Good first gun for teenage son?

ThePythonicCow ^ | June 25, 2006 | ThePythonicCow

[ThePythonicCow]

My 17 year old son would like to learn to shoot a gun.

I used to shoot a .22 rifle as a kid, and had to qualify once a year with a handgun in the military, many decades ago. But since then I've not used a gun, and we've never had guns in our house.

There is apparently a good gun range nearby in Livermore California. I'd like to sign up my son and myself for a beginner's class. I think that means I will need to first purchase a gun.

What gun would be good for this?

I'm not even sure if it should be a rifle or pistol.

A possible secondary use for this gun -- I am hoping to move out of this leftist town, once my son leaves home in a year. My wife intends to move to Berkeley, and I'm looking fondly at west Texas. I could use a good gun or two in west Texas, I presume. The marriage has already pretty well gone South, as they say.

[dirtboy]

Depends upon what kind of shooting he wants to do.

I think either a Ruger 10-22 or a Remington 870 20-gauge would do the job.

[Fenris6]

But since then I've not used a gun, and we've never had guns in our house. Be sure to focus on your safety lessons: 1) always treat the gun as loaded, even when you know its not 2) always point the gun in a safe direction, usually up not down [richochet off ground] 3) always keep the gun on safe until you intend to shoot. 4) always keep your finger out of the trigger well until you intend to shoot. 5) never point it at anything you don't intend to kill I would choose a revolver with good knockdown power for home defense.

[al baby]

Well here in the ghetto I recomend a 357 magnum or a Uzi

[Fenris6]

Start with a long gun, teach gun safety and responsibility. Later a handgun

ditto

[patton]

I was going to say a Davy Crocket, but a .22 is probably safer...LOL

[cbkaty]

I think either a Ruger 10-22 or a Remington 870 20-gauge would do the job.

To be honest...my son had a Ruger 10/22 at 9....years old... He quickly grew board with it. He is now 14 and is even embarassed to bring his 22-250 Ruger along... He now demands his 30-0-06....or his 348 Winchester...with iron sights...

Yes...I am proud of him.

[Springman]

Marline Model 60. 18 rounds tube mag. Easy to shoot.

And if you need it later, well I know of two people that had to use that rifle in home invasions, in Detroit.

BTW, beer cleans up blood very well!!!

[ThePythonicCow]

What gun for a 17-year-old? Anything.

You mean like the Model 500 pictured below? That looks pretty serious. Not a good first gun.

---

The X-Frame Model 500 Magnum Masterpiece (T) makes a large-frame Model 629 .44 Magnum look petite in comparison.

[humblegunner]

Well I always was a quick study at such things.

.222 Remington.

[al baby]

[Tijeras_Slim]

Now I recognize you! You were the kid in Shane wern't ya? ;)

[ThePythonicCow]

The several suggestions above to start with a .22 long gun are looking pretty good. It's ok to start with something that gets boring. Good way to get some of the safety lessons down first.

[al baby]

Is this long enough ?

[ThePythonicCow]

long gun, teach gun safety ...

Yup - sounds about right.

[ThePythonicCow]

Damn - a little too long. I don't think I could fit that in my little car.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Everything you need to learn about safety and marksmanship you can learn with a .22. Plus, with ammo at $10 per 500 or so, you can really get the fundamentals down. I still shoot more .22's than any other round, and it's not for lack of choices in the safe. They're just fun.

[ThePythonicCow]

Good advice - thanks.

[cbkaty]

Uvalde is a good choice....for a hunter's town..can't make money there...but...

....Barksdale Texas....is excellent if you own a section of land...640 acres.

[cbkaty]

The several suggestions above to start with a .22 long gun are looking pretty good. It's ok to start with something that gets boring. Good way to get some of the safety lessons down first.

Absoluely...I agree...but I was taking into consideration a teen...... The safety goes without saying here in Texas...no ones wants to stand next to an idiot with a firearm....

[RedwM]

I gotta say, those Henry lever action .22's are nice.