Beginner

[scott40]

Morning all, 

My lad is desperate to get into shooting and comes with me whenever I'm out, he is extremely eager to get involved even to the point of helping to clean my gun after a day's shooting. However he is only just coming up to 6 so not sure it's ideal for him to start carrying his own just yet. I have been looking for a small bore shotgun which he would eventually start with, i figured he can come with me and "his" gun until he's old enough to use it himself. Been looking at a 410 but its recently been suggested to get a 28 gauge and start him with that. Just wanted to get the thoughts of the more experienced folk and hear their thoughts on the ideal starting point for him. May be a basic question but I didn't start shooting really until about 10 years ago so my first gun was a 12 bore, except the very occasional go with an unknown smaller gun when I was about 10.

Thanks.

[BobbyH]

I think a .410 Is great to learn the basics of safe gun handling on, I taught my 10 year old nephew on a .410 bolt action.

I haven’t ever shot or had a 28bore so can’t comment on that front sadly.

[scott40]

42 minutes ago, BobbyH said:

I think a .410 Is great to learn the basics of safe gun handling on, I taught my 10 year old nephew on a .410 bolt action.

I haven’t ever shot or had a 28bore so can’t comment on that front sadly.

My initial thought was exactly the same, if I can find him an old bolt action .410 then that would at least allow him to learn the basics. Got a local dealer currently on the lookout for me and hopefully can find something this side of christmas for him.

[BobbyH]

2 minutes ago, scott40 said:

My initial thought was exactly the same, if I can find him an old bolt action .410 then that would at least allow him to learn the basics. Got a local dealer currently on the lookout for me and hopefully can find something this side of christmas for him.

Where abouts are you based?

[London Best]

An old Belgian single barrel folder would be much lighter than a bolt action and folk are giving them away. 
And, in my opinion, six is too young. Wait at least a couple of years.

[Old farrier]

Air rifle should be enough for him to learn gun safety and handling 

6 is a bit young in my experience 10 is far better age for a shotgun 

as for a 410 a good start plenty of second hand yildits ect personally would spend the extra on a second hand modern over and under mainly because it will last him and have a resale value when he gets older it’s a easy step up for him as opposed to going from a bolt action to a break action 

just my thoughts 

[scott40]

15 minutes ago, BobbyH said:

Where abouts are you based?

I'm in worcestershire.

14 minutes ago, London Best said:

An old Belgian single barrel folder would be much lighter than a bolt action and folk are giving them away. 
And, in my opinion, six is too young. Wait at least a couple of years.

I did debate the folding type but not really heard any good things about them other than they fold. I'd be more than happy for him to wait, his patience is getting the better of him though. That's why if I can find something to call "his gun" and he can come with me and just look after it a bit I think he will be happy enough....for now 

[scott40]

5 minutes ago, Old farrier said:

Air rifle should be enough for him to learn gun safety and handling 

6 is a bit young in my experience 10 is far better age for a shotgun 

as for a 410 a good start plenty of second hand yildits ect personally would spend the extra on a second hand modern over and under mainly because it will last him and have a resale value when he gets older it’s a easy step up for him as opposed to going from a bolt action to a break action 

just my thoughts 

I will try and get him to wait but he  certainly loves the idea and is becoming less content with just being a bystander, I haven't used my air rifle in years so didn't really think about that tbh. 

Thanks for your input, hadnt considered resale value or how the switch from bolt action to break action might confuse him. 

[Old farrier]

15 minutes ago, scott40 said:

I will try and get him to wait but he  certainly loves the idea and is becoming less content with just being a bystander, I haven't used my air rifle in years so didn't really think about that tbh. 

Thanks for your input, hadnt considered resale value or how the switch from bolt action to break action might confuse him. 

Wait until he wants a atv to drive 😂😂😂

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

When my lads were growing up, they both started by firing a 12 bore O/U at puddles just to get them interested in the physics and the effect.

I would crouch down with the gun in my shoulder and they would aim it and pull the trigger. They were 4 years old at the time.

Eldest took to shooting and is very proficient.

Youngest never got the bug, he came beating once and that was enough.

The absolute worst thing you can do is rush them or hurt them, that will be the end of any interest.

Let him come along with you, good hearing protection and safety glasses are a must.

As he gets more interested and big enough get him a cheap air rifle so he can learn in the back garden.

Good luck.   

[ditchman]

yup air rifle first please....got my 1st air rifle at 8...then my first 410 (on someone else certificate) but got my certificate at 13

[scott40]

28 minutes ago, Old farrier said:

Wait until he wants a atv to drive 😂😂😂

 

He used to sit on my lap driving the gator on the previous syndicate I was part of.....loved that too 

[scott40]

26 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

When my lads were growing up, they both started by firing a 12 bore O/U at puddles just to get them interested in the physics and the effect.

I would crouch down with the gun in my shoulder and they would aim it and pull the trigger. They were 4 years old at the time.

Eldest took to shooting and is very proficient.

Youngest never got the bug, he came beating once and that was enough.

The absolute worst thing you can do is rush them or hurt them, that will be the end of any interest.

Let him come along with you, good hearing protection and safety glasses are a must.

As he gets more interested and big enough get him a cheap air rifle so he can learn in the back garden.

Good luck.   

How you mention crouching down and allowing them to aim and pull the trigger was howling imagined starting him off, just with a smaller bore. 

He's just outgrown his ear defenders so a new set are also on his christmas list this year.

Thanks. 

23 minutes ago, ditchman said:

yup air rifle first please....got my 1st air rifle at 8...then my first 410 (on someone else certificate) but got my certificate at 13

Air rifle seems to be the general consensus so think that's the route I'll take. 

Cheers.

[Yellow Bear]

1 hour ago, scott40 said:

Air rifle seems to be the general consensus so think that's the route I'll take. 

Look at the crossman Ratcatcher or a Gamo Delta Fox as a possible for weight

[Westley]

I started my 3 Grandson's with air rifles in my back garden when they were around 7 or 8.  The drawbacks with the various single barrel guns are, the bolt action and the fully folding single barrels, can be a pig to carry for a youngster. This can lead to their inadvertently pointing the gun in the wrong direction when trying to carry it. I bought a used Yildiz 28 bore O/U with a standard stock. I then had that cut down, but kept the piece to replace later, as they developed. You can get light load 28 bore cartridges which equal the .410" load. The gun is not a lot heavier than a single barrel but they will get more use from it than a .410". Once they progressed to a 12 bore, I sold the Yildiz for the same price that I had paid for it.