first steps with shooting for my 10-year-old daughter should be?

[AlBaron]

I'm very new to guns myself, but want to get my 10 year old daughter started as well.
One of the local shooting ranges offers a kid class with the semi-auto pistols (22LR of course).
The other one offers 2 rifle classes.
Which one should I sign her up for?

Alex

 

[outlawjw]

Both ,rifle first ,easy to hit with ,then pistol. Its the safety points that real instructors are worth every dime for.

 

[courtgreene]

Rifles. Pistols (in my opinion) due to their shorter length, are easier to shoot in unwanted directions. Once a newcomer understands safety with a rifle, he or she then treats guns (I would hope) with greater respect and would be better able to handle a pistol.

 

[ford8nr]

As a Rifle instructor I'd say rifle first with a .22 rifle OR good pellet rifle. Preferable iron sighted (peeps are great) to learn sight picture and follow through. I find new shooters DON'T shoot as well long term learning a scope first. Once shes comfortable with a rifle then a BASIC pistol course. Ideally if these courses are NRA courses the better. Free lance courses can be great, the NRA courses have required material.

 

[Spats McGee]

First of all, let me say that it's great that you're getting her started. Does she follow directions well enough to start with a .22? I started my daughter at about age 9 with a Daisy Red Rider. For that matter, I started with a BB gun.

I also suggest rifles and iron sights before pistols or scopes, for the reasons already stated.

 

[Sam1911]

It is very hard to say without knowing exactly what the classes are teaching, and/or something about the folks doing the instruction.

Rifles are inherently a little safer though both rifles and pistols can be taught to kids (or anyone) very safely if safety is the primary focus.

My kids all started with handguns as they were too small when we started to fit any rifle I had or could find. However, by 10 years old your daughter should be plenty big enough to handle a youth sized .22 rifle like a Henry Micro-Bolt, Savage Cub-T or Rascal, Marlin's XT 22-Y, or other micro youth or (if larger) standard youth size rifle.

If you were jumping into teaching her, yourself, I'd echo the comments about a (small but quality) pellet rifle, though if this is a formal class they'll use what they use and that's that. No harm in it, as long as, again, safety is their ultimate goal.




Having said all that, what does SHE want to shoot? If you're confident that this is a safety-oriented instructional setting, let HER decide whether she wants to shoot rifles or pistols.

When it's YOUR turn to get instruction, then you can decide which YOU want to shoot. Give her the same courtesy.

 

[AlBaron]

She is actually pretty "stoked" (and now I"m using a 10-year-old language here) to learn how to shoot. She's also pretty tall (5 feet, and she hasn't really turned 10 yet, I lied ).

As far as discipline - she's your typical 4th grader... but she understands the consequences of not following instructions / proper procedures while using firearms. In all honesty, the discipline part of firearms is probably one of the reasons I'd like her to get started

 

[AlBaron]

Having said all that, what does SHE want to shoot? If you're confident that this is a safety-oriented instructional setting, let HER decide whether she wants to shoot rifles or pistols.

When it's YOUR turn to get instruction, then you can decide which YOU want to shoot. Give her the same courtesy.

That is a very interesting point, I haven't thought of that.

I may just do that, thanks!

 

[TimSr]

First of all, let me say that it's great that you're getting her started. Does she follow directions well enough to start with a .22? I started my daughter at about age 9 with a Daisy Red Rider. For that matter, I started with a BB gun.

I also suggest rifles and iron sights before pistols or scopes, for the reasons already stated.

I Agree.

 

[taliv]

start by having her memorize the 4 rules. have her memorize all the parts of your guns and be able to explain to others how they function. i.e. what each part does.

she will probably have more fun with the rifle.

i'd put some thought into making sure her hearing is protected, especially if an indoor range. ime, kids can get turned off pretty quick by painful noise

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Within the bounds of safety, I'd say put the choices in front of her and let her decide. My own children have always had more interest and ongoing enthusiasm for things they had more say in.

Also, talk to her afterward about how much she liked it and whether she wants to do something similar or something different the next time.

 

[Shaq]

I'd start with a 22 rifle - Bolt, lever or single shot. Autos are a bad idea for beginners.

 

[AlBaron]

I'd start with a 22 rifle - Bolt, lever or single shot. Autos are a bad idea for beginners.

Should I assume that Ruger 10/22 is the best choice, or are there other good options?

 

[jad0110]

A semi auto can be used, but with my son I load 1 at a time. A single shot .22 with irons is about the best place one can start, that or a pellet gun.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

First - buy her a pair of GOOD hearing protectors that fit her. Let her know that those are hers, she owns them, and she has to wear them whenever she's in a shooting situation.

As stated by several others - make sure she understands all of the safety rules. The best way to do that is to go over them with her and then ask her questions like, "How do you treat every gun?" (Answer: Like it's loaded) - You get the idea.

Make safety training interactive so she's not just sitting and listening.

We've used 11mm (43 caliber) training paint ball guns quite effectively as they can be used indoors in the right situation. They don't make a lot of noise, have almost zero recoil, and are relatively safe. They're really good for teaching general gun handling and how to sight a gun.

The use of pellet guns is also effective if you have the room. I have setup targets at my house with a hay bale backstop for my grandson, and have used a pellet rifle with swinging targets and a pellet trap.

Of course - sending her to a class with others that are the same age is a really good idea.

FYI - we had a 12 year old out last Saturday shooting action pistol using a 9mm. He did fairly well.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd start with a 22 rifle - Bolt, lever or single shot. Autos are a bad idea for beginners.

Should I assume that Ruger 10/22 is the best choice, or are there other good options?

?

Shaq was expressing his support for the old truism that a single-shot rifle or a manually-operated repeating rifle is "better" for a new shooter to learn with than a self-loading rifle.

So your suggestion then of the most common self-loading .22 rifle in the country is a little funny!


IF you're asking what you seemed to be asking -- "One of the local shooting ranges offers a kid class with the semi-auto pistols (22LR of course). The other one offers 2 rifle classes. Which one should I sign her up for?" -- then the answer is she'll use whatever rifle or pistol is provided by the instructor and/or range.

If you're asking instead what kind of rifle you should buy for her to use, that's going to be a hotly argued question.

First off, do you want a semi-auto like a Ruger 10/22? No reason you have to get a semi-auto, unless you think that's what she's really going to prefer.

Personally, I like the Savage micros like the Cub-T or the newer Rascal. They've got fantastic triggers and are actually CHILD-SIZED which is important. Most .22 rifles, like the 10/22 or all of its competitors, are built for adults to be easily able to shoot them.

That's not so good for kids. Putting a kid onto a rifle that's actually built to be comfortable for an adult does nothing to promote safety, good technique, or success and enjoyment of shooting.

The little rifles designed exactly for training kids (like the Savage Rascal, Henry Micro-Bolt, and a few others*) are QUITE small and have short lengths of pull which let the kid properly mount the rifle and be comfortable in a solid shooting position, instead of "crawling" the stock and trying to stretch to use a gun that you'd be more comfortable shooting. Plus they're extremely light. Your daughter may be big for a 10 year old, but she's still small statured and not very strong compared to any adult. Give her the benefit of a gun actually made for her to shoot well.







* -- but NOT the "Cricket" rifles, they're poor quality

 

[denton]

Stepping back a little....

First, buy her a little range bag (big enough for muffs, glasses, a box of 22LR, and a granola bar) and let her pick out and iron on a little embroidery applique.

Then, go to Harbor Freight and buy her a $12 pair of ear muffs. They have a higher noise reduction rating that any shooting muffs I've seen. At the same time, buy her a $2 pair of yellow safety glasses. I don't know why, but kids strongly prefer those over clear ones. Snitch a plastic bag from the kitchen to put the glasses in, to prevent scratching.

Next find out if she is left-eyed or right-eyed. Kids with crossed dominance need a little extra help. They often end up frustrated, and drop out.

Now start to shop for a shooting class.

You might both enjoy doing a day at Appleseed, if you can find one in your area.

And good on ya for taking the time and interest. It's an investment that will pay you a nice dividend.

 

[dmurdach]

My son was significantly younger when I started him (just shy of 5) , but I started him with and airsoft rifle after he could tell me the four rules, then when he showed he could handle it without being cautioned of those rules he went up to a bb rifle and then a Savage rascal. I really like that savage for a smaller child. It is very lightweight, good trigger, and pretty dang accurate

 

[1911 guy]

I'll give my opinion that a kid should, except in cases of some strange circumstance, start on a rifle. Handguns are too easy for someone not in the habit of muzzle awareness to point in very undesirable directions. Once muzzle awareness becomes habit, then you can move on to handguns. It's no fun for you or the kid if you have to constantly yell at them to get the muzzle downrange.

Secondly, you've gotten good tips about hearing and eye protection. While a .22 isn't exactly earsplitting, it can and does cause hearing damage in cumulative amounts. Couple this with the fact that most kids are more at ease when they are somewhat insulated from the sound of the report, and hearing protection is a no-brainer. I'm a little more relaxed about eye pro unless I'm shooting steel, but it is better to instill all the right habits now than explaining circumstance specific equipment to someone who is still trying to grasp the basics.

Denton brought up a very good point. Check out her eye dominance. Especially when young, it's often easier for a new shooter to learn to shoot using the hand behind the dominant eye, rather than trying to "fix" the cross-dominance issue. For example, my son is right handed, but I've taught him to shoot a rifle left handed because he's left eye dominant. Kids pick it up easier, much easier, than an adult trying to learn to do something with their "weak" hand.

 

[bannockburn]

Started my kids out with an air rifle then a .22 semi-auto rifle. Later I let them each pick out a .22 pistol (they choose semi-autos). Both are extremely safety conscious and are excellent shooters.

 

[Kingcreek]

2 daughters and now 2 grand daughters all started with safety instruction, pellet air rifle, progressed to .22 bolt action rifle, followed by .22 pistol.

 

[Shaq]

Should I assume that Ruger 10/22 is the best choice, or are there other good options?

You could use the 10/22 if you load one round at a time at first. But it's a bit of a hassle with an auto - load one in the mag, chamber round, put on "safe," remove mag. Maybe if she's good at following directions, load 10, tell her to fire only one shot at a time until she makes safe direction a habit. See if she can consistently take her finger off the trigger & place it alongside the trigger guard after each shot. Some kids are better at that than others.

 

[Shaq]

I'll give my opinion that a kid should, except in cases of some strange circumstance, start on a rifle. Handguns are too easy for someone not in the habit of muzzle awareness to point in very undesirable directions. Once muzzle awareness becomes habit, then you can move on to handguns. It's no fun for you or the kid if you have to constantly yell at them to get the muzzle downrange.

Secondly, you've gotten good tips about hearing and eye protection. While a .22 isn't exactly earsplitting, it can and does cause hearing damage in cumulative amounts. Couple this with the fact that most kids are more at ease when they are somewhat insulated from the sound of the report, and hearing protection is a no-brainer. I'm a little more relaxed about eye pro unless I'm shooting steel, but it is better to instill all the right habits now than explaining circumstance specific equipment to someone who is still trying to grasp the basics.

Denton brought up a very good point. Check out her eye dominance. Especially when young, it's often easier for a new shooter to learn to shoot using the hand behind the dominant eye, rather than trying to "fix" the cross-dominance issue. For example, my son is right handed, but I've taught him to shoot a rifle left handed because he's left eye dominant. Kids pick it up easier, much easier, than an adult trying to learn to do something with their "weak" hand.

You wouldn't be "relaxed about eye protection" if you've ever seen a 22 rifle rupture a case. Blindness happens very quickly and a child will have many years to experience the misery of it.

 

[Starter52]

I have taught fifty or more 9-10 year old girls to shoot .22 rifles. Of all the rifles we have at camp the hands down favorites are the bolt action guns with red dot sights. I consider them the best all around beginner's rifles.
FYI we have found the Rascal is too small for a ten year old. The regular size Savage or Marlin are better. Hope this helps.

 

[1911 guy]

Quote:
You wouldn't be "relaxed about eye protection" if you've ever seen a 22 rifle rupture a case. Blindness happens very quickly and a child will have many years to experience the misery of it.
Today 02:09 PM

Quite possibly very true. But I've been shooting .22 rimfires for about 40 years and have never seen it. Again, I will never discourage use of eye pro. I'm just not strict about it in all cases. When shooting steel, however, I'm a bit of a nazi about it because I HAVE seen a lot of bounce back and jacket material hitting shooters. Personally, I've been hit by everything from complete bullets to digging jacket material out of my hands and arms.