Starting an 11-yr old on firearms/handguns with a .22LR?

[rodralig]

So, a couple of nights back I brought my 11-yr old, who just started late July/early August, to his 2nd live fire range session. Here is a video, ending with the "obligatory" photo with the owner of the range (a former IPSC shooter and current competitive skeet shooter), showing his groups at 5-yards using a Glock 22.3 with an Advantage Arms .22LR kit.



I wanted to share this because in another thread where I mentioned that I am getting my son into firearms with a .22LR, someone responded that a 11-yr old can properly handle the 9mm with correct technique. I had the impression that I (or the other member who also had a son using .22LR) that we weren't teaching correct technique.

But seeing his performance in his second range session - it just impressed on me that I made the right decision to start him off with the .22LR, ie., "we need to learn how to walk before we can run."

This is addition to me wanting my kid to FIRST focus on the other fundamentals before having to worry about recoil - sight picture/alignment, trigger control (and proper reset), grip, stance and follow through. I would see that after he has thoroughly progressed with the .22LR should I have him work on the 9mm (say, once he manages the same groups at 7- or 10-yards).

Obviously his learning includes the 4 Safety Rules, muzzle discipline and getting his head in the game,", ie., focussed when handling firearms.

This is addition to other handling like draws and reloads:




What do you guys think?


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[smittty]

I suggest having the kid take the hunter safety course, one of the free courses that’s put on on by California wildlife officers.

The instruction and practical portion of the course is excellent and it removes the parent element from the instruction making it s little more serious.

When they’re young is also a good time to get the hunting license as when they’re older they just won’t make time for it.

As a gun owner there are already a number of benefits for having the hunting license even if they never actual go hunting.

[desertrider]

Good job!

Your son has better understanding of safety, grip, and stance than many adults I've observed at ranges and BLM.

[damon1272]

I have a serious issue with your son in the second video. Completely unsafe at any time. The use of flip flops for tactical training is unacceptable. Use of croc with a back strap for when he has to shoot and move is more appropriate. Other than that carry on.

[Jimi Jah]

Reward him with a Henry .22LR lever gun. I got my Marlin back in 1961 when I was 9.

Then watch "The Rifleman" with him on Saturday mornings.

[ACfixer]

Reward him with a Henry .22LR lever gun.

Amen to that. A great rifle for a great kid.

[norcalAF]

My pops split the cost of a 10/22 and 870 20 guage youth model with me when I was 10-12 years old. I saved my allowance/wages for my part of them. I still have both those guns 20 years later. They are never sells. You are making memories with your boy that he will cherish the rest of his life, good on you! I second the hunters safety course, then some rabbit and squirrel hunting to sharpen skills!

[Jwalt]

I'm kind of a revolver guy, and I've always found that fairly light .38 in a solid full-size handgun is a good next step from .22 lr. With grown ups, I tend to have them start with the .38.

[Calif Hunter]

Reward him with a Henry .22LR lever gun. I got my Marlin back in 1961 when I was 9.

Then watch "The Rifleman" with him on Saturday mornings.

My son took Hunter Safety at age 9, and scored a 98 on the test. His first gun was a Henry Youth Model, and it worked well. I prefer a non-semi for kid's first gun, particularly the younger they are. I have worked youth shooting since I was a teen myself, and saw too many kids get excited and swing around with a gun. The Henry with its exposed hammer let me see at a glance if the gun was cocked. In the field, I had him leave the empty case in the chamber until he was ready to shoot again.

That Henry went a lot of miles on his ATV and accounted for a lot of jackrabbits, ground squirrels and cottontails.

[rodralig]

Thank you all for your kind words. (Sorry for the late response - been terribly hectic at work since this morning)

In particular, the recommendation for him to take the Hunter Safety Course. I definitely look into that...

As for getting him a Henry, to be honest, I am not much of a rifle person, so don't know much about it. But a quick glance on Google, I think he may just like it (and get him into rifles, as well). Hhhhmmm... Christmas is just around the corner?? .... it's good, too, because I have lots of blocks .22LR sitting around until I found what worked for the AA kit (CCI Hyper).

On the comment on bonding and building memories - ABSOLUTELY!!!

Regarding the flip-flops - for one, this was NOT in a shooting range (but in my backyard / having a dummy barrel, btw). He was wearing proper shoes in the range (the first video). In the second video, he was doing standing in place dry practice. Obviously, he will absolutely need to have shoes once he goes into "moving and shooting" / "moving while shooting" drills. Although thank you for the comment.


PS: He began watching re-runs of Top Shot when I got him into firearms, btw. He did mention one day, "Dad, I think snipers should have very good trigger control because they shoot very far? And things like the wind can affect the bullet?" And I was like beeming with a smile.



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[17+1]

[hardlyworking]

Appleseed event near you would also be a great start, and fun for both of you!

[JR18]

Flip flops at the shooting range? LOL, never seen that before. AA .22 kit is awesome, love mine. Looks like he had fun, thanks for sharing!

I shoot in flip flops and sometimes tank tops all the time at the range.

[fish45]

you could have him try a centerfire rifle first if you’re worried about recoil, just so he knows what it’ll feel like.

[TrailerparkTrash]