That is too young to be at the range...

[Soap]

I started shooting at age 4 with a Winchester 9422. My dad kept his hands on it at all times and from the little still frames that I can recall, I was having a wonderful time.

 

[crawfish]

I have a 16 yo granddaughter (gd) who would have to disagree with you in no uncertain terms. She started with my first hunting handgun a S/W657 when she was four. Loads were primer and wax bullet but she did everything she had to do and did it safely. She is now a hunter/shooter who looks forward to this time of year and hunting season.

 

[Bad Words]

I wouldn't trust a 4 year old to not know better than to run downrange. If the father is shooting (which is why he's there - his son isn't shooting per range rules), then who is watching the kid? I understand that children can be well behaved at 4, but I wouldn't bet my kid's life on his ability to stay in a safe spot while my attention is drawn to my target. I'd be worried about having my sights pointed downrange, then seeing a four year old pop up in front of the target next to mine. I don't think that's outside the realm of possibilities for any 4 year old, no matter how mature.

In a controlled situation, I would have no objections to a 4 year old firing a gun.

 

[c_yeager]

Shooting under supervision on private property is one thing. Having a kid on a crowded "hot" range is another. I personally wouldnt be comfortable shooting at an indoor range with a child that young around. If I had a nickel for every parent that "just knows how responsible their child is" but, suddenly finds that they cant controll them I would be a rich man. Now I am not saying that THIS four year old or YOUR four year is irresponsible I have no idea if they are or arent, and THE FIRING RANGE is not the place to do this research. If i am shooting on an indoor range I do not want to have to worry about someones kid getting underfoot. And I don't think that is unreasonable. A nice wide open rifle range with the kid behind a bench might be another story though.

 

[Nightfa11]

By the time they were 10, they had more trigger time on various SMG's than most adults have actually seen.

Ever considered adoption? (of a 37 year old, mind you )

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Too young to shoot? No. That depends on the child.

Too young for a public range? Yes. Too many variables. Too many strangers. Too many people you don't know who don't know you or your child.

 

[rock jock]

I have no problems getting mine to behave regardless of the age

I hope you are not seriously saying that your kids did exactly what you told them w/o having to be told twice when they were only two or three?

 

[peteinct]

Something else

Hi everybody, What about lead poisoning? I know children are more affected by some chemicals because they are still growing and developing. Lead is bad news and indoor ranges have lead in the smoke and dust kicked up from the floor. My blood lead levels were up from indoor shooting although I probably went more than the 4 year old.

pete

 

[Gus Dddysgrl]

I agree with the general trend here. Under proper supervision a 4 year old could shoot. It is not the age, but the mature respect of firearms (Notice I did not say maturity. My father would claim to be immature at times and he is much older. However he does have a mature respect for firearms.) that will allow a child to learn to shoot. This respect is instilles in the child. I do also agree that it is the parents fault in the way the child was/is raised. Also it seems a bit young to have the child there at 4 at the public indoor range.

I started shooting at like 19/20. I had shot before at my cousins house with my dad and bro(we lived in the city they had a nice large yard in the country). I wish dad had gotten into guns when I was younger so I could have been brought up with them.

Gus

 

[CAS700850]

I have a four year old, and without sounding too biased, he's a wonderful child. But he is a child, and tests his limits and/or acts impulsively as any child will do. That is why I haven't taken him to the dgolf driving range yet, much less the shooting range. I've seen the boy run towards the street after a runaway soccer ball. I've seen him reach out and touch a hot skillet without thinking. The horrors of his acting without thinking at the gun range are too much.

Plus, as has been pointed out, when I'm at the range I am appropriately focused on what I am doing, that being the safe handling and firing of my guns. I cannot properly divide my focus between that task and watching my son.

My plan at this point is to take him shooting when he's 8. THat's when I started.

 

[St. Gunner]

I guess I am a bad dad, my little one has been with me on the range since she was about two and a half. Our first range session I blew up a jug full of water to show her what could happen if she didn't listen. One of our next outings I shot a bobcat for her to see that bullets do take life. The range has been one of the few places she listens everytime, the first time.

 

[M67]

My father started me at two-and-a-half. Grampa's yard, M1 carbine and .22 revolver, Dad held the gun or my hands to make sure of the safety. I can actually remember it, and date the memories, because that's the summer Dad turned the M1 in for a G3 (gov't property).

I don't remember when I first visited a range, but probably before my 4th birthday. That would have been a club range where the other shooters knew Dad, I guess that makes it different from a commercial range with strangers. I think the other shooters found it amusing to watch a four year old demonstrate safe gun handling. But I'm quite sure my Dad or someone he trusted kept a close eye on me at all times.

Full auto? I think I was 8 or 10 before I got to shoot a gun that was designed for it. But I'm probably one of the few to have experienced a P08 Luger go "full auto" on me (malfunction) - at the age of 3.

Seriously, a responsible four year old shouldn't be a problem, but it does of course help a lot if the father is responsible as well. Children are different, parents are different - and shooting ranges are different.

I think it is better for a child to learn safe gun handling at the earliest possible age, than it is to "learn" from Hollyweird and teenage friends...

 

[cracked butt]

Hi everybody, What about lead poisoning?

That would be my biggest concern also. I wouldn't take a kid to an indoor range.

I think its just fine to have a 4 YO shoot a .22 so long as the parent gives their undivided attention, and the kid is mature enough for it.