survey on age for first firearm

[hudr]

Another post here got me thinking. For the firearm enthusiasts out there; How old were you when you got your first firearm? I mean at least rimfire. Pellet and BB guns don't count (and yes, I know they can be just as dangerous so don't start that).
My son is 6. I think that is still a tad young but just wanted a sampling of what is out there. I got my first .410 when I was 12, I think. First .22 rifle around the same time. But I had been shooting Dad's .22 for a while before that.
He already has RESPECT, not FEAR for firearms as I have let him hold several of mine when I had them out for cleanings and what-not. He also gets any question answered about them and a speil on safety. He already asks me to make sure they are unloaded for him since he can't rack and lock the slides on the auto pistols yet.
I really think education is important. Not just on guns, but other stuff too. Vehicles can be dangerous, as well as baseball bats, rocks, etc. I think he also needs to know that a bed sheet will not appreciably slow your fall (or jump) from a barn roof. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So, what do y'all think?

 

[EddieWalker]

I got my first .22 when I was in the 7th grade. Ruger 10/22 that I bought with my own money from Walgreens for $80.

At that age, it took me a very long time to save up that much money. My Dad thought I should get the cheapy model they had for about half the price, but at that age, the clip was a big deal for me.

30 years later, it's still my favorite gun!!!!

Eddie

 

[Highbeam]

Wow Eddie. I bought my first rimfire 22 with my first paycheck from my first real job when I turned 16. I bought it from a pawn shop for just over 100$ and it was a ruger 10/22. Still my favorite gun 12 years and thousands of flawless rounds later. That gun needs to be in the hall of fame, even my wife can pop out a crow's eye at 50 yards. Add the available 25 round bananna clips for giggles.

I had a dang beefy 20 cal sheridan pellet gun until then that plinked many a chipmunk.

I had access/experience with other guns under supervision prior to 16 but the ruger at 16 was mine.

 

[LarryD]

I don't know anything about Highbeams' Sheridan pellet gun but my Benjiman could put a hurtin' on a crow at a good distance. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I think I shot my dads' .22 at around 9 or 10 and probably the 410 too. He kept the guns in an unlocked cabinet and put the fear of god into us boys if we ever touched them without him around.

Things are different now but outside of a locked cabinet/trigger, I wouldn't hesitate to let a young boy do a little plinking, and learn good gun safety. I'm pretty sure I had adult supervision when I first got my pellet gun.

 

[Spiffy]

I'm thinking about 8 I was shooting my dad's .22 [if memory is correct actually much younger, under extreme supervison], but didn't get to have my own until about 12.

Did have a little Daisey when I was about 5, but knowing how underpowered it was we did really stupid things with it. Fotunately, I had already learned firearms respect before I had that or I think I would have been very dangerous when I got some firepower. I'd say having a .22 a bit young, is better than "learning" on a BB gun.

 

[MrSteve]

I was 9 when I got my 1st .22, 12 when I got my 1st 20g, 14 when I got my 1st 12g.

 

[osprey]

I was 10 years old and my 1st gun was an Ithaca 20 gauge single shot hammer action,the hammer was very stiff because the gun was new and it was hard for me to let off the hammer slowly. 3 of us boys were hunting one time and jumped some deer and I pulled the hammer back to shoot at the deer and I did not take my shot,I went to release the hammer and the hammer slipped out from under my thumb and the gun discharged the slug,luckily I had the gun pointed towards the ground when it discharged. I got back to the house and told dad what happened and shortly afterwards he sold the gun.

 

[Bird]

I started following my Dad around squirrel, rabbit, and quail hunting before I was 6 years old. Dad's .22 rifle and 12 gauge shotgun were kept loaded in the house (without one in the chamber) all the time. They were standing in the closet in the master bedroom and kids knew not to touch them. I was either 10 or 11 the first time he let me shoot the .22 (missed a rabbit first shot, but it just sat there and I got it on the second shot). The next day, I had a brand new Remington bolt action single shot .22 and within a year was given my great grandfather's side hammer, double barreled 12 gauge shotgun.

 

[HGM]

My first hunting trip was with my grandfather.. I was probably 12, he borrowed a single shot H&R 20 gauge for me to use. I tried at a couple of Quail /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif (HA, yea right) but I did get a squirel.. Had a blast that weekend, never looked back.. My first gun was the 870 12gauge my father bought me at about 13.. The first one I bought myself was the Savage 30-06 then P-90 .45...... I wont try to list the rest..

My son's first was a .22 Chipmunk I bought him at about 5.. He's now up to a .243 NEF and a Benelli 20ga pump.. Its a regular tool for him, not a novalty since he cant remember not being around them..

 

[fenneran]

My dad was not a sportsman, so we never had guns in the house. I went hunting with an uncle a few times when I was about 13 or 14. Shamefully, I didn't actually buy my first firearm (Howa 270) until I was about 35 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, but I have since made up for that error by aquiring a *few* more /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif