A gun for my daughter

[Lone spur]

I know I'm getting ahead of myself here, since she was born less than three weeks ago, but I'm getting ready to buy my little girl her very first gun. I'm sure most all gun guys go through this when they have that first kid. I find myself daydreaming about teaching her all she'll let me about the shooting sports as she grows older.
So far I really like the Savage Cub T. Yeah, the pink one. While I have never owned a Savage of any variety I like the ones I've handled and the Accu-Trigger seems great. I also want her to have a single shot. I believe teaches kids to make that shot count, as well as the safety factor of individually handing her every round. Additionally, learning with a peep sight helps to establish the fundamentals IMHO. Oh, I'm a sucker for that pink thumbhole stock too.
Does anyone have experience with the Cub? I would really like to know how well they perform. I have a handful of other .22s to graduate to as she gets older but I'd just like to make the first one special.

[Graybeard]

The first should be a bb gun and the second a rimfire.

[montveil]

I'd suggest a pellet gun for first rifle. They are very accurate, no noise or recoil to induce flinching. They are also used in the Boy Scouts and NRA beginners lessons. I believe they will bounce back less than a BB gun. Also, in my opinion they look more like a firearm and less than a toy. Very small range needed, even backyard or basement.
My choice for a rifle would be a 22 LR bolt action with a removable magazine. This rifle would be capable of single shots and repeat shots with a full magazine.  Also the magazine can be with held until their proficiency has achieved.
Do not get a beginning firearm with a butt stock or tube magazine as the buttstock feed encourages a youngster to bury the muzzle in the ground or place it on their shoe so not place it on the ground.  The tube mag allows the muzzle to be placed in the head region or maybe pointed other than down range. The slow fire of a bolt action also stresses accuracy. Both of these "firearms" can be handed down to other siblings.
As you can see I prefer accuracy over repeat shots.
I'm sure you will get many other views, sift through them and then make your decision. Another point is don't get the cheapest firearm, nor the most expensive, but do get good stuff as they will last a lifetime and become "my first rifle"

[mcwoodduck]

Getthe PINK gun!
Hey the little gun will slip into a standard bolt action stock.  Talk about a great little plinker till she is old enough to take it back from you.

No you are not alone.  My friend got his daughter a Beretta over and under in 20ga for his daughter.  Wife was mad! She will not let him shoot it.

[montveil]

You might want to check the airgun forum

[Lone spur]

I've given a lot of consideration to a BB or pellet gun. I my self use a Chief AJ Daisey and a recoiless air pistol for routine indoor practice. My hessitancy revolves around the way children tend to manipulate such actions. It seems every time I see a kid attempt to cock or pump a pellet gun the muzzle goes all over the place. I know CO2 would help reduce this but I simply don't care for CO2.
Also, I plan to start her strickly shooting from a prone position to limit movement and I would be placing the rounds in the chamber so all the movement would be limited to working the bolt and pulling the trigger. We would definately use lower power loads such as CB longs or even Aquila Colibris.
I'm not saying that I've ruled out a BB or pellet gun, this is just where my mind is at right now. Either way this is how I plan to start her, stessing safety and accuracy. She may shoot a pellet gun first but I'm thinking this to be her first "Real Gun".

[teamnelson]

Not used the Savage, but my younger brother, two sisters, wife, son and daughter, various neighbor kids all learned to shoot with the same Chipmunk .22 bolt action single shot with iron sights, as will my nieces/nephews or grandchildren ... whichever come first. Started with .22 shorts. Familiar action, familiar sights, familiar trigger all scaled down.

[Keith L]

I bought a remake of the Stevens Favorite a few years ago for the purpose of teaching grandkids to shoot.  Since the grandkids are still not here I have taken it walking in the woods lots, and really enjoy shooting it.  Reminds me of shooting critters on the farm when growing up. 

[Glanceblamm]

Getthe PINK gun!
Hey the little gun will slip into a standard bolt action stock.  Talk about a great little plinker till she is old enough to take it back from you.

No you are not alone.  My friend got his daughter a Beretta over and under in 20ga for his daughter.  Wife was mad! She will not let him shoot it.

ABSOULUTELY!.....I believe it is called the Cricket and is made by Savage or Stevens.