Is 22lr still your "first gun" advice?

[PerpetualStudent]

The hidden blessing of the .22 shortage has been significant gains with the pcp air guns and pistol caliber carbines. It's gotten to the point where I wouldn't necessarily tell someone "get a 22" to learn riflemanship. Is the 22 still your go to teaching gun? Or has something else replaced it?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I would still go with the .22. I think the shortage will end before too much longer. Air guns have less range.

[NoAngel]

It would really depend on the person being trained.

[Kevinakaq]

Stevens 22 crackshot....couldnt imagine a better rifle to learn on.

[sawinredneck]

Depends on what the person being trained is after. Most times even then, I try to start them on a 22 rifle to learn the basics of firearms safety, then move on to what they what to learn.

[farmerjim]

I had 2 airguns before my first 22.
1. Red Rider BB gun.
2. Benjamin pump 22 pellet gun.
Most people I know had these or more like them before the 22 RF.

[Gunslinger1911]

Good question, (must be, made me stop and really think haha).
I'd say yes to a 22 to train a total newbie.
Convince them to get a good one in the action of choice. If they stay with the sport, it will be enjoyed forever
I'm hoping 22 ammo availability will keep getting better - it seems to be.

Good thing about the mid to high end air guns is after the initial sticker shock, they are cheap to shoot, even with match grade pellets, quiet, hella accurate, and most people can shoot them in the back yard.

So, they need both !

See, aren't I helpful ?

[GhostHawk]

Airgun beyond a doubt.

Cost per shot as low as 1.2 cents.
The ones I like are all single shots, being mostly spring/vortex or multipump pneumatics. (Sheridan Blue streak, Crossman 1322)

Much much easier to be able to shoot indoors in my own basement. Lession's can start and stop as needed.

Last the modern guns in many cases can easily exceed a .22lr for power, fully match if not better for accuracy. And do it quieter, with fewer worry's of a bullet going too far and causing problems.

Even my Hatsan 135 Vortex can make 14.3 grain pellets scoot along at a nice 1000 fps with 25 to 29 foot pounds depending on pellet weight.

More than enough for a rabbit or squirrel. Indeed I suspect a coon inside 20 yards would be a goner in no time flat.

It likes to stack groups up with either one ragged hole, or holes touching. But the rifle can do better than I can give it. Because on a good day I can do one ragged hole easy.

Best of all, with a good spring/vortex gun NOTHING else is required except some muscle power.

I have also shot one ragged hole groups with home cast .22 buckshot, yes with the sprue. They are a tight fit in my Hatsan, they need to be tapped in a couple of times with a screwdriver handle or a piece of broomstick. Sprue is gone by the time that happens. And you have a perfect seal with the bore. So as long as I have some lead that air rifle will put meat in the pot.

Does it get better than that?

[NavyVet1959]

Whatever they start out with, I believe that it should be a single-shot. A semi-auto just encourages wasting ammo in kids.

[Hogtamer]

Surely a BB gun, then as was my story, got 2 "first" guns at once... a savage mod 24 .22/410! At about age 35 rewarded myself with a .30/.30/ 20 guage.

[Mk42gunner]

I still vote for a .22 as the first real gun. You might have to save up for enough ammo, but it is better than 99.9% of the alternatives. Just what the other .1% is I do not know.

Like many others, I started out with air guns. Specifically Dad bought my brother and I each a Daisy bb/pellet gun, the one that resembled a red ryder but loaded with a five shot cylinder. The problems was that bb's wouldn't stay in the plastic cylinder long enough to load them. Those went back to Western Auto and were exchanged for a couple of Crossman 760's.

I wore out mine over the next five years or so, it saw a lot of use even after I got my first .22; but even as a kid there was a big difference between a real gun and a pellet rifle.

Robert0

[dverna]

As a kid I developed what modicum of skills I have with a low priced German .177 spring gun. My dad smoked cigarettes that came in a flat cardboard box. Target practice was shooting the box in half.

I like starting shooters off a bench so they can focus on sight alignment, breath and trigger control. For that, a .22 bolt action is easier to use.

[toallmy]

I started out with a BB gun , then progressed into a pellet gun , then I purchased my first real rifle a 22 single shot bolt action used for 10.00 . I would probably go with a pellet rifle to start a real youngster in proper handling and safely of firearms . It saddens me but I suspect the shortage of affordable 22 ammo will hurt future generations of shooters .

[CraigOK]

Whatever they start out with, I believe that it should be a single-shot. A semi-auto just encourages wasting ammo in kids.

Amen!

[country gent]

I still like the 22 for some but also like air guns for others. The 22 is good as to light recoil and report. Fire arms can be in a size and weight appropriate to younger new shooters. I also like the single cock ( Side lever) air guns for others, Again sized and weight for a younger shooter. Another plus is a air gun range can easily be set up almost anywhere easily and quickly. Pellets are cheap and these air guns can be extremely accurate. I also think a new shooter should be started out on good iron sights instead of a scope, red dot or holo sight. Learning Irons first makes the others much easier.

[Finster101]

Whatever they start out with, I believe that it should be a single-shot. A semi-auto just encourages wasting ammo in kids.

Whenever I let someone try a pistol for the first time it is always a .22 and always a revolver. Too easy to have an unintended discharge with a semi.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Finding an airgun that is easily cocked by someone without significant body strength is a problem. There are a few out there but careful selection is required. The 'right' airgun may be better than a .22 but selection is critical. The single shot .22 is still inexpensive and online shopping for quantity provides many opportunities for reasonably price ammunition. Can the new shooter operate the gun without your help?

[DanishM1Garand]

.22 single shot. PCC right now is just as cheap to shoot, not for long though. The drought will be over soon.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

heck ya a 22 is still the way to go and I would get a good Bolt gun BUT BUT if this is for a child say under 10 then a BB gun
till he / she gets the hang of things

[modified5]

My 10yo son started with a red Ryder BB gun, then last year he bought himself a .177 cal Ruger piston powered air rifle. It is a stone cold squirrel killer.
I did give him my grandfathers Springfield .22 single shot that I inherited when he passed.
Now my 6yo son is shooting the Red Ryder, and my 2yo daughter is waiting for it in the wings if it survives that long.
They pack them all over our ranch and go through a ton of ammo.
We can't shoot rim or center fire on the property. The county deemed it a congested area.
I would start out kids with either one depending on the kid and situation.
I guess my firm decision is, it depends. :D

[Texas by God]

BB gun then single shot .22 with iron sights.

[robg]

177 Diana air rifle when I was 9 .wish I still had it then 22s etc

[jeepyj]

I almost voted for the .22 however I really believe the BB/Pellet is a better choice. That being said I'm thinking about youth. I would change my poll answer to .22 for an adult.

[rfd]

there's a .22rf shortage, really?

i've always believed that beginner "kids" should start off with a real gun and make that a .22rf single shot.

hard to beat a crickett, real hard. for lil' kids to a-dults.

[Dave C.]

first time shooters are much more likely to take safety instructions seriously if it is loud and smokes a little and yes causes more reaction on the target.
Before you throw me to the Wolves I own 3 high end air guns. They all have there place.

Dave C.

[Multigunner]

Have to go with an air rifle as the first gun, with the .22 RF as the first firearm.

If an air rifle is chosen as a first gun then don't scrimp. The gun should be a quality piece though no need going hog wild.
A multipump pneumatic makes the best sense, no BBs guns as such, a rifled barrel that can handle lead pellets with a high degree of accuracy.
The .22 bore airguns are my choice, mainly because the size of the pellet makes them easier to load and keep track of. the .177 pellets are just too tiny to get a good grip on.
That said the Daisy 880 in .177 is an excellent first gun, despite too much plastic used with recent production versions, though proportioned more for a teen ager than for a youngster.
If the Crosman 760 in .177 still had a rifled barrel it would be perfect for youngsters, and is a favorite of youngsters even now.

For an air rifle that a young shooter can hold onto well into adulthood the Crosman 392 or 397 are as close to old time craftsmanship as you can get at a reasonable price.
In general anything with a plastic stock is all said and done a throwaway, they just don't have any real character to speak of. When it comes time to spend money on resealing an old airgun its hard to justify spending money on a rifle that was built on the cheap.

[PerpetualStudent]

I'm swinging more and more away from recommending a .22 lr to new shooters. Don't get me wrong I learned on a match grade bolt action .22 and I went shooting twice a week for a year thanks to a rifle club. Once I got to a place where I could own guns I got a .22 but I didn't shoot it for at least a year because of the .22 shortage and prices. Even now when .22 is the cheapest ammo out there and my range fee is only 3 bucks, I only get out there once every couple of months (hazards of being a father of young children).

I'd say to get a decent air rifle and learn how to do that for the single shot part of training. Once you get to shooting multiple rounds and transitioning between targets a cheap carbine in whatever caliber your handgun is would be my advice. Because if you're only going to shoot a few times a year the price differential isn't huge. If you're going to shoot a lot, you're probably looking at reloading for that caliber and you can feed both guns that way.

[Ed in North Texas]

For most purposes I still recommend the .22. But I don't live in a city and the .22 will be useful for a lifetime. My most recent non-target .22 use was to take out a rabid skunk with a Ruger .22-45. The .22 round didn't cost much, the $110.00 for testing the skunk's brain was still money well spent in safeguarding the dogs with rabies booster shots.

For people living in a city the airgun could be a better choice for the reasons others have mentioned.

Both is the best answer.

[NavyVet1959]

For most purposes I still recommend the .22. But I don't live in a city and the .22 will be useful for a lifetime. My most recent non-target .22 use was to take out a rabid skunk with a Ruger .22-45. The .22 round didn't cost much, the $110.00 for testing the skunk's brain was still money well spent in safeguarding the dogs with rabies booster shots.

For people living in a city the airgun could be a better choice for the reasons others have mentioned.

Both is the best answer.

As it turns out, there are municipalities that have written their codes such that not only is it illegal to shoot a firearm in the city limits, but they also prohibit air guns, bows, and crossbows. I've found that even with such codes, you tend not to get noticed when you fire an air gun because the sound is such that people don't recognize it as such. It probably would be easily mistaken as just someone with an air powered nail gun.

[wonderwolf]

"Depends" Assuming its for a youngster I would say yes A .22 pseudo target rifle is still the best way to go. However that rifle should be easily modified to a hunting roll as well and weight not be prohibitive as such.

Savage Mk II's are cheap and was in fact my first rifle. With the way things are today you could get a good bolt action rifle such as a savage or CZ and find somebody to 3D print up single shot magazine adapters for the kid to use for the first year or so.

This is what I would recommend for a youngster that has access to a JR smallbore program with instruction as that is going to be the best place to start for them.

BB guns and airguns are imho not a good place to start a youngster off in firearms. If I ran into somebody at a store and they asked me what I would recommend I would avoid bb guns and airguns all together, unless its in an area where you are snowed in a good part of the year and have a barn or long hallway to practice down. Accuracy seems to really just suck with the kind of bb gun or airgun parents are willing to buy their kids who may be into it for a week then be onto the next thing....Also parents might see airguns and bb guns as toys as well and stop supervising their children after awhile with them...thats how windows get broken and kids get hurt.

If the family is more of a hunting family rather than a target shooting and "Appleseed" type stuff then I would say start with a Contender with williams peep sights and a mid weight .22 rifle barrel. I hate to see kids start out with scopes and never learn irons...it really robs them of learning a lot about sight picture and trigger control I believe.

NOW

If we're talking about an adult that wants to get started, I would size up the individual...figure out what it is exactly they want to learn and go from there. The best thing you can do have one or two shooting sessions with that individual (not all of it on the bench!) and then get them to a match of ANY kind that they express interest in. They can ask tons of questions and get lots of help on figuring out what might be best for their first rifle depending on what exactly they want to do. I wouldn't recommend a .22 lr CZ to somebody who is trying to get started in a club that holds a lot of high power matches, where their first backstop is at 100 yards...see where I'm going with that? lost opportunity I think in some cases....it really depends on the individual.

[Ken in Iowa]

It is hard to beat a 22 rimfire for a first hunting rifle. Airguns are great for off season practice in the basement or garage with the kids.

This is why I answered the Poll, "It Depends"

That was a great question. Thanks for posting.

[Ken in Iowa]

"Depends" Assuming its for a youngster I would say yes A .22 pseudo target rifle is still the best way to go. However that rifle should be easily modified to a hunting roll as well and weight not be prohibitive as such.

Savage Mk II's are cheap and was in fact my first rifle. With the way things are today you could get a good bolt action rifle such as a savage or CZ and find somebody to 3D print up single shot magazine adapters for the kid to use for the first year or so.

This is what I would recommend for a youngster that has access to a JR smallbore program with instruction as that is going to be the best place to start for them.

BB guns and airguns are imho not a good place to start a youngster off in firearms. If I ran into somebody at a store and they asked me what I would recommend I would avoid bb guns and airguns all together, unless its in an area where you are snowed in a good part of the year and have a barn or long hallway to practice down. Accuracy seems to really just suck with the kind of bb gun or airgun parents are willing to buy their kids who may be into it for a week then be onto the next thing....Also parents might see airguns and bb guns as toys as well and stop supervising their children after awhile with them...thats how windows get broken and kids get hurt.

If the family is more of a hunting family rather than a target shooting and "Appleseed" type stuff then I would say start with a Contender with williams peep sights and a mid weight .22 rifle barrel. I hate to see kids start out with scopes and never learn irons...it really robs them of learning a lot about sight picture and trigger control I believe.

NOW

If we're talking about an adult that wants to get started, I would size up the individual...figure out what it is exactly they want to learn and go from there. The best thing you can do have one or two shooting sessions with that individual (not all of it on the bench!) and then get them to a match of ANY kind that they express interest in. They can ask tons of questions and get lots of help on figuring out what might be best for their first rifle depending on what exactly they want to do. I wouldn't recommend a .22 lr CZ to somebody who is trying to get started in a club that holds a lot of high power matches, where their first backstop is at 100 yards...see where I'm going with that? lost opportunity I think in some cases....it really depends on the individual.

Very well thought out answer. I cannot agree more!

[Ken in Iowa]

Whatever they start out with, I believe that it should be a single-shot. A semi-auto just encourages wasting ammo in kids.


Exactly! Make every shot count! Learn iron sights and trigger control. Put your brain to work with discipline.

As a matter of history, a muzzle-loading squirrel/ rabbit rifle was the 22 of it's day. The first shot that I remember firing was from a 32 caliber squirrel rifle made in Ohio circa 1860.

[Teddy (punchie)]

22 LR The 10 year old girls like to shoot the squirrel guns as they call the 22's. They have shot 410 Ga. (Now Fixed was my first gun) , 20 Ga. and 12 Ga, and they shoot the 12's at turkey shoots. Shot a couple of air gun but still like to shot the 22's. It sound like a gun, looks like gun, there are some great deals on 22's riles if you shop around.

I learned long ago shooting 1000 rounds does not make you a better shot. I go to the range and shoot groups of 3-5 rounds see where I'm hitting and how are the groups. Never had the funds as a kid to shoot a box of 25 let alone 50. So even the BB gun was shot into boxes and save and reuse the BB's. Now I know of guys going through way more than that :veryconfu. Not going to make them a better shot, shooting like that only makes them spend more money and make noise.

Shoulder the gun, shoulder the gun, practice until your target is close to the aiming point. Once a firearm is sighted in it will shot where you aim. Pistols are different and I almost never shoot them, I need to get out the range sooner or later.

[JWT]

Yesterday we took 9 Boy Scouts to Western Wayne County Conservation Association (WWCCA) for a shooting day. We started with archery them moved to the 50yd range for .22LR. The boys had a great time with both, but I think the rifle range was their favorite. Several of the boys had never fired anything other than a BB gun before. The rifles were half and half bolt and semi-auto. All had scopes that were tuned in. I overheard one of the young boys tell another "I feel so mature" just after he loaded a round into the chamber. It was hard not laughing.

If there are any members of WWCCA on this board, I would like to thank the club for a well run event that has helped make some of the up and coming generation friendly to the 2nd amendment.

[Forrest r]

It would depend on where I lived.

My 1st gun was a bb gun, I was 5 and we lived in the city at that time. Instead of driving out to the country or range to shoot I'd simply go to the basement (winter) garage (summer) and had a bullet trap setup.

When my sons got old enough they started on 22's, but all's we had to do was step out the door and shoot in the country.

To this day I still have a 10-meter range setup in the basement, old habits are hard to break.

Sorry for not being much help with which firearm. I believe quality range time is more important that what's being used. Convenience is huge, it allow for a lot of 1 on 1 quality range time.

[sparkyv]

Exactly! Make every shot count! Learn iron sights and trigger control. Put your brain to work with discipline.

I agree with NavyVet1959 and Ken in Iowa: Start out with a single shot using open sights, and make every shot count!

[Outpost75]

When I was a kid the TV series Davy Crockett was all the rage and my Grand Dad gave me an original Edward Tryon muzzleloading flintlock 32-bore fusil. He taught me to knapp flints, maintain and manage the gun and after demonstrating my ability to do so, I was allowed to hunt with it unsupervised.

When I was 16 I was entrusted with an original 1851 .36 Navy Colt and learned to hunt with it too. My first exposure to cartridge guns was a Remington 513 .22 target rifle which we used to shoot 50 foot gallery in the high school ROTC, firing at the range at Fort Myer, VA, riding to and from the range and home on the red & black A, B & W bus.

[Artful]

I'll go with depends - upon ammo availability - 22LR would still be my normal first choice but due to chronic shortages in certain areas I'd have to say that I may have someone look into an air rifle/pistol or even a Laser unit for their initial hand eye coordination.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q92fN9YIJgA

[Traffer]

If someone would ask me what was your first gun, the one you were trained on, It would be the 22 rim fire. I got my first one when I was 7 or 8? yrs old. As far as an air gun goes, the first one I had was at the age of 4. By the time I was 5, I was roaming the local area unsupervised with it. But that was a different time. I have a nephew (grand nephew, if you will) who has grown up with the revolving door father in the house. He is 11 yrs old. (I built my first gun when I was 11) I took him to the range with a 22 rifle and taught him some of the basics. It is strange to me for a person to have to learn sight alignment. But it is easy enough to teach. He was very encouraged about getting to shoot the 22. I spent several days with him in my shop, explaining guns to him and was hoping to take him under my wing and teach him some of the basic man skills that all boys should learn. But alas his mother got into a "new relationship" and now he is not able to join me in the shop anymore. I learned that his grandfather (my sisters first husband) gave him a BB gun. They live in the country and he could use it every day. He is bored with it because there is no one there to teach and share the experience with it. Oh we live in different times. It's very very sad. Remember when our hero's were Roy Rodgers, Gene Autry, Cisco Kid, and "the Rifle Man"? Anyway, don't get me going.

[rintinglen]

Yeah, Traffer, I do remember.
"Who was that Masked Man?"

[lawboy]

Depends on what the person being trained is after. Most times even then, I try to start them on a 22 rifle to learn the basics of firearms safety, then move on to what they what to learn.

I agree with this. For children who are learning initial gun handling, the 22lr. remains my go-to choice, preferably in a single-shot or manual repeating firearm.
For adults who may have specific rasons why they are adding firearms to their lives, I let their goals dictate what I start them on within reason. The "within reason" meaning, that some people need to start out on much less gun than they think they do. :-)

[Geezer in NH]

Just under 9 months of the new President and Gee 22lr in wal mart and some hardware stores again . the first in the last 8 years.

[rfd]

pump air guns will require muscle to work the pump. gas filled air guns will still require some adult intervention.

a .22rf will allow well supervised complete control by the child.

bolt actions will be the easiest/cheapest most efficient way to go, and most will allow adding a single shot follower to a detachable magazine. there's a vast array of .22rf ammo in order to tailor to the child's age as well, from the mouse toot aquila colibri, to the cci quiet .22, to the hotter mini-mags.

imho, .22rf is still the way to go for introducing children of all ages to real guns.

[oldhenry]

I think the .22rf remains the best 1st. gun. 1st choice would be a bolt action single shot or clip fed (a clip fed can be loaded like a single shot. 2nd. choice would be a falling block single shot like the old Ithaca 49.

In '60 I bought a #49 from a pawn shop for $12.00 (the butt stock had a huge chip missing about 4" long).

I amputated the chipped area, slimmed down the fore end & did away with the fake magazine tube. I then added a Marble folding rear & Williams shorty ramp + a gold bead. That gun has served 2 generations of new shooters & a new crop will be ready for it in a few years (it's not as shiny as it was in the '60's, but the kids don't mind).

Henry

I just ran across another one that needs a firing pin. I think I'll keep it full sized...........for me.

[UKShootist]

I wouldn't necessarily recommend any gun for a first gun, but I will always say that a keen shot will do well to have a quality spring powered air rifle in his armoury. Reason being is that all the recoil on a springer comes before the pellet leaves the barrel which makes hold and trigger pull consistency vital. A spring gun is a good teacher and a good trainer.

[Outpost75]

UKShootist makes good sense and I agree.

In my day Fess Parker was the TV hero playing Davey Crockett, so the first gun I learned to use was a .45 cal. flintlock, patched ball muzzleloader. The flinter also reinforces follow-though and the necessity of wearing safety glasses. Both good lessons to learn early.

My first revolver was an original 1860 Army Colt which happened to use the same round balls I cast for my rifle, so I was a well-armed young man. The percussion cap was miraculous!

[MstrEddy]

Depending on how we interpret the question the answer for me would be "it depends".
What do I recommend as a first gun - to shoot, to learn, to own?
As some here have posted, I teach all novices, regardless of age, size, gender, Call of Duty experience, etc... on a .22 LR, typically a revolver. I then move them up to a 22 SA pistol, and then depending on their readiness and comfort level, I go up to a 357 mag revolver shooting 38 Spcl light/medium loads. And, I go from there. When I take them to rifle, it's 22 LR, either bolt or semi.

As to what to buy, that truly depends on their needs and what are they looking to buy for. Though I always recommend they also own a 22 LR of some type to continue practicing.

I have bought a rifle for my 8 YO son for him to learn on. I think we'll make it out to the range this summer. It's a Cricket single shot youth rifle in 22 LR.

[rfd]

with the advent of the colibri and super colibri .22rf cartridges, there is no need for an air gun. this ammo can be used in an urban household without the need for suppression, too. as such, a .22 bolt rifle can now run the power gamut from air rifle like bullets to super high speed types. couple that with a crickett rifle and there's an excellent low cost young one's introduction to learning firearm respect, safety, and marksmanship fun.

[Traffer]

My first gun was a daisy. Age 4. My dad gave one to my brother and I. With strict instructions...you can shoot sparrows and starlings but NO Robins. No windows and No people. I never shot any of those...my brother on the other hand shot a robin. The woman next door (widow who watched us like a hawk) saw the whole thing. That dam brother of mine spoiled the whole gig. We got it back several months later though. First real gun was a 1906 version of a Winchester Model 1890. What a dandy gun to have for your first unit. I can still hear the action when I pumped in the 22 shorts. "gallery gun" and the bore showed it. Prolly shot a million rounds. We got that one when I was about 9 or 10. Killed lots of squirrels with it. Then my brother did it again...stuck the barrel in a mud puddle and pulled the trigger to "see what would happen" ...even with a short it cracked the last 3/4" of the barrel. Grrrrrr. Lost lots of the bit of accuracy it had. Then my sister "gave it" to one of her boyfriends who never returned it...sigh. It wasn't considered a valuable gun back in the 60's. Once you get used to a pump 22 you are hooked. I would trade all my bolts and semi autos for a good one now.

[Shawlerbrook]

Air gun at a very young age.

[arcticap]

I agree. We started with shooting BB's into a box trap to teach them how to use open sights.
Always wear eye protection!

[Italia1825]

I would say either pellet or 22lr is fine, neither one has any noticeable recoil and as long as fundamentals are adhered to it shouldn’t matter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[crankycalico]

if you go for an airgun, you need to get QUALITY so it will actually last, and be able to give good service. Good service as, it hits the target, and if put in a rest will put projectiles into a tight cluster down range.

SOME of those most easily affordable air guns will be lucky to put 20 shots into a small mouth mason jar lid at 20 yards.

Quality airguns will be able to do touching holes at that range. But quality costs money. Lots of money. At least 3-4 times what that Crossman will cost.

And you have to figure in the ability to COCK the airgun. Those things can take a lot of force, some list 30-45 pounds of cocking force. Ive seen air pistols that need 40 pounds to cock.

And a lot of those high quality guns need high quality, high cost pellets due to having tighter bores and rifling.

[georgerkahn]

I'd like to see the results of a poll, "IS a .22 rifle your ONLY firearm?". I know of no one who would answer this in the affirmative. And, for recreational fun from cans, to paper targets, to need on rodents -- my .22s (I have two in this caliber) surely are worth having. BOTH my sons shot these as their first rifles, too. The low-noise, negligible recoil, and buy-load-shoot availability ammunition add to its appeal. The big "however" to be remembered, is, as a hunter safety instructor we are advised to tell students that the world-wide killing of people caliber (excluding military/war action) is the humble .22. Hence, it commands the respect and safety considerations which are not as requisite for, say, a spring loaded b b gun. Yes, the 22 is my choice of caliber to "learn with" -- including, perhaps, the gifting of said rifle to student for their remembrance and pleasure. My 2-cents on the subject :).
geo

[Drm50]

I got a 22 for my 5th birthday, buy the time I was 8 I had about a dozen assorted firearms. Most were given to me by relatives. Army rifles, old shotguns and 22 rifles. These were kept in my own gun case in my bedroom. My old man was keeper of the Ammo. The kicker was, No BB Guns. When
I grew up was the era of BB gun battles and for a small town we produced several one eyed kids from BB guns. This was no joke. It was nothing to see 10yr olds heading for town limits with 22s or
shot guns, nobody paid attention to that. I can't rember one gun accident of any kid with relation to
real guns. If kids were walking down the street with BB guns they would be checked out by the cops.
My dad had a BB gun for pests that was kept in a broom closet and you didn't fool with it. I got my
first BB gun for my birthday about 5 yrs ago. My grandkids bought me a Red Ryder as a joke with a
card saying "don't put your eye out".

[robg]

Started with a 177 Diana air rifle then air pistols then 22 rf.

[T_McD]

A .22lr is still my first choice. Air guns are not a good option in my opinion as little ones can not operate them for themselves. I dont load or cock guns for new shooters regardless of age.

[arcticap]

A .22lr is still my first choice. Air guns are not a good option in my opinion as little ones can not operate them for themselves. I dont load or cock guns for new shooters regardless of age.

Generally a father will load and cock an air gun for his own child, especially if the child just received their first BB gun for X-mas and wants to shoot it in the basement.

Come on Dad, be a sport and help teach a kid how to shoot! :-D

[T_McD]

I’m in the camp that guns aren’t toys, but fun tools. If you can’t operate the tool, your too young.

[megasupermagnum]

Both my brother and I started at 5 years old with a Crossman (760?) bb gun. We had no problems pumping them at that age, at least for a number of shots. We never did get a 22lr, my dad never had one, I still never owned one. If you load your own ammo, I see no value in rim fires. Pellet guns are cheaper, and/or you can load pistol calibers on a progressive that is better than the 22lr "bucket o bullets". The worst problem is the opinion that 22lr is weak or safe. At least a .177 pellet gun is going to be very hard to seriously hurt a person short of a shot to the face, and nobody is going to short change a 38 special.

[Beeks]

Yes it is.

[stubshaft]

There is still nothing better to learn on than a .22.

[Drm50]

Yea, 22 has been it for about a 100yrs. Why reinvent the wheel?

[DDriller]

My Dad thought BB guns were too dangerous so we got .22s and so did my boys.

[Two Barrels]

22, it’s still the one.

[elmacgyver0]

My Dad thought BB guns were too dangerous so we got .22s and so did my boys.

So what are you trying to tell us?

[Win94ae]

Well, all our youngsters start out with a bb gun. I have 4 of them sitting in the corner.
Whatever reason the adult wants a firearm for, is what will determine the firearm they'll be needing to train with.

[BigAlofPa.]

I bought a cricket and a 1911 yesterday. And the carry case for the cricket has my 1st rifle on it. Pretty cool i thought.
261794

[1hole]

A .22 RF is the only correct answer to this question.

First time shooters are just that, they have lot to learn about gun handling and accuracy. Real guns of any type are intimidating to noobs; why make it any harder for them to learn than is absolutely necessary? No noob is going to think an "air" gun is a real gun and a .22 RF is a real gun. No noob is going to be a reloader so the cost of sufficient ammo to learn much is a real consideration; a few Walmart "bucket-o-bullets" is the lowest cost way for any noob to get a serious learning foundation. The nonexistent recoil and low noise makes it easier for noobs to concentrate on learning the fundamentals of marksmanship. And .22s are just fun!

I wore out two Daisy "Red Ryders". They were fun but they were toys and I knew it. The first real gun I ever fired was my grandfather's single shot Remington .22 when I was five; I loved it and still do! When I was eleven and visiting I'd be allowed to take it into the woods around the old family farming home. I shot a few birds and squirrels (and missed a lot more) but it made me a shooter and hunter. My two younger cousins did about the same, with the same rifle, but now, some 75 years later, my granddaddy is long gone but his squirrel (and 'possum) rifle is in my gun safe. It will go to one of my four grandsons. They all fired their first "real" ammo with it too. One round at a time, they put a lot of "bucket-o-bullets" in small water filled balloons at varying ranges in my river bottom pasture; the oldest shot high score in his military training. Meaning, done right, learning memories can make a cheap single shot .22 far more valuable to someone than any other gun they may ever own.

[FergusonTO35]

After shooting centerfires almost exclusively for 20 years I am moving back to .22's. Have purchased a Glock 44, Charter Pathfinder, and Ruger Wrangler so far this year and have an LCP II .22 on the way. Also looking to add a Remington 572 at some point, however they are pretty spendy!

[sonoransixgun]

My first gun as a kid was a pellet gun....wore it out....Borrowed shotguns a lot for hunting.

My own kids all got .22's...They were all in 4-H and competed. For airgun, they just used the guns that belonged to the club.

I think either way is good...

(4-H is a really great way for them to learn safety and marksmanship, especially if they have a good coach like our kids did.)

[Lloyd Smale]

I can load cast 9s about as cheap as a 22 and don't have to worry about idiots buying them all out and hiding them in there closets. No brainer to me. I used to have over 20 22lrs in the house. Now theres two. A 1022 take down and a 22/45 4 inch heavy barreled ruger. Neither have been shot in over 2 years. Traded off the rest or gave them to family. Today id be more interested in a good air rifle then a 22lr.

[Dapaki]

All 6 of my kids and 1 grandchild so far (2 more in the oven) have cut their teeth on one of my Marlin .22's. I cannot think of a single case where a gun of any kind or type would be a better starter or cheaper to fire. I bought a bit of Armscor .22lr over the past few years and while not the most accurate, it will feed all day long with no fouling and at $0.024 each, there is no reason not to shoot all day!

[1hole]

Just to keep this discussion on track, the question was what we should suggest as a first gun. It wasn't what we old hands may own or like to shoot best or how inexpensively we can reload anything for. After all, no new guy has a closet full of guns (yet), he doesn't know what type he'll like best (yet) and he sure isn't going to be a reloader (yet), right?

The right answer to that beginner question is a .22 RF.