How old is old enough to start shooting?

[$nake-Eye$]

Hey Calgunners,

How old was your child when you started teaching them to shoot?

I was about 9 years old when my dad started me on the .22 Ruger 10/22 and was also doing .38SPL and 12 ga shotgun about a year later at age 10.

I plan to start my son around that age, give or take, depending on his mental maturity level to understand the basics of gun safety and respect (he's 10 months old now, so I have a bit of a wait ahead of me...)

SE

[coq]

My girls first shot at age 7, but by 9 they are much stronger. They have a Savage Rascal...single shot bolt action 22, very small and weights about 2.5lbs...great learning gun for handling, shooting and safety.

[CAL.BAR]

I started my son at 10. Depends on the child. DON'T start too young. If you scare them or otherwise put them off of it, you will lose them forever.

Also depends if you are shooting in your back yard or a public range. Lower key is better.

[Milsurps]

First maturity, Ever kid is different My father started me ~8yrs on bolt action 22s. Shot my first center fire 30-30 ~ 12yrs. Don't push them.

[Swampcrip]

Its all about maturity. When they are responsible and can follow direction i say go for it. My niece is 8 and can strip a glock and has good finger discipline. That being said i also know 50 year old men i wouldnt trust with a nerf gun.

[gringo m]

BB guns to start. 6 is plenty old. 22's around 8 or 9.

[SoldierLife7]

My son got a BB gun at 6 and once he displayed proper handling and safety with the BB gun, I bought him a .22 Marlin 99M1 (when he was 7).

My younger son didn't display enough maturity handling the BB gun... he now has a super-soaker....he's 15 (slight exageration...he isn't interested, so I taught him to respect guns, and firearm safety and let him choose not to shoot guns...hopefully one day he will become more interested).

It all depends on the kid and their maturity level.

[Guns and guitars]

My sons started with 22s at 5 and 6 years old. Now my oldest is 11 and he can shoot a PTR while his 7 year old brother shoots a Kriss Vector.
Teach em safe, smart and young.

[BigStiCK]

Just started teaching my 8yr old with a pellet gun in the back yard. Its an Umarex 1873 Peacemaker replica that handles just like the real thing. Every time we step to the line we recite the 4 basic rules of firearm safety.

He loves it, and its quality father/son time I wouldnt trade for anything.

[MJB]

10 months lol.....proud Poppa!
Congrats

Get a red rider BB gun, as soon as he can hold it start the training.....plus you'll get him hooked quicker and then you can buy more guns....

People laugh but that cheap BB gun is great training on basic mechanics. I have an entire target range for the RR in my back yard total redneck with tin can lids and ping pong balls on a string for moving targets. Of course not in city limits ect.....ymmv

[M1NM]

Bought my daughter an AR7 at 7 she still has it. My grandson is now 8 I bought him a Ruger Bearcat and gave him a Norinco Browing takedown auto. As soon as mom/dad/us get some time later this summer we're gonna hit the desert.

[audiophil2]

I started my son with a Crickett at 5. He moved to a full auto .22 AR15 the same year. At 9 I gave him a suppressed Savage MKII .22lr. At 10 I let him shoot a suppressed S&W M&P22 pistol. He has shot my full auot 9mm AR15 and my full auto 1919 in both A6 rifle and A4 tripod mounted.

He is surrounded by guns so the mystery was long gone by age 4.

[nyy223]

Hey Calgunners,

How old was your child when you started teaching them to shoot?

I was about 9 years old when my dad started me on the .22 Ruger 10/22 and was also doing .38SPL and 12 ga shotgun about a year later at age 10.

I plan to start my son around that age, give or take, depending on his mental maturity level to understand the basics of gun safety and respect (he's 10 months old now, so I have a bit of a wait ahead of me...)

SE

Good question. My daughter will be 2 in a few months and I've been wondering about this. I asked my CCW instructor this and he said maturity plays a huge factor in this as well. When he asked how old she was (not even 1 at the time) he said to start off with a squirt gun. We've still got a ways to go wait... I guess that's good and bad.

[$nake-Eye$]

Starting them early, starting them right...

Good question. My daughter will be 2 in a few months and I've been wondering about this. I asked my CCW instructor this and he said maturity plays a huge factor in this as well. When he asked how old she was (not even 1 at the time) he said to start off with a squirt gun. We've still got a ways to go wait... I guess that's good and bad.

[Barbarosa]

I started on my sixth birthday; by the time I was eight I was allowed to hunt jackrabbits on my own. My how times have changed.