This evening, I was cleaning some guns and my 4 year old son asked if he could help. I said sure. I asked him, "What is the first thing we do when we pick up a gun?" His response, "Make sure there are no bullets in it." (All ammo is a bullet to him). He patiently helped me clean 3 guns and really enjoyed it. He really liked field stripping my .40 and .45. After we were done, I looked up and he was dry firing his Daisy Red Ryder. This got me to thinking, I can't wait until I can take him out shooting for the first time! I've got an 1100 Youth model 20ga and an Iver-Johnson single shot .22 just waiting for him. These are the 2 guns that I learned to shoot on. Here's to good times ahead!
Can't Wait!
- Thread starter morgaj1
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shotgunjoel
Member
Sounds great, I'd be careful about solvents though, he's still growing and some of those chemicals in things like Hoppe's (like benzene) could do some damage. Remember, ventilation and minimal skin contact. Sounds like we have hope for the next generation.
JustinJ
Member
You probably already have instilled the same as well but the first rule for my nephews is don't ever touch a gun without an adult present. Then its on to safe handling procedures.
newbuckeye
Member
Good job teaching him. I have included my kids every chance i can. My soon to be x wife flipped when I told my 5 year old son I would teach him to shoot. She is actually trying to put a gun prohibition in the paperwork until he is 7.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I started my own kids at about age 8. While my son took to it my daughter not so much. That was quite some time ago. My daughter gave me a very bright tom boy granddaughter who is now 8 and my son a wonderful grandson who turns 8 in September. I believe it is time to get the grandchildren on the range and safety training.
Much as I am a strong advocate of starting with a single shot bolt action .22 I have visions of the granddaughter with one of those cute pink Ruger 10/22s.
Ron
Much as I am a strong advocate of starting with a single shot bolt action .22 I have visions of the granddaughter with one of those cute pink Ruger 10/22s.
Ron
smalls
Member
My daughter's not even 2 yet and I'm getting antsy in anticipation to take her shooting.
She'll probably get a pink 10/22 as well, reloadron.
She'll probably get a pink 10/22 as well, reloadron.
col.lemat
Member
Five years old is a good time to start with a youth sized .22 rifle and short ammo. At eight moved up to a single shot .22 pistol with bb caps then shorts. At ten was using long rifle ammo. By 13 years shot several large full sized pistols & rifles. At 16 dad for a birthday gave me an M1 rifle . At 18 came the Colt 45. All the time he and his friends shot black powder mostly and I followed along and had more fun with the BP. It worked for me.
BullRunBear
Member
What a great start and something to look forward to. My best friend and I started his boys at 6 and 8 years old. (I'm an honorary uncle.) First the safety lectures and drills, then their great-grandfather's single shot 22 rifle. Finally we set up our muzzleloaders, reduced loads, with front and rear support so they could shoot them. They loved that cloud of smoke. Wonderful memories!
Twenty-odd years later they still talk about those times, still enjoy shooting with "the old men" and their concientious gun handling would satisfy the toughest Drill Instructor.
Jeff
PS: A muzzleloader makes a great teaching tool.
Twenty-odd years later they still talk about those times, still enjoy shooting with "the old men" and their concientious gun handling would satisfy the toughest Drill Instructor.
Jeff
PS: A muzzleloader makes a great teaching tool.
Good posts guys. Yes, his first rule is no touching guns without grown-ups being present. His help consists of getting rags and pulling the rod through the barrel, so no chemicals for him. He is a good ways away from being able to shoot anything other than his Red Ryder BB gun. But, he loves mechanical things and is fascinated when I break down a gun for cleaning. I can still remember going on dove shoots with my dad. He would set me up with my own dove stool and I hunted with my Red Ryder. Fun times...
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