FlySubCompact
New member
Agree with Handsam. I raised my girls with basically his same method...just waited until they were a tad older. Starting on an air rifle is a safer way to instill shooting technique and safety measures. An example: When I started my eldest, I told her the safety basics, but watched her carefully. She took to shooting like a duck to water and loved our plinking sessions together, but the second time out she broke a safety rule (swept my head with a muzzle). Banned her from shooting for a couple of weeks. She was soon corrected and safe enough to trust, unsupervised, with the air gun. (not really unsupervised....first solo sessions I spied on her from the house to make sure the lessons soaked in. )
You already have a .22, so I won't go there. Good choice, BTW.
Above, pistol caliber carbines were suggested. I totally agree. A buddy of mine has little Berretta (Storm??) that shoots 9mm. Low recoil and still has some power. Short gun, so young'uns could handle it. I think some single shot Handi rifles came chamberd in pistol calibers like .38, too. Those would be less expense than the Berettas.
A 20 gage would be kind of stout for 13 year old girl, I'd think. .410 single shots would be better. I'm a large, strong, grown man and don't shoot anything larger than a 20 in a shotgun.
Someone also suggested a Glock 9mm. My wife and my youngest daughter love that set up in a semiauto pistol. My eldest is grown, but has very small hands and cannot shoot a Glock comfortably. Handle is too big. She's looking for a small single stack 9mm now.
BTW, Hansam....my wife was like yours too....rather anti at first. Now she carries and shoots a Glock. Smart lady, but just needed some time and patience. It is truly an awesome sight to have her walk in from shopping and she says: "Got us some more ammo for this weekend." Awesome.
You already have a .22, so I won't go there. Good choice, BTW.
Above, pistol caliber carbines were suggested. I totally agree. A buddy of mine has little Berretta (Storm??) that shoots 9mm. Low recoil and still has some power. Short gun, so young'uns could handle it. I think some single shot Handi rifles came chamberd in pistol calibers like .38, too. Those would be less expense than the Berettas.
A 20 gage would be kind of stout for 13 year old girl, I'd think. .410 single shots would be better. I'm a large, strong, grown man and don't shoot anything larger than a 20 in a shotgun.
Someone also suggested a Glock 9mm. My wife and my youngest daughter love that set up in a semiauto pistol. My eldest is grown, but has very small hands and cannot shoot a Glock comfortably. Handle is too big. She's looking for a small single stack 9mm now.
BTW, Hansam....my wife was like yours too....rather anti at first. Now she carries and shoots a Glock. Smart lady, but just needed some time and patience. It is truly an awesome sight to have her walk in from shopping and she says: "Got us some more ammo for this weekend." Awesome.
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