Airsoft to introduce firearms to the Youngers?

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Corpral_Agarn

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I don't know where it is most appropriate to post this so please move if necessary.

I was musing over using airsoft as a safe and fun way to introduce guns to children. The one I have in mind is 8 years old.

Thoughts?

has anybody done this? Success?



And for the record, Pops started us out on BB guns, then .22's but my brothers and I all displayed a higher level of responsibility at 8 years old than I see demonstrated by the lad(s) I have in mind.
 
As we all know, each child is different and you have to judge them individually on if they are ready or not.

That being said, yes an airlift gun can be used successfully to teach the basics and to drill safety into their heads. The airlift guns I have actually shoot harder and faster than a Daisy Red Rider does.
 
We started out with real guns, and the difference between real and toys was always differentiated, and we were allowed to "play" with the toy guns. We always knew the difference. Our kids were brought up the same way, and they always knew the difference too. They also knew the difference between "real", paintball, airsoft, etc. too, and the associated risks.

Our kids both had their own 22's the day they were born, and were shooting them very early on. They didnt have a choice in learning, about guns and safety (or anything that might be dangerous for that matter) and I think thats the key. You want to get them on the right track before they are exposed to outside influences that are a problem.

Personally, I think 8 years old is a little late to start learning, but everyone is different in what they believe, and you know them, and better now than any later. If they were our kids, at that age, they would be getting treated more like adults than kids, and a good level of responsibility would be expected from them, especially when it came to things like this.
 
Personally, I think 8 years old is a little late to start learning, but everyone is different in what they believe, and you know them, and better now than any later. If they were our kids, at that age, they would be getting treated more like adults than kids, and a good level of responsibility would be expected from them, especially when it came to things like this.
sounds a lot like my own upbringing.
 
I tried it about 6 years ago with my wife first. I bought two different CO2 cartridge-powered airsoft hand guns. They weren't cheap. Both were somewhere around $150 from a big online airsoft mega store. They were both crap. One worked for about a week and then wouldn't maintain a seal when a cartridge was inserted so it just leaked out. The other one worked for a couple weeks, but it had an awful trigger. Then it failed too. Pull the trigger, and the whole gas cartridge would empty. I returned them both and got my money back.

I have to believe that people who take airsoft seriously would demand better than what I experienced.

I have seen the Glock and other reciprocating slide airsoft gas guns that are supposed to effectively duplicate the manual of arms of the firearm versions. I would think those would be useful training tools. I would also think airsoft would be useful for FoF and far less costly than Simunutions. However, first of all, I was unsuccessful in finding quality airsoft hardware. Second, I don't know anyone taking FoF seriously who uses airsoft instead of Simunitions and I can't play with myself. I have to believe that trainers whose programs are based on bringing interested people in from around the country or at least several neighboring states to an extensive facility with limited time realize that their program can't hinge on crappy hardware, and they go with Simunitions instead of junk toys.

Air guns, on the other hand, seem to be an outstanding way to introduce firearms to anyone, especially kids. Our county's 4-H chapter has a great air gun rifle and pistol program for introducing kids to shooting sports. They have .22 LR also, but they just make more noise and don't really add anything. Mind you, these aren't Red Ryder BB guns. The PCP air guns they shoot are $700 and $800. I don't think you need PCP for one or two shooters or to spend that much to get a good rifle though. A Beeman R9 is quality. Inquire in the Airgun section of the forum here and you'll get more and better advice than I can give.
 
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The quality of the airsoft guns seems to be all over the place, and even the more expensive guns dont really hold up all that well. I had a couple of Korean guns (SIG P229 copies) that werent cheap, I think they were around $175 ea, and that was the guns, extra mags were salty too, and they didnt last real long with just moderate use. The seals on the mags, and other internal parts breakage basically did them in.

Now when they did work, they were great. Fit my normal carry holster, mag carriers etc, and other than no recoil, did function more or less like the real thing and you had to track the sights like you normally would.
 
Airsoft as an intro even for adults, hard yes.

Demo live guns (empty!), how they work, etc.

First shots are airsoft. Get sights, stance, trigger control. Realistic size, method of operation, is a better intro than .22 LR for my money. Do the shooting off a range (I mean, set a safe place, with a good backstop: and airsoft backstops are not obvious so ask later) and eyepro but NO earpro! Another step into it, easier to provide corrections, etc.

Doing that, everyone IME shoots really well. Airsoft to 9 mm, or 5.56, or 7.62x39. No problems.

I also know plenty of serious shooting professionals show who use airsoft not just for the same, but their own skills upkeep, and FoF stuff.


Now, airsoft games? Um... go with them. Be careful. Talk through things a lot, as many kids will be terrible at gun safety, so you do NOT want that to be their intro to it. Keep eyepro on ALL the time, not just game on. Avoid masks btw. Separate face protectors or neoprene masks etc are good, but paintball masks are dangerous I think. Too low visibility, increased chance of tripping and falling. Seen it.
 
I often use a Tanfoglio CO2 BB pistol to ease new shooters into pistols. This particular BB pistol is identical to the 1911 to the point of having parts that can actually interchange with a "real" 1911. The grip safety, manual safety, slide stop and mag release all work. The slide also reciprocates, giving a smidgeon of recoil. A pretty neat tool for teaching.

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It was airsoft that got me into it all. I was 9, i was given 10 dollars and I was gonna buy this soft rubber ball thing at wal-mart that I thought was a Cool thing. I had my 10 dollar coins in my pink flower zip-up wallet (I was a weird 9 year old) and then I saw the other side of the aisle, Airsoft.

My and my brothers attention went straight to this. He had 40 dollars and got the M16 Airsoft, I had only 10 and so only could afford the 1911 Target.
It was a worthwhile thing for me to buy, because that's what got me into the sports (Lifestyle). I'd go online and look at pics of real 1911s and thought they were so cool, as well as envisioning being an Adult and having a real m16 like the airsoft my brother had.
Looking back we were pretty irresponsible with them. On Sunday after church we would target practice with them in the hallway against our dads door. Our dad was mad of course but I'm sure deep down he was proud to see his boys laying on the floor leaning their airsoft toys with a pillow as a rifle rest practicing like that.

It was a much better thing to buy than the rubber ball thing I wanted.
 
I don't know where it is most appropriate to post this so please move if necessary.

I was musing over using airsoft as a safe and fun way to introduce guns to children. The one I have in mind is 8 years old.

Thoughts?

has anybody done this? Success?



And for the record, Pops started us out on BB guns, then .22's but my brothers and I all displayed a higher level of responsibility at 8 years old than I see demonstrated by the lad(s) I have in mind.
Do you have a 4H program nearby? 4H does shooting sports as well, shotgun, rifle, pistol and hunting, if available in your area. I just attended the 4H Pistol Coach class in Tucson, and we practiced introducing kids to safely shooting pistols. The one we used is a Daisy side pump pneumatic single shot pellet pistol, and training heavy on safety and fun. Members can be as young as 8, as well.
 
Do you have a 4H program nearby? 4H does shooting sports as well, shotgun, rifle, pistol and hunting, if available in your area. I just attended the 4H Pistol Coach class in Tucson, and we practiced introducing kids to safely shooting pistols. The one we used is a Daisy side pump pneumatic single shot pellet pistol, and training heavy on safety and fun. Members can be as young as 8, as well.
Not my child so im not sure if 4h hasa presence or not. Excellent suggestion, however
 
Only problem is see, like paintball the games teach you to shoot at others. So learn them as if it was a real gun.

Beat me to it. Airsoft is marketed entirely to LARP/Wannabe types for the soul purpose of pretending to kill other people in pretend war. If you can overcome that, then you might find some utility in an airsoft gun as a trainer. Good luck.

I started my son on an air rifle, and I never allowed him to have a toy gun.
 
I taught my 4 boys with a single action .22 revolver and a single shot .22 rifle, also held some informal (unsanctioned) parents must attend if you want your child to attend, cub scout range days for the boys in our pack.

Show them the right way, and provide adult supervision - if they had a gun in their hand at these range sessions an adult had to be right beside them. Coach them, keep the risk minimal (single shots/single actions) and make it a fun experience.

We would end the day with a .22 neos and 10 rounds so they could do the spray and pray at a spinner target, again, with an adult right beside them.

Introduced a few parents to shooting during these sessions also.

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I have had, and somewhere have, several airsoft guns. I found them to be fun plinkers. When I was in grad school I had a pretty good range in the garage where I was living, I used a motorcycle for transportation so I had a lot of extra room on my parking bay.

My daughter has killed a few mice with one, which puts them a small step above harmless. It has also left her reasonably with the 1911 platform. I would like to see some IPSC airsoft competition, but that seems to be mostly in countries where regular firearms practice is inconvenient.
 
Yes, if the kids are taught proper safety procedures and make them habits, and practice target style shooting.
"8 years a little late to start learning"? It's never too late. I first fired a 22 Boy Scout Camp at 13.
 
My dad had me shooting a Daisy BB air rifle at 5 y.o. And a 22 pump action rifle after I showed I was proficient the the Daisy. I think it was a good learning progression. I did the same with my kids who are now in their 40s and both good shooters.
 
Yes, if the kids are taught proper safety procedures and make them habits, and practice target style shooting.
"8 years a little late to start learning"? It's never too late. I first fired a 22 Boy Scout Camp at 13.
As long as you can train them before their liberal teachers and mainstream media teach them that guns are evil. Even then, though it may take a little more work, it’s not too late.
 
I’m also troubled by the gaming aspect of airsoft and using it as a tool to teach gun handling. They will see people on the internet shooting each other with airsoft.

I considered suggesting air guns but air guns can be preferred because they’re cheaper to shoot and can be used in urban settings. Not because of lack of lethality.

I hate to say it but I don’t think there is a replacement for adequate maturity in learning proper gun handling.

Maybe have conversations first and when they are ready start on air guns or powder burners.
 
I don’t see an issue with using air soft to train kids provided they adhere to the same safety rules as of it were a firearm.

The first gun my oldest shot was a 10/22 at about 3 years. I knew trying to aim it was going to be a challenge, but I wanted to get him accustomed to the sound and he really wanted to shoot. I held the rifle still while he did his best to shoulder it and pull the trigger.
 
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