Did you teach your kid to shoot?

[John Joseph]

I'm an NRA carded BSA Shotgun Instructor and merit badge counselor so I have the delightful task of introducing young scouts to trap shooting, usually after they've cycled through the BB gun and rifle programs. Being city dwellers this is often the first time they've been exposed to actual fire arms. This got me thinking lately---I learned to shoot from my father and spent many wonderful times with him at the range and afield, times which most of these young Scouts could never have experienced since most of the dads aren't shooters nor their mothers "enthusiastic" about firearms.
Independently of Scouts, I've taught my son to shoot---first with a .410, then .22 rifle and pistols. He thoroughly enjoyed himself, as did I, and now I've got a son for a hunting buddy (which is even better than I could have imagined since I can't seem to train a dog worth a fig ) and am currently embarking on instructing my daughter in the art of gun slinging---which is slightly different in that for a boy, learning to shoot is a kind of "right of passage" Perhaps not politically approved, but a right of passage none the less as it is a significant test of maturity as well as skill.
What about you? Have you taught a young one (your own or borrowed) to shoot a firearm? Did you find it as rewarding as I?
Do you find that passing down the shooting sports to your youngsters a near sacred duty?

[bigbossman]

I'm a certified NRA rifle Instructor, and have been shooting competitively since about 1972 or so. While my father bought me my 1st rifle, he wasn't really an enthusiast. He had a friend that was a machinist at Lockheed, and in those days most companies had shooting clubs. Lockheed had a full-blown employee indoor range, complete with loader rifles, instructors, teams, and competitions. That's where they sent me, and that's where I really caught fire.

I started coaching in the youth program at our local range, and every once in a while they would cycle through a group of scouts or other organizations.

When my daughter turned 7-1/2, I started her on a Marlin L'il Buckaroo. It's a 3-1/2 b rifle that I did a trigger job on and added Lyman target peeps sights to, and she was easily able to learn and practice proper shooting technique.

Before her 10th birthday I had coached her to Distinguished Expert in Light Rifle. We later started on hand guns, and she went DE with a pistol just before she turned 15. We started on Skeet, but that fell to the wayside as schoolwork got more demanding.

She's in college now, and doesn't have much time for anything but studying right now. Every once in a while we get out to plink and and have some fun.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I taught both of my daughters to shoot, first with a pellet rifle, then with a pair of Rossi .22 pump rifles. Both of them also learned how to shoot a shotgun, have hunted hogs and pheasant with me and helped field dress game. One has shot with me in both USPSA and GSSF (I gifted her with the G19 that she used in both). Neither one showed any interest in buying their own firearms, but both were excited to receive a firearm from me last Christmas.

In addition, I've taught a number of other young folks to shoot rifle and pistol over the years. There's no better feeling than seeing the birth of a shooter.

[j-shot]

Yes. Pistol. Rifle. Shotgun. Slingshot (serious). Bow.

[rvicta]

If my son lived with me I would teach him to shoot, but sadly, he lives with his mom, 500 miles away. So instead, I taught my cousin to shoot. She likes it so much that she will take every opportunity to go shooting with me when she doesn't have school work or extracurricular actives to attend. So far, she has done rifle and handgun, and wants to do shotgun next. My niece has been wanting to go shooting and I will be taking her this coming Monday. My brother is a paintballer but my niece wants to shoot a "real" gun.

[j-shot]

If my son lived with me I would teach him to shoot, but sadly, he lives with his mom, 500 miles away. So instead, I taught my cousin to shoot. She likes it so much that she will take every opportunity to go shooting with me when she doesn't have school work or extracurricular actives to attend. So far, she has done rifle and handgun, and wants to do shotgun next. My niece has been wanting to go shooting and I will be taking her this coming Monday. My brother is a paintballer but my niece wants to shoot a "real" gun.

Hey make that happen!

[TruEdge]

My daughter is currently 4 and can't wait to teach her gun safety and how to shoot. What age do you guys think I should start her out at who have experience with this?

[Rickrock1]

Yes all of my kids when they where sting enough to hold it from a 22 to 12 gauge.
Made my kids responsible law abiding and now LEOs

[shovelon]

Yes.

My son learned to shoot .22 and shotgun as a Boy Scout. I taught my daughter starting with .22 pistol, then shotgun. They both love it, and invite their friends that have never shot before to join us.

[boltmopar]

I do not have any children, so the immediate answers is no. I have introduced several co workers to the world of shooting and two of them are now NRA members. It seemed weird to meet men that had no firearms experience, because my dad introduced me to firearms when I was seven or so. Never handled anything other than a .22 till I was thirteen.

It started with one co worker that wanted some instruction and training on firearms and he approached me because I had previous military experience. I agreeded to take him out the following weekend and showed his various pistols, a shotgun and a mini 14 to help him get a feel for a lot of different firearms an and show him the basic firearm safety. After that, I had a couple others ask me for the same and even got some into C&R. There is now four of us at my shop that bought Garands from CMP. The joke is that we just need two more to form a team for the CMP events.

[Jules]

One son was never interested, but I brought the other one up to be a hunter and a shooter. I personally started him with bb guns, pellet guns, and 22 rifles. I had help from his 4H instructor as he got older, and then I married a trapshooter who now coaches him. It's very satisfying hunting and trapshooting with my kid.

[XVIga_Rob]

I taught one of my nephews to shoot (bow, rifle, pistol, & shotgun). I am now beginning to work with my oldest daughter. She wants to learn to shoot & hunt. Just bought her 1st rifle, a Purple lamanent Ruger 10/22 Compact

[ElToro]

My dad didn't get back into shooting until I was a teen And young adult. I learned to shoot rifle and shotgun at boyscout camp ( earned both merit badges) our troop had shooting camp outs. One mids dad was a cop and had access tk the county range in the saratoga hills and aome ody else had a handful of milsurp remington trainers. We bad organized rifle campouts and wed clean the range.

I started renting handguns at target masters when I was 18. I intend to fix that and teach both my kids when they are old enough 4&5 now

[El_nacho]

Started my 12 year old with a 10/22 and now she's shot my mosin, 30/30, sks, mosquito and glock 19. She now says she wants to try my double barrel shotgun, and my .45. I think i more than peaked her interest in firearms.

[steel30]

Yes, .22 rifle and pistol. He just turned 10 and haven't got to bigger calibers yet although he did shoot one round of 9mm!