WILD & GATHERED

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Introducing your children to hunting and shooting sports is about more than teaching them how to hit a target. It’s about building confidence, practicing responsibility, spending time together, and passing down traditions that can last for generations. As a mom raising kids who hunt, I’ve learned that finding the right firearm for a young shooter makes a difference. A firearm that fits properly, has manageable recoil, and matches a child’s experience level can help make those early trips to the range or into the field more enjoyable. We are far from the days when you hand a 8 year old a 12 gauge and watch them land on their rear end. That creates a fearful environment around firearms or unneacessary anxiousness. Remember they are next generation of voters, the ones that will protect to 2nd Amendment. It’s our duty to raise responsible gun owners that will pass this tradition to their kids.

Savage Arms offers several options for young shooters, from the beginner-friendly Rascal to the youth-sized Axis hunting rifle. Whether your child is learning the fundamentals or preparing for their first deer season, there’s something to consider for each stage. The goal isn’t to rush children into the next firearm. It’s to help them develop safe habits, confidence, and an appreciation for the outdoors along the way.

Best First Rifle for Kids: Savage Rascal .22 LR

Best Lever-Action Rifle for Kids: Savage Revel .22 LR

Best Turkey Hunting Shotgun for Kids: Stevens 301 .410

Best Deer Hunting Rifle for Kids: Savage Axis Youth

1. Savage Rascal: A Great First Rifle for Kids

There’s something special about a child’s first trip to the shooting range. For many families, a .22 rifle is where those memories begin. The Savage Rascal is designed specifically for young and beginning shooters. This compact, lightweight, single-shot bolt-action rifle is chambered in .22 LR and features adjustable peep sights and Savage’s AccuTrigger. What I appreciate about the Rascal is its straightforward design. Rather than focusing on how many rounds a child can shoot, it gives parents an opportunity to emphasize safe handling, patience, and marksmanship fundamentals. It’s a rifle that can help build a foundation for years of shooting and hunting experiences.

2. Savage Revel: A Classic Lever-Action Experience

There’s something nostalgic about a lever-action rifle. Maybe it’s the traditional wooden stock or the connection to generations of hunters who grew up carrying similar firearms. The Savage Revel brings that classic style into a modern rimfire platform. With its walnut stock, lever-action design, adjustable sights, and convenient takedown feature, it’s an appealing option for families who enjoy recreational shooting and small-game hunting. Unlike the Rascal, the Revel has a tubular magazine and is better suited to shooters who have already developed consistent firearm safety habits and can safely manage its size and operation. For families looking to make range days a regular activity or want to hunt squrriels, a lever-action .22 can be a fun way to spend time together.

3. Stevens 301 .410 Shotgun: Introducing Kids to Turkey Hunting

Turkey hunting is one of my favorite ways to introduce children to the outdoors. Between listening for gobbles, watching the woods come alive, and learning to sit still, there’s so much for young hunters to experience before a turkey ever steps into view. The Stevens 301 Turkey in .410 bore, part of the Savage family of firearms, is a single-shot, break-action shotgun designed with a simple operating system. Its lightweight construction can make it appealing for younger hunters, although parents should pay particular attention to stock fit, recoil, and the child’s ability to handle the firearm comfortably.

4. Savage Axis Youth Compact: Ready for Their First Deer Hunt

Few hunting memories compare to sitting in a deer blind with your child. Whether you see a deer or spend the evening watching squirrels and talking quietly, those hours together are worth more than any harvest. When a young hunter is ready to transition into deer hunting, a properly fitted centerfire rifle becomes an important consideration.

The Savage Axis Youth, along with compact options in the newer Axis 2 lineup, offers shorter-stock configurations that can better accommodate smaller-framed hunters. The Axis platform is known for providing an accessible entry into bolt-action hunting rifles. The Axis 2 adds features such as Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger and redesigned stock ergonomics.

Our family has spent time in the deer blind with these compact youth-sized Axis Savage .243, and I appreciate having a rifle that fits a smaller hunter rather than expecting a child to manage a full-sized adult rifle.

Choosing the Right Firearm for Your Child

Every child develops at a different pace, and there’s no universal age when a young shooter is ready for a particular firearm. Before introducing a new firearm, consider whether your child can comfortably handle its weight, understand and consistently follow safety rules, and remain attentive throughout a supervised range session. A certified hunter education course can also provide valuable guidance. Hearing safety rules reinforced by someone other than Mom or Dad can be especially beneficial. Regardless of experience, firearms should be securely stored unloaded, with ammunition locked separately, and children should never have unsupervised access. This is the perfect opportunity to teach guns are “tools” and teach how to store them. Kids guns are still real guns. Move away from “this is what we do because I said so.” Instead, teach them way we use caution and store guns in a safe. Remove the curiosity and fear with information and education.