I had my firs bb gun about that age and i carried a 20 ga rabit hunting with my dad at about 10 years old. I got my first real gun at 12 which was a 20 ga and at 13 I got a Ruger #1 in 7x57 mauser. I was about 15 when I got my first 22 rifle and my first handgun which was a 22LR. You have to judge you kids ability to handle guns safely.