Squirrel hunting might be the most exciting hours you can spend in the woods with your kids. The good news is it doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult to get the right gun for the job.
After trying out several guns, I’ve found an option that’s an affordable, quiet, and less dangerous squirrel hunting gun for kids that will help them be successful in the woods.
Let’s get started!
There are a lot of go-to guns for squirrel hunting, but when it comes to kids, the list gets pretty short.
There are, of course, the .22 and 410, which are both good choices. Depending on how many shells you launch at the skittish critters, it could get a little spendy, but it’s the time together that counts, right?
For those who have a tighter budget or would like to see more squirrel meat come home from the hunt without picking bits of metal out, you can’t go wrong getting one of today’s .22 break barrel air rifles.
Why are Pellet Guns a Great Squirrel Hunting Gun for Kids?
- Sound – Generally speaking, air rifles are much quieter than firearms.
- Cost – Air rifles are significantly cheaper than firearms and much easier to get your hands on. Our favorite rifle is only a little over $100.
- Ammunition Cost – The ammo is crazy cheap. We can get 500 pellets for around $7. You can’t beat that with a stick!
- Meat Damage – A single .22 pellet or two is easier to take out of your meat than several scattered BB’s from a shotgun.
- Safety – Air rifles are still guns, but they don’t have enough power to cause the damage a firearm can. A .22 pellet gun is plenty to kill a squirrel, or even a rabbit with a well-placed shot, but little more.
Our Favorite .22 Break Barrel Air Rifle
While doing homeschool in the dining room the past few days, the kids have looked out the window and yelled “squirrel”! This is usually followed by a mad dash for a camera and our GAMO Swarm Maxxim .22 and off they go out into the snow in hot pursuit.
Our most recent episode is a prime example!
I’d say it’s a 50-50 chance they’ll come back with a squirrel at this point. I usually just watch out the window and holler advice when needed. It’s a blessing to live in the “sticks.”
GAMO’s recent innovations have also added a ten-shot magazine that allows for faster follow-up shots. Pellet guns are no longer running at the end of the pack where small game hunting is concerned. In our house, it’s our favorite go-to rifle.
There’s No Such Thing as a Safe Gun
As a father who loves his kiddos, I would never let them wield a firearm at their ages without my direct presence. With the pellet gun, however, I can give them a little space. I’m still watching, just not hovering.
Pellet guns are also good for parents who aren’t thrilled with the idea of a firearm in the house but don’t want to crush their child’s dream of being a hunter.
Yes, there are still dangers, just as there are with anything that shoots a projectile, but the risks are far less with a pellet gun.
We’ve covered all the safety points hundreds of times and I have the kids sight in the rifle themselves so they’re proficient in all its workings.
The real danger of any gun is ignorance and complacency.
The Only Con to Break Barrel Hunting Air Rifles
Now, one thing that’s worth mentioning is that hunting quality break barrel air rifles can be a bit on the heavy side. They average between 5 and 6 pounds compared to the Savage Rascal, a rimfire rifle, weighing in under 3 lbs.
Our 11-year-old daughter is just now getting to the point where she can effectively wield the GAMO. The boys, at 12 and 9, are a little stronger, but I would say 9 years old is about the bottom limit.
GAMO is not the only brand out there, they were just the first to come up with a multi-shot design and we’ve been very happy with ours.
Remember, the multi-shot is just a perk. It’s not necessary for success and a single shot is just as good.
The Most Important Thing
The most important thing is to just get out there and have a good, safe time. Pellet guns are a great compromise of greater safety, cost-effectiveness, and gentleness on the meat.
Thanks to the innovations in the air rifle industry, small game hunting is more viable than ever for families who want to get out and enjoy a little shopping in nature’s grocery store!
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