Youth Guns

First Rifles for Kids: Crickett, Ruger 10/22 & Henry .22 LR

The Crickett single-shot .22 LR is purpose-built for young children — a 29.5″ overall length, lightweight at 2.5 lbs, with an 11″ length of pull sized for small frames. The manual bolt and single-shot operation teach proper firearm handling without the distraction of magazine management. For older youth (10+), the Ruger 10/22 is the natural progression — a reliable semi-automatic with a youth-stocked option, 10-round magazine, and the same .22 LR cartridge. The Henry Mini Bolt is a quality single-shot alternative to the Crickett with a slightly longer length of pull. All .22 LR first rifles deliver minimal recoil and cost-effective practice.

Youth Shotguns: 20 Gauge as the Standard Starting Point

A 20 gauge with a youth stock is the recommended first shotgun for most young hunters — effective for birds and small game, with recoil manageable for most teenagers. Youth stocks run 12–13″ length of pull vs. the standard 14″. Mossberg’s 500 and 505 youth models, the Remington 870 Express Youth, and the H&R Pardner youth single-shot are the most popular choices. For very young first-time bird hunters, a .410 single-shot removes recoil from the equation entirely while teaching shotgunning fundamentals. The 20 gauge is the right long-term investment — it remains effective for hunting beyond the youth years.

First Handguns for Young Adults: .22 LR as the Trainer

For young adults learning pistol shooting (18+), a .22 LR semi-automatic is the ideal starting point — the negligible recoil lets fundamentals develop without flinch-inducing anticipation. The Ruger Mark IV and S&W Victory are the top choices for dedicated .22 LR trainers. The Volquartsen platform represents the premium tier for serious young competitors. For a young adult who will transition to a centerfire carry gun, choosing a .22 trainer that mirrors the ergonomics of their eventual defensive gun accelerates skill transfer significantly.

Fit Matters: Sizing a Gun for a Young Shooter

The two critical fit dimensions are length of pull (distance from trigger to buttstock) and grip circumference. A stock that’s too long forces the shooter to cant their head or reach uncomfortably, causing poor cheek weld and inconsistent recoil management. A grip too large prevents proper trigger reach with the fingertip. Standard youth rifle stocks run 11–13″ length of pull; adult stocks are typically 13.5–14.5″. For pistols, single-stack and slim-frame designs fit smaller hands better than double-stack full-size pistols. Adjustable stocks on rifles like the AR-15 allow growing with the shooter over years.

Firearms Safety for Young Shooters

Before any young person handles a firearm, formal safety instruction is essential. The NRA offers Eddie Eagle GunSafe programs for children and First Steps courses for new shooters. 4-H Shooting Sports programs provide structured youth shooting education across the country. The four fundamental rules — treat every gun as loaded, never point at anything you don’t intend to shoot, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire, know your target and what’s beyond — must be internalized before handling any firearm. Supervised range sessions with a patient instructor build confidence and safe habits simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions: Youth Guns

What is the best first gun for a child?
The Crickett and Savage Rascal single-shot .22 LR rifles are the standard first gun for young beginners — both are purpose-built with scaled-down stocks for youth dimensions, simple single-shot actions that teach proper reloading habits, and manual safety systems. The Ruger 10/22 is appropriate for slightly older youth (10+) who are ready for a semi-automatic. For shotguns, a youth-stocked 20 gauge pump or semi-auto is the standard recommendation for bird hunting introduction.

What age can a child start shooting?
There is no minimum age — readiness depends on the individual child’s physical strength, attention span, and ability to follow safety rules consistently. Many children start with supervised .22 LR shooting at 6–8 years old with appropriate adult supervision. The key requirements are that the child can safely hold and handle the firearm, can consistently follow the four rules of firearm safety, and is mature enough to take instruction seriously. Always start with an unloaded firearm and dry-fire practice before any live fire.

What caliber is best for youth shooters?
.22 LR is the universal starting caliber — minimal recoil, low noise, inexpensive ammunition, and effective for target shooting and small game. For youth shotgunners, 20 gauge is standard — enough power for bird hunting and clay sports with significantly less recoil than 12 gauge. .243 Winchester is a popular youth deer hunting cartridge in states where .22 LR is insufficient for deer — it has mild recoil with adequate energy for whitetail deer at hunting ranges.

What are the basic firearm safety rules for youth?
The four universal rules: (1) Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. (2) Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy. (3) Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. (4) Know your target and what is beyond it. These four rules, consistently followed, prevent virtually all firearms accidents. Teach and reinforce these rules before any child handles a firearm.

See Also: .22 Rifles • Ruger 10/22 • .22 LR Ammo • 20 Gauge Shotguns • Hunting Rifles