At what age you get your first rifle?
At what age was your child when you purchased them their first rifle?
Type of rifle?
If it was an air rifle, when did you get/give a cartridge rifle?
(An concise comments about what your experience was good or bad is requested as well.)
> At what age you get your first rifle?
>
> At what age was your child when you purchased them their first rifle?
>
> Type of rifle?
>
> If it was an air rifle, when did you get/give a cartridge rifle?
>
>
>
> (An concise comments about what your experience was good or bad is requested as well.)
I think I was 8?
This is why I am asking.
.22 bolt action remington
I was 18, bought my first rifle, a Ruger 10/22. It rocked.
I was 14 and one beautiful Christmas morning opened my brand spankin' new "J.C. Higgins" .22 cal...probably from Sears-Roebuck. I had a hand-me-down Daisy BB gun before that.
My boys were about that age and the oldest got the very same 22 and the youngest received a single shot 20 ga., "Youth Model"..I don't remember the manufacturer.
5
My daughter was never too interested in guns.
Grandson...5
I got a bb gun at about 8. I got a crappy 22 marlin at about 14 along with a .410 shotgun. The marlin would have been okay except that I think it had been dry fired (a no-no with rimfires because it dings the chamber mouth).
I got my son a single shot break-over .22 at about 10 or so. Thompson makes a nice break over 22 that is a little pricier than others (such as Rossi or H&R) but the build quality seems to be worth it. The single shot bolts are good too, but most of them require the shooter to pull the hammer knob after working the action and they can be stiff, especially for a young shooter, so check that out. Savage makes a single shot bolt with a peep sight (a good way to teach a young shooter) that automatically cocks the gun. I haven't handled one of those, but Savage makes good, economical weapons.
Single shots offer some safety for a first time shooter, and I think that's a good idea.
Had lots of loaded rifles and shotguns around, don't remember a time without rules in place about handling them, couldn't point a cap gun at anyone, rule being, If you don't intend to shoot it, don't point any firearm at it, knew I would get a spanking if ignored, the spankings started with the hand, then razor strap then wooden paddle the final graduation was the same wooden paddle but with 1/2" holes drilled it for abusing those rules. First rifle I owned was a Remington manufactured Springfield 03A3, civilian marksman program. Next was a Long Colt 38 I bought from my mother, given to her by my Uncle Hammer who had been a Sheriffs deputy, he had taken it from a prisoner who was a bit hard to handle, that pistol has 3 notches cut in the bottom of the left grip, Apparently they were there when Hammer took the thing. About 13 or 14 when I started getting my own firearms, but had the use of many under supervision or special permission prior to that. When I went into the Navy at 17 I had about 18 or 19 of my own.
jud
I got a BB gun handed down from my brother, can't remember the age.
Got MY first gun when I was 12 for Christmas, Remington 870 12ga. (still love it)
The first rifle I bought was last year, a Del-Ton AR-15. I used my uncle's Win. Model 70 in .243 for deer hunting up until this year when I bought a Remington 700 in 7mm Rem. Mag. Hopefully there will be a .308 in my near future not sure of the make I want yet. 😀
Ruger 10/22 at 8 and a 12 gauge Remingtion 1100 at 10.
Gary
> At what age you get your first rifle?
Crosman Pumpmaster 760 @ 8 or 9
> At what age was your child when you purchased them their first rifle?
Daisy Powerline 880 @ 11
> If it was an air rifle, when did you get/give a cartridge rifle?
Gave my son a Marlin Stainless Model 60 SB .22LR @ 12
> (An concise comments about what your experience was good or bad is requested as well.)
About 38 years ago, my Crosman experiences provided me opportunities to improve myself and my choice of targets/windows...good and bad. 😉
First rifle, about 32 First shotgun at 15
My daughter hasn't yet asked for a rifle. She is 32
My wife just asked for her first firearm. She wants a pistol @ age 57
B-)
First bb gun at age 8. I didn't get another one for 40 years+/-.
Got my first rifle, Mossberg 22 at 12 yrs old. My first gun was a 20 guage shotgun when I was 8. My dad was a hunter so I has the good fortune to start early. I don't know jhow young I was when I got my bb gun but I have very early memories of it...
My kids aren't interested enough quite yet, maybe my 16 yr old daughter some day..... She's the only one that I've taught to shoot so far, and she's my youngest.
PS. My mom bought the 22 for me when I was 12 because my dad was killed in a B-52 crash when I was 11 (he was the instructor pilot). I saw this Mossberg at the local gun store and fell in love with it. I think it was $50 in 1969.......
30 Carbine when I was 18 or 19, prior to that I lived in Europe, not permitted or needed. No kids but if'n I was a parent I'd gift a black powder rifle kit to the youngen... build it first then fire it.
BB GUN 8-12,
22 bolt action @ 12 with lots of supervision every-time I wanted to shoot for the first 6 months or so. Somewhere around this age I took a hunters safety course. After that I pretty much showed my parents that I had proper firearm understanding and demonstrated and responsibility so I was allowed to shoot bigger calibers. This didn't mean that I had access or permission to any guns without asking.
First went hunting with Pops at age 14 with a Rifle my Grandfather purchased for me when I was born. Remington 721 30-06, Still have it, and shot a deer with it this year.
Downsides, Even though I could show great understanding of firearm safety in front of my parents, this didn't stop me from having bb gun wars with my friends for many year. Somewhere in the late 80's early 90's we were all smart enough to switch to paitball guns.
Daisy BB gun for 9th birthday - still have it and it shoots good. My dad and I would use kitchen matches for targets with the object to light them
Ithaca Model 49 saddlegun single shot lever action 22 for my 11th birthday - I got proficient enough with it to shoot competition as the youngest Boy Scout camp rifle team member.
410 pump shotgun for my 15th birthday - shot many a skeet with it doing as good as 24 out of 25. Not too many shoot skeet with a 410.
My daughter took a hunter safety class in high school and never wanted a gun. The only thing she has ever shot (to my knowledge) is a pellet gun she and her husband got to take care of yard pests. But my SIL and I do go hunting together.
Daisy BB gun was my first given to me. I don't recall my age probably somewhere around 10 or so.
The gun I ever shot was a 12ga in my great-grandpa's backyard (way out on the farm). I was 8 and could barely lift the thing. Doubtless it about knocked me down. Doubtless as well, Grandad got just as much of a kick out it than the dam thing gave. If in a different of course. 🙂
The first rifle I actually bought myself was a Russian SKS - age mid-30s.
I have no kids so I haven't bought any for anyone else.
BigE, reminds me of my dinging to shoot the first time, small and young. Dad had enough so got his 12 gage, set me up, I shot it and he caught me and asked if I wanted to shoot it again, knowing if I didn't it would be a very long time until he would ever let me shoot anything, so I had another go. Own a 12 gage but I am a rifleman with a liking of revolvers and shooting a shotgun is still avoided, I am 70.
jud
Still waiting.
Never happened. I think one has a couple of hand guns he bought himself.
I was about 12 or 13 when my dad bought me a Ruger M77 (.308)...love that rifle...got caught skipping school one year, and he confiscated it for several months.
My son was about the same age when I bought him a 22 magnum...good little gun.
He's 16 now, and I was rifle shopping for him last weekend...probably a Remington 700 CDL (.30-06) or Colt AR 15 6920 this time (big difference, I know).
All experiences were positive..IMO responsible gun ownership is an important part of growing up.
Dairy BB Gun at 8, 20 gauge Ithaca Single Shot at 12. Course we had a 22 cal single shot, a marlin 30-30 and a bolt action 16 gauge laying around KI could use one I got my shotgun.
