The 5 Best Guns for Young Shooters

A gun is dangerous but so is a sharp knife, a power tool, a lawnmower and so on and so on. The danger isn’t with the thing itself but rather the lack of ability of a person to properly handle it. This is why imparting proper gun knowledge is essential to avoid the risk of any unfortunate but preventable accidents happening. If you have old enough kids, it can be great to consider training them with how to properly hold and shoot a gun. This will help them better appreciate the fact that the gun isn’t some toy but a powerful weapon that should be handled with utmost care. 

With that said, just giving them a heavy unwieldy gun and asking them to shoot with it is itself irresponsible and heighten the risk of a gun injury, either to the young shooter or to some nearby bystander. If you want to train your kids with handling guns, best is to start with ones that can easily fit their tinnier dimension, are very safe to shoot, and carry a gentle recoil. In this blog, we have compiled together a list of the best guns for young shooters. 

1. CZ 452 Scout 

Caliber:.22 LR

Safety: ★★★

Performance: ★★★★

Ease of Use: ★★★★★

Price: $

Overall: ★★★★

Accurate, compact, with simple but amazing workmanship, at the highly affordable price it is offered, the CZ 452 Scout is a rifle offering tremendous value. The trigger pull on the rifle is crisp and the shooting recoil is very gentle on the shoulder. Its beechwood stock is considerably shortened compared to other guns in its series. Thus, the overall dimension of the rifle makes it very easy for most kids to operate it. Weighing just 5.1 lbs. it can easily be carried around by your kid when you take them along on your hunting trip.

2. Savage 11 XP Youth Combo

Caliber: .223 Rem. 

Safety: ★★★★

Performance: ★★★★

Ease of Use: ★★★★

Price: $$

Overall: ★★★★

The Savage 11 XP Combo is specifically designed for the young in mind. It’s available in a range of kid-friendly calibers – the one we tested was chambered in .223 but it also available in 243, 7mm-08, and .308. Living up to the reputation of the brand, the rifle is very accurate and hassle-free to operate. The trigger pull is adjustable and features a bladed design. 

The rifle’s built is tough and can withstand some serious punishment. In the context of a young hand, it is somewhat weighty (7 lbs.) but still likely very manageable. A convenient tang mounted three-position safety switch is another nice feature we liked. The rifle comes stock with a very excellent scope so there is no need of buying one separately and it furthers adds to its value.

3. Ruger American Rifle Compact 

Caliber:

Safety: ★★★

Performance: ★★★★

Ease of Use: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★★

Price: $

The American rifle series has been a huge success for Ruger and since its first launch, the gun company has been only adding more and more models to its line-up. Its compact version is a full 5-inch shorter than its standard counterpart and pretty much manages to pack the same superb performance as the larger rifle. The gun’s barrel is free-floated, it comes with an adjustable trigger and features a smartly designed rotary-style magazine. Operating the rifle is very easy and with a weight of just 6 lbs. it is also easy to carry on a small shoulder. Overall, a great value rifle that you won’t regret buying for your kid.

4. Thompson Center Venture Compact

Caliber: .243 Win.

Safety: ★★★★

Performance: ★★★

Ease of Use: ★★★★

Price: $$

Overall: ★★★

The Thompson Center Venture Compact manages a commendable balance between delivering excellent accuracy and maintaining a barrel length that is short enough to be easily maneuverable. The trigger feels nice and consistent and the dimensions are good enough for a child to easily operate it. One quirk we would like to complain about though is the bolt, which while feeling completely alright in our hands, was still stiff enough that we think some youngsters might find it a bit difficult to pull properly. 

Recoil is soft and is further suppressed thanks to its spongy stock pad. Overall safety is also superb. The gun shoots reliably, has an intuitive safety switch and a detachable magazine that you can carry around separately when your child isn’t shooting.  

5. Browning T-bolt Sporter

Caliber: .22LR

Safety: ★★★

Performance: ★★★★★

Ease of Use: ★★★

Price: $$$

Overall: ★★★

If you want to give your child a gun with a tad bit more ‘wow’ factor then consider the T-bolt Sporter. Heck, it’s a gun that even an adult would enjoy having their hands on. In terms of aesthetics, with a vintage style, gold inlay trigger and smooth, ‘flowing’ ergonomic, the gun is certainly going grab a fair bit of attention when your kid brings it to the range.

Of course, it is not just the looks the gun shines in but also the performance. It is quite an accurate gun with really smooth handling – one of the most easy-to-shoot rimfire rifles out there. The only downside is the price of it. In addition, because it comes featured with an iron sight, buying a separate scope is a must, and that further adds to a drain on your wallet.   

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