How young to shoot?

[Fn-P9]

Hello all.

I live with my mother and 2 younger children. Im in ym 20's and shoot somewhat avidly. My sister is 9 and brother is 5 with dad not in the picture.
Little brother just entered boy scouts and in the meeting they asked if any one was against guns, since they will be shooting pellet rifles and Bow's and arrows. I think its great. Question is: A pellet gun being what it is (less deadly) and I having a .22 Marlin rifle, I can see my sister should come to the range with me sometime (she'd love it) but she is a bit older. When is a child able to be more mindful of a "real gun" and comprehend what is can do to stuff (people, animals, himself). When have you guys first started shooting?

Personally I would like to goto the shooting events myself for fun but would like to do some initial instruction on firearms before the "events"

 

[Ian Sean]

Each kid is different. My daughter is more mature than my son when he was her age. She went out shooting with me at 9 he went out at about 11. One friend had his boy out with him at 6, he was a really exceptional kid, smart and mature.

I drilled them both on the 4 rules and we practiced with my guns in the house so they were familiar with handling them before we went out.

It really depends on the kid in my opinion.

 

[quazi]

I'm bad with dates, but I was shooting BB guns since before kindergarden. I was shooting .22's since maybe first or second grade.

Many children get their first rifle at the age of 10, and they usually have been shooting with their parents well before that. So I'd think that it would be fine to take your younger sister shooting with you. However, age doesn't mean all that much and you should really judge by the individual. What I'm saying is, in your best judgement, is your sister ready to start shooting? You need to check with your mother too, of course.

Also, it is never too early to start teaching gun safety, even if the person isn't shooting yet.

 

[bill in IN]

Being a rifle and pistol instructor who kinda specialized in kids I would say that it really depends on the kid. 4H has kids as young as 7 at times and scouting goes down to 5. I never had a problem due to age. If you are one on one and you have the kids RESPECT- you shouldn't have any problems.

With my own 2 I did things a little differently. They had to recite the three rules of gun handling and the one of shooting, as well as some other learning before they were allowed to shoot. When they are in the anticipating mode they are ready and willing to learn, good time to get some of the "drill" items out of the way.

Good luck!

 

[P97]

At 6-7 years old most kids that want to start shooting can be started with a .22 with someone beside them closely supervising them. Think I was around 10 before I could shoot unsupervised, but some kids aren't mature enough until older.

 

[RaetherEnt]

My oldest daughter is now 3 1/2...About a year ago I bought her one of those cork string "pop" guns and have been drilling her already about gun safety. For her third birthday, I bought her the double barrell shotgun that you load cap shells into. Once again, I have continued to drill her about gun saftey whenever she wants to play with it.

I still have no idea when she will be old enough to shoot a real gun, but I'm trying to train her early as I need a hunting / shooting buddy!

 

[Linda]

I'm a parent of 3 sons(oldest is an Eagle Scout, middle one should be an Eagle soon and youngest is also a Boy Scout), was a Cub Scout Den Leader for 5 years (middle son) and then after that a Cubmaster for 2 years, have been on the Boy Scout Troop committee for several years. So I've got a pretty good bases as both a parent and being heavily involved in the Scouting program.

Your brother will get involved in bow & arrows and pellet or BB guns (rifles only) going to Cub Scout daycamp and other variety of day events. National will NEVER sanction the use of pistols during scouting events, but they do allow shotgun and rifle during Boy Scouts. As a Den Leader, I would not move up to .22's until they are Webelos (4th and 5th grade). Let the little ones start out on pellet guns or even better yet, airsoft. You also have to give them something to look forward to as they age and move up thru the ranks. Other catch on this though, it can not be called a "scouting event" should they shoot .22's, but doesn't keep you from getting scouts together for a non-scouting event to shoot guns! Make sense?

Back to your initial question, each kid has to be judged on their own merits as to if they are old enough to shoot "real" guns. Depends upon their grasp of the safety rules. You may have one 7 yr old mature enough, but not have a 12 yr old mature enough!

By the way, you sound like a GREAT big brother! Your Mother should be proud that you want to do these things with your 5 yr old little brother! That's awesome!

 

[Derby FALs]

I start them around 8 and they get a rifle for the 10th birthday. Handgun at 15.

 

[Axman]

When I was a kid way back when, we learned safe handling of air rifles in cub scouts. I sure hope the den leader is teaching them about the proper and safe handling of those air guns. They should teach them as if they were an actual firearm, that way they are well prepared.

 

[DF357]

Granddaughter #1 was 9 when she got her .22 Cricket. She's now 14 and has her own Henry Lever 22.

Granddaughter #2 is 6 and she started out with a Daisy Red Ryder which did nothing for her. I went to the Cricket with her and she's really doing well with it.

 

[Clipper]

My dad started me on his K-22 S&W at 6...

 

[crunker]

It depends entirely on the kid.

Many 16 to 17 year-olds I know should not be trusted with any kind of weapon, but on the other hand, I do know some 7 or 8 year-olds who I'd have no problem with them using weapons.

 

[Nathan Williams]

At around six, or seven would be a good time for a pellet or BB gun of their own. Shooting an actual firearm depends on the kid. I remember shooting my first gun a 870 at around 5 or 6. I always had a Crossman pellet gun as a kid teaches the basics of safety on something not likely to kill anyone. This would also be the time to start them off with a .22 or shotgun under supervision. I have a problem with handguns & little kids I didnt shoot my first handgun till I was 11 or 12 a .357magnum under supervision of course.

 

[Hemicuda]

I was given my first .22 rifle when I was 5... that is a great age to start a kid...

be forewarned... you could make the kid into an avid collector, hence someone who is always gun-rich, and cash poor! (like me!)

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Speaking as a hunter education instructor:

There are some(few) 8-9 yr. olds that are ok with supervision. There are also 18 yr. olds that you want nowhere near a gun.

It's all about their mental level. They need to be in/have the correct mindset.

Actual calendar age has little to do with it as long as they are phyisically large/strong enough able to handle the firearm in question correctly.

One thing:

With young shooters be EXTREMELY careful with handguns. Muzzle control is critical. And I have found it's very easy for them to get it a little, um, misdirected without realizing it

 

[KINGMAX]

That's a good one

I am 54 now, look back:

9-10 started w/ a B-B Gun

10-11 single shot .177 pellet rifle breach cock & loading

11 My first Remington .22 cal. all lengths pump from my Grandfather

11-13 hunted w/ adults

14 started hunting alone

18 Fired Expert on M14 M16 and 45 Semi-Auto Pistol (U.S Army 1971)

 

[45shooter]

I started shooting with my older relatives and parents when I was 7. My father had a Savage 22lr single shot with the stock cut for my size. I got my own 22lr rifle when I was 10.

My son started to shoot with me when he was 5. He got his own rifle when he was 11.

Every child is different but I think you can introduce them to guns when they are about 10.

 

[AK103K]

Our boys each got Chipmunk .22 when they were born. Both started shooting right around 4. Both had been drilled on the "rules" and proper shooting positions as soon as they could understand and actually before. We practiced each night, myself included, as I was into high power then. They had "shot" thousands of rounds on the living room floor before the gun ever went bang.

Their first times out, both stood on a chair at the local indoor range so they could see over the counter, and both put every round on the target at 10 yards.

I think its very important to constantly drill into them as much as you can as young as you can. A soon as you can talk back and forth, you should be talking about it. They are learning sponges at that age and are quick learners. If you wait until they are 9-10, I think you've waited way to long. By then, they have watched to much TV and have already been exposed to all the wrong things.

You are the programmer, your the one who molds what they first know and how they think. Do it right, and all will be well, do it wrong, and it wont be your kids fault hes a retard.

 

[RKirby]

My son started out with BB guns in Cub Scouts and graduated to .22 rifles and pistols at about 10 or so. I bought him his first shotgun for Christmas when he was 12. Started bird hunting and trap shooting at about 13.

He's now 16 and has one year of IDPA competition to be proud of. He did pretty well (3-1st place and several top three finishes) considering the caliber of shooters he was up against in ESP Division - all were adults and had much more experience and practice time than him.

But when I asked him why he never invited any of his friends to a match, he said he didn't know anyone his age who he trusted with a gun!

Just goes to show that all kids are different. You'll know what's right for your children.

 

[Travis McGee]

Ten for some kids, one on one instruction.

21 ain't hardly old enough for others.

 

[HankB]

I got a BB gun when I was 4, a .22 rifle at 7, a CO2 pistol at around 11, and a .22 revolver at 13 for 8th grade graduation, all from Dad.

Mom got gray hair early.

Seriously, a kid should start shooting - under immediate adult supervision - as soon as his attention span is long enough and he's physically able to aim the gun and squeeze the trigger.

Be sure the kid is protected with appropriate eye and hearing protection!!

 

[DerringerUser]

My cousins 3 year old knows how to shoot a .22 LR mussleloader.

 

[DerringerUser]

My parents would never let me get a BB gun. They didnt even let me have an airsoft until i was 12. And they only let me have 2. Very anti-gun parents

 

[Fn-P9]

Well thanks everyone all for your input. I believe that my sister (9 years old) is more able to handle a "real" gun better mentally and physically. Little bro is still a bit too little to handle the .22 marlin very well; front end is too heavy. haha I think that I'll goto to scouts shooting events with him and let him do the pellet gun stuff before .22. But, since I doubt girl scouts shoot guns between the bake sales I'll have to instruct her for myself, which is cool. I think I'll leave the handgun out of the picture for awhile though.

 

[Lupinus]

How young is to young?

No such thing as to young