HighPlainsDrifter 466 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 My boy turns 6 shortly after X-mas which usually means taking the one-two sucker punch to the wallet this time of year. He's getting a mini long board and a sauce kit (hockey related) for Christmas. We've been floating the idea back-and-forth about going out to the range together. I think he's due for his first BB/pellet gun. Anyone have any suggestions? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 Get that boy a Daisy Red Rider! Perfect starter for a 6 year old boy. Add plenty of DAD time showing him safe operation,and marksmanship! Follow this up with a .22 for his 7th! Having a Birthday 2 weeks from Christmas myself - I salute you for celebrating him with his OWN day! I remember getting TOO DAMN MANY 'birthday/Christmas' presents, mostly from siblings and relatives and almost ALLWAYS the same thing that would have been a present for one or the other. Fortunately the Parents made sure that I DID have a happy birthday! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Veprz 94 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 Yup bb gun or 10/22, cant go wrong! And with a 10/22 you have infinite options to upgrade in the future (father/son project). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
liberty -r- death 1,445 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 I'd go with the classic Red Rider to build a foundation with. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 Does the Red Ryder require physical cocking effort? I ripped out my right thumb nail trying to de cock my BB gun and the lever action slammed back into my thumb. Ouch. Blood. Screaming. I was about 6 or so. Mom and Dad handled it very well. I did not. Do they make kids BB guns that are CO2 powered? No physical strength needed to cock or de cock? I dunno. Consider a single shot down sized youth type .22rf rifle? After you son grows out of it you can also cut down the barrel and make a good single shot short barrel rifle. Add a good can and you have a skunk buster. The nite vision can be added later. Just another way of keeping the first firearm in the family. My brother still has MY first rifle. A Savage 24V .22 .410. All Oregon State Laws, US Code Laws And NFA Rules Apply. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Machinist 150 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 I'd go with the classic Red Rider to build a foundation with. Every kid needs a Red Ryder BB gun. Go for it! He will never forget this birthday. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
montec 164 Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 I just got my son a 10/22 from psa. Houge stock amd treaded barrel for 2 bills recently. My son is 8, I am looking to get a bipod for it before i give it to him. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Nemo 882 Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 Barret M107 and all the ammo he can shoot! That will either scare the crap out of him or make him a man! Really though.....Red Rider! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bvamp 604 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 f that, ill mail u one of mine, hatsan 22 pistol. the kid cant cock it himself,but you want it? pm me you addy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 IMO the red ryders haven't been made well for a very long time. As a kid, I would want something that feels "real". "real" means it looks and feels similar to whatever dad uses and likes. A mossberg cricket, or a pellet gun with a scope might feel more "real." They would also be enough more accurate to make his effort pay off or not. I heard someone else who gave his experience, and I decided that I would follow his family's method. I forget who it was, but there was a guy talking about how he learned to shoot well. It was approximately the following: His father or grandfather got him a single shot pellet gun or 22 and would allow him to "check out" the gun and a few pellets or shells when his chores were done. (obviously with supervision level tracked to his previously shown responsibility) The gun was given with a stack of paper targets, and there was a shooting desk, with a target stand at a fixed distance. maybe 15 yards The targets were the rimfire targets with a series of squares. ammo was earned by chores and dispensed in small quantities. Maybe enough for two targets. If he brought back a target with a 5 shot group or two all on a half inch square from then he would "earn" some more bonus ammo. The challenge:> There was a second target holder at 50 yards. The kid was told, that if he was confident, he could get his dad to observe him shooting at the same target at 50 yards. If he could put a 5 shot group on each of the 1/2" aiming squares all in the black then he earned some bigger prize (maybe a more potent rifle, but I forget). If he failed, then he have to wait to attempt the challenge for a few months. (3 mo? I forget. Long enough to be a big deal to a kid, but not so long as to be discouraging) This system made him work at it rather than just blazing away. When he did cub scouts rimfire, he dominated. Access to better toys came from mastery of what he had. Range time was a reward for good behavior, and responsible handling. Being able to practice under less obvious supervision taught individual responsibility, and that his parents would trust him if he was trustworthy. Obviously you could tweak the structure to fit your kid and your style, but the basic idea was great. A more reactive variant would be using those birchwood casey rimfire resetting targets rather than paper, and the challenge is setting all the flippers in order and resetting the target 3 times consecutively. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Nemo 882 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 My grandfather taught me. If I could shoot it better than him, I earned it! Had my first .22 pistol by 14. Loved going up to the deer camp during the summer. By the end of the week we were shooting farmer matches as soda cans were in little pieces within about an hour from the BB guns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 Red Rider FIRST! BECAUSEit is not easy to operate, takes some EFFORT! When the 6 yr old masters safety, THEN get him a better one! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 If we are doing firearms then do firearms. Only reason for a BB gun would be if you able to turn him loose with it and not worry over much about what he gets into. Otherwise a single shot 22 of whatever make you like, some good choices out there between Savage and Henry IIRC. If it aint burning powder it is a toy.. Have fun 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
netpackrat 566 Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 Fun for all ages: https://www.amazon.com/Barnett-1037-Bandit-Toy-Crossbow/dp/B0000B0ETV 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 Fun for all ages: https://www.amazon.com/Barnett-1037-Bandit-Toy-Crossbow/dp/B0000B0ETV That does look fun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
netpackrat 566 Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 Of course, I bought one for my niece one Christmas and my sister sent it back, and didn't speak to me for about 10 years. But it's all better now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 That can't be all there is to that story, but I don't want to hijack a thread about a great birthday for HPD's kid. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 Fun for all ages: https://www.amazon.com/Barnett-1037-Bandit-Toy-Crossbow/dp/B0000B0ETV Actually that is a pretty good idea, marked it for one of the grandyounguns for Xmas. He already has a rifle and a mountain bike so was kind of at a loss myself... this for those indoor days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
netpackrat 566 Posted November 10, 2017 Report Share Posted November 10, 2017 That can't be all there is to that story, but I don't want to hijack a thread about a great birthday for HPD's kid. No, but it was a pretty stupid story anyway. Much butt-hurt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackHeart762 288 Posted November 11, 2017 Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 BB and pellet guns are great indoors when its a little chilly outside, a cardboard box and some old towels make a good bullet trap. Some BB guns are basically disposable, the quality has gone down so much over the years . Some are good for a lifetime, considering how I cherish the firearms my father gave me as a child, something that lasts has a special place. BH 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerry52 893 Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 I remember when my baby brother at 4 and I was 16 got hold of my red rider. He had shot out a lot of windows in the neighborhood before they caught up with him Never saw the gun again Hope he has a great birthday 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 Seems most moms out there put the kabosh on a BB gun inside the house on general female principle. I think it's a good idea if done with... well half a brain. Actually thinking a pump air rifle indoors on those days it's just not happening outside might be a good time killer... hold my beer. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted November 13, 2017 Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 quality battery repeater airsoft and a catch box does the indoor job better than BB. Note that there is a significant difference between walmart garbage and good stuff, including the projectiles. But even with walmart garbage and glow in the dark bbs, you can keep all your kits on the quarter sized bullseye of a sticky target at about 30'. Practicing like that while working in a city made my shooting with the real thing on the weekdend get a lot better years ago. It's like a dry fire drill with actual feedback on your hits. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 14, 2017 Report Share Posted November 14, 2017 Airsoft would be more fun yes, but the air rifle serves more practical applications than the airsoft apart from killing snow days in the living room . Yeah I am pretty cheap sometimes 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted November 14, 2017 Report Share Posted November 14, 2017 If anybody is interested I found a source of Red Ryder 170 shot capacity BB guns. Look very familiar. $36.00 bucks. Let me know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 Airsoft would be more fun yes, but the air rifle serves more practical applications than the airsoft apart from killing snow days in the living room . Yeah I am pretty cheap sometimes Yes, if a pellet rifle. I don't think the present red ryders do, I've seen them be unable to reliably break the skin of apples. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 (edited) Airsoft would be more fun yes, but the air rifle serves more practical applications than the airsoft apart from killing snow days in the living room . Yeah I am pretty cheap sometimes Yes, if a pellet rifle. I don't think the present red ryders do, I've seen them be unable to reliably break the skin of apples. Yeah pretty much most wont penetrate a card board box, which is exactly what makes them useful for what they are intended, toys. No shame in that at all. The air rifle on the other hand has good practical use for small varmints and stuff without making noise, but you need a good sized box and better stuff it well with rags. I gots lots of old flooded out rags that used to be good clothes lol I know people think this is trivial but when you are facing a winter where there will be days and even weeks where going outside is akin to entering a death match with nature well... one needs useful indoor distractions as keeping that sat antenna working in a blizzard is just not happening and the power is likely out anyway... Edited November 15, 2017 by Rhodes1968 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 https://www.umarexusa.com/products/umarex-steel-force?utm_source=UX_Home&utm_medium=Featured_Product&utm_campaign=Steel_Force_Featured_Product_UX&utm_content=Steel_Force_Featured_Product_UX Get two. You'll play with it too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Mark 2,452 Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 I know people think this is trivial but when you are facing a winter where there will be days and even weeks where going outside is akin to entering a death match with nature well... one needs useful indoor distractions as keeping that sat antenna working in a blizzard is just not happening and the power is likely out anyway... Maybe you should buy him a home in Florida. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,218 Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 (edited) Earlier this year, Sportsman's Outlet was selling Henry Golden Boy presentation grade .22rifles where you could specify the serial number with anything alphanumeric. I picked up one each for both of my daughters. They have their names and birth dates as the serial numbers. I will present the appropriate rifle to the first born of each when the time comes. Don't know if Henry still has that offer, but it would be pretty cool to have a rifle as a kid that said "this rifle belongs to me" right in the serial number. Edited November 16, 2017 by Spacehog 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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