My 12 [birthday first of this week] year old Nephew is my hunting buddy.
We spend a lot of time in the field at the deer lease and here on my place. Both have snakes.
Also we are going to Idaho for a month next June for a bear hunt.

So I figure it is time to teach him how to shot a handgun.

He "needs" a handgun, that can kill a snake, with Speer shotshells being the safest way IMHO, take small game, finish a deer off, kill a pig or a bear shooting them in the head, and being a revolver he can carry and shoot well.

He is spending the week with me so I borrowed a bunch of S&W revolvers to do a test.

He has shot a few handguns in the past.

So the other day he shot the following:

Mod 34 22LR with 2" and 4" barrel.
Mod 38 Bodyguard 2" 38 Special with factory wadcutters, 125+P and 147gr +P+

Mod 15 4" 38 with the above ammo.
Mod 19 2.5" 357 Mag. with the above 38 ammo and 357 Mag 145gr Silvertip.

325 Night Guard 2.5" 45 ACP with factory 230 Ball
Mod 25 6" in 45 ACP with 230 ball.

Mod 629 Mountain gun in 44 Mag with 240 cast over 8.2gr of Unique.

The only guns that he found uncomfortable to shoot were the 325, it is a scandium frame and very light, and the 2.5" 19 with Magnum ammo.

The 44 mag is a little big and heavy for him right now.

He liked the S&W Mod 15 Combat Masterpiece best.

Especially after he had shot it some more.

So that is the handgun he will be using for the near future.

I have a Rogers pancake thumbbreak holster that can be carried strong side of cross draw, which I prefer for the field.

So for now he is carrying the revolver around my place to get used to it, empty, with 2 speed loaders on his belt, one with Speer shot shells the other with wadcutters.

I will have him carry the revolver empty around here until the first time we get to the field.

He is very safety conscious, but I want to do a bunch of training with him before he "loads up" all the time.

By the time deer/pig season rolls around I will have him shooting a heavy cast SWC's, which he will carry when we bear hunt.

You mean you're not letting him feel the thumb-busting delights of the hog-leg single action cowboy 6 shooter?

When I saw the caption, I immediately thought Single Six.

Let me also add that I have a S&W Model 18 [4" 22LR] it is identical to the M 15 38.

He will use that for training and practice, but I also have a progressive loader for the 38.

I refer the DA S&W for most revolver uses.

He will move up to a 4" S&W 44Mag when ever HE is ready. That way we will both be using the same calibre.

Agonizing about the same thing for my grandson who's no where near ready.Finally decided to have a friend look for a 5screw 22 Combat Masterpiece.have a set of 35 year old magna ivories&a killer SDMyres carved&laced custom holster.should make both of us happy.

Kim

Whenb he first handled the Mod 15 it had factory magnas and a Tyler T grip.

He prefered it with out the T Grip.

I have some other grips I will let him try as well.

I have loved the Mod.14 .357 and the Mod. 19 is a close 2nd. I do believe a 1st handgun should
be single action and if it was almost anyone but
you i would recomend nothing else.

gene

A K frame smith is a great hand gun for youngsters I brought my kids k frame 38s they shoot great with wad cutters easy to shoot and very accurate. If they learn to shoot a double action revolver double action they can shoot any hand gun.

invader66
I like Cowboy revolvers too, but I think a swing open cylinder DA is safer. It is much easier for him, and me, to be sure it is empty.

Also it is quicker and easier for him to get the proper "bullet" under the hammer, ie switch from a regular load to a snake load or vice versa.

I yield to your wise counsel.

My 9 year old Grandson loves shooting my Mo.14!!!!

well first reading i also thought single six with if he was beyond 22lr to go 357 but you said deer and bear and i will never say a 357 for bear so only choice in my opinion is 44 mag

quote:

Originally posted by TBEAR99:
i will never say a 357 for bear so only choice in my opinion is 44 mag

Yessiree! Adding bear to the list kind of limits your caliber selection. I've got to go with TBEAR on this one-a .44 Mag shooting heavy hard cast at moderate velocities will probably be the way to go here. A 12-year-old handgun hunting bears...talk about your proverbial trial by fire.

He will not be hunting black bear wih a handgun, at least for a few trips.

The revolver is for utility and backup, as well as a confidence builder.

.22 Magnum is another possible for consideration...it would be fine as a medium game finisher and OK for small game...one gun for both.

For just small game only the .22lr is best IMO. In these parts small game means rabbit (swampers and cottontails), squirrel and racoon, also coyotes when you get the chance, lots of Mr. No Shoulders, rats found around the farmhouse and barn, the occasional snapper, and of course .22s are your go-to weapon when on the trail of the dreaded pop-top no return.

However, for the most part small game is squirrels and many shots on those are high up in trees or at some distance and generally not that easy. So, I find a 6" barrel much preferable in a .22 handgun to the shorter ones, for the advantage in sighting. For squirrels I also found early on that the added firepower of a top-break nine shot H&R 999 was a big advantage over just six rounds. Loading is same as a six shot DA, but it's faster on kicking empties out. It was my first handgun; I'm on my second one now. That in turn quickly led to bottom feeders in .22 - Colt Huntsman/Woodsman, Smith M41, Hi Standard and the Browning Challenger II.

That's the route my grandson and I are taking. He's twelve too.

Btw, speaking of guns and youngsters, when I was seven we were using unloaded Colt SAAs to play cowboys. But you could do that sort of thing in 1952...

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
He will not be hunting black bear wih a handgun, at least for a few trips.

The revolver is for utility and backup, as well as a confidence builder.

well if you are willing to take the bear out of picture then i recomend a 357 and let him shoot 38's through it.And then get him a bear gun later

At 12, a 38/357 would be hard to beat. He is not going to be shooting at bear anytime soon. S&W 686 would be a great choice if it fits his hands, otherwise a S&W 60 would be good. Ruger choice would be a gp101 for large hands and SP101 for smaller hands.

John

at that age i was shooting a ruger security six 357 still have the gun

TBEAR99 I have a couple of security sixs it is a shame ruger stopped making them. They are a find choice and work very well. AS Tough med frame revolver as one can get.

Another vote for the S&W 686 in either 4" or 6" configuration. Learn with the 38's and then move up to the 357's as experience warrants. Not sure if I'd want that one if I was bear hunting but if a bear showed up and that was all I had, I'd empty it!!..........comes in the 7 shot variety too!! Always a favorite of mine! GHD

quote:

Originally posted by Big Bore Boar Hunter:
At 12, a 38/357 would be hard to beat. He is not going to be shooting at bear anytime soon. S&W 686 would be a great choice if it fits his hands, otherwise a S&W 60 would be good. Ruger choice would be a gp101 for large hands and SP101 for smaller hands.John

+2

Don't forget the Ruger GP 100 in 357 comes in 4 and 6 inch. The Taurus 608 has an 8 shot setup.
IIRC S&W 686 does have an 8 shot as well and all
3 will work with the .38's.
Has any thought of any of the single actions in 38/357?

I had a Herter's 401 when I was 12. Depends on the kid, how he shoots now, hand size, recoil comfort , etc, etc,

My boys both shot .44's, .45 Colts and .357's at that age.

But,
if the Taurus Judge had been around then , I probably would have considered it for the ranch/lease snake/pig tool.