380???

[wcd]

Opinions and thoughts please. So I took my son to the range today to try out his new 10/22 a little cold but it is only a few minutes walk so we did not feel bad about only shooting for about 15 minutes. We gave him an air rifle at age 7 we learnedl gun safety together and he can put it on the paper every time usually pretty close to the bulls eye. After shooting his rifle he asked about shooting my 1911? Since he has helped clean it and understands the controls and safety I told him sure it is chambered for 22lr so I did not think recoil would be an issue and he did really well with it he was hitting the tin cans right off the self. So I would like to get him his own handgun which he would only use it with adult supervision and it would be secured when not in use. He is 9 now and since I have never fired a 380 I am wondering if it would be a good choice? I am guessing the recoil would be somewhere between a 22 and a 9mm? I was thinking about some thing along the lines of a Beresa thunder because of its size and I don't think the lc 380 would be much fun to shoot.

Thanks

 

[Firefighterchen]

You have the right idea. A LCP 380 and it's variants are going to have a decent amount of kick compared to the Sig 238, LC380, or PK380 due to size and weight differences.

In the end though, I think all these firearms would be a good round for a child to feel a decent amount of recoil with a grip that should fit his smaller hand well.

Larger handgun in 9mm would be similar on recoil, but the grip might be too large.

 

[Purple]

I would go with the Bersa Thunder .380. It's a great gun and a good teaching gun for a beginner. The grip is smaller, it has a safety, and its darn accurate.

 

[Andrew49417]

I have a Bersa Thunder .380 and the recoil is not bad. I would also guess that a Ruger LC380 would be manageable. The LCP is not.

 

[UATKP]

I also appreciate the accuracy and recoil of the Bersa .380. Proven to be one of the most accurate little .380s on the market... lifetime warranty to the original owner... and the price is right. It is a clone of the Walther... heck, 007 used it! It has to be good! )

 

[Coffeenut]

The .380 has really light recoil in the Bersa Thunder and while .380 is more expensive than 9mm it is much more manageable for kids to shoot. I really like the Thunder and considering how cheap the pistol is you can't go wrong with it.

I'd also check out the Walther PK 380 if you have the chance.

 

[MadMAF]

I think the Thunder 380 would be an excellent choice. It's all metal, which will help absorb recoil, is extremely accurate, has plenty of safeties (including the integral Key lock, so YOU can lock it and keep the Key), fires in both single action and double action modes, and is reasonably priced. I would suggest going to a range and renting one first though, since you stated you've never shot one. I have a Thunder 380 Plus, which has the doublestack magazine, and I absolutely love it. Good luck.

 

[Stan1]

Someone in an earlier post said buy a bursa, it is a walther clone. My answer to that is why not get the real thing? I have a Walther PPK/S and love it. My 12 year old daughter loves to shoot it as well. It is an all metal gun, so it has some weight to it to help absorb some recoil. It really is a joy to shoot!

 

[DRNurse1]

.380 is a good choice. Also consider reloading rounds for it so you can make the rounds more manageable for plinking. With the cost and unavailability of 22LR, .380 may be a great choice! I have a .380 to carry as deep concealment backup and for training purposes (P380 by Walther) that is user friendly and manageable by by 10 yo daughter.

One thing though, if you are thinking about shooting competitively, the 22LR, 9MM, or .45ACP might be better choices, with the same suggestion about reloading.

My daughter spends some quality time helping me to assemble rounds that she is going to shoot (.45ACP). Of course, I have to spend some quality time with her playing her games, too.

 

[misunderstood]

My opinion i would look for a single action 22lr revolver. They are fun to shoot, cheaper (when not ammo shortage), better hunting round than 380, and being cowboy style get him a cool nelt holster combo. Might like so much start practicing for competition. My kids like to watch the cowboy action shooters. As far as handling ok depends on kids personality. I got one kid i believe can shoot my 45 ok. Other one anything more than 22 shocks and scares him.

 

[NCIC105]

I'd keep him with a 22 until he gets use to handguns and them move him up.....Coming out of the gate with one that will give a good hard recoil might start him flinching.....Everyone is different.

 

[wolf_fire]

I like the thoughts that misunderstood gave about a 22lr revolver. However, it could just as easily be in a semi-auto. They do make a large variety in a smaller size.

If you're set on the .380, take a second look at Sigs P238. It is one heck of a firearm. A little more than the Bersa, but it has functioned flawlessly for my wife and was such a blast to shoot (yes pun intended) that I had to get a second for me as a pocket BUG. Mine as well has given me quite a bit of pleasure at the range. And when wearing shorts and a t-shirt, it is comfortable to carry in my pocket.

 

[cluznar]

Bersa Thunder is a nice gun I have one in .380 and also in .32. The .22 .32 .380 are all the same gun that shoot different calibers, they can all use the same holster even. I shoot only Hornady Critical Defense in my Bersa .380 for both range and carry, it's a great round with low recoil and low muzzle flash.

If you can find a Bersa Thunder .32 he might even like it more than a .380 it has about 30% less recoil than .380 but Bersa stopped importing them so they are hard to find.

:dirol:

 

[Domineaux]

While I love my Bersa Thunder .380, I'd say stick to 22lr in pistol or revolver. At 9 years old, .380 is still enough recoil as to build bad habits like flinching.
It's not meant to be a defensive gun anyways so might as well stick with nearly zero recoil and far less cost of 22lr (at least once the panic calms down).
If you go the 22 revolver route, he can shoot 22 shorts or longs if long rifles aren't available.

 

[CarryNM]

Our children are grown and gone, My wife loves her Ruger LCR for carry, and enjoys shooting it. You may want to consider a revolver also, as there are a lot of choices now. Enjoy your quality time with your daughter, she will be grown and gone before you know it. LOL

 

[SWIll]

I second the idea about a revolver being an excellent first hand gun. .22 would be cheapest to feed and least recoil. However, a .38 special loaded with low pressure wadcutters would be pretty mild also. Used 4" model 10 or 64 Smiths are relatively inexpensive and make great first centerfire handguns.

 

[misunderstood]

I was sitting here thinking of your post and what i get my critters. I remember i saw a ruger single action revolver that was 3/4 scale for small hands. It hand interchangable chambers. One for 22lr and one 22 mag. I have the p238 and i dont recommend that for a learning. To accurately shoot it you need a strong grip. I have seen ladies miss from 15 feet away because 380 compact pistols have too much kick to limb wrist.

 

[JimTh]

Call me an old fuddy duddy but I think 9 years old is a bit young to "own" a handgun. My daughter is 17 and a half and I felt a bit squeamish about buying her a 9mm. Of course I let her keep it in her room which may not be the way you are going to do it. Just sayin that sometimes a 9 year old mind acts like a 9 year old mind. I would let him simply have fun with your pistols until he reaches his mid teens. Then go get him the works.

 

[wcd]

Call me an old fuddy duddy but I think 9 years old is a bit young to "own" a handgun. My daughter is 17 and a half and I felt a bit squeamish about buying her a 9mm. Of course I let her keep it in her room which may not be the way you are going to do it. Just sayin that sometimes a 9 year old mind acts like a 9 year old mind. I would let him simply have fun with your pistols until he reaches his mid teens. Then go get him the works.

Clarification appears to be in order. Yes technically it would be mine however it would be given to him when he turns of age. Also it would be secured along with other firearms in the home ie trigger locks in place ammo stored in lock boxes and magazines stored seperately and secured as well. Besides with the crazy prices I am guessing it would cost significantly more in the future. Funny side bar we were at gander mountain yesterday when a woman was looking at a shot gun and pointing it people with out a thought and he noticed it and said dad that lady needs take a refresher course. Guessing she overheard and responded excuse me my told her you need to keep guns pointed in a safe direction at all times. Long story short she was not happy with being told that by a nine year old!

 

[Courtney.cj.chen]

Opinions and thoughts please. So I took my son to the range today to try out his new 10/22 a little cold but it is only a few minutes walk so we did not feel bad about only shooting for about 15 minutes. We gave him an air rifle at age 7 we learnedl gun safety together and he can put it on the paper every time usually pretty close to the bulls eye. After shooting his rifle he asked about shooting my 1911? Since he has helped clean it and understands the controls and safety I told him sure it is chambered for 22lr so I did not think recoil would be an issue and he did really well with it he was hitting the tin cans right off the self. So I would like to get him his own handgun which he would only use it with adult supervision and it would be secured when not in use. He is 9 now and since I have never fired a 380 I am wondering if it would be a good choice? I am guessing the recoil would be somewhere between a 22 and a 9mm? I was thinking about some thing along the lines of a Beresa thunder because of its size and I don't think the lc 380 would be much fun to shoot.

Thanks

If you're think of something along the lines of the Bersa thunder (around $350) may I suggest the CZ 83 (around $250-$300). Or... if you want to go with the makorav 9x18 cal- CZ 82. Theres a bunch of youtube reviews where they compare Bersa thunders vs. cz 83 bc they have the same basic shape. From my experience- the CZ had less kick.