Air rifle for a 6 year old kid

[essdee1972]

Hi, Folks,
Ever since I got my .22 a couple of months back, my kid has been asking for one. He tries the "handicraft" guns in street fairs, and manages to pop a few balloons..... But the concerned parent (i.e. yours truly) is a bit scared of those creations going off in his face...... he is not really satisfied with the Nerf I got him... too complicated, it seems.....

Can someone suggest where in Mumbai I can get an air rifle his size, obviously with trigger and cocking pressures which can be handled by a kid? Honestly don't know which types would be good for a kid of 4'1", but don't want to break the bank on something he would probably outgrow in a year or two....

Would be great if you can give the shop name and general location. (I know in Mumbai "anything and everything" can be obtained in the labyrinthine lanes of the Fort / Crawford Market area, and nothing outside it, so a shop name and address would really help in zeroing down my search). Will anyway try M. Saleh & Co., and IHP dealer in DN Road.....

I solemnly undertake to teach him all safety rules......

And going by CWG experience, India is best in shooting (max medals).... so please help out a future champ

Cheers!

EssDee

[hvj1]

Hello Essdee,
With all due respect to you, this is my very humble opinion, that one should not GIVE a child of 6 years an air rifle, even if you were to get a junior model. The reason, is that it will be impossible for you to supervise your child each time he is playing around with the gun. Hope you take it in the right spirit. Please refer to the opinion poll on the subject.
Regards

[m24]

There's a brand called Cisco that makes air rifles for juniors. Check if it is available in Mumbai.

Regards

[HSharief]

Like hvj1 pointed out, I think its a bit too young to get a 6yr old a "real gun". He's too young for it and at this point just the "toy" guns should be good enough. You should focus on his gun handling and safety at this point so he develops good safety habits with his toy gun and when he graduates to a "real" gun (around age 9) he will be better off. Even in the US (land of gun nuts, if you will), most people start off kids only after about 9.

[hvj1]

Like hvj1 pointed out, I think its a bit too young to get a 6yr old a "real gun". He's too young for it and at this point just the "toy" guns should be good enough. You should focus on his gun handling and safety at this point so he develops good safety habits with his toy gun and when he graduates to a "real" gun (around age 9) he will be better off. Even in the US (land of gun nuts, if you will), most people start off kids only after about 9.

[thomast1]

well said guys..
some anticipation will do good,.. gun safety can be re-iterated till he gets his hands on one too. the most required for the lucky ones who get to start young..
Regards
Thomas

[Rajat]

Come on essdee....

Surely you have better judgement than to even think of giving your kid a gun / airgun.

Forget about the kid hurting someone what if he hurts himself. Get your kid with some soft dart gun and a wall target or something similar.

"I solemnly undertake to teach him all safety rules......" You will never be able to do it so do not even think about it.

Please take this advice from all of us in a good spirit and as coming from your well wishers.

[MoA]

Should you teach your 6 year old to shoot.. under supervised conditions at a range : Most definetely.
Should you let him run amok with a bb gun.. doesnt seem like a good idea.

That being said I wen on my first hunt at 8, with a .22 lr under supervised conditions, and even shot a bird of some kind. I havent hunted in over twenty years now..

[goodboy_mentor]

I have replied at http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 70#p115270

[Subal das]

imho if you are serious about teaching your child then go ahead, but really be serious and get special adequate arrangements for him.

why not consider some laser shooter

guns are not a toys, when I was about 10 years I just miss few centimeters from killing another boy, my 12g was positioned up and went off near his head, as I forget to engage safety. remembering it for the whole life.

[fantumfan2003]

SD

Its quite early to GIVE an airgun to a six year old. What you can certainly do right now, when you shoot, is let the kiddo join you, sitting next to you. Let him fire a couple of shots as well taking all precautions. Start teaching him the basics and safety rules in small doses and when he is probably 8 or 10 years old BUY him his airgun (if you think he is ready) BUT he will continue to shoot it under adult supervision (that is you).

M.

Hi, Folks,
Ever since I got my .22 a couple of months back, my kid has been asking for one. He tries the "handicraft" guns in street fairs, and manages to pop a few balloons..... But the concerned parent (i.e. yours truly) is a bit scared of those creations going off in his face...... he is not really satisfied with the Nerf I got him... too complicated, it seems.....

Can someone suggest where in Mumbai I can get an air rifle his size, obviously with trigger and cocking pressures which can be handled by a kid? Honestly don't know which types would be good for a kid of 4'1", but don't want to break the bank on something he would probably outgrow in a year or two....

Would be great if you can give the shop name and general location. (I know in Mumbai "anything and everything" can be obtained in the labyrinthine lanes of the Fort / Crawford Market area, and nothing outside it, so a shop name and address would really help in zeroing down my search). Will anyway try M. Saleh & Co., and IHP dealer in DN Road.....

I solemnly undertake to teach him all safety rules......

And going by CWG experience, India is best in shooting (max medals).... so please help out a future champ

Cheers!

EssDee

[essdee1972]

Thanks, guys , I will buy him a puppy on his next birthday..... However, had a few points.....

Don't take me otherwise, but I don't think maturity levels of 6 year and 8 year old kids are all that different... come to think of it, some 40-50 year old people have even less (If you see me behind the wheel of a car...... ) It depends on what you have at home, and what you talent is. Colonel Corbett shot with a catapult, then a bow, then a bow catapult, and by 10 was hunting for meat with his brother's broken old gun.

Parents amongst us would know that no parent (or anybody else) is going to be careful / vigilant when the kid is playing with a toy gun (Nerf or suchlike). You don't supervise games of football, do you? And a football hitting you at the right place with the right force can be deadlier than even an airgun pellet. And to keep the toy Nerf gun for target practice only is pretty unfair to the kid who wants to have a nice cowboys and Indians game.......
Using an air gun for target practice ONLY, with permission from Mom, Dad giving you pellets, pointing the gun, etc. is, I believe, a good way to drive home the message that target practice with the airgun is a lot more serious activity that cowboys and indians with a nerf.

Still I bow to experts' opinion - since you guys have had the opportunity to shoot at age 8 and 10, and you know the dangers thereof..... (I sincerely hope the puppy does not bite anybody......)

-- Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:46 pm --

Thanks, guys , I will buy him a puppy on his next birthday..... However, had a few points.....

Don't take me otherwise, but I don't think maturity levels of 6 year and 8 year old kids are all that different... come to think of it, some 40-50 year old people have even less (If you see me behind the wheel of a car...... ) It depends on what you have at home, and what you talent is. Colonel Corbett shot with a catapult, then a bow, then a bow catapult, and by 10 was hunting for meat with his brother's broken old gun.

Parents amongst us would know that no parent (or anybody else) is going to be careful / vigilant when the kid is playing with a toy gun (Nerf or suchlike). You don't supervise games of football, do you? And a football hitting you at the right place with the right force can be deadlier than even an airgun pellet. And to keep the toy Nerf gun for target practice only is pretty unfair to the kid who wants to have a nice cowboys and Indians game.......
Using an air gun for target practice ONLY, with permission from Mom, Dad giving you pellets, pointing the gun, etc. is, I believe, a good way to drive home the message that target practice with the airgun is a lot more serious activity that cowboys and indians with a nerf.

Still I bow to experts' opinion - since you guys have had the opportunity to shoot at age 8 and 10, and you know the dangers thereof..... (I sincerely hope the puppy does not bite anybody......)