what is a good age to start BP shooting?

[Dave Markowitz]

I voted "Other" as it really depends on the kid. Some kids are mature for their age, others are less so.

I got my first gun - a Daisy Model 99 Champion BB gun - for my 8th birthday, and kept it in my room. I should note that in my household no difference was made between airguns and firearms, all were treated the same from a safety perspective. I got my first BP gun, a Numrich Arms Hopkins & Allen Heritage Model .45 cal. underhammer rifle as a gift when I was 13. I'd shot it under my dad's supervision before then, however.

 

[AJumbo]

I wonder at what age Boone, Crockett, Bridger, et al got their start?

 

[Captain*kirk]

I started shooting at nine. My Dad realized it was a losing battle and let me join the NRA rifle club. That was...oh, forty-sump'n years ago, and I've been shooting and reloading ever since.
It's great that someone your age is interested in BP. It's a lifelong hobby that will follow you through the years and reward you with many fine memories and friendships to match. Who knows...maybe your parents will get bit by the BP Bug as well?

 

[Busyhands94]

i think that is a good idea. i can just get them hooked on blackpowder shooting! i was planning to get both my mom and dad to go shooting more often, it seems like a great idea!
it is addictively fun, both my parents enjoy the smell of black powder, so it seems like a perfect idea for getting them interested. i am just afraid of i use a .50 rifle or pistol or a .44 revolver i could frighten my mom and scare her away from blackpowder shooting. i need her to view them as being not as powerful as cartridge firearms (there are exceptions in BP and cartridge guns) and i don't think a big .54 Hawkin is the best way to do that. however i think that once she realizes that they are a safe and enjoyable hobby she would most definitely take the hobby up herself. the reason i want to take my family shooting with a .32 is the recoil is about as bad as a .22 LR (if i remember correctly) and my mom got a badly bruised shoulder from shooting a 12 gauge, so the recoil and the noise will be minimal as to not scare her away from shooting. plus my little brother could handle it, my best friend (she is not very tall and big) could handle it easily, i could shoot squirrel and rabbit with the rifle, if a .45 or .50 caliber barrel for the same model fits i could even hunt deer with it! it just seems like a good rifle for my purposes. small game and introducing new shooters to the pleasures of BP shooting.