Need advice for teaching small child

[Grobie]

My little girl just turned 8 and for her birthday I bought her a Browning 1911-22 (she chose it). While I've taught her all the fundamentals and safe handling of a firearms. She's never fired a gun before. Today, while I was teaching her how to operate this gun and running through some dry firing exercises l, we discovered she isn't quite able to fully squeeze the trigger to drop the hammer with one finger. She was able to do it using two fingers. I am a little worried it might be an issue when we go to the range tomorrow because it takes away from her grip of the firearm. She is an Asian 8 yr old little girl, so you can imagine she is pretty tiny. But she wants to emulate me so I don't want her to feel like she can't do something especially after promising her I would take her shooting. Basically what I'm asking is, do you think she will be alright squeezing the trigger using two fingers. I want to be as hands off as possible.

[9Cal_OC]

I’d say, depends on the range, maybe rent a Buckmark just in case the trigger pull on the 1911 is too much for her.

[Grobie]

We will be at an outdoor range, that normally only allows 10 yr old. They're making an exception for me. She isn't quite tall enough to clear the tables at our regular indoor range. And they don't rent out guns, we're limited with options currently.

[Snoopy47]

That's the reduced size 1911/22 correct?

I don't have a solution then if it's too small. Is the trigger really that bad?

I'm probably going to let my kids shoot a 1911 conversion (full size with 22 upper), but the trigger will be 4 lbs or there about.

I intend to start them on a 22 rifle, then the first pistol they will shoot will be a 22 Ruger Bearcat single action revolver.

[benjamin101677]

Be very careful if she pulls puts too much pressure on the trigger she could really cause the front of the gun to go down and or down and sideways which could be really dangerous.

[golfish]

It might be best to wait until she can fire the pistol with one finger. Better to be safe..

Remember, just one round in the chamber and none in the mag..

[Grobie]

That's the reduced size 1911/22 correct?

I don't have a solution then if it's too small. Is the trigger really that bad?

I'm probably going to let my kids shoot a 1911 conversion (full size with 22 upper), but the trigger will be 4 lbs or there about.

I intend to start them on a 22 rifle, then the first pistol they will shoot will be a 22 Ruger Bearcat single action revolver.

It is the smaller pistol. I did want to start her with a small 22 rifle, but she wanted this for her birthday. And she remembers everything so I didn't want to break my promise to her. As far as the trigger. Doesn't seem too bad, but I'm a 6'1 240 lbs man. She's 3 ft tall 40-50lbs I think haha

[Grobie]

It might be best to wait until she can fire the pistol with one finger. Better to be safe..

Remember, just one round in the chamber and none in the mag..

We'll give it a shot tomorrow. I'll be hands on, maybe we just need to shoot a few hundred rounds through it to break in the trigger.. but I definitely will just try one round in the mag until she's able to handle it

[Grobie]

Be very careful if she pulls puts too much pressure on the trigger she could really cause the front of the gun to go down and or down and sideways which could be really dangerous.

We will be, outside of her inability to squeeze the trigger with one finger, I taught her firearm manipulations and safety since she was 5. She seems to be a lot better than alot of adults I've seen at public ranges when it comes to firearm safety and keeping her finger indexed when she's supposed to.

[Helpful_Cub]

For what its worth, I started with a 22lr rifle. I plan to start my son the same way when he's old enough. Pros of a rifle is that its long enough I can grab the muzzle if I need to. I also started on a bolt action. Slowed down my rate of fire and forced me to actually aim instead of having an accidental misfire while being fancy and double tapping or something else stupid. A 1911 is a great gun. But if may be worth also getting her a rifle to break her in on safety, training, shooting rules, etc. A small gun will also kick more which may scare her initially.

After all, what's better than getting one gun for a birthday? Two guns!!!

[Bullets&Whitewalls]

It is the smaller pistol. I did want to start her with a small 22 rifle, but she wanted this for her birthday. And she remembers everything so I didn't want to break my promise to her. As far as the trigger. Doesn't seem too bad, but I'm a 6'1 240 lbs man. She's 3 ft tall 40-50lbs I think haha

[Grobie]

For what its worth, I started with a 22lr rifle. I plan to start my son the same way when he's old enough. Pros of a rifle is that its long enough I can grab the muzzle if I need to. I also started on a bolt action. Slowed down my rate of fire and forced me to actually aim instead of having an accidental misfire while being fancy and double tapping or something else stupid. A 1911 is a great gun. But if may be worth also getting her a rifle to break her in on safety, training, shooting rules, etc. A small gun will also kick more which may scare her initially.

After all, what's better than getting one gun for a birthday? Two guns!!!

That is a valid point. I will let her give it a shot tomorrow as the range has already allowed me to bring her and teach her privately away from other patrons. I won't force the issue if she still is unable. And I guess I'll be buying a 22 rifle haha

[G-forceJunkie]

If you do let her shoot it, please only put one round in the gun at a time.

[ChampCarStar]

Watch the YouTube videos of Autumn's Armory. That little girl uses two fingers to squeeze the trigger and has no issues.

[Gundiver]

You have to rest the butt on the bench/table.