Your child is now old enough to use a gun, but since so many options available in the market, you can get overwhelmed as to which one to choose. Depending on their intended use- whether for hunting or shooting competition, you can opt for either rifles or shotguns. Here are some of the best guns suitable for youth.
Ruger American Rifle Compact
It is a compact bolt-action rifle with a short and durable stock. It has an 18-inch barrel and weighs only six pounds, which makes it easy for kids to handle. It is also extremely accurate because of its precision cold hammer-forged barrel, an adjustable trigger and Power Bedding integral bedding block system. The safety is also conveniently located and comes with a standard Picatinny rail.
Franchi Affinity 3 Compact
This Franchi’s Italian-made semiauto shotguns uses the reliable Inertia-Driven system that was originally developed by its sister company Benelli. his makes the gun versatile allowing it to handle different types of ammo- from dove and target loads to three-inch magnum waterfowl rounds. This rifle is available in 20-gauge, with a choice of either 24 or 26-inch barrels and includes four LOP spacers to adjust stock length. It also has features like oversized controls, a beveled loading port for swift reloading and fiber optic front sight. The gun weighs just 6 pounds or less and has TSA pad that helps absorb recoil.
Ruger 10/22
This rifle is sturdy and reliable, featuring the bet rotary magazine that is available. It comes in different configurations including a compact model that has a synthetic stock and adjustable comb, weighing only 4.4 pounds, making it a smallest gun on this list. If your kid is interested in shooting or hunting competition, then you go for left-handed Custom Shop Competition rifle. It’s accurate and can take effectively take down small game at extreme limits of the .22 LR’s range.
Browning Cynergy Micro Midas
The Cynergy over/under shotgun features reliable mechanical triggers and a slim receiver with a silver nitride finish and engraved game scenes designs. It has dark blue barrels and a smooth walnut stock. The 20-gauge pistol weighs about 6 pounds and comes with either 24 or 26-inch barrels. It is lightweight and rugged, and is a perfect choice if you have a young hunter in your family.
Mossberg Patriot Youth Super Bantam Scoped Combo
This gun is an excellent choice for your son or daughter, if you want a reliable, adjustable rifle that can adapt as they grow. It uses Mossberg’s reliable Patriot push-feed bolt-action design and comes with a stock spacer for adjusting the LOP by one inch. It has several color options, like black, Muddy Girl Camo and TrueTimber Strata, and offers multiple calibre options.
Bergara BMR Carbon
Bergara’s BMR rifles come in two versions: the standard model with steel barrel and BMR Carbon. The latter is an excellent choice for young shooters and hunters because of its light weight of 5 to 5.4 pounds and #6 contour carbon fiber barrel. This rifle is best because of its outstanding accuracy and compact nature. It also comes with premium features like the Bergara Performance Trigger and 30 MOA rail.
Winchester Xpert 22
A new Xpert 22 bolt-action rifle was introduced at the 2022 SHOT Show by Winchester, which is an affordable option for .22 caliber shooting. This rifle includes a precise, three-lever MOA trigger system, which was found in their centerfire rifles. It comes with a 10-round magazine. It has polymer stock, which is rugged, unbreakable and lightweight, and 18-inch barrel. The rifle weighs just 4.5 pounds. It comes with a standard Iron sight but has a scope as the top receiver is drilled and tapped to allow easy mounting. This setup makes the rifle accurate and practical.
Fabarm L4S Sporting Compact
This 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun is an excellent choice for young competitive shooter. Its stock is made of a European walnut with a durable Tribore wood finish, and both the stock and forearm are shortened for easier handling. The slim wrist and Monet Carlo stock help to reduce recoil. The gun weighs 6 ¾ pounds. Although it is a bit heavier, the added weight combined with the sophisticated gas system and the stainless-steel piston, makes it exceptionally smooth to shoot. It comes with a 12-gauge and is ideal for hunting birds, and is also available in both right- and left-handed models. Fabarm also provides excellent customer service.
CZ 457 VPT MTR (Varmint Precision Trainer Match Target Rifle)
This .22 LR rimfire rifle is designed for precision shooting. It has a heavy barrel of 16.2 inches and the stock is made of lightweight carbon fibre with a unique camo paint finish and an adjustable cheek piece and cutout for a bag. It comes with a 5-round magazine. Since it weighs just 7 pounds, there is very little recoil, especially when a suppressor is attached. Although the gun is designed for competition, it also works well for small hunting games.
Winchester SXP Youth Field
This pump-action shotguncomes with a walnut stock with a 12-inch LOP and weighs 6 pounds. It’s lightweight and manageable for those with smaller builds. One of the reasons why this gun is light in weight is because of its aluminium alloy receiver, which has a non-glare matte finish that matches the barrel. This gun also comes with pull spacers, which allows you to adjust the stock length as the child grows. It’s available in 12 gauge with 20, 22, or 24-inch barrels or in 20 gauge with 18, 20, 22, or 24-inch barrels. The SXP is a reliable smooth-operating and affordable pump-action shotgun.
CVA Scout .410
This shotgun comes with a JEBS X-Full turkey choke and is drilled and tapped for adding a scope. It weighs just 6 pounds, with a LOP adjustable from 13 to 14 inches. Excluding the choke, the gun is 22 inches long. This rifle is accurate and a perfect choice for hunting and young shooters, as it helps with precise aiming.
Winchester SX4 Compact
Winchester’s Super X shotguns are great quality guns at an affordable price for gas-operated models. SX4 Compact uses the Active Valve gas system, which helps reduce recoil by venting extra gas away from the shooter. It is easy to clean and reliable. It has a 13-inch LOP and is available in both 12 and 20 gauge. The 20-gauge shotgun weighs just 6.4 pounds.
CZ Redhead Premier Reduced Length
This shotgun is ideal for young hunters or youth clay shooting competitions. It comes with 24-inch barrels, a 13-inch LOP and weighs just 6 pounds. It also includes high-end features like five interchangeable choke tubes, auto ejectors, a silver satin chrome receiver, Turkish walnut stock and a single mechanical trigger that allows the shooter to choose which barrel fires first.
