all good advice. thanks to everyone for giving me imput on this one. i literaly just got back from Dicks sporting goods were i just bought him his first bb gun. its a red rider. i musta heard "your gona shoot your eye out" 4 times between the register and my car. im gona teach him on that at the range, and when i am comforatable with it im gona take him squirl hunting with it and move him to a .22 when at the range. it will stay that way for a few years till he is ready for a .243 . man i am so pumped about this. ima able to give my son something my dad never gave me. the opritunity to be brought up around guns the right way insted of "your not tuching a gun till your 18 cause mom sead so."