What age do you think kids should start shooting?

[DNADave]

Your state of Washington is so Blue it is turning Black......the point of no return.

Not the whole state, just the part around the Sound. Where most of the people are. Get outside that area and you're in a different state.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

Same with my Illinois, Chicago sucks. I'm downstate but the gov. doesn't even know we exist.

 

[milo-2]

I started our Godson and his younger brother at 3 1/2 with 22LR. I guess it all comes down to their desire. The boys did great, and got their first 22's at Christmas the yr they turned 5. We have never looked back, they both shot centerfire when 6 1/2, both had first rd hits at 1K with one of my 6.5x47's, even though it maybe was a little too much for them, they wanted to do it, and kept going till they missed, which made it easy to quit. Today they both own custom built 6 Dashers and do remarkably well, 13 & 10. The oldest boy had 2 hits at 2K last Wed evening.
I picked up a 10-22 for the neighbor boy, he is 3 1/2 right now, cut the stock down, no way is this kid ready to shoot. All kids are different.

 

[byrddog]

Whatever age you decide to start them, make it fun and keep recoil to a minimum. If you can, when they start shooting centerfires, put a suppressor on it. My son this past year at 9 years old killed an antelope, an elk and Barbary sheep. He loves hunting, is getting into just "shooting", but he has been to the range more by 9 years old than I had been by 18. He started going at 3 but didn't start shooting till 5. Most trips He collected all the neat stuff He found on the range, still has most of it. He doesn't go every time and I dont force the issue. He goes when he wants but lately he's started going more often than not. Even if they're not shooting, give them a job. There's days he only puts out the targets, paints the steel or writes down the velocity readings from the chronograph, but he's helping. If you want him to keep going, when he's ready to go home, pack it up. Above all else, no matter the age...........be patient.

 

[memtb]

Education should start around 4 or 5, hunting age will vary according to the child! memtb

 

[John Klingenberg]

My kids all seemed to show interest around 6 or so. They shot the Red Ryder a few years then .22s and up. My little one shoots a .22, a .22 Hornet and a .223 at 8.

 

[Sockeye66]

The Metropolitan areas yes, the rural areas no. Back to the OP, I think that when a child can handle a firearm safely and understand the concept that there is zero room for mistakes and that when the trigger is pulled, their isn't a pause button or a do over, then it's time without regard to age.

 

[aushunter1]

Does your content get monitored by everyone including law enforcement & legal officials like it does in our country??

All I will say is be careful what you post!

Obviously your laws are different to ours but pictures of underaged children holding guns is opening youself up for a whole lot of hurt, well at least in my country anyway.

You cannot even hold a firearm here unless you hold the appropriate licence.

Cadet licences differ state to state but its normally about 12 years of age.

Now if your going to ask me what is the right thing to do, well I would then say start the education & familiarity process as early as possible, but the age of comprehension is an individual thing so you cant put an age on it imo!

 

[Lycanit]

I started on a red rider at 5, crossman 7. 22lr at 10, 12ga at 11. Etc.
I was always a fan of making a judgement. would you trust your child to walk down the street....to a known safe store....sad about today's world, that... With 20$ and return with the items said to their memory and bring back correct change. Then maturity is developed enough to start independent weapons use.... BB gun and advance as maturity dictates. IMHO

 

[jdyoung]

My boy was 8 when he joined a 4H Club shooting pellet guns, The instructors were excellent , they had kids enrolled. Safety was foremost. They learned the basics . Had in-club competitions.
I'm a product of the days when you could walk up and down the roadways carrying a BB/pellet gun or 22 and the police wouldn't stop you unless there was a complaint, ( which there never was). Took my first NRA course shooting 22s when I was 13. We signed up for it IN The Public School, think of that. That local NRA instructor used to take us along when he shot pigeons off the court house roof with a 22. I bought a 6mm for my son when he was 11. Bought another identical 6mm for my grandson when he was 6 mo.

 

[Coldfinger]

My son is only 3months old but I find myself day dreaming of the days he will start shooting with me. I don't want to start any kind of moral debate here. I'd probably start him with a pellet gun and then move on to 22lr. Of course he would learn all about proper gun safety and such. Just curious what you all think is an appropriate age?

When he's big enough to hold a Savage rascal 22! My boy started shooting his at 4. My youngest is trying at 3 but not able to comprehend gun safety yet! Anyone can disagree with me but I was taught to use a rifle at about 7 years old. I can still remember my father fresh out of the Marine Corp standing behind me and I was just hoping I didn't flinch with that old 22-250 (he'd load our rifles for us and we never knew when it was an empty chamber to check us for flinches). I was letting my 6 year old shoot grandpas old Winchester 99/22 that gramps gave him on his birthday and caught myself doing the same thing to him with an empty chamber! Start them young you never know if you'll be here tomorrow to teach them is how I see it! Man it's awesome being a dad!!!!!!

 

[762x51]

i plan to start my kids with a .177 pellet gun, them move to my bolt .17, then my semi .22lr. then i'll probably get them a single shot cricket .22lr for their first gun. i dont have a set age, it'll just depend on when i feel they're ready. plus, i'll have to see how safe they are with the pellet gun and how well they listen.

 

[gearguywb]

I have done a fair amount of work with young shooters getting them into steel challenge type shooting. I really think it is up to the child and the parents. The biggest mistake I see is a parent bringing a young person out to give it a try with a very poor fitting gun. Imagine a 6 year old trying to use a full size 22 rifle. If you are going to start them young, please take the time/effort/money to get something that reasonably fits.

 

[Jeremy Henderson]

I started my kids at 3 with a Red Ryder then a 22 at 4 then a 22-250 until 6 then a 280 Ackley the rest is history. Each kid learns at different times so if they show interest run with it.