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childs age

pantera7974pantera7974 Member Posts: 938 ✭✭✭✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
how old were your children when you first took them to the range, maybe to sit on your lap but not to actually fire anything with out your hands also being on it?
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  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,499 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Both of my sons received Shooting Muffs and eye protection on their third birthdays. At that time they were allowed to come to the range and sit behind the shooting line and watch. Their first trips included taking gallon jugs of water and filled with colored water and watching while I shot the jug with a .44 Mag. They understood in no uncertain terms why guns are not toys.

    As they got older we began taking their sling shots, air rifles, etc with us and they were allowed to shoot these until age 8. By Age 8 they had the safe handling of a firearm, aiming etc. mastered.

    At age 8 they were allowed to fire a Cut down 10/22...One shot loaded into the mag. This continued until they had master the loading process, safety, etc. As their skills and confidence improved, other rifles, shotguns, and finally handguns were added as their skills and maturity dictated.

    I miss those days, but I now enjoy shooting and hunting with 2 sons that I am confident in their abilty to handle firearms safely. Both enjoy shooting and look forward to our trips to the range or out to the woods.

    Teach them young and teach them right......Sorry for the ramble...it brought back some great memories for me...

    Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....
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  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, my sons were probably 8 or so. Today neither has any interest in guns. I keep telling them if they refuse to learn to shoot, clean and maintain them that they will not inherit any firearms from me and I mean it.

    Bruce
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  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,499 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Bruce, I am sure there are several us that wouldn't mind being adopted if necessary...

    Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....
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  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My son is 12 and tonight he will, in all probability, pass his hunter's education exam. He has had an air rifle and .22 since he was 8 or 9, but has shown little interest in them. Earlier this year he has taken an interest in firing some of my centerfire rifles, which prompted him to take the safety course. His hope (Mine too!!) is to go hunting for deer this fall.

    I had always hoped for this time, but I didn't feel right pushing him to get to this stage. I think I made the right decision.

    KC
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  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    My son is now 13, he began shooting early. His first gun was a bb gun at age 4. He wasn't allowed to play with it and he learned to treat it as if it were a high powered rifle. By age 6 he was given a 22 single shot remington cut down to youth size. He is a very responsible 13 yr old and I know I can trust him.
    Last year I took him deer hunting with me for the first time and he was unable to harvest his first deer. He took a shot but missed. No big deal I told him. I went out alone the first morning before he was out of school and shot a nice ten point so we didn't really need the meat anyway but he really wanted to get one.

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    My son is now 13, he began shooting early. His first gun was a bb gun at age 4. He wasn't allowed to play with it and he learned to treat it as if it were a high powered rifle. By age 6 he was given a 22 single shot remington cut down to youth size. He is a very responsible 13 yr old and I know I can trust him.
    Last year I took him deer hunting with me for the first time and he was unable to harvest his first deer. He took a shot but missed. No big deal I told him. I went out alone the first morning before he was out of school and shot a nice ten point so we didn't really need the meat anyway but he really wanted to get one.

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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