Recently, I took my eleven year old son to the range and we fired a twenty two rifle (Ruger 1022) and a shotgun (Remington 1100, 12 gauge). He was very impressed with m shotgun, to say the least.
I used to have one of those, it was excellent. I handed it in during the buy back we had here when all semi autos were banned.
Prior to that I used a very old Brno .22 bolt action for a while, that was just a superbly accurate rifle. Later I bought my own Brno, a .22 semi automatic.
I have a number of .22 rifles, including three Ruger 1022s, all normal looking. I do not get into making a 22 look like a Special Ops weapon with useless crap hung on it. Two of mine are blued with original birch stocks and one is black with composite stock. All are scope sighted.
We have been shooting many times since this ancient post, even with my daughter. She after less experience is a better shot than my son. Especially with a handgun. I only bought that Ruger 9mm because my son had a "thing" against old, "too big" guns from the WWI era.
He has since gained an education and can strip and clean my 45s quickly and gets it, finally.
The 45 auto is just cumbersome in my daughter's girl hands. I am planning to get her a smaller, compact 9mm, soon. Just have not had time. I want her to come with me to the gun shop and "try on" several before she chooses one.
Oh, nd my son has learned how to reload hand gun ammo using a single stage press (I have two Rock Chuckers).
"Is she gone yet?"