To start a kid off in shooting and hunting, and as they grow and "mature" into different stages, what guns do you feel are best ?

Here are my suggestions/opinions............
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First starting into shooting: a good, accurate pellet or BB rifle, to learn the basics of holding, aiming, fireing...and most of all, safety

Then, as they mature and learn........
Plinking: single-shot rimfire .22

Small game: same rimfire .22, and a single shot or pump .410 bore shotgun

Birds/waterfowl/turkey: 20 gauge shotgun...preferrably a single shot or pump

Big game: Short action centerfire rifle of the .308 family, in either single shot or bolt action

This is pretty much how I was "brought along"...and how I did with my son...and it worked out fine..... These are just my opinion(s)... What are yours ?

I agree with all joe, I used a winchester lever action 30\30 for my first rifle until I graduated to a 270. Of course may depend on the terrain a kid hunts too, PA is mostly big woods and wood lots and those 2 guns work well in this state wouldn' t rule out a 243 for a kid but not sure about knock down power though with them.


Shot gun I started with a single shot 12 guage.

As a kid it was pellet guns first.


Lever action bb gun to start all might be best because the pump pellet guns can get some good velocity.

30/30 is a nice set up with little kick.Darn hard to keep sighted in though.If I had to start over I might consider a 308.
I started with a 16 guage but it depends on the size of the kid.If he's on the small Side I'd say a 20 guage.

I went pellet gun, .22 and .243, then .270 mag as a kid. I too, think bb guns or pellet guns are great for starters, as far as an intorduction to marksmanship and safety.

Then yeah, a .22 for small game (I wanted to get a Cricket for the rugrat....but, she's more into fishing as it is now).
Then a starter rifle for me would be something like a .243, but then from there go on to rifle of choice (as a go-to), anywhere from .270 to .300 mag, depending on what they're more comfortable with.
30-30 same time as well, for use in certain terrain (like, closed up woods)

Shotguns I dunno. I like the 20 and 12 gauges.