Lever, Bolt or Semi?

[ncrotalus]

cz bolt action...

[RNE228]

Start on a bolt action, open sights. Some are available with a "magazine" that is really a guide for use as a single shot. Once mastered you can the use a standard magazine.

I would highly recommend 4H youth shooting program. Looks like they don't start till age of 8 though. When I took my son to 4H shooting program I think he was already 9. It was a great program though.

http://www.4-hshootingsports.org/testnatbrochure.pdf

[sonofeugene]

Bolt. Iron sights. Basics first. My first gun was my father's Monkey Wards (Mossberg) .22

[5.56]

If you had to pick one, the bolt action cricket(or something similar) is the way to go. Both me and my two sisters learned how to shoot on a cricket plus all of their children and my 6 month old daughter have one(long way to go to learn to shoot but I rather buy them at today's prices than tomorrows). I remember being very young at the shooting range and my father opening up a brick of .22 and telling me to shoot as much as I want. The bolt action made me focus more on the fundamentals and making the shot count since it took me longer to reload it. He later got me a pump action .22 and I found my accuracy to go down because I would rapid fire it as fast as I could. I think the lever action would actually be the most difficult for a child to cycle. I wouldn't even consider it until they're in their teens.

I also bought the Ruger 10/22 pink when it was on sale at turners for $169.99. It was hard to turn down a 10/22 for that price even if it was pink! It will be her rifle once she can demonstrate shes ready for it. I actually shoot the pink 10/22 regularly. The hogue stock feels great!

[RandyD]

I've read Cricketts were good. I'll probably buy one of these to start my kid on firearms.

~$150 MSRP

I started my daughter, at age 5, with the same rifle as the one in the picture; pink stock and stainless steel action and barrel. I bought the Crickett scope rings and put a 2.5x Leupold scope on the rifle. The iron sights are not the best quality. The rifle with the scope can consistently shoot dime size groups, so my daughter was able to also work on accuracy.

There are several advantages to this rifle over a 10-22. It is a lot lighter than a 10-22 which is important for a young child. The stock is a lot shorter than a 10-22 which enables a younger shooter to actually hold the rifle properly. A starter rifle should be a bolt action single shot, not a semi-automatic, for obvious reasons. My daughter, now age 13, has graduated to a 10-22, and if anyone is interested, I am open to selling the Crickett.

[Muleskinner]

Single shot for sure..greatly reduces any safety issues. .in a few years maybe a Henry lever as a lifetime gun
have fun

be safe

[AragornElessar86]

crickett or 10/22

[ditchdigger]

Magazine fed

Bolt Action or Semi Auto

Iron Sights

Get her to an Appleseed course

Look into CMP Rimfire Sporter Matches

[beerman]

Pop taught us to shoot with a Remington Nylon 66. Light as a feather but it is a semi. Since its a tube mag fed thru the butstock ,You have to be sure the kids stick the barrel in the dirt when loading. Fun gun, still have it 60 years later.

[dworth]

Thanks to all who replied here. I have done a lot of research, and there are many options. I got a airsoft handgun sometime back and I forgot I had it. I thought I would try her out on this to see how much reaction I got. She was a little timid, so I may be back tracking a little to something more inline with pellet/BB.

She seemed willing, but I don't think she is ready yet!

[dworth]

I could always get a couple to shoot for her while she grows into them