Shooting age

[Tarmy]

Two boys...

They started at 9 and 10...

The younger one was drawn to shotguns...started on a 20ga...soon was on my 12ga...

The older one was very knowledgeable about guns...self taught because he was very interested. He is drawn to handguns...but loves shooting full auto guns.

Took them to the desert to shoot .50 cal and full autos...expensive but they both were having a lifetime memory created.

They were taught from the beginning...no mistakes, no second chances...break any rules you are done on my watch...they never broke the rules.

[SDCarpenter]

I took my Hunter safety course when I was 11. My dad would then start taking me on his hunting trips a few season till I was 13 and could get a tag myself. Been hunting every year since including Wyoming in October this year. My family was always big into guns and hunting , so I naturally wanted to be involved.

[TKM]

Stepped up to the M1 Garand at 7.

Didn't throw away the 22s or anything but if Opa liked it I liked it.

[John Browning]

I bought my first .22 when I was in third grade. I had started shooting at about age 6 or 7 prior to that. I had my hunting license at 10 and was off to the races. I grew up around firearms so handling them safely was drilled into me early on.

My own sons have both fired their .22s. The oldest is 7 and likes the Ruger Standard .22 pistol more than anything. The youngest is 5 and isn't super interested. I'm on them like a hawk when shooting and figure that as long as it is safe and they enjoy it, that's the right age.

[Divernhunter]

get him started on a 22RF that FITS HIM. I started my daughter at 4.5 years old and she has been shooting/hunting ever since

[Swagman00]

Whatever age they are mature enough at.

IMHO I've seen long guns taller then some tikes on the range and do everything they're supposed to.

I don't think it's the age that defines when, it's the training.

(Not that it counts for anything, but the youngest shooter I've seen was barely three with help. As for stand alone, seven.)

[Someday]

My daughter has been shooting .22 rifle since she was 9 years old. (water guns since she was 2). By 9 she was able to understand my directions and understand the seriousness of what she was doing. Of course, I would have probably started her earlier if her mother hadn't been around!
BTW, that's her in my avatar at about that age (maybe a little older) shooting my G19 with the AA .22 conversion.

[nick]

There's no precise rule here, it depends on the kid. For me, it depends on when he's responsible enough. I've been shooting since 7, same for my brother. We started my elder niece on shooting at 8 (she was very responsible for that age). She's 20 now, herself a gun owner. My nephew is 6 now, but we're still watching him. The way he is now - I don't think we'll be teaching him how to shoot anytime soon. We're working on changing that, of course.

[omega]

the kids I remember from back in elementary & middle school were too immature and irresponsible to handle a firearm, they think everything is a joke at that age and take nothing serious, they were some crazy kids, you would not want to handle a firearm.

to be safe maybe around 17 , too many idiot kids these days

[faterikcartman]

It really seems to depend on the kid. I was a pretty serious kid and minded my parents. I started with a Crossman and got a 20ga shotgun and .22 shortly after I turned seven. No problems. No usage of 20ga and .22 without supervision. LOTS of unsupervised pellet gun. When in doubt, wait it out.

Keep in mind I'm old enough that I grew up in fear of getting whooped up side my head if I got out of line. Many (most?) kids I see in California today given me the impression they're better off with a video controller. Frankly, most millennials give me that impression too -- so maybe I'm a grumpy old guy already?

Good luck.

[IrishJoe3]

Once they show the desire, focus and respect for the weapons, I'll take them. I start with a single shot 22 cricket that I will help them hold. As they grow into it I'll slowly let them control it more and more. 4-5 is usually the age when my kids shoot. My 12 year old son's favorite pistol is the 1911, and he is able to, unassisted, ring 200 yard steel with a full size M1A.

So age and maturity depends on your kids. Some adults I've met I'd never let touch my guns.

[559BearDown]

I'm starting my 9 year old on a Henry youth lever 22 soon.

[Dano3467]

This subject depends much on individual.

My Daughter started at 3ys old.. (bring it flamers) that said she was never timid, & being a girl, they seem to think things through much more than boys (usually).

Now Grandson had issues focusing on direction, just the nature of boys I guess.

Sadly, I could not start him till he could focus properly. At 11yrs old, he had it.

Both are great shots, both have extreme respect, & both, fully aware of consequences of their actions, & both fully aware of where the bullet will go,. & repercussions of a poorly thought out shot.

In other words.. it is you, who must determine when is a good time to introduce them to the world of firearms..Just my $0.02

[Widdle]

We started our oldest a little after his 6th birthday.

[vanhahner444@hotmail.com]

Why not start them off with a BB gun or pellet gun?

This is just me, but I started my kids off around the age of seven with a 22 long rifle instead of a BB gun, wanting them to know that a 22 rifle was a real gun and not a toy and can be extremely dangerous if not handle with the utmost safety.


My paranoia probably came from all the Daisy BB gun wars (1956) we had as a kids !