how old is old enough to start shooting?

[Bobby Hated]

so a good friend passed recently and my godson is now my responsibility. i want to get him into shooting but im not sure what age to start him at. he just turned 6. im gonna buy a 10/22 for him to start with but when should i start him shooting?

thank you much.

[dllma70]

in my opinion, it depends on the kid. My 8 year old niece is more than capable of following the safety guidelines and rules that I have laid out for her, however, my 10 year old nephew wants to go all call of duty on the world and isn't trustworthy enough for me to take him shooting yet. I continue to go over safety rules and precautions with all of my nieces and nephews, but a couple I wouldn't trust handling a loaded weapon.

[Turo]

I started at 3 or 4 with an air rifle in the back yard. By 5 or 6 I was shooting my dad's 10/22 and any gun that I could hold in my hands.

It really depends on the kid, and to a larger extent, the adult teaching them. If the kid is big enough to hold a gun, and can handle the recoil both physically and mentally, then by all means start them out strong!

You have the right idea using a .22lr to start. Just make sure he knows and can respect the rules before he starts shooting. Also, you need to maintain 100% control of everything when you are starting out a young kid. Get a bench rest of some sort, hold up the gun for him and basically let him do nothing but pull the trigger the first few times. Then you can progress to letting him aim, load, and eventually handle the gun all on his own.

But yes, 6 is plenty old enough physically, but you are the only one that can decide if he's ready mentally (following rules and directions.)

[odysseus]

Depends on the kid. Some take instruction well and show competency at 8. Some at 12. Then there are some that can't at 21...

[2Bear]

Wow, sorry to hear about your friend. What a responsibility... You sound like you're on the right path, one which your friend could be proud of. Kudos.

[MR2Chuck]

+1 for mid quality BB rifle. Not the very expensive ones, just around $60-80 pump. Set up cardboard/newspaper backtop in garage or basement. Prone with rest, so concentration is on sight alignment and trigger squeeze at first. Do not progress until those, and safe handling, are consistent. My son could punch duplicate holes when he was 6 and then did same with every handgun he has picked up in the next 30 years.

[tacticalcity]

The first time I let my little cousins shoot a real firearm they were probably around 7 (the same time I introduced them to BB guns). Just a round or two while I taught an older sibling how to shoot. Age 12 seemed to be the average age when I could trust them to show the appropriate level of responsibility - while I stood behind them watching them like a hawk for every second. Age 16-18 was the appropriate age to get into some defensive type training with me right by their side. Seems pretty late in life, but you have to remember I was not raising them. Their parents simply did not demand they be responsible young men. The discipline they have came from sports, and from my small influence on them. So I had to be patient with them and wait until they were ready.

I think you will find that YOU will need to force yourself to be considerably more responsible than you are used to as well. You won't be able to turn your back on them for a second. No shifting attention to something that seems important at the time, but in hind sight doesn't mean a damn a thing compared to their safety and the safety of others. I am sure that sounds nuts to you. Of course you would be totally focused? Right? But you would not believe how often I have seen parents not pay close enough attention to their kids on the range and something scary (thankfully no injuries to date) happens. Most parents are less responsible than their kids these days and do not realize it. You can't loose focus or shift your attention away from the kid for even a second. No matter how good things are going.

[2Bear]

$35.99...

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/zoomed_model.pl?model_id=2105

Careful Ralphy...

[Bobby Hated]

thanks guys. i do have some air rifles in the attic somewhere. ill start him on that.

my biggest concern is him being mature enough to observe safe handling procedures. but i will be sure to keep my attention 100% on him at all times.

im also gonna start him at paintball, and maybe thats a better start point as mistakes are more forgiving so long as masks are kept on.

when i agreed to be his godfather it never occured to me that my friend might pass away before his time. but its time to man up and raise his son to be the kind of stand up sob my friend was.

much obliged.

[Ron-Solo]

I started my grandson with a Crickett .22 bolt action rifle. He was 5 when I first took him out. He is eight now and a very good shooter. I have a 10/22 for him but the Crickett still fits him better and he prefers using it over the 10/22 because he hits what he's aiming at.

One thing about paintball........you are allowed to shoot people. Some habits can lead to problems.....

A lot depends on the child. My granddaughter turns 6 next month, but she isn't ready to go shooting yet. But, grandpa is prepared with a pink Crickett and a pink 10/22!

Kudos to you for doing the right thing!

Check out post 62 in this thread:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=5392630#post5392630

[WRG]

I started my boy at 5 with a bb gun. I taught him about muzzle control and sight picture.

He is now 8 and shoots his .22 with an accuracy that astounds me.

[huntercf]

I was started at age 5 with a pellet gun and then started shooting .22's when I was 7, when I was 8 my parents bought me a pump .22 (still have it 33 years later). It was stressed from an early age that these were not toys and my stepdad made sure to teach my brothers and I the proper care and rules of using and owning firearms. To this day I hear his words everytime I pick up a gun. He sent us to a 2 day hunter safety course when we were 8 and we had to shoot shotguns. I started my son at around 6 years old shooting my .22 and the proper care of guns. He always asks me before he can handle a gun, even his BB gun. Start them early, keep your guns locked up but let them hold them and kindly show them proper usage and they will learn to respect them.

[theduece]

Depends on the kid. Some take instruction well and show competency at 8. Some at 12. Then there are some that can't at 21...

This is very true, I have 4 kids 15yo no interest, 14yo loves it and has for years, 12yo the thought of putting a gun in her hand scares the beejusus out of me, 8yo he will just sit and watch then collect brass and set up other targets for us to shoot between rounds.

im also gonna start him at paintball, and maybe thats a better start point as mistakes are more forgiving so long as masks are kept on.

keep in mind 1 close shot and he will most likely not want to play ever again.

[sima09]

make sure he is mature...I babysit my cousins all the time and when the older one was 5 almost 6 I let him shoot a bb gun he was and still is very responsible and listens well..the other one who is 5 now I wouldn't even T H I N K about letting him pick it up...at least not yet. Just make sure he knows the rules and when you say "stop" he must stop right then and there take his finger off the trigger and put the gun down always.

I'd start him out with unloaded just to see if he does follow all the safety rules then you can put pellets/bbs/bullets in the gun.


way to step up for your friend looks like he made the right choice with you!

[bruceflinch]

NRA recommends 8 yrs old. The Nervous system has matured enough where the exposure to lead is not a threat.

BB gun? Go for it!

Bless You for stepping up. Sorry for your loss.