Took my daughter to the range for the first time!

[cool45auto]

I took her to the outdoor range I've been going to lately. I set up a target at 3 yards and let her use the Neos. I told her about the four rules and helped her prop the gun on top of the tool box I carry my shooting stuff in. At first I helped her hold the Neos but soon enough she was holding it on her own. I explained how to get the red dot of the scope right in the middle of the paper plate we were shooting at. She kept her shots inside the inner circle on the back of the plate!

I let her shoot about 100 rounds. She said the trigger was a little hard to pull sometimes, which is the number one complaint I hear about this pistol.

She loved it. She wanted to keep one of the targets and couldn't wait to tell everyone about it.

 

[10-Ring]

Very cool! I remember the first time I took my son shooting. You can't beat that feeling

 

[pax]

That's really great!

Hope she will always be a safe and enthusiastic shooter.

pax

 

[notbubba]

How old is your daughter?

Next time please take a camera with you so that you can post some pictures.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Good for you and your daughter both!

 

[cool45auto]

She's seven wonderful years old. I don't have a digital camera yet, just a regular 35mm. If I have the pics put on a disc I'll try to put some on.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I had the same question about age when I first read it. I saw that she initially needed help holding the gun and so figured she's a kiddie. Good for you to introduce her to guns at such a young age.

 

[Calvin]

I also have a daughter that I would like to introduce to shooting some day. She is only 4 years old at the moment but would like to know what other people think would be a good age . I say 7 , my wife says much older.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Good for the both of you. My dad introduced me to shooting at about 4 or 5. By age 8 I was shooting his 1911 and K-38. Start them early and teach them responsibility yourself because noone else is qualified to be their parent but you. It'll pay off in spades later.


Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[t driver]

I took my niece to the range on Sunday for her first time.( age 12) We took my 10/22 and Mark II Rugers. Started her out with the 10/22 which has a lot of trigger work done on it. After explaining some basic rules and whys I showed her how the rifle worked. When I let her go with it she didi very well. Better than I hoped. Her handling was very safe and concientious. Her accuracy was better than expected as well. She seemed to lose interest in it after a while, so I went through the routine with the Mark II. She enjoyed it at first and did OK with it and decided to go back to the 10/22. She also saved a few of her best targets to show her friends and grandparents, and asked if one of her friends could come with the next time we go.

 

[pax]

Calvin,

Tell your wife that the sooner you get your daughter to the range, the sooner the mystery about guns wears off -- and the safer your daughter will be. If she sees you handling guns at all, she is going to want to touch them herself, and if you tell her she's not allowed to do so, she will want to touch them when you're not around and will look for an opportunity to do that. It is much safer to let her handle and unloaded gun in a safe area as young and as often as is practicable, so that there is no deep dark mystery about guns.

Meanwhile, four is not too young for the Eddie Eagle rules. Your daughter should know that if she sees a gun at home or anywhere else (like a friend's house), she should:

• Stop!
• Don't touch.
• Leave the area.
• Tell a grownup.

Awhile back, my three youngest sons (then ages 6, 7, and 8) were directed to get themselves into the back of a friend's car while I went to grab my purse and meet them in the car. Unbeknownst to me, there was a handgun visible in an open range bag on the back floor of the car because my buddy had just come from the range. The kids got into the car, then spotted the gun. The 7 year old was convinced that it wasn't a real gun, because he knew I wouldn't have sent him out there if it were. So he wanted to just get his seat belt on and stay there. The 6 year old argued with him and said, "if we don't KNOW it's a toy, we gotta treat it like a real gun." And so they all came trooping back into the house and told me what the deal was.

Good kids ... but they've all got the normal amount of kid-type curiousity. I don't think they would have obeyed the Eddie Eagle rules when I wasn't there, if they hadn't known that I would show them the gun and let them safely handle it if they asked.

pax

 

[Ky Larry]

Good for you. As shooters, we need to get all the young people we can involved in the shooting sports. Young people grow up to be adults who VOTE!

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Thats great cool9mm ! I have so much fun helping kids to become responsible young adults myself. It really gives me a good feeling to know that I have taught a young person some critical safety and handling skills that will carry over to many other high level responsibilities.

Pax, great story. Sounds like you have a great bunch of kids.

 

[Mostly Harmless]

Good for you!

My son was 11 when I first took him to the range. He loves it and is always very conscious of the safety rules. He's now 13 and it's a pleasure to watch him working on improving his accuracy. He prefers long guns over handguns and has said he'd like to be a USMC Scout/Sniper.

He's also a member of the Pink Pistols (no, he's not gay -- they'll take anyone!)

J.

 

[Pebcac]

My oldest is 4, and she's already being indoctrinated with the Eddie Eagle mantra. I can't wait for her to get a couple years older so I can teach her to shoot!

 

[22x9]

way kewl

glad you had a good day.

Did you make her clean it?