I don't see a reason for novices, and I would assume most scouts should be regarded as novices, to use anything other than a 22 caliber, bolt action, and perhaps a 410 pump or over under shotgun.

I agree with Lebowski that all weapons need to be treated respectivefully. And I am concerned with how screwy scouts are. Yet, shooting can be taught as I was taught in a cautious manner. In my mind, one starts with the low caliber, and only after some degree of mastery is achieved does one move up the ladder of fire power. Plus it's cheaper to use lower caliber weapons, which was the main reason I usually practiced with 22s.

Problem is that I don't own a 22 or a 410. Much less a single-shot bolt-action 22 (which is the only kind officially permitted).