taking kids to the range for the first time.

[mr_dove]

I'm taking my kids to the range for the first time this weekend. They've been learning the four rules and we've practiced them some but never in a "real" situation.

What should I be teaching them during these early range sessions? Practicing good safety is a must but what else should they be learning? What else should I remember to do with them while at the range?

My two oldest boys are 9 and 6 right now.

 

[Sam1911]

Safety, safety, safety.

After that, get them concentrating on sight picture, trigger control, and follow-through.

 

[kingpin008]

Sam nailed it. The first time out is all about making sure they not only know the rules, but observe them. If they don't, it all gets packed up and taken home.

Once you're confident that they're able to take it seriously and stay safe, then start working on the basics, but keep it fun. Reactive targets are great for keeping young minds engaged. Even something as simple as the "shoot-n-see" type targets work really well.

Most importantly, don't push them too hard. Even the most safety-conscious kid can "forget" the rules once they start to get bored and fidgety.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Along with safety, a demonstration of the damage guns can do. A large bottle of water, watermelon or even a hedgeapple will really make an impression and demonstrate that guns aren't toys.

 

[neededausername]

Assuming it is a public range courtesy of other shooters. It seems simple but I see many people at the range who don't understand the concept.

 

[The-Reaver]

Muzzle control, safety, muzzle control, safety. Can't tell you how many times I have been flagged by some un knowing twit or his/her child.

Don't be that guy.


Have a good time though.

 

[Onward Allusion]

mr_dove
taking kids to the range for the first time.
I'm taking my kids to the range for the first time this weekend. They've been learning the four rules and we've practiced them some but never in a "real" situation.

What should I be teaching them during these early range sessions? Practicing good safety is a must but what else should they be learning? What else should I remember to do with them while at the range?

My two oldest boys are 9 and 6 right now.

Like everyone else said - SAFETY... the 4 rules...

AND...

Make it about them. Don't expect to fire off any rounds yourself. If you happen to get a few rounds in, great. However, it is about the boys. It is about creating those 1st memories. Also, watch the boys like a hawk, especially the 6 YO. If shooting rifle, don't do more than 1 shot at a time. Use revolvers in SA. Avoid semi-autos the first go-around.

 

[DAP90]

Avoid using too much gun. I was at a range this past weekend and there was a guy there with his 11 year old son. Both were nice but the only gun they had was a service caliber handgun of some kind. I didn’t get a good look at it but it was around Glock 19 sized (not a Glock though).

The kid obviously couldn’t control it. He hit the stand, the ceiling and when he was on paper he was all over it. They were shooting at 5 yards.

I had my Buckmark 22lr with me and offered to let them use it, gave them a box of ammo, instructions in its function and then left them alone and went back to my stall. The kid did better; maybe a 12” group at 5 yards but at least he was on paper. I suspect the gun was still a little large for him.

Reactive targets are great for keeping young minds engaged.

+1 even for older minds

 

[Resist Evil]

The problem I had with taking my boys to their first range trip was that I had to stake the little beggars down when they objected to my shooting an apple out of their mouths so I could prove what a good shot I was with my tommygun. But I had to stop because my wife wouldn't stop screaming.

I'll never understand women.











This is not remotely true in any sense.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Avoid using too much gun.

Absolutely. My son and I were at the range a few of years ago when a father and son about 12 came out. They had newly purchased rifles, dad's in 30-06 and son's in .308. They had no ear protection and knew no range rules.

We quickly figured that out and gave them sets of ear plugs and a quick range safety lesson. They proceeded to try out their new rifles and within five shots the son had a horrible flinch. I suppose we should have intervened a bit more and insist he try out one our 22s first, but it was too late by then.

 

[FourTeeFive]

Try to go when the range is a bit quiet. If someone is blasting their 50AE in the same range it can be a bit unnerving for a novice shooter.

 

[rugerman]

First safety then FUN! Let them blow off a few rounds at fun targets if the range allows it (coke cans full of water, full or partial cans of shaving cream, clay targets glued to a piece of cardboard) if not try to find a place that will allow it, my kids always liked to go to the woods where we hunt. Their favorite was water filled cans with cci stingers. As they got older it was .270's and 2liter bottles filled with water at ranges from 25 to 200 yards. To show them the power of a shotgun I shot a small pine tree (wrist size) at about 2 feet and cut it in two. We seldom went to the range usually just the woods and always had a ball, hope you do to. Ditto on starting them off with .22 or smaller, its hard to shoot if the gun is too big for you. And if you can't hit anything its no fun.

 

[Warp]

+1 on avoiding using too much gun. I took some of my younger cousins to a range for their first (probably only) ever shooting some years ago. They were older than your boys OP. One of them, using a Glock 26 with WWB 115gr FMJ, nearly had the gun hit her in the face on the first shot. This especially scared me because the reason it didn't hit her was that it was a little off the side, not that it stopped before getting there, another round had been chambered and her finger was still on the trigger. Yikes. Lessons learned

 

[lono]

I am currently teaching my 6 year old. All that I am focusing on is the four rules of gun safety. I am using a BB gun to train her. I plan on moving her up to a single shot 22 once I am comfortable with safety.

 

[Sport45]

Let them have fun. Shooting reactive targets like cans or clays helps if it's allowed at the range. Remind them of their manners, that they should touch anything that doesn't belong to them and to stay close to you. Others at the range may be friendly, but they might be grumpy around kids.

.22lr should be plenty for anyone's first trip to the range.