Started my 7yr old daughter with a muzzleloader with about 60gr loose powder many years ago. It was Very accurate and had hardly any recoil. She now shoots a 44 H&R at 12yrs old. Biggest thing I did for her was buying the amplified hearing muffs from Walmart sometime ago. I think I paid $40 for them. She can hear everything until the gun fires. I really don't let her shoot anything but a 22LR or my AR15 in 223 through the summer. I like keeping her fresh and not fearing the recoil to much.