Long story short...I am wanting to purchase a young man his first firearm. He is 18. Loves shooting with me, likes military surplus, ARs, just about anything. What, in your opinion, is the perfect "first gun".
Long story long: A relative of mine through my wifes side of the family just turned 18 a month or so ago. A really good kid. Polite, hard working, smart as can be. He has had somewhat of a rough family life that I honestly don't know too much about, but I do know that his grandmother and father had to adopt him rather late in life. Kid had every opportunity to go wrong, but has always made solid choices. He went and got a job as soon as he was able to help out. Helps take care of the other kids that live with his grandparents. makes excellent grades in school, attends early college courses, and is already getting some scholarship offers due to his academics. And is just all around a great kid.
Since he didn't have much of a father figure growing up, I took to taking him shooting with me every now and then. Since he loves military surplus, and all things history, he and I would go seek out military surplus shops, the museum down in Raleigh, and spend a good bit of time together.
So, since he has turned 18, and is graduating this year, I wanted to do something for him. My current thought was to order a parts kit from PSA (I picked his brain a bit on what kinda styles of ARs he likes) and invite him over to help me put it together. Then take him out to the range to zero it in. When he is about to leave pull a "Oh, by the way...you can have this."
So that's my idea >as of now<...but knowing the length and breadth of experience we all share here, I want to know yalls thoughts. What would be the perfect "first gun". I considered a pistol, but since he cant legally buy one himself and cant currently really carry it other than OC, I kinda put a pistol on the back burner.
Long story long: A relative of mine through my wifes side of the family just turned 18 a month or so ago. A really good kid. Polite, hard working, smart as can be. He has had somewhat of a rough family life that I honestly don't know too much about, but I do know that his grandmother and father had to adopt him rather late in life. Kid had every opportunity to go wrong, but has always made solid choices. He went and got a job as soon as he was able to help out. Helps take care of the other kids that live with his grandparents. makes excellent grades in school, attends early college courses, and is already getting some scholarship offers due to his academics. And is just all around a great kid.
Since he didn't have much of a father figure growing up, I took to taking him shooting with me every now and then. Since he loves military surplus, and all things history, he and I would go seek out military surplus shops, the museum down in Raleigh, and spend a good bit of time together.
So, since he has turned 18, and is graduating this year, I wanted to do something for him. My current thought was to order a parts kit from PSA (I picked his brain a bit on what kinda styles of ARs he likes) and invite him over to help me put it together. Then take him out to the range to zero it in. When he is about to leave pull a "Oh, by the way...you can have this."
So that's my idea >as of now<...but knowing the length and breadth of experience we all share here, I want to know yalls thoughts. What would be the perfect "first gun". I considered a pistol, but since he cant legally buy one himself and cant currently really carry it other than OC, I kinda put a pistol on the back burner.