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.

Youth Guns & Related Pages

For the Crickett brand of youth-specific rifles, see our Crickett page. For .22 LR ammunition appropriate for youth rifles, see our .22 LR ammo page. For women’s guns that share many ergonomic considerations with youth firearms, see our women’s guns page. For the Ruger 10/22 youth model, see our Ruger 10/22 page.