Both my kids are now old enough to shoot at Kokohead and they both enjoyed it. So I began thinking, what type of gun would be a good first one?

Limitations:
.22LR - Cheap to shoot and commong.
Rifle - I am thinking better to start with a rifle than a pistol. Safer, can mount a scope, inexpensive.
Not too expensive, maybe $100 - $200. More affordable the better since I would be buying two, plus the scopes.

I have a basic 10-22 right now but I am leaning towards bolt action. I feel like it would make them more careful, taking their time to shoot and develop skill. I think they are also more affordable.
Would be nice to sit side by side and challenge each other, like playing horse or something.

10/22, they won't outgrow it.

I started my kids with pellet guns.
A 1022 is a fine choice.
I prefer a bolt action tho....

My 9-yr old shoots a 10/22.  I got some of those reactive spinning targets to keep his interest up.  Why is it that he can take the hunter's ed class and get his license at 10 but can't shoot anything larger than 22LR at kokohead until he's 13?  Makes it hard to practice hunting calibers...

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Ruger 10/22
Ruger Precision Rimfire
Crickett 22 (lots of chassis upgrades)
Marlin 925
Savage 93/Mark I/Mark II/Rascal

My 9-yr old shoots a 10/22.  I got some of those reactive spinning targets to keep his interest up.  Why is it that he can take the hunter's ed class and get his license at 10 but can't shoot anything larger than 22LR at kokohead until he's 13?  Makes it hard to practice hunting calibers...

At least he is allowed to shoot .22 LR at KHSC.

On the BI, at the two non-range dirt patches that are all we have.  They are in DLNR hunting areas.  , DNLR limits firearms to only those legal for hunting, which they claim the .22 is not.  Dunno what their current rules are, but I heard they did confiscate .22 rifles some time back.

If he passed hunter ed bring card with him  to show he passed. Then can shoot center fire at kokohead

10/22 is always a good choice
I really like my Ruger American rimfire bolt action. reliable, accurate

for handgun, I would go with Ruger single six convertible 22LR/22WMR or Mark IV pistol.  SA revolver is a safe way to start
or a bearcat

If you are looking for a bolt action, the Chipmonk is a good choice. Well made and not a lot of money. Kid sized.

And I know some LGS carries them.

https://www.keystonesportingarmsllc.com/chipmunk-rifles/

When I was of legal age to shoot a rifle, it was a 308 hunting rifle. I didn't should it tightly and the recoil hurt my shoulder.  This scared me for a few years.  Not scared as in I don't like guns, but when asked to go again, I said no.

That same day, I shot a shotty  Same thing as above, but this was held tighter. 

So I would say start small and wait till they get more body weight. I know some grown ups scared to shoot my shotty, but then I tell them it's actually Mrs. CMO's shotty and they watch her shoot it.  Then the fear turns into shame and they go for broke.  Fear conquered.

If he passed hunter ed bring card with him  to show he passed. Then can shoot center fire at kokohead

Sort of eliminates the idea of training to shoot for a kid on a low recoil .22LR, no?

Air rifles/pistols in the back yard would be my choice.

PM'ed.   

If he passed hunter ed bring card with him  to show he passed. Then can shoot center fire at kokohead

Cool.  Didn't know that.  Makes sense...

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nt

PM'ed.   

I tried to respond but it wouldn't let me. After talking to the wife this may have to go on the back burner for now. She is out of work during covid so finances are a little tighter.

If you still have it later I can hit you up but if you sell it first then no biggie. But thanks for the offer.

The Keystone guns seem nice and very affordable but a bunch of the affordable ones don't have a magazine and still need to be cocked after actuating the bolt which seems a little annoying. May still look into them. I suppose it makes more sense to just buy an adult gun that they can really use forever though. Keystone did have a few adult guns.

A lever action would be so cool though, just pricey.

I have a Ruger single 6 and that thing is fun to shoot and safer like Stang pointed out. It is actually one of my favorite guns. I would love if they made that into rifle!

I wonder if I can buy a .22 that is just the barrel and mechanism? I could fashion my own stock out of some nice piece of wood. Save money and make it personalized!

I wonder if I can buy a .22 that is just the barrel and mechanism? I could fashion my own stock out of some nice piece of wood. Save money and make it personalized!

Yes, and assuming if you know how to make a stock, you would know how to make the parts fit.  Don't count on it being a tac driver unless you're  a master stock maker.  But it should be guud enuff for a child.

If you're giving a firearm to a child, you don't want a "homemade" Franken-gun.  Safety should be your first concern.

A factory-made, properly-designed firearm -- all parts -- assembled and tested by a licensed firearm manufacturer with professional gunsmiths on staff would ensure the product you give your kids will be not only safe, but will also function well enough that they will enjoy shooting it.

I bought my first AR15.  I built my second one.  I wanted one that I can trust to be safe and accurate while tinkering and learning with the other one.

By build one I really just meant buy the barrel, trigger, and receiver assembly completed but make my own stock. I don't have a lathe or a mill necessary to make any precision parts.

Never tried bedding a gun before though so I looked it up and I think it is something I could manage. In the end it may be one of those things that would be cheaper to just buy than make but if I am ever to get into stock making then I have to start somewhere,

By build one I really just meant buy the barrel, trigger, and receiver assembly completed but make my own stock. I don't have a lathe or a mill necessary to make any precision parts.

Would be illegal to do so without a FFL because the P80 law passed last year.  No loner do you have 5 days to bring it to HPD to register once the 1st hole is drilled or 1st piece cut off.  And if you bought a solid block of aluminum with the "intent" to make it into a receiver, then you would still be breaking the P80 law because "intent" counts.