My grandfather had a number of rifles as he liked to hunt from time to time (.30-06, 12 ga, etc). He took me out once and taught me to fire his .30-06. I turned out to be a natural and hit the target (a 4x6 piece of paper stuck to tree) with a 3 inch grouping. He used a stick to get it to hang on the tree and my first shot took the stick out. The next 4 shots were 1" below and 1" apart in a circle. This was with iron sights from about 20 yards. I'd like to get a .45 or a 9mm but we'll probably start with a .22 so my gf can learn how to shoot before stepping up. She's never fired a gun of any kind before. She had a healthy fear of them since she six when she was accidentally shot with a .22 so it's good to see her overcoming her fear.
I wish I could over come mine. By now it is obvious that I don't like guns or want to shoot them, but the hubby insisted, he felt if they were in the house and because of where we live I should at least have a little knowledge of them. Never know when you'll have to pop a cap in a bears behind. Anyway the two guns I actually shot in that very short time period were a .45 and a 9mm. Neither were overwhelming or hard to shoot. At any rate, I quickly forgot all that he taught me in those few days and wouldn't know which gun to grab or what to do with it if the need arissed so I just stay away from them.
She can likely handle either the 45 or 9mm, but why don't you take her to a firing range and let her try several different guns and decide herself which is comfortable for her.
If she is anything like me, once you warm her up to the idea that you have one gun, more will follow. I don't like them or want them in the house, but after the first one came, I have even purchased a few for the hubby as gifts.
I sure know how to post unpopular comments but I have to say that I really do not like BB Guns especially in the hands of children. I could tell you so many instances that I know of personally where animals were killed, mamed or injured at the hands of a child with a BB gun
I don't find your post unpopular, but I do have to disagree with that statement. If a child wants to kill or injure an animal they don't need a BB Gun a rock will do the trick.
If the adult is responsible it is a good tool to teach the child respect for weapons and that they are not used to kill or hurt animals (unless of course you are preparing them to hunt) but even then you are teaching the rules and proper conduct of hunting.
We recently got my 10 year old his first bow. The draw goes up to 60lbs so it is a serious that will last him until he is a young adult. When he gets a little stronger he should be able to take down an elk with it. (The reason we went with a bow was I would not allow my husband to get him a 22)
Anyway I wouldn't put pulling a dogs tail or the wings off a fly past my son, but I will tell you this much, my husband spent several hours with him when he first got that bow and my son takes his bow very seriously. He knows it is a weapon and he respects what it can do. He actually takes pride in following all the rules, only shooting at targets, making sure people or animals are not between him and the target, asking an adult to join him when he wants to practice and so on. Guess what I'm saying is, with the proper teacher a bow, BB gun or 22 is a good tool to teach a child the proper use and respect for a weapon.
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