Taking a teenager to the range for the first time

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Taking a teenager to the range for the first time

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:45:23 AM EDT

I'm taking my daughters to the range today and their friend has never shot a firearm before. My younger daughter loves to shoot a S&W Model 10 heavy barrel and I was planning on just taking that, a 10/22 and a Mark lll Hunter. The other girl's mom says I can take the AR also but I don't know if that's a good idea for a beginner. What do you folks recommend? Thanks in advance.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:48:11 AM EDT

[#1]

If it doesn't take up much room just have the AR available. If girl wants to shoot it than she can.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:49:04 AM EDT

[#2]

I personally think that they are great for beginners due to the low recoil.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:51:34 AM EDT

[#3]

Need pics of your S&W mod10 heavy barrel

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:52:50 AM EDT

[#4]

Most definitely take the AR. Perfect beginner centerfire rifle as far as recoil and ease of use is concerned.

If you can, take reactive targets. I prefer apples, though a bag of potatoes works too––they virtually explode when hit with a .22. Immediate and positive feedback, and the squirrels get a meal.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:53:37 AM EDT

[#5]

It depends on the size of your daughters, I think the average teenage girl would be able to handle an AR.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:57:24 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
It depends on the size of your daughters, I think the average teenage girl would be able to handle an AR.

I've taken petite girls to the range and when shown proper stance and grip they were able to handle my AR's and even AK's in 7.62x39 no problem.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:59:08 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:

It depends on the size of your daughters, I think the average teenage girl would be able to handle an AR.

I've taken petite girls to the range and when shown proper stance and grip they were able to handle my AR's and even AK's in 7.62x39 no problem.

I remain unconvinced. Please provide the appropriate evidence.

Posted: 11/21/2012 9:59:35 AM EDT

[#8]

start with a 22 then go to the ar.

I don't feel like an ar is much harder to handle than a 22 a little louder and the recoil is a tiny bit snappier.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:02:30 AM EDT

[#9]

I find the sound and concussion affects my wife more than recoil.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:05:29 AM EDT

[#10]

The ar aint that bad.

Ive seen a 12 year old girl shoot one with no problem.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:05:56 AM EDT

[#11]

Good for you!

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:07:02 AM EDT

[#12]

My 100 pound ex girlfriend shot one of my ARs just fine.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:08:23 AM EDT

[#13]

Those guns sound find but I'd strongly recommend BOTH plugs and good muffs, as the sound is much more frightening to beginners (especially females) than the recoil. Safety talk first, along with a "how a gun works" discussion, then a HIGHLY supervised range session. We use interactive targets like balloons, water balloons, clay pigeons, and such in order to make it fun and full of instant feedback. Oh, close range is good too in order to foster success and lots of praise. Missing at 25 yards is no fun. Hitting at 15 feet is a blast!

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:10:10 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Need pics of your S&W mod10 heavy barrel

Excuse the crappy cell phone pics.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:12:22 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Need pics of your S&W mod10 heavy barrel

Excuse the crappy cell phone pics.

http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq322/chili99/1027121330.jpg

http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq322/chili99/1121121159.jpg

Shinny Nickle, you dont see that to often now a days.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:13:42 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Those guns sound find but I'd strongly recommend BOTH plugs and good muffs, as the sound is much more frightening to beginners (especially females) than the recoil. Safety talk first, along with a "how a gun works" discussion, then a HIGHLY supervised range session. We use interactive targets like balloons, water balloons, clay pigeons, and such in order to make it fun and full of instant feedback. Oh, close range is good too in order to foster success and lots of praise. Missing at 25 yards is no fun. Hitting at 15 feet is a blast!

My kid makes me look bad when she shoots the Model 10. The very first time she shot it, she was hitting a 4 inch steel target from 15 yards 5 out of 6 times. I was only able to hit it 1 or 2 out of 6 times. When I told her I was considering selling it, she said "you better not sell it. I want it." So it'll be hers whenever she moves out.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:14:10 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

I'm taking my daughters to the range today and their friend has never shot a firearm before. My younger daughter loves to shoot a S&W Model 10 heavy barrel and I was planning on just taking that, a 10/22 and a Mark lll Hunter. The other girl's mom says I can take the AR also but I don't know if that's a good idea for a beginner. What do you folks recommend? Thanks in advance.

My 6 yr old shoots the m16- Im sure a teenager can handle a AR

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:14:39 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

It depends on the size of your daughters, I think the average teenage girl would be able to handle an AR.

I've seen plenty of pics of third world 10y.o. boys handling AKs just fine.

Average weight and recoil of both rifles are similar.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:16:29 AM EDT

[#19]

Yeah, I'm with the AR15 for a beginner gun. The recoil is very manageable yet enough to feel fun and like you're shooting a respectable round, and the gun is big enough and heavy enough that first-time shooters seem to be more deliberate and careful with it when I have them shoot mine. I think it's a good beginner rifle.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:19:31 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
If it doesn't take up much room just have the AR available. If girl wants to shoot it than she can.

Agreed. Be sure to bring good hearing protection as well. Nothing can turn a beginner off like ringing ears if they don't like loud sounds.

Have the AR there just in case. If your daughter's friend does well with the other guns and you think she is ready to try the AR then ask her if she would like to shoot it.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:19:38 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Need pics of your S&W mod10 heavy barrel

Excuse the crappy cell phone pics.

http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq322/chili99/1027121330.jpg

http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq322/chili99/1121121159.jpg

Shinny Nickle, you dont see that to often now a days.

It's a model 10-6. I think it was made in the 70's but not sure.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:23:47 AM EDT

[#22]

AR would be fine I think just put one round in the magazine to start out with. I let an ex start out on my my FAL but only one BB in there.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:24:43 AM EDT

[#23]

They can handle it fine, but as someone said, noise and impulse are an issue. Could cause her to develop a flinch. I was started on a 12ga. and it took me a long time to overcome the flinch I developed from it as a young kid.

Posted: 11/21/2012 10:27:04 AM EDT

[#24]

For a hell of a lot of men and women, the M16/M4/AR15 is the first gun they ever fired. I wouldn't be overly concerned.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Taking a teenager to the range for the first time

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