I have a 11 year old and a 13 year old and I built one with the oldest. He loved that. I offered him a 2005 model Bushmaster XM215 ( when they were built like a tank) or building one and he choose to build one. The 11 year old got the bushy after I swapped out the 20 inch H-bar for a 16 light contour barrel so he could manipulate the gun a little better. Just the joy I see in their eye when they realize they own an AR15 is priceless. They know how to break them down to clean then and both have a 80 percent understanding of how to build one. Both of them have sat in on one of my five builds and 3 or 4 rebuilds and they really get into that. Also the ability to deck the gun out with lasers, lights, optics, switch up furniture or just add fore grips or what not is something they can do and enjoy for months to come. My vote is for the AR. There is just so much that can be done after the fact. It's not just a gift to sit in the safe until the next range session. Also with some of the prices that are out there for decent rifles I think it's a no brainer. For hunting that cartridge will do the job on anything walking around these parts.
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ME, but that is not why I am saying the above.
