What do you think is an appropriate age for getting a child a bb or pellet gun? I don't mean the little cheap weaker ones, but the ones that shoot up to around 700FPS. Or should the child be started off on the weaker ones? I think with proper training and teaching them about safety shouldn't matter the power right?
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You can start out with a lower power gun and work your way up later. I used to shoot down in my basement, into a 40" x 40" pellet trap I built. I believe in starting a child as early as possible with gun safety and training. When do you let him have control of that gun? It all depends on how well he takes to the training. He must understand that this is something that the two of you will do together. Only time will tell on when he can have full control.
it varies greatly and depends on the child and their training. I am a firm believer of starting training from infancy. Practice what ya preach and preach oftenyou may think this si silly or too strict but i believe Gun training should start with toys. Even that first fake cap rifle. Even with stick pretend guns its the perfict time to start teaching how to hold and cary a gun, and most important of all not to point it at no one. With a pretend gun kids should be taught pretend safety training should start at home and early. Even in conversation. When the kids ready you will know when to buy and based on that when to up grade.
I don't think the initial age is as important as the maturity of the child, and making sure that you teach them all the basic safety rules. It's possible to seriously injure (even possibly kill) someone with a BB gun, so I'd say for the first year or so they have it, keep it locked up and only allow them to use it with your supervision. (And then be sure to supervise them frequently so they have lots of opportunity to learn and get better with it!)
I got a .22 Winchester rifle (1932 model 52 that was my Grandmothers and I still have it) at the age of 5 and my first pellet rifle at 11.
I just always thought it was weird how I got a real rifle before getting my pellet rifle. Now I often shoot my RWS air rifle because it's so accurate and fun.
I got a Daisy when I was around 7 or 8. Had to spend the first few months using it only with parental supervision. Never had any problems with it, but a lot of army men lost their limbs to it.
I also got a BB gun around 7 or 8. Unfortunately, an older local youth lost an eye about that time so our generation knew to take them seriously. But then most of us were also shooting .22's about 8 or 9 with older brothers or Dad's supervision.
Of course I will teach him safety and responsibility. I do that already without the bb gun. He will definately understand that he won't be taking it out on his own and just shooting at things. I've heard stories of kids shooting peoples windows and such.
My Dad had me shooting his rifle when I was about 7 with him there. I didn't get to have a BB gun though, but I learned to shoot groundhogs in the garden with his rifle. I was given the chore of shooting them by myself when I was about 9 or 10. Seems Dad had bad eyesight and I had a keen eye. I was guardian of the garden!
Good age for a BB gun 
you may think this si silly or too strict but i believe Gun training should start with toys. Even that first fake cap rifle. Even with stick pretend guns its the perfict time to start teaching how to hold and cary a gun, and most important of all not to point it at no one. With a pretend gun kids should be taught pretend safety
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