Weapons system for a nine year old????

[delectric]

Having recently become Mr Mom to a brilliant nine year old girl, got me to thinking, I need to rig up a weapons system for a bug out 'system' or rig for her, I've considered the Ruger 10/22... too light weight, not lethal enough, and wee bit too long. I'm considering maybe a .223 bolt gun, one that is smaller, with a weaver style scope... KISS. Pistol needs to be small, compact.... and yes I want her to have a complete weapons system including a handgun... it's a SHTF situation so Big Bother won't matter as far as I'm concerned.

Any random thoughts...

[archy]

The 10-22 might be insufficient for her, but one of the .22 magnum versions might work a little better. And though I'm not real fond of .22 mag in handguns, it could offer the possibility of handgun/rifle ammo interchangability.

Aside from rimfires, a G.I. .30 carbine might do for her. And neither the magazines nor the ammunition are particularly bulky.

[Raider]

I like the idea of a .30 cal carbine. It would be very usable if she practices. The handgun would be harder because she probably has small hands. Maybe a S&W 22-32 kit gun to start with and something larger stored away for when she gets older.

Raider

[martin35]

Nine years old and you are looking for a fox-hole buddy from daughter? 1st teach her to knife fight, and then once blooded she will be more acclimated and motivated for warfare as you imagine it.
The conversion of a 9 year old to fire arms expert can not be done to any degree with information you will be given here. The handling of fire arms requires a youngster be given strict supervision and prolonged periods of practice, then most kids would not think it fun which it should not be treated as.
You asked.

[Arizona Highlander]

Well, just my two cents here . . .

Nine is a little young, perhaps, for a reliable defensive partner, but that doesn't mean she can't grow into the role as time passes. If it were me, I'd just let her have fun with a .22 (doesn't Ruger make a special, short-stocked version of the 10/22, just for kids?) and give her some time to develop her shooting skills. I worry that if she's handed a more formidable weapon, she might get indimidated and develop bad habits that might forever ruin her as a potentially fine shooter.

Granted, a .22 LR isn't much of a defensive round, but nobody's going to walk into a .22LR line of fire, either. In a crisis, she might prove more capable than one might expect.

In a few years, when she's confident with the 10/22, you might consider upgrading her to a .223. A much better manstopper, and still not enough recoil to intimidate her. I rather like the much-ridiculed Mini-14 for this role: it's close enough to the 10/22 to make the transistion easy for her (though you'll probably have to shorten the buttstock a bit, until she grows a bit more. Then, you can add a recoil pad or spacers, as needed). Another possibility might be a AR- type weapon, with the collapsable buttstock. She'd be able to adjust the length of pull to suit her as she grows up.

But, whatever you do, I'd suggest NOT making it into a boot-camp situation for your daughter. Girls, especially, don't often respond to this kind of thing. Give her a chance to HAVE FUN with the .22, and with a bit of friendly training, I'll bet that her skills will develop all by themselves.

[delectric]

First this is my fourth child, the other three are grown adults, and these kids learned to shoot at six years old and likely can out shoot most of the people herein when they were ten. But I'm raising this one alone, and while I'm leaning to a Marlin Camp Carbine in 45ACP for the rifle, and a Ruger Mk IV bull barrel in 22LR.

Several people herein can vouch that my kids learn YOUNG... and all own and operate AR15s, 45acp, or 9mm rigs... and can handle themselves when it comes to weapons. I kill the curiousity early, that way curiousity doesn't get them killed by accident.

[Zombie_Hunter]

I like the .30 Carbine Idea. low recoil good knock down power. as for the Hand gun I would say at least a .380...or a 9mm. You might look into a single stack 9mm though I'm not really sure whats out there.

[padeep]

22lr is lethal.

Anybody shot with a 22 during SHTF will have a bad SHTF day.

[k7kit]

A couple of thoughts occured to me. A 22lr advantage would be she would probably put most of the grub on the table as well as shoot it allot more as it is very affordable. But, the advantage of a AR, possibly M4 size the stock could 'grow' with her not requiring to restock the rifle as she grows.

[GOVT1911]

I'm sure I'll get beat up for this, but have you thought about one of the 9mm Hipoint carbines? I know, I know, but I've put thousands of rounds thru mine with absolutely NO problems, there's no recoil and you can have ammo interchangeability with a handgun.
No, it isn't MY first choice for MY SHTF longgun, but that isn't what you were asking, is it?

Besides, they're under 200 bucks and fun to shoot!

[therealsteamer]

We have a 5 year old daughter who is a budding shooter. I say, from our experience, you can't go wrong with a 10/22...

Stubby (our oldest daughter) can lock in a magazine, pull the bolt back, locate/take off the safety, and fire the entire magazine... Under complete adult supervision of course!! She can not however load the mags at all...

It's a start and we have been teaching firearm safety to her since she could walk..

For a pistol I'd recommend the P22...

[mrrk1562]

i traded an 870 shot gun combo for for 2 single shot shot guns one in 410 and one in 20 g..the 20 fits my 10 year old boy realy good ..both kids shoot my fal but its not something for them to carry around ..and use just yet ..the single shot teaches them to aim and not waste shots ..and they are comfortable with them ..i just took my boy on a deer hunting trip this year ..he hunted not only with me but other adult hunters ..we did a lot of drives so knowing to shoot and not to shoot..is a real concern not just for the kids but the adults as well ..hes shown him self to be safe as the other hunters want him to hunt with them ..at 8 years of age he shot his first deer he used a 12 g with some help from me but he lined the gun up with the deer and killed it with one shot ..this year he shot at a running deer which i shot first his shot put it down ..these last 2 weeks iv wound up with 4 new guns total 2 20gs and 2 410s now i have increased for fire power with guns that dont intimadate the users ..now i just have to work on some more 10/22s for them ..the wife sez no more guns that was in aug this last summer ..but she said nothing about the kids getting them ..the one thing im going to build is a pistal firing range point this is frame that you have to put your arms thru to shoot so the gun cant turned to any one a big safty facter with pistals ..it will something like you find at indoor gun range ..as i belive in taking the curiosity out of the pic ..

[flopshot]

I'm sure I'll get beat up for this, but have you thought about one of the 9mm Hipoint carbines? I know, I know, but I've put thousands of rounds thru mine with absolutely NO problems, there's no recoil and you can have ammo interchangeability with a handgun.
No, it isn't MY first choice for MY SHTF longgun, but that isn't what you were asking, is it?

Besides, they're under 200 bucks and fun to shoot!

i won't beat ya up, but i was going for the 9mm combo with an AR and single stack auto. you could always slap a 5.56 upper on the carbine later on.
don't forget the 20 ga 870. start'em out shooting clays with light loads and they go all day.

[GUN SNOB]

What do you shoot? I wouldn't start her off with a .308 battle rifle or a 'Super Wonder Mag.' but if you have a .22 you have a start. If not, every kid no matter how old, needs a good .22, a cleaning kit and there own little tool box to keep it all in.

I dint know how big a 9 year old she is or if she is even interested in learning to shoot, so just some thoughts.

Again what do you shoot? An AR (low recoil, adjustable stock) or AK (stocks are cheep and can be cut and fitted with a recoil pad) are very user friendly. (GI proof) Nether are my personal favorites but both do have some merits if you want an Mil. speck + rifle. I have seen lots of photos of Afghani and African kids toting AKs and lots of Asian kids with M16A1s.

I would consider a small/ med. framed revolver in .38 or .357. A Ruger GP in .357 is larger griped (larger/heaver) but has adjustable sights. (a feature I like in a multi purpose hand gun) Grips can be changed Larger than the SP but IMHO more usefully. Start with .38 Spl. and she can grow into the .357s. A S&W mod. 10 can be had inexpensively (for a gun) if you shop around. (I wouldn't limit my self to .38 only given the choice but thats what summer jobs are for). I have been inside several Torus' and found there cylinders and guts to soft. (I know some disagree, just my opinion.)

A Marlin lever gun in .357 would make a good companion to a revolver in the same cal.

A 16-20 ga. auto loader may be an option. Not to start her on but for SHTF.

I really like the little M1 but grew up hearing to many WWII/Korea vets tell stories about multiple hits on 120-lb starving Japanese with out putting them down. They didn't believe it was good for killing people and would rather carry the heavy Garand or BAR. Any time a GI works harder or wants to carry more than they have to I pay attention.

A .223 bolt gun will kick harder than the same in a auto loader, especially if it isn't in a 12 lb varmint gun. That may defeat the purpose of the smaller cartage.

My wife, larger than most year olds, doesn't like my SS Mk II Gov. The grip is to large in her opinion barrel is to heavy. She shoots a 12 ga. 870, 45 colt Clones and wants another 30-06 bolt gun and a .357 revolve but doesn't like ARs, AKs, or any of my 1911s. Since its not recoil, weight or noise its purely physiological but it is what it is. My point is you may want to give her some choices and let her decide sort of on her own. What we think is best may not be best for them.

[Bawana Jim]

A winchester trapper in a pistol caliber would work. The 45 LC would be the best as it is light and powerfull. A lever action won't allow someone to waste ammo yet would make the user concentrate on the shot. A good lever person at contact ranges will be able to hold their own against the average person.

I like revolvers for youngsters as they can't lose the magazine and are not likely to shoot too far away. Plus it has the benefits of making them work to achieve better skill. A smith 34 kit gun is about ideal.

When she gets older let her pick her own.

jim

[Carters Cavalry]

I'll second that. .22 is the an often underestimated weapon. Anyone read Unintended Consequences? While fiction, the author made a great point on the utility of the .22 LR.

Doesn't make a lot of noise which tends not to draw as much attention from the bad guys. A Ruger 10/22 with a pocket full of clips can do a lot of damage. My only suggestion is to use jacketed ammunition v/s plain lead such as PMC Zapper22's. Should keep the small rifling grooves cleaner, longer.

22lr is lethal.

Anybody shot with a 22 during SHTF will have a bad SHTF day.

/r

[creator0203]

Anyone who take a few .22's anywhere on them are going to know it. Id prefer to know my daughter is protecting her with something she has no prob happening. If you get popped with a .22 in the head, you arent going to be in any condition to do much at all. I knew a guy who shoot someone running away in the back of the head at probably 80 yards. He was just spraying to scare but now is in prison for murder. 1 .22 to the back of the head killed the man instantly. .22's shouldnt be taken as lightly as they usually are.

[12guage]

i had one of the marlin .45 carbines, fun and accurate, just not durable enough to suit me. i'm with you as to start them young, got 4 myself and they all have centerfires that they've picked out and saved for. but, i started them out with single shot .22lrs. the handy rifles are very economical and get them to concentrate on marksmanship. my daughter likes my wife's car 15, but she owns one of the handy rifles in 5.56. its not ideal, but its cheap and versitle - especially with a couple of extra barrels.