How young is too young?

[SoCalEnthusiast]

What's the youngest kid you'd bring to shoot a .45 glock? I have a few younger cousins and the're really young.

Thoughts.

[Sikvenum93]

As long as they can walk, talk and understand guns are deadly weapons, I dont think there is any set age. Although Id put a good guideline at around ages 5-8. Cuz thats when I wished I had started shooting.

[SoCalEnthusiast]

How about a 3 year old? Too young?

[kygen]

How about a 3 year old? Too young?

I'd say yes, too young

[Condorguns]

Large caliber semi auto handguns I normally start around 10 for inexperienced shooters. I have done younger, but they were experienced with lower caliber semi autos.

You will need to be right on them the whole time. Mistakes happen quickly. Also make sure you have the permission of the minors parents.

[Condorguns]

How about a 3 year old? Too young?

Too young.

Too small to hold the firearm.
Too young to understand all the steps for safe operating.
Not to young to watch, just make sure they keep their ears on and someone is keeping them from wandering into an unsafe area.

[stix213]

I think it depends more on the child than the exact age. You should start with something like a small .22lr rifle (something with low recoil and long enough that it is not easy to shoot themself) and see how they do. When they have mastered that, then moving on to something with some recoil, like in .223. When they have mastered that, then a low recoil handgun such as in .22lr, or a heavy handgun in 9mm or .38 special. When they have mastered that, then moving on to a Glock in .45 seems appropriate.

Don't skip the intermediate steps unless they are a relatively responsible teenager.

I have a friend who's son was shooting my Glock 29 with full power ammo at 8 years old, after he was shooting .22lr rifles, then AR's, then AK's, then .410 shotguns, then 12ga shotguns, then 9mm Glocks, and only after that was I confident handing him the more powerful G29. There was many range trips in between the .22lr rifle and him basically shooting anything including the more powerful handguns. This kid never finishes shooting without clearing the firearm, never hands it back with the safety off (when equipped), always keeps it pointed in a safe direction, and never needs the safety rules repeated for him to remember. I can't say the same about all 8 year olds.

Then there have been other kids that never went beyond the .22lr because they proved more than once they are too immature even though they are actually older than the 8 year old.

[essjay]

How much street cred does this three-year old have?

[CSACANNONEER]

Sorry, a 3 year old does not have big enough hands for a Glock. Hell, some adults don't have big enough hands to safely and/or comfortably shoot any double stacked handgun.

[kaligaran]

It does depend on the kid, BUT I recall reading things about brain development in humans which suggested that around certain ages children develop an understanding of cause/effect and a real understanding of consequences.

It's important that the child in question have this fundamental understanding. I believe the 'accepted' age for this is around 8 or 9 or so.

Each kid is gonna be different, but it's something to consider.

[Condorguns]

. Hell, some adults don't have big enough hands to safely and/or comfortably shoot any double stacked handgun.

have you been spying on me at the range.

[GMG]

How about a 3 year old? Too young?

Who's the 3 year old, you or the kid?

[SoCalEnthusiast]

Well would you guys agree that a male and female differ?

[SoCalEnthusiast]

Who's the 3 year old, you or the kid?

What do you mean?

[foreppin916]

Too young for a .45 apc. Will turn them off to shooting most likely as well which is exactly what you DONT want.

First gun my dad shot with my was a Winchester .22.

Id go 22LR IMHO