, many other parent shooters and their children over the years. If you decide to go that way and it does not work with your son(s), you can always sell the bolt gun (contact me, I may buy it) and buy another semi-auto.

I won't push it any more, that is it from me except to say good luck with whatever you decide and I wish you and yours many years of safe and happy shooting.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

[nortatoga]

@Glenn B wish I could have liked this post ^^^^^^^^^^^^ more then once!!!!!

 

[dsdmmat]

I vote a 10/22, you can get them with synthetic stocks if he has to have a black rifle, the Marlin model 60 is a good choice too. He is not going to sweat the small stuff on his first rifle as much as you think he will. The only thing he will be salivating about is it is his rifle and you got it for him.

My daughter is into bolt guns and my boy is into semi autos. The first gun I bough the boy was a break action 357 magnum carbine. The girl inherited her grandfather's Whetherby Mark XXII. They both have bolt guns and semis now but, they shoot the style they prefer more than the others. My daughter actually shoots pistol more than anything else.

 

[DoD1776]

well my done is getting older and more responsible so I will be getting him a gun in a few months. He really likes the AR look and the sporting riffle look. I'd like to get him a .22 so this poses a problem. I looked and it seems quite hard to make these NYS complaint or there's not a lot of them out there. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks guys.
He shot me .223 this weekend and did great except it hurt his shoulder a bit. He was fine for a while and also the .223 will hurt my wallet so .22 is a good place to start for sure.

How old is he? I'd recommend getting him a 9mm rifle. Those are real fun! You could get him a M1 Carbine or something. CMMG Mk9LE Semi Automatic Rifle 9mm Luger 16" M4 Barrel 32 Rounds Collapsible Stock M4 Handguard Black Finish 90A1A7D - 852005002288

 

[Glenn B]

How old is he? I'd recommend getting him a 9mm rifle. Those are real fun! You could get him a M1 Carbine or something. CMMG Mk9LE Semi Automatic Rifle 9mm Luger 16" M4 Barrel 32 Rounds Collapsible Stock M4 Handguard Black Finish 90A1A7D - 852005002288

He could get his son that 9mm rifle, that is if he lived in a free state where such was legal. That is not a NY compliant rifle, not by a long shot! Are you sure you are not a law enforcement officer, or a Brady bunch type, who is poising as a teenager in these forums with the intent of trying to troll us into trouble with the law?

 

[Eddie Gunks]

I survived with a single shot 22.

Get him an ar.

Tell him when he can hit a 4 moa target at 300 with irons and a 1 moa target at 300 with your scoped bolt action rifle he can have both, the ar and your bolt gun.

(I hope your bolt gun shoots 1 moa..... )

 

[DoD1776]

He could get his son that 9mm rifle, that is if he lived in a free state where such was legal. That is not a NY compliant rifle, not by a long shot! Are you sure you are not a law enforcement officer, or a Brady bunch type, who is poising as a teenager in these forums with the intent of trying to troll us into trouble with the law?

U can buy legal hi points at stores. I was just showing him what they would like like

 

[Acer-m14]

whats his age .. ?? weight n height ..? .. i bet he could shoot my .223 axis and love it .. it weighs like lots .. i filled the stock with bondo and lead shot in the for arm .. i think i posted the weight of it here some place .. LOL .. its heavy .. my close friends boy ( 12 yrs old ) .. will shoot a axis 270win .. and likes it .. just cant hit the bull .. then he shot my 223 axis .. that tannerite snowman blew up .. he was shooting just a few inches to the right with dads 270win .. he even shot my mosin , hard for him to hold because of how heavy it is for his size .. but he did it .. got a mark on shoulder , i did too .. i got one one too see . want to try again .. ok .. ..

many choices for him ,. ar in 22 and up ..
10/22
i grew up shootin a old moss 152 semi 22lr semi ..



my 223 ..

 

[nortatoga]

U can buy legal hi points at stores. I was just showing him what they would like like

Link?

 

[DoD1776]

Link?

Herb Phillipsons doesn't have online shopping. They have a 9mm Ar-15 looking hi point NYS complaint

 

[DoD1776]

whats his age .. ?? weight n height ..? .. i bet he could shoot my .223 axis and love it .. it weighs like lots .. i filled the stock with bondo and lead shot in the for arm .. i think i posted the weight of it here some place .. LOL .. its heavy .. my close friends boy ( 12 yrs old ) .. will shoot a axis 270win .. and likes it .. just cant hit the bull .. then he shot my 223 axis .. that tannerite snowman blew up .. he was shooting just a few inches to the right with dads 270win .. he even shot my mosin , hard for him to hold because of how heavy it is for his size .. but he did it .. got a mark on shoulder , i did too .. i got one one too see . want to try again .. ok .. ..

many choices for him ,. ar in 22 and up ..
10/22
i grew up shootin a old moss 152 semi 22lr semi ..

View attachment 16930

my 223 ..

View attachment 16931

Hot sniper

 

[nortatoga]

Herb Phillipsons doesn't have online shopping. They have a 9mm Ar-15 looking hi point NYS complaint

Do they have pistol grip? If so they may be for law enforcement only.

 

[DoD1776]

Do they have pistol grip? If so they may be for law enforcement only.

No. It's that ugly complaint stock

 

[nortatoga]

No. It's that ugly complaint stock

I have not seen one of these, do you have a picture?

 

[Saltwater60]

whats his age .. ?? weight n height ..? .. i bet he could shoot my .223 axis and love it .. it weighs like lots .. i filled the stock with bondo and lead shot in the for arm .. i think i posted the weight of it here some place .. LOL .. its heavy .. my close friends boy ( 12 yrs old ) .. will shoot a axis 270win .. and likes it .. just cant hit the bull .. then he shot my 223 axis .. that tannerite snowman blew up .. he was shooting just a few inches to the right with dads 270win .. he even shot my mosin , hard for him to hold because of how heavy it is for his size .. but he did it .. got a mark on shoulder , i did too .. i got one one too see . want to try again .. ok .. ..

many choices for him ,. ar in 22 and up ..
10/22
i grew up shootin a old moss 152 semi 22lr semi ..

View attachment 16930

my 223 ..

View attachment 16931

I like the .223. My son loves his older brothers scopes .22. We shall see. I have time. His birthday is not until March.

 

[nortatoga]

I like the .223. My son loves his older brothers scopes .22. We shall see. I have time. His birthday is not until March.

The old way of thinking was to teach shooting a rifle with iron sights! That has changed! If the kids are not hitting anything their not having fun! So a scoped 22 is the way to go. I have both bolt action and semi auto centerfire rifles and I shoot my 22 bolt actions and semi auto rimfires more! Economically you can't beat shooting a 22.

This past weekend I shot in a Tactical practice match at my Club, twice during the course of fire we had to shoot from weeakside. I didn't do to good and will need to practice before the next one. But I will be practicing with a 10/22 not my Mini 14 that I shot in the match! At $25.00 for a 500rd brick compared to $37.00+ for a 100rd box of Federal from Walmart it's a no brainer.

 

[Saltwater60]

The old way of thinking was to teach shooting a rifle with iron sights! That has changed! If the kids are not hitting anything their not having fun! So a scoped 22 is the way to go. I have both bolt action and semi auto centerfire rifles and I shoot my 22 bolt actions and semi auto rimfires more! Economically you can't beat shooting a 22.

This past weekend I shot in a Tactical practice match at my Club, twice during the course of fire we had to shoot from weeakside. I didn't do to good and will need to practice before the next one. But I will be practicing with a 10/22 not my Mini 14 that I shot in the match! At $25.00 for a 500rd brick compared to $37.00+ for a 100rd box of Federal from Walmart it's a no brainer.

I like your way of thinking. That's what I find with my kids. After the scope shooting I can always bust out the old iron sights and see what they do. My goal is to get him a gun he likes and will shoot. Honestly a bolt gun I do t think he will shoot. I bought him a BB gun and I tried to get him to buy a Benjamin pump riffle. He was having nothing of it. Only wanted the m4 clone. I honestly don't think he would have shot the Benjamin even though it's a far superior riffle. He shoots clay birds out of trees with his BB gun that has plastic open sights better than I do. He is a great shot. He will move and shoot a string of 6-7 clay birds at different heights and distances and hit them 100% of the time. He even does double taps until they break. Honestly he's a 10 year old, but he shoots like a seal team 6 member. His eye sight is better than 20/20 and it shows.

 

[nortatoga]

I like your way of thinking. That's what I find with my kids. After the scope shooting I can always bust out the old iron sights and see what they do. My goal is to get him a gun he likes and will shoot. Honestly a bolt gun I do t think he will shoot. I bought him a BB gun and I tried to get him to buy a Benjamin pump riffle. He was having nothing of it. Only wanted the m4 clone. I honestly don't think he would have shot the Benjamin even though it's a far superior riffle. He shoots clay birds out of trees with his BB gun that has plastic open sights better than I do. He is a great shot. He will move and shoot a string of 6-7 clay birds at different heights and distances and hit them 100% of the time. He even does double taps until they break. Honestly he's a 10 year old, but he shoots like a seal team 6 member. His eye sight is better than 20/20 and it shows.

I just put this magpul hunter stock on one of my 10/22's. It can be made to look more tactical and still be NY compliant!

 

[GuyMontag]

more tacticool than any AR

 

[Saltwater60]

I just put this magpul hunter stock on one of my 10/22's. It can be made to look more tactical and still be NY compliant! View attachment 17011

That's nice and you can't go wrong with a 10/22.

 

[ICEMAN]

I have several ruger 10/22's(scoped, red dot and irons only) and a scoped savage mark II bolt 22 with a with fluted heavy barrel. The rugers are always fun even after 30 years since my first one. I use the savage to practice on a 50 yard indoor range. It gets boring shooting bigger calibers on 50 yard range and it's a waste of money on ammo. I really like 308's and my AR's, but would never consider giving up shooting 22lr. Also, they are the only firearms my wife will shoot.

 

[Saltwater60]

more tacticool than any AR

That last riffle is cool. What is it.

 

[nortatoga]

That's nice and you can't go wrong with a 10/22.

That Butt stock is adjustable and comes with 2 more spacers so he can grow with it! Also cheek combs are available for use with a scope. I need to order a set of them and sling lugs!

 

[GuyMontag]

Saltwater60, they're all Rem 40X converted repeaters, just different chassis/stock setups.

Those are "tactical" trainers if ever there was such a thing, with all the bells and whistles, and little expense spared.

 

[Saltwater60]

Saltwater60, they're all Rem 40X converted repeaters, just different chassis/stock setups.

Those are "tactical" trainers if ever there was such a thing, with all the bells and whistles, and little expense spared.

After looking at the prices I'm thinking you spared no expense, but that's a little out of my price range.

Thanks for making me drool like crazy though. Nice gear.