Taking Kids to the Range...First Time

[Groover]

One of my best friends has asked me to take him and his 2 boys to the range next weekend. I've grown up with rifles, pistols, reloading, etc. but he does not have that experience to share. His oldest sun will shoot at scout camp next year but his other son is in 2nd grade.

I am taking this very seriously. I want them to have a good time but more importantly I want them to respect firearms. I also want them to leave the range as advocates of shooting and the 2nd Amendment. 5 to 4 is just too close. This will be a dry run of how I start my own 2 boys out in a couple of years.

Here's where I need your help. I need to put together over the next week an introduction to firearms that will get the main points across without being too lengthy that it becomes a class and not an experience. I plan to set them down in front of a rifle before we walk to the range and go over the basic parts and then discuss firearm and range rules. We will then go to the range and shoot .22's at targets and maybe metal. I will have one rifle with a scope and one with open sights. I thought about letting them shoot 2 rounds each with a 9mm pistol so they understand the power of a handgun and in turn respect it more -- that may just be too much for one afternoon. Any ideas? Sources? Experiences?

Thanks.

 

[jdc1244]

I don’t know how busy your range is on weekends but mine is packed, going over the basics at home or in a quiet place is a good idea. Let them handle the guns, practice aiming, everything they’ll do once at the range and as you noted going over range rules and protocol. You want them to be as comfortable and prepared as possible before going to the range – touching a gun for the first time at a busy range with hearing protection and guns going off might result in them getting frustrated.

Otherwise the itinerary is fine as long as they’ve handled the guns to be used before going to the range and are familiar with how they function.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[chris in va]

9mm pistol? How old are these kids? I'd start them out on a single shot or bolt action rifle, or 22 levergun. Pistols can get waved around too much.

 

[Picard]

I'd definitely show them the pistol, but only give them one round at a time. Make sure you're constantly watching them. If they show good respect for firearms with the rifles, they should be fine with a handgun. I'd let them taste a little more than 2 rounds each. I'd go for about 10 each to make sure they can at least get the hang of it.

Make sure that you take lots of pictures of them. They'll definitely want to show them to their friends and have for future memories.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

In addition, a 9mm pistol for a second grader on anything near the first trip may very well instill bad shooting habits. Don't spook the horse. In my opinion, he should stay with .22 until he has gotten a decent handle on not flinching, trigger control and using the sights.

Also, don't make the mistake many people make: ensure that you have top-quality hearing protection. And double it up: plugs and muffs. The kid's too young to start losing his hearing, and just the right age to get into the good habit of doubling up the hearing protection.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

In addition, let them wear the ear protection around the house for a while and get a feel for speaking and hearing instructions, range commands and other conversation.

If the range permits it, try setting up targets that explode or shatter when hit. No glass bottles of course, but things like cookies, crackers, fruit, etc. The debris will either biodegrade or be eaten by birds.

 

[Chuck Dye]

I have only been in on the ground floor with one kid, but looking back, I am grateful he, his Dad, and I were alone on a back country casual range. No kibitzers (putting it politely); no one at the next bench with a face slapping mondo magnum or in-your-face, down-your-shirt shell shucker; no kibitzers; no concern for accommodating others about when to change targets, etc.; no kibitzers; free and easy use of the reactive targets kids love; no kibitzers; a cooler of drinks and snacks at the ready; and, of course, no kibitzers.

If you haven't any already, look at kid sized hearing protection. The Peltor Jr. muffs have proven a good buy for the honorary nephew and there are disposable foam plugs for smaller ears. The same size considerations apply to eye protection. Gear that is too large to be comfortable will detract from a first experience.

Going back to that down-your-shirt shell shucker, long sleeves and brass excluding collars are in order.

Let the kids set the pace and duration as much as is reasonable (we have found that having a limiting amount of ammo or daylight is the easiest way to pry kids off the range without argument )

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

a face slapping mondo magnum or in-your-face, down-your-shirt shell shucker

LMAO. Chuck, if you aren't making a living writing, you should be.

 

[Avenger]

I'd do one thing differently: I'd stretch the "classroom" teaching out over a couple days, and please don't make it a "here, look at the rifle while I talk about it." type of lecture. Get the kids involved from the outset. Pull the bolt and mag from whatever rifle they are going to be starting with, and let THEM hold the rifle after you go over the safety rules. Accept that there will probably be a bit of "OH COOL" time at this point.

Make sure you emphasize the 4 rules to them REPEATEDLY, and try to get them to repeat them along with you. Don't mess up yourself, in fact make sure that they observe that you are being EXTREMELY careful. Also, if they do mess up in the classroom, don't get mad or upset, just calmly point out what they did wrong, and then ASK THEM what they should do instead.

When you actually get to the range, let them help with set-up and target replacement (they got young legs, let them do the running), as well as policing up trash and brass after. Don't expect much in terms of accuracy. Make sure you give praise for the good shots, not criticism for bad shots.

Keep it POSITIVE, let them have fun, and rotate shooters often to keep them from getting bored.

 

[Chuck Dye]

Naw, real writing is WORK!

 

[Sam1911]

I think about this a lot, myself. I my kids have grown up around guns of many types since birth and are pretty knowledgeable enthusiasts, for their ages (6 and 3). They've had frequent exposure to the gun rules and are laudably observant of them.

HOWEVER: I think the biggest thing you can do in training is -- after you've gently but clearly hammered the rules and reasons of gun safety into their heads -- set things up so they CAN'T screw it up when they're on the line.

Make sure they understand the how and why, and the lethal seriousness, of the rules, but then make sure that it's o.k. for them to get lost in the fun and challenge of it when they get to their first trigger time.

Suggestions for this might be:
1) Definitely do all your "classroom" instruction at home or some other quiet place. I have to agree completely that guns going off, commotion from other shooters, the range frequently going "Hot" and "Cold" etc. will be too much of a distraction to both you and them for the finer technical points.

2) No more than one round in the gun (at first). Let them fire it, get that huge grin, yell, look back at Dad for approval, and so on without having to wonder where the next round is headed. This also limits fumbling with controls like the safety.

3) Don't let them do more than the bare minimum of gun HANDLING on their own. You should consider loading it, getting it pointed in the vicinity of the target, and recovering the gun after the shot. That way there's no accidental sweeping of others on the range, or other unsafe muzzle control while they try and figure out how the bolt works or where the safety is, etc. Again, if they forget and endanger others, they really should be made to leave the range (as should anyone who is so careless on the firing line -- this is a VERY SERIOUS INFRACTION). But we don't want to have to lay down the law like that on a new shooter -- so don't set them up to be ABLE to break the rule.

4) HOVER. You are their Safety Officer when they get to the line. Don't stay in their constant view, but be as close as possible so your hand is no more than a split second from correcting a potential error. If you can make yourself heard over the other noise and the ear muffs, this is a great way to get a few corrective or supportive comments in as the shooter is getting ready to fire. We do this with new shooters in IDPA. If you're close enough to have an hand on their arm before they forget and manage to turn up-range with their gun, then you don't have to throw them off the range. You can't catch them all, but you can position yourself to help them have a safe and successful day.

5) On that last note: Keep your comments on the line brief. Their excitement is going to deflect more than a brief, direct comment or two -- and that's fine. We're setting up the whole experience so they can just relax and enjoy it. If you run on at the mouth for 5 minutes while they're waiting to shoot, your comments are lost to the breeze. They want to SHOOT! Then, when they get on the line, your suggestions on stance, breath control, sight picture shouldn't be more than one simple phrase or two. The act of pulling the trigger is the big goal here. Hitting something is a bonus! They aren't going to break any world records today and, if you do this right, you'll have lots of time in the future to coach them on technique. Don't frustrate them or distract them (or yourself) with a spiel: "Hold it up like this-take a breath-cant your head over-stand up straighter-close one eye-no, the other eye-let half a breath out-lean into it-breathe normally-keep your eyes open-squeeze don't jerk-butt tight against your shoulder!-keep your elbow up!!-don't forget to breathe!!!" Whew! Let them find a stance and grip that feels natural (as long as it is safe) and work on improvements next time.

6) Keep the targets CLOSE! While hits are not the primary goal here, a little success will put smiles on their faces. Don't go beyond 25 yds. and don't use any targets smaller than 6 or 8 inches in diameter...and there's nothing wrong with stuff bigger than that! If your range allows it, use reactive stuff like balloons. This is FUN, right?

I'm sure you can think of other ideas, but these will get you started.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[3KillerBs]

As a parent of a 2nd-grade age boy, I'd strongly suggest that if you're going to do any pistol shooting you go with something small enough for the kid to get a good grasp and easily controlled. I don't consider my 2nd-grader ready for pistols yet, but his first pistol will be a Ruger Bearcat or similar, SA revolver.

Load only 1 bullet at a time and stand close and ready to grab shoulders or arms because an excited child will have that barrel swinging around FAST.

My little guy really enjoys putting holes in paper but he was completely thrilled to see water pouring out of the plastic soda bottle we hung from the target support one time. If its OK at your range, I hear that a shaken-up soda bottle or can makes some amazing results when shot.

 

[Sam1911]

I do concur regarding starting off with .22s and other small stuff. At first.

Then listen to the kids. Maybe next time they can try the 9mm. Let their interest direct the course of training. (Always the best plan.) Never push them into something they don't want to try or ever EVER force them to continue with something they aren't enjoying!

On the other hand, kids can surprise you.

My daughter, when she was THREE, asked for a chance to shoot my 1911. After one round (with daddy's hands FIRMLY over hers) she DEMANDED a full mag! Next trip out she shot my 7.62 AK! (Again, she pulled the trigger while daddy pretty much handled the gun.)

She's 6 now and has kept up with it. She still can't hold any of my full-size guns by herself but together we routinely run the 1911 and even the S&W 629...with .44 Specials, of course.

Her little brother (at three) is very different. He doesn't like being around rifles because of the pressure wave concussive feeling. (He says, "I don't like the rifles moving me!" Took me a while to figure out what he meant.) But loves the pistol range. He's attended day-long IDPA matches just hanging out as a non-shooting member of my squad! (His big sister would never have the patience to stay out of trouble/danger that long.)

He and sis both love my Ruger Bearcat .22 revolver. That's a good trainer because it is TINY and fits their hands well, and also neither of them have the hand-strength to cock the hammer, which means it's a single-shot until I cock it again for them. They usually sit cross-legged on top of a range table to shoot and I wrap my arms around them which -- as I mentioned earlier -- keeps them from being ABLE to make a dangerous mistake.

 

[Groover]

Thanks!

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, it would be better to go over everything before we get to the range. We will stick to the .22 rifles. I'll bring a .22 pistol and the G19 if they are really into the shooting. Otherwise I will not push it. I'll take some clay pigeons, bottle of soda and maybe a metal target for the range, along with basic targets.

I've put together several items to go over before we go to the range: What to do if they encounter a firearm at home or at a friends, 4 rules for firearm safety, Expanded 10 rules of firearm safety, Range rules and etiquette, pictures and a general description of a rifle and parts, Declaration of Independence, Preamble, Bill of Rights and quotes regarding 2nd amendment from the Founding Fathers. I will send their dad copies of the Winchester gun safety manual and rules for having firearms in the home. That will be up to his discretions...who knows, maybe he'll buy a gun after this outing. His wife is not really happy about this outing...she inquired, "BB-Guns?", when she heard my friend ask about going shooting.

 

[zxcvbob]

It's a tough balancing act; maintain safety, teach them respect for the guns, and don't suck all the joy out of the situation.

I took my teenaged daughter to the range last year. We started out at the paper targets, then quickly moved over to the falling metal plates. She also fired my .38 Special and 9mm BHP a couple of times, and didn't like either of them. But she had great fun shooting up about 600 or more rounds of .22LR in a Ruger MKII target pistol.

I recommend sticking with .22's and maybe a steel-frame .38 Special. Leave the big-bores and the .357 at home. (if you can find some blackpowder .38 Special loads, those are always a lot of fun) Make sure they have properly-fitting good hearing protection and glasses.