mikebohio Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 my 9 year old is very small for his age (50 lbs). he was getting board with his brave compound bow so i bought him the next size up. unfortunately at its lowest setting it was still to hard for him to pull back(24lbs). i decided to pick him up a youth size crossbow. he can shoot it very well off of a rest. well now that he has done that he is bugging me to shoot the rossi 410 i bought him when he was 6 (i wasn't a little too eager to get him started or anything.lol). here is the problem. he is still a touch too little to properly shoulder the gun. its close but not quite there. i believe he could shoot it off of a rest. i am dying to get him on his first deer hunt and a 410 is legal in ohio. do you think i should give it a try or should i wait. i would really appreciate your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Get a recoil pad for the gun; just let him try and see how it goes; don't push it. Enjoy and good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 You dont want to teach him bad habits by letting him shoot a gun that doesnt fit.....BUT......there are millions of people out there that are shooting guns that dont fit them. I would bet my dog, that over 50% of the people here do not know how to fit a gun to them and are shooting guns that dont fit them. That being said, IF he can safely handle the gun, shoulder the gun, reach the trigger while the gun is in his shoulder pocket and pull the trigger without it flying backwards under his arm, or over his shoulder hitting him in the face let him shoot that thing. Get him out and see what happens, if he doesnt feel comfortable shooting it stop then and feed him some miracle gro. People are going to tell you to wait and let him get bigger to shoot. But think back to your childhood if you had one with guns in it. Did you wait for yourself to grow up before putting a gun in your hand to shoot? Did you shoot guns that were to big for you accurately? I know I was shooting a 12 ga at 7. I killed my first deer at 5 with a 32 special side mounted scope. You want to talk about a gun that doesnt fit a kid and also is insanely awkward to shoot and sight in. That right there is it. You as a dad and the responsible gun handler that you are need to decide if you think your child can properly shoot that gun. If he can do it safely, then let him fire away. If how he has to hold it is going to hurt him or could possbily hurt others around as the gun fires, hole off until he gets bigger. Also, my best friend killed his first deer with a 410. He waited till the deer was at 15 yards until he shot, but when he did the spike dropped. He was using buckshot. So, it can be done, the question will be if YOU are confident in him hitting his target AFTER you guys practice all spring and summer at the range with his gun that might not fit him exactly right. Only you will be able to make that call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 If the gun fits him, he's accurate with it, and he has the desire I say go for it. :2guns: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 We got online and ordered an extra butt for the muzzleloader we purchased for the kids, that we we could cut it down some to fit properly, then when they get older we still have the orignal to put back on when we need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 I started shooting bb guns when I was 4 and rifles when I was 6. I was a tiny fella too.....let him get after it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebohio Posted April 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 today, like i said its real close. we are a long time off deer season too but i want to get alot of trigger time in before then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 If he can get his cheek down on the stock to keep from getting smacked, I would start him off with some light loads at first and after he gets used to shooting it, then step up to the heavier slug loads. If you feel he is ready, and he sure looks it, then let him fire away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebohio Posted April 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 thanks everyone. it was a great success! he was laying down the law on some fabric softener bottles at 25 yards by the time we were done. i cant tell you when we had so much fun. i got some video to capture the moment and share with mom. im so swelled up with pride im about ready to burst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Sauceman Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Worst thing to get a small child is a bolt action, pump or single shot gun...A semi auto IMHO is always the best to reduce recoil and damage to nerves when kids are starting out. I started my son out on a Remington 7400 in .243...He loved it so much he graduated the next year at 8 to a Remington 7400 in 30-06. He now wants my BAR 300 win mag....but he is not getting it...LOL You can port the barrel of a semi-auto and reduce the recoil even more...but then again, I have always been a semi-auto man and have been blessed to hunt from coast to coast and border to border before I was hurt from 1980 to 2000... I never have understood the bolt gun mind. I just like to have the gun set and ready on every shot instead of racking and re-setting....now I am not kicking dirt guys!!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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