What age to start kids shooting?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What age to start kids shooting?

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:30:54 AM EDT

I've got a boy that just turned 4. I'm itching to buy him a .22 Cricket and hit the range. He's just now really gotten into nerf guns and playing with toy guns (which drives my wife crazy...her family is a little on the liberal side). He came down to the basement last night when I was moving some stuff around in the safe and said "you have some really cool guns dad"...it warmed my heart. I'm just not sure how he'd handle the noise of it all. I've had him running around the house with hearing protection on getting used to the feel.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:32:34 AM EDT

[#1]

Depends on the kid. Every child is different. It depends on the maturity level not an age.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:34:54 AM EDT

[#2]

Start with a Red Ryder BB gun. The safety rules are the same and hearing protection is not needed.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:35:07 AM EDT

[#3]

My boys are ready to go with BB guns at eight. I wanted to start them sooner but they just didn't have the physical skills until now.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:36:06 AM EDT

[#4]

I bought my youngest a Crickett when he was four. My oldest started shooting at four. I started shooting at four.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:37:19 AM EDT

[#5]

Mine got to go shooting once he knew his gun safety rules. Not just what the rules are, but why they are what they are. For my boy that was when he was 5. His younger brother likely won't be ready for that responsibility until he's a little older. There is no magic age.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:37:37 AM EDT

[#6]

My son turned 6 last September and he got a 22 Henry mini bolt for Christmas. He was excited and nervous at the same time.

I took him out to shoot it shortly after he got it and he had a blast.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:37:43 AM EDT

[#7]

4 seems about right. My daughter first range trip was when she was 4 and my 22lr conversion kit was in my LMT M4.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:37:59 AM EDT

[#8]

When ever they're mentally and physically capable to do it safely.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:38:16 AM EDT

[#9]

I was three or four.

When I was able to sit between my dads knees and hold a (CO2) pistol steady is when I started.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:38:37 AM EDT

[#10]

When my son turned six, I bought him a Walther P-22 and we went to the local range. They had a noise trap room you had to go into before opening the door to the range. We made it into the noise trap and he got freaked out from how loud the guns on the range were and we never fired a shot that day. I didn't push the issue, I just gave him a couple of months to absorb that guns are loud but not scary and then we went back. We went when I knew it would be less busy and the guys there put us on the side with the least number of people shooting. He did great and has been shooting ever since. He's 11 now and an NRA pro-marksman skeet shooter, he's shot everything from the P22 up to the Rem 700 .308.

When we do pistol work, I make him focus on technique, form, etc. for 75% of the session, then we do some speed drill / mag dump stuff for fun. Keeps 'em coming back.

As soon as he's old enough, I want him shooting 3-gun with me.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:42:15 AM EDT

[#11]

I started out with my son when he was 5 but just learning to clean them and learning the 4 rules.Now at age 7 he can identify most parts of a pistol and knows his rules.If I was close enough to a range that would let him shoot we would(min age by me 10).So we have taken a different route by starting with pellet guns.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:42:48 AM EDT

[#12]

when your kid can explain to you how iron sights work and can explain to you gun safety. To me that shows a maturity level encessary for them to handle a firearm. If they can tell you rather than just listen to you then I feel they know and understand things.

For me that was 5 for a bbgun and after a year of my grandfather observing me following the rules at 6 i got a .for my birthday. Still have it and shoot it frequently as well. I would go with the bbgun first though because if your kid fucks up it is not likely to kill someone.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:44:54 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Depends on the kid. Every child is different. It depends on the maturity level not an age.

This and I add, Do not ever assume they are responsible enough.

Child killed in target shooting accident near Wickenburg
October 24, 2010
An 8-year-old child was shooting at targets with a .22-caliber rifle while being supervised by her father. While the 8-year-old was shooting, the 4-year-old ran in front of the rifle at the moment the gun fired and was struck in the head. The 8-year-old is the sister of the victim.

Boy, 8, Shoots Self With Uzi at Gun Show
Monday, October 27, 2008
WESTFIELD, Mass. — With an instructor watching, an 8-year-old boy at a gun fair aimed an Uzi submachine gun at a pumpkin and pulled the trigger as his dad reached for a camera.

September 8, 2008
A Frankfort man has been sentenced in Franklin Circuit Court to three years in prison on wanton endangerment charges after his girlfriend's 3-year-old son accidentally shot himself.

May 2007
RAMONA, Calif. –– A 10-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.The shooting happened Sunday afternoon at the Orosco Ridge Shooting Area, an outdoor range in Ramona, officials said.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:47:24 AM EDT

[#14]

I started my son at 4 with a bb pistol after he could recite the 4 gun safety rules. He started shooting ar15s at 5 with me hovering over him at all times.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:53:29 AM EDT

[#15]

For new or young shooters Airsoft has definite advantages.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:53:33 AM EDT

[#16]

Mine started at 8.
Even then, the stock on the Savage Cub was too long.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:55:16 AM EDT

[#17]

I started on a BB gun that I got for Christmas. I think that is a good way to get a kid started.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:56:58 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

I've got a boy that just turned 4. I'm itching to buy him a .22 Cricket and hit the range. He's just now really gotten into nerf guns and playing with toy guns (which drives my wife crazy...her family is a little on the liberal side). He came down to the basement last night when I was moving some stuff around in the safe and said "you have some really cool guns dad"...it warmed my heart. I'm just not sure how he'd handle the noise of it all. I've had him running around the house with hearing protection on getting used to the feel.

"The" shooting day is a lot like "the" sex talk. There is no "one" event. My kids were handling guns since they could talk. There was never a hesitation, if one of them wanted to see a gun, they were quized as to the proper proceedure about extracting it from the safe etc etc. They were never told they couldn't see/handle one, as long as they asked and I was there (so there's no taboo). The constant handling and re-enforcing of proper discipline, made the actual first range day a piece of cake.

By the time my little girl was 2.5, she would say (when I took a gun out of the safe) "Make sure there's no any boowits".

And we'd check chamber. Then as she'd take hold, out would come," Keep yer booger hook off the bang lever" with her little index finger pointed as far away from the trigger as it would stretch.

We made the tough decision early on that ALL guns would be treated as real guns. Every cap pistol, every pop gun, every paper cut out gun would not be pointed at anything they weren't willing to destroy. I know I used to play cops and robbers etc as a kid, but I think it's better to instill good habbits rather than err on the side of too much flippant fun.

Now that they're older and absolutely know the difference, "Let the Nerf wars begin" is the rule.

Good luck with your boy. You'll know the best time to let him pull a real trigger. Instead of the cricket, you may want to look at the Savage single shot .22s. They are quite a bit better quality with a much better trigger pull (for the little fingers) although a bit more expensive.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:59:25 AM EDT

[#19]

I bought my 9 month old grandson a Crickett for Christmas. But I gues it will a few years till he gets to shoot it.

Posted: 2/1/2011 10:59:46 AM EDT

[#20]

4H program starts at 8 I think.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:00:01 AM EDT

[#21]

My daughter just wanted to shoot for the first time...she just turned 8.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:00:56 AM EDT

[#22]

Mine were sitting in my lap at age 3 and 4 yanking on my ar15 trigger. now they are 5 and 6, I trust them to shoot the 22 pistol with a suppressor on it while I am with them. They are allowed to go in the woods "hunting" just the two of then with the bb guns.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:04:34 AM EDT

[#23]

I gave my son his first rifle on his third birthday, and got him started soon thereafter. He would sit on my lap, I would load it, he would aim, and then he would ask permission to pull the trigger. By his fifth birthday, he could sit down and shoot well enough to impress everyone else at the range.

It ended up being a double-blessing. When I gave him the rifle, my sister-in-law, a died-in-the-wood gun-hating libtard, kept saying "I just CAN'T BELIEVE you gave him a gun!" Every time I told her "Why don't you come out with us when we take him?" After a couple of those, she agreed. And she had a fun time, saw that my son wasn't going to shoot anyone (or himself), and even tried his gun... and liked it. She's been out shooting with us a couple of times since then, too.

Three tips to getting them started young:

1. Buy a gun with a good trigger. Crickets are out. They don't have the capacity (or strength) to finely, carefully manipulate a heavy/gritty/sloppy trigger. It will make it hard for them to hit their target, and they will get discouraged. In other words, skip the Crickets. Savage Cubs have pretty good triggers. You're welcome to go with a Marlin or whatever else, just make sure that it has a decent trigger.

2. At that age, effectively using irons isn't really in their capabilities... especially if they're trying to learn trigger manipulation at the same time. Put a red dot (even a cheap $35 one) on the gun.

3. Give them a way to SEE that they hit. Maybe a plate so they get a "ding", or a splatter target. But give them instant feedback.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:05:41 AM EDT

[#24]

I wouldn't start shooting a kid until they were at least a teenager.

10 years old minimum, but they would have to be doing something really bad.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:08:12 AM EDT

[#25]

As stated, maturity not age. One of my kids started shooting at around 4, he's now 9. I've got a 7 year old that isn't mature enough yet still without strict supervision.

Blanks are great when they are young. They don't realize the gun is firing blanks, and you can monitor the safety habits while they "goof off". I know, its taboo here, but its worked for my kids before they started to use real cartridges. .22lr Blanks for sale

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:08:14 AM EDT

[#26]

I started with the Red Ryder at age 7. My younger brother started at about age 8 or 9

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:09:39 AM EDT

[#27]

My daughter got a Marlin 15YN 22LR for Christmas when she was 7. She's 11 now and shooting is one of her favorite pastimes.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:10:29 AM EDT

[#28]

I took my kids when they were 3-4 because they went together. I took my nephews when they were 6-8 because I didn't want 'issues' to arise if they wouldn't listen and obey range commands of safty. Do what you fel comfortable with. Keep it simple so they can enjoy not make it a strict precision drill. Your a great Dad just for wanting to share your knowledge and passion for guns.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:11:13 AM EDT

[#29]

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:13:53 AM EDT

[#30]

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:15:08 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Depends on the kid. Every child is different. It depends on the maturity level not an age.

This and I started at 6.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:22:58 AM EDT

[#32]

Can't remember exactly what age I was indoctrinated into the gun culture but it was pretty young. I simply can't remember NOT having at least a toy pistol and rifle. I CAN remember getting a toy replica of the twin machine guns nose mounted in WWII bombers. That was an exquisite present!

After that, I remember receiving a semi-auto Co2 BB pistol and a pump operated Benjamin .22cal pellet pistol for my birthday.

At age 7 I had been gifted with a Mossberg 152 .22 rifle with target sights. (the rifle is still here, sights are long gone... dang.)

When I was 8 we were hunting deer and antelope with a Winchester .270. The 30-06 was simply too big physically and the recoil was intimidating for a younger shooter.

Guns were just a part of life as much as anything else like bicycles & skateboards & fishing.

It was very common to strike out on our bicycles with our .22's and ride off into the hills for a day of shooting. Usually we'd find a deep ravine, set up some cans and bottles and have fun until we exhausted the ammo supply.

A nice Red Ryder would go a long way towards instilling safety and starting basic marksmanship. Measure off some footage for a basement or garage range and let the fun begin!

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:28:43 AM EDT

[#33]

My son first shot my Ruger Mk3 22/45 at age 6. It had an aimpoint micro on it and he did well at 7 yards.

So he started with a semi-automatic handgun, with a red dot sight.

Iron sights are being a little more challenging for him, but he got a Savage youth single
shot bolt action 22LR for Christmas but we haven't gotten to the range to shoot it yet.

The savage is a beautiful gun, checkered walnut stock, nice sights, and drilled and tapped
for a scope. The machine work is very high quality. It is a long term investment and much
nicer than the crickets, but about the same size. The blueing is deep and rich. It has the accutrigger
which has a safety built in (it's like a glock, except metal), as well as a safety lever.

It was $179 and looks like a mini $500 rifle. He is going to keep it the rest of his life and
hand it down to his kids so I didn't cheap out on it.

But now that he has shot the Mk3, he may not like shooting a single shot bolt action.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:29:22 AM EDT

[#34]

I have started all of mine at around four on a Daisy 105 Buck. Once they consistently get their finger away from the trigger and put the safety on when I distract them, they move on to a Henry Mini Bolt and at some point after that I introduce a Ruger Bearcat. While they are still too young for the youth hunting guns I have but to give them some variety I also have a 10/22 Youth, Henry Lever Youth, CZ452 Scout and a cut down Norinco ATD22 .

Obviously the semi-auto stuff is reserved for later in the process not solely due to safety concerns but to make them think about what they are doing on each shot.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:29:29 AM EDT

[#35]

My little guy started when he was 5. He sat at the bench with sand bags and "blew away" 22 rounds by the hundreds. He was not able to use the bolt, I had to help him. He is hooked on it now. I venture to say that the first 1000 rounds he "shot" missed the target.

No all that said, I stood right behind him and gave full assistance in loading, aiming and everything else.

He is now 7 and can shoot off the bench without help. Even hits the target now.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:35:44 AM EDT

[#36]

All this "maturity" fluff is a crock. Kids are immature by nature. Period. Understand that kids have a tiny attention span and that you have to work quickly during that short window. The most important thing is to raise them to obey you. If you tell them to "stop" they need to come to an immediate halt, not question why. Don't make it scary or overly-authoritarian. Make it firm, fun and realize when it's time to go home which will probably be pretty quick.

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:54:28 AM EDT

[#37]

I started around 4, I can't wait to take my boy, but he is only 2. His little brother is 5 months. Can't wait though

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:56:31 AM EDT

[#38]

Age 5-6.
My son shot his first wild turkey with a cricket topped with a cheap red dot sight.
CCI Velocitors placed where the wing meets the body are deadly

Posted: 2/1/2011 11:57:36 AM EDT

[#39]

Teach him right!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What age to start kids shooting?

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