Advice on BB/Pellet rifle for child

[plblark]

OK, I'm in my happy place right now. Took the oldest (6) out last night to run errands. Out to the Gun Club to clean a door, across the street to look at the horses, WW to go away empty handed, Gander to see how high he prices could be, and then Dick's who had the .38 I needed for the steel shoot. He was good company and we had a nice time.

While we were at Dick's:
S: Dad, That pink one is my size (Cricket) but I don't want a PINK one.
Me: They make them in black, see there ...
S: Look at that one, it's kinda green and kinda brown (Rossi 22/20)
Me: SMILE

So, now I need to ease into it. He has the Eddie Eagle rules down, can recite them and explain why. He's vaguely familiar with the 4 rules(has heard them, we've talked about them, but he's not reciting or explaining them yet).

I think it's time to make a shooting gallery in the garage and get him set up with a small BB gun / Pellet rifle ...
Then he can earn the privilege by learning and displaying the rules.

Anyone have a cut down Red Ryder or a suggestion on what to get / avoid for a young kid? suggestions on targets and etc?

[Holland&Holland]

The Daisy carbine BB gun it a bit shorter and easier to handle then the RR but the lever on those is tough for a youngster. Started both my kids on one though.

Another thought is a fore-end pump model. When the older one was able to move to a .22 or .410 and the younger really wanted to move up from the bb gun, got a daisy gizzly. Had a scope and was in camo so he thought it was pretty cool.

[Grandpa Rex]

I started the grandson on a Crossman pump pistol.

You can vary the power with the number of pumps, it feels like a serious piece of hardware, and you can take out bunnies in the garden if you need to!

[Belgiboy]

I would go for the Crossman 7600 pumpmaster. It's light, short and tons of fun. Shoots pellets and BB's accurate enough to learn the basics right. I think that Dick's actually carries them.

[Squib Joe]

Crosman 760