How Young Is Too Young?

[brokerrob1]

My son is 10 y/o and regularly shoots my 9mm and 45ACP. He is a dead eye with his .22 cal lever action Henry. The rule is "no ammunition in any magazine". He is allowed one bullet in the chamber... period! DRILL good habits into him (watch where you are pointing that, get your finger off of the trigger, make sure your safety is on, etc) until they are AUTOMATIC. We have spent entire Saturdays shooting... he just can't get enough! He will be a future PAFOA member.

[1blindref]

I started both of my sons at about seven.

I would let them help me clean my guns after I came home from the range. I taught them the Four Rules while we were cleaning.

Then they moved on to a BB gun in the back yard.

When I thought they were ready, I took them to the range and started them out with a Ruger 10/22 and a S&W 422 (I think they were 8).

Before they were allowed to go, they had to recite the Four Rules. On the way to the range in the car, we went over the four rules (again) and what to do in case there was a click instead of a bang and other possible problems that might come up.

Now they are 22 and 19 and teaching their friends the Four Rules, how to act at a range, and how to shoot.
(damn I'm proud of them )

[BFit70]

you should have started by reading him ballistic tables in the womb

[stinkymcdoober]

Well, we did our first "gun time" today, and she really seemed to enjoy it. Knighthawk showed her the technical side of the guns, and I triedto put whatever seemed to puzzle her in "kidspeak". She did alright, she remembered the rules we taught her, and caught onto the proper way to hold the gun and point it fairly quickly. Her hands are so tiny, a lot of it was difficult for her, and clearing the guns were nearly impossible due to the same fact, but she tried her darndest.

[Shawn.L]

Originally Posted by stinkymcdoober

Well, we did our first "gun time" today, and she really seemed to enjoy it. Knighthawk showed her the technical side of the guns, and I triedto put whatever seemed to puzzle her in "kidspeak". She did alright, she remembered the rules we taught her, and caught onto the proper way to hold the gun and point it fairly quickly. Her hands are so tiny, a lot of it was difficult for her, and clearing the guns were nearly impossible due to the same fact, but she tried her darndest.

good work !

We took a friend of ours son out to the range for his first time last week.
He is about 11.
We always do a "training class" at home before we head out. I teach them the most basic rules first:

Every gun is loaded
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot

Then I pull some guns out and some them the parts and the simple version of how they work.

Then we do a little dry fire and use our kitchen counter to simulate what the counter at the outdoor pistol range we use (PMSC) will be like.

Then we go to the range and they need to be able to recite those three rules in the car and at the range before we shoot.

[LH Arms]

Originally Posted by stinkymcdoober

I hope this thread is in the right place, sorry if it's not. After many discussions on here, it seems many members have kids, and I'm curious as to the general consensus. How young is too young to get your child(ren) out shooting? What has everyone else done? How old? What types of guns did you start with? Did you find any setbacks with possibly starting "too early"? Just curious, thanks all!

Crickett and Chipmunk .22 rifles fit children as young as 5 or 6. As long as you teach them safety and they are mature enough, that is when we generally recommend getting them out. You have to start them young or they don't ever get into shooting when they are older.

Also, these little rifles are accurate. People always come up to me at shows and tell me their stories. So far the largest game shot was a turkey with a crickett. The grandmother called, and the grandson shot. She had it mounted for him.

Susan

[LH Arms]

I forgot to add, don't forget hearing protection!!!!!

[stinkymcdoober]

Yeah, If she does well in school this year, Knighthawk wants to get her a crickett, i am just worried she will outgrow it too fast, but i guess at that point we just sell it.

[LH Arms]

Originally Posted by stinkymcdoober

Yeah, If she does well in school this year, Knighthawk wants to get her a crickett, i am just worried she will outgrow it too fast, but i guess at that point we just sell it.

Stinky, for $50 you can buy a bigger stock for the crickett (just drops right in) that will take her up to a full size rifle. It comes in walnut or pink laminate. I am not trying to drum up business, but these rifles are very good for children.

[Zef_66]

I shot my first gun when I was 4. It was my dad's .22 rifle. But it all depends on many factors already discussed here. I know some kids that are 12 years old I wouldn't let get near a gun. But my first was when I was 4. My first shotgun probably around 6, 20 ga. First hunting rifle when I was around 9. Hard to remember the specifics because it was just a natural progression.