Age to Teach Kids to Shoot

Wrangler

My kids are still young, but I was wondering at what age (the child's age, not your age) some of you taught your kids to shoot?

fishermanben

Firearms safety begins at day 1. Shooting always starts around age 7 in my family.

Ben

"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

scuta

All of my kids shoot, the 3 year old only shoots the crossman bb pistol with me aiding her. The older 3 ages 10, 11, and 14 have all been shooting combustion based firearms since they were about 6.



If you must burn our flag, please wrap yourself in it first.

"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Lama

TheBrassMan

We were taught at 7.
I plan on teaching my daughter then. That is if we still have a country
where we can own guns by then.
5 years 3 months to go [:D]

Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution does it state: "Seperation of Church and State".

"Those who beat their guns into plow shares; will plow for those who don't."



"Isaiah 5:20 ?Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

William81

My sons starting coming to the range with me at age 3-4 when they were able to sit for short periods of time. They had their own set of shooting muffs and safety glasses. As they showed enough maturity, they were allowed to shoot BB guns, sling shots, Bows etc. to get them interested in shooting.

The safety rules were drilled home with the these items. Both of my sons were allowed to fire a .22 for the first time at age 8. By that time they both understood the responsibilty of using a firearm.

Both are now in their teens, each own their own Shotgun and .22 rifle. Both are excellent shots and my favorite range and hunting buddies....They give most of my handguns and rifles a good workout every chance they get.




Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....

hughbetcha

My son started with a BB gun shooting prone at targets in my indoor range when he was five. From the beginning, safety was the most important lesson learned. By the time he was six he was shooting .22LRs under controlled situations(I was right next to him) out in the woods. I started to try to get him to improve aiming skills but was more focused on safety. When he was seven he started shooting 20 gauge shotgun and I took him with me on some bird hunts under close supervision(we did not hunt at the same time, he watched me or I watched him) He has since handled lot of different firearms and is comfortable shooting my AR-15s, SKS and several handguns. For his eight birthday he wanted to shoot the MP5K on full R&R and handled the situation pretty well. I plan to keep very close eye on him whenever he shoots, but I figure by the time he is a teenager, he will be fully checked out on a variety of weapons and probably able to handle them without supervision.

PATBUZZARD

I think it is more a function of responsibility than age. I was a rather rambunctios, but respobsible kid. I shot my first .22 at age 5. Shooting helped to reign in my hyperactivity. Whereas my sister didn't show as much responsiblity and probably didn't begin to learn shooting till much later. However it was drummed in from an early age, to not mess with dad's guns without supervision.


"Gunner sabot tank! Identify! UP! Fire! ON THE WAY!!" <<boom>>

"It's all about shot placement..."

redrebel

I started teaching my boy at 5 but safety began way earlier.






It is better to be prepared, than to be suprised.

pickenup

My oldest son jokes, that he was hearing about gun safety, since before he could talk.
Was shooting BB guns at 4-5, shooting 22's at 6 or so.

The gene pool needs chlorine.

SilverBox

Depends on the kid. For me it was around 8.

shooter4

You just can't start them until they are old enough to keep thier attention for a minimum of at least 20 minutes.

bobski

check their grades. high grades in school mean ones capable of understanding. and since shooting is part science, the abilty to comprehend,understand, and solve problems is very important. or...when they ask to learn and when they can recite all 10 commandments of firearms safety and understand it and CARE if they know it. ive taught kids for a living starting around 8, but their interest level doesnt tend to last much longer than 30 minutes to an hour. seems the new generation thinks shooting should be as easy as operating gameboys. every child matures at a different rate. its up to the PARENT to be able to decide FOR the child. its up to the parent to look for signs of interest and continue the training if the child shows interest. to shove it down their throat doesnt do any child any good and wastes good ammo.

HappyNanoq

Started at the .22's around my 6th or 7th year - I remember trying the Danish Krag 8*58RD at somewhere between 8 and 9 years of age.

But I'd say, that kids are ready whenever they understand the dangers involved and can understand the directions you give.
But most of all, whenever they hold the interest and isn't there just to be shooting (pulling the trigger).


Don't do anything that I've allready done - That'd be just plain STOOOOOOPID.

dheffley

Depends on the individual child. As soon as they are well behaived, listen to instructions and show self control, it's time to start teaching them.

Of course, that doesn't mean unsupervised access or use of the guns. Just when to start teaching them safety, handling, sighting, and respect for the rules. I started at 5, but dad was a stickler for the rules and controlled the training like the Marine he was.

Thanks dad![;)]

How you doin'!




If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded by
UNITED STATES MARINES!

Hangfire

I started my Daughter at age 4 with a Chipmunk single shot.For a year prior to that I took her with me to the foothills to watch and learn safe handling.She was absolutely facinated.She really thought it was cool to be wearing ear muffs and glasses,just like Dad. To make it interesting I always used reactive targets like balloons or fruit...paper is just too boring!Even at that age she was totally focused . Each time we went out, I was the one to call it quits....I think she would have stayed all day.Her first centerfire was an M-1 Carbine at about 8. It was also about 8 she shot her first handgun. She's 18 now and still loves it.

Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob

whiteclouder

I learned with my dad's Stevens Favorite .22 before I was in grade school. Taught my wife to shoot with it, my children (age 7), and my grandchildren (age 6 and 7).

Clouder..

drygulchdan

I started my son shooting with a rossi single shot .22 when he was 4.

Never trust a government that doesnt trust its own citizens with guns
--Thomas Jefferson

Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?
Thomas Jefferson

bigdaddyjunior

I can't remember never being without the spectre of guns around. Being a son of a military man we were all taught that shooting is the first step to manhood. You learn self control, calmness under duress, critical decision making and a lot more by learning to handle and shoot guns. My kids were 8,7 and 5 when I started all three with a super nice single shot target pellet rifle. They advanced to a 22 single within a month once I was comfortable with their safety awareness. Now just the youngest actively bugs me to shoot. The other two will still shoot once in a while.

Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems

Compact_Kid

First my dad taught me saftey when I was 5 or 6. Basically showed me a auto pistol, revolver, and some rifles. Told me how they work, loading unloading, muzzle control ect. Year after that I was on the .410 shotgun and .22

rimfire72

My grandpa started me on a .22 rifle when I was 4. I've never had a BB gun,pa always said they weren't good for anything. I've had gun safety drilled into me since birth. By the time I was 6 I was shooting .22s regularly,including handguns. Before I was allowed to shoot a gun I had to be able to strip it down and clean it. Once I had that down I he would let me shoot all I wanted as long as he was there to watch me. Still got the first gun I ever owned,a Remington 552 ADL with a Simmons 4x scope.He gave it to me on my 8th birthday. Thanks, Wrangler, for bringing back some great memories.

rong

My old man gave me a .22 when I was 12 I guess.I used to shoot pidgeons in the farmers field. A couple of years or so later the farmer gave me his since passed brother's .270 (he died in the pacific somewhere) so I could shoot woodchucks, had a blast.
The old man was a cop and one of his friends reloaded for me
and taught me long range shooting. I got to shoot often and they
got free veggies and once in a while free ham.