Advice for first rifle for 5 year-old?

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kkirsch

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Oct 20, 2020
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TX, United States
My daughter is turning 5, and I'd like for her to be able to plink in the backyard with me (not sure of her interest level just yet). I saw the Crosman 1077 .177 CO2 repeater as a candidate, but have concerns about the repeater as being unsafe for a 5 year old who doesn't have to take any action (reloading) before squeezing off another round.

Any other recommended options, or experience from others shooting with 5 year olds? Thanks.
 
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My son was 6 when I first introduced him to airguns. His first air rifle was a Red Ryder - a classic for sure, but it was a mistake. He couldn't cock it himself, it was not accurate other than for plinking, and BBs have a tendency to ricochet. I got him a Sig Sauer MPX(CO2) next and he loved it. We put through about 15k .177 pellets through that rifle, then bought a second Sig MCX and put another 15k rounds through it, converted it to use HPA - not the most accurate, but accurate enough for a world of fun. 

Airsoft guns are a hoot to shoot too. Don't discount them.

Since then, he has moved on to PCPs like my Benjamin Marauder, FX Impact and powder burners(5.56mm and his own 243 Win).
 
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My son was 6 when I first introduced him to airguns. His first air rifle was a Red Ryder - a classic for sure, but it was a mistake. He couldn't cock it himself, it was not accurate other than for plinking, and BBs have a tendency to ricochet. I got him a Sig Sauer MPX(CO2) next and he loved it. We put through about 15k .177 pellets through that rifle, then bought a second Sig MCX and put another 15k rounds through it, converted it to use HPA - not the most accurate, but accurate enough for a world of fun. 

Since then, he has moved on to PCPs like my Benjamin Marauder, FX Impact and powder burners(5.56mm and his own 243 Win).
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That's great, Frank. I want to stick with pellets. I have a full auto BB gun and those round BBs ricochet everywhere, including the shooter's face. Whatever, I end up with, it's okay if she can't cock/prime it, but I would like her to be able to rechamber, as in a bolt-action.
 
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I bought my grandsons Daisy Bucks, but even those where too hard to cock at that age. they really enjoyed shooting my 2260 from a rest, so I bought a CCS 2400KT with the L/W 14" barrel and put a red dot on top. Easy to cock and load, and light enough to hold. The length of pull is still a little long, but they're growing into it.



edit: I just weighed it as you see it in the picture. 4lb, 1.3oz. Length of pull is 16", but I've seen where they have been cut down, or shorter butt stocks made. I like it because it's very accurate and will grow with the shooter.

2400KT.1608156525.jpg

 
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I bought my grandsons Daisy Bucks, but even those where too hard to cock at that age. they really enjoyed shooting my 2260 from a rest, so I bought a CCS 2400KT with the L/W 14" barrel and put a red dot on top. Easy to cock and load, and light enough to hold. The length of pull is still a little long, but they're growing into it.
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Agree that any pump style air rifle is going to be an issue for 5/6/7 year old to cock safely. I even tried a multi-pump Crossman .177, but it was a handful for him to cock safely, even at the lower 1-2 pumps power. Keyword "safely". In order for a 6 year old to get any leverage to pump shot after shot, they be muzzling all over the place, putting the butt stock on the floor trying to use their body weight to pump, muzzling themselves. I land up screaming and yelling at him instead of having fun shooting. The semi-auto Sig MPX/MCX CO2 rifles were the ones that got my 6 year old son hooked on shooting - load and shoot till you run out of CO2.


 
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My CP1 is the same thing as the Chaser kit my buddy bought his daughter. But his came with a longer barrel with a mod on it. It’s kinda follows along the same platform as the Crosman 22xx guns except a couple things. No custom shop or having to build it, that won’t happen before Christmas. Shorter LOP. Lastly, a magazine. Little kid fingers can magically load 22xx guns even with the craziest probe, but mags are great. Would I chose one of these over my 2240 build. Hell no, but we are talking kids guns here.
image_2.1608157778.jpg

 
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Were it me at that young age I would, as others have suggested, do a Crosman 2300 or 2400KT or a 2260. They are fairly lightweight guns and the stocks are not that difficult to cut down and reshape with hand tools. The long barrel and plastic breech on the 2260 are easy to replace if or when needed as well. These are one of the most simple guns around so easy to modify. The aftermarket parts made for these guns is huge so you can make it anything you want for years to come.

You can put a lighter hammer spring in to make it easier for her to cock and to reduce the power output a bit as well.

A TKO moderator can make things quiet. A open sights, a red dot, or a scope can be added to the metal breech guns. Single shots are best for the little ones.

If you need a stock Crosman rear sight PM me and I will send you a couple.


 
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I bought a Daisy buck for my 4-year-old grandson. I cock it and have him shoot off a bag rest. Ricochets are an issue without very careful thought put into the backstop. I use a large, heavy piece of cardboard at 15-20 ft and am satisfied.

An atypical choice is the Daisy 2840. It's a single-stroke pumper yielding lower velocity on a very easy pump action. Easier to pump the 2840 once than a Crosman 760 (which I also have) three times for the same velocity. Better trigger than the 760 (not a high bar to clear) and can shoot either BBs or pellets. Length of pull is not for small kids but can be worked around with a rest. Rifled steel barrel also gives this gun a leg up over the 760.

My 2 cents.
 
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