How old were you when you first started shooting?

[Supertac916]

I was about 6 or 7 if i recall right. My family was at our cabin in the desert, my dad took us outside with his .22 set up some targets. And taught me and my brother gun safety and how to shoot. Got my bb gun at about age 13, kept them up at the cabin. Anytime we went to the desert, we got our bb guns and once we hit our teen years he let us go alone with the .22. anytime went to the desert, we always look forward to shooting. So when i finally got old enough i started to buy guns myself.

I have similar fond memories of shooting with my Dad and Grandpa at the family ranch. I caught the bug early on and my Dad allow me to spend my money on handguns at the age of 17. He bought a S&W 629, HK USP 9mm, and I had the Sig 226 he gave me. On my 18th birthday I went to a gunshow and bought my first AR. On my 21st birthday I bought my first 1911 and my Dad transferred all of my handguns to my name. Worked at the shooting range and gun store, where I picked up most of my collection because I'd get used guns from customers or buy new ones at dealer cost.

I'm envisioning my boys to be the same, especially my youngest. Good memories of quality time spent with my Dad and Grandpa have kept me in the hobby for a long time

[CBruce]

I'm curious to see how old some of you guys were, when you first started shooting. I have a 5 and 3 year old sons that would like to learn how to shoot. The local range I used to work at will allow me to take them before or after normal range hours, so I could teach them proper safety and handling.

I have a few bb, pellet, and .22 rifles that I'd like to teach them on, but do you guys think they're too young?

I started shooting bb guns and .22 rifles, when I was 6 on my family's ranch. Unfortunately, housing developments and estate taxes took that opportunity away from my kids. I remember shooting my first shotgun at 8 years old and handguns at 10.

Those of you with young kids. Have you taken them out shooting and how old are they or were they when you did?

38. Unless you count BB/Pellet guns then it was around 11 or 12.

[Turo]

I was at the most 3 years old when I shot my Dad's air rifle. Around 4 or 5 I moved up to .22lr and got my first gun at 13 (20 ga pump).
Lots of kids are mature enough to shoot at a young age, like 3 or 4. But then again, lots aren't. Teach them the rules and I'd they break one, tell them they don't get to shoot anymore.

[njineermike]

BB guns at about 4, 22 at about 6, killed my first deer about 10.

[CSACANNONEER]

12 when I got my own .22. 14 when I bought my first air gun.

[troysland]

Gave my son his first rimfire lessons this past weekend. I got him a CZ 452 scout .22 with a 10 round magazine. He's 6, turns 7 in August. It's still a little awkward to keep the stock in the shoulder pocket while balancing the forearm. The benchrest is the way to go until his arms grow into the little scout.

[GOEX FFF]

I too was also 6 years old when my Dad taught me how to shoot.
My very first arm (besides BB guns in the backyard) I ever shot was his .44 cal. Cap n' Ball BP Walker revolver.
I remember plain as yesterday.

My dad kneeled behind me and placed the HUGE dragoon pistol in my tiny hands while holding on to the pistol as well.
The target was a 2 liter bottle of shaken up Sunkist orange soda.
He helped me aim and told me to slowly the trigger. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The combination of BP smoke and the pop-fizz of the soda bottle followed by laughter, I was hooked forever.

My next rifle he bought me was of course a Ruger 10/22.
At about age 10, I was on to shooting his under-folder Norinco AK which I dubbed "mine".

It's never too early to teach responsibility, safety and the art of shooting and Firearm heritage to a youngster.

[cc56]

11 y/o through the Boy Scouts on single shoot 22 at Lost Valley Scout camp. Then 13 y/o with my Grandfather hunting for dove. Truly getting into shooting happened at 19 in the Army, at 21 I was stationed state side and got my first gun.

[The War Wagon]

Age 8 - bb guns in the backyard with Dad
Age 11 - .22LR with the Boy Scouts
Age 14 - 12 gauge with the Boy Scouts
Age 21 - pistols & military-style semi-auto rifles

My boys started on bb guns at age 7 with the Cub Scouts.

[Johnnykck]

It was in '75, I was six, first learned to shoot a pellet rifle and a couple weeks later learned to shoot a .22 rifle and revolver on my granddads farm in Kentucky. When I was seven I got to shoot my Dads .38 auto (I believe that's what caliber it was) and it went on from there. But I agree that it depends on the maturity level of the kid, I have two nephews, one is five and I have thought him to shoot a pellet rifle, the other one is 9 and I would not trust him with a squirt gun.

[GMG]

late 1940's my dad took me to the Santa Monica pier, where they had a shooting gallery.

22 cal. Winchester pumps, I'll never forget that. I was 8 or 9 at the time.

[motox917]

I got my first BB gun at 4 for Christmas, got my first .22 (single shot Daisy) at 7 and my first shotgun (Ithica Model 37 featherlight) at 11.

[NOTABIKER]

i was 10 years old and visiting my aunt in fresno [ 1957]. my uncle handed me a remington tube feed 22 rifle and a box bullets. all he said is do not shoot the blue jays. sadly i did shoot them. maybe that is why as a adult i do not hunt. i still feel guilty.

[cmichini]

Started at 5 with a single shot bolt action 22 rifle. Start em small simple and controlled. They have their whole lives to shoot fast and loud.
Their skills and attitude will be well served in the long run.

[Chameleon Loco]

I started at 10 years old.

My dad use to have many guns back in the day before I was born but lost interest in the hobby. The only firearm he kept was a sig P230 in 9mm kurtz aka .380 acp. During 5th grade I was playing many video games with guns and my dad wanted to show me that guns were not toys and should be taken seriously. So we went to the local Firing Line and target shooting became one of my favorite hobbies. Since then becasue of me my dad has expanded his collection. I will be 18 very soon and can not wait to start my own.