I bought my daughter her first .22 when she was 5. She's been shooting ever since and killed her first deer this year when she was 8. My youngest is 5 now and she went shooting with my oldest before deer season. She really enjoyed shooting .38's out of a single shot .357mag rifle. I loaded some light loads and they were quieter than the .22.
I started around 5 or 6, my son started at 4 with a red Ryder sitting on my lap. Now he does it by himself and is now shooting a Glock airsoft safely (he's 5 going on 6) he has even shot my AR off a bench. My 2yr old princess like to sit on my lap while I shoot the red rider and .22.
Kill the curiosity, teach by example, be safe and have fun!
Kill the curiosity, teach by example, be safe and have fun!
Our 4 year old (going on 5 in Feb) has been shooting .22's for almost a year. Of course not unsupervised and still with help, I'll aim the rifle but she'll shoot with it against her shoulder, or I'll help hold the revolver, which she loves. But she's very curious and interested in firearms, every time I have one out for cleaning or prepping she's reminded that they're not toys, we don't point them at people, we don't shoot people or animals.
She has no problem reminding people that "we don't shoot people with these, only papers and poop juice cans (beer cans)."
She has no problem reminding people that "we don't shoot people with these, only papers and poop juice cans (beer cans)."
Safety first, but keep it fun. And try to shoot at your own range, or at least on a quiet day if using a public range. Less distractions, less risk.
so maybe its weird, but my 3 year old shoots a bb gun and understands the safety rules.... of course, i help him, and its in the safe with the rest of the guns, but he knows how to aim and shoot, and he knows not to put the the finger on the trigger till its time to shoot. i have to help him because he still cant steady the daisy gun by himself
Broke out my 1911 a little bit ago to clean it, after I did the deed and put it back together the little one asked "why did you buy this?" I told her "So I can take it everywhere we go, that way if any bad guys try to hurt us we can be safe." She hugged me and said "Yay! My best daddy ever!".
She then wanted to hold it, so I was showing her how to hold it and aim it and it was pointed towards the TV while Neil Patrick Harris was hosting the Video Game Awards and she was quick to snap, "Whoa! We don't point at people!".
Even 4 year olds can understand the safety rules.
She then wanted to hold it, so I was showing her how to hold it and aim it and it was pointed towards the TV while Neil Patrick Harris was hosting the Video Game Awards and she was quick to snap, "Whoa! We don't point at people!".
Even 4 year olds can understand the safety rules.
I think I am gonna take her out tomorow, probably wont work on getting a sight picture, just work on handling and letting her get use to the noise and recoil, and at a later time teach her how to aim.
She already knows that guns are not toy and that they can do really bad damage, she knows about my ND, and seen how badly it hurt my hand. There is never a gun left out, where the kids can get to, but they have been told many times that if they see one, they are not to touch it. But I keep all but 2 locked in the safe, and the 2 are on top of the cabinet in the kitchen, and are almost high enough that I need a chair to get them.
She already knows that guns are not toy and that they can do really bad damage, she knows about my ND, and seen how badly it hurt my hand. There is never a gun left out, where the kids can get to, but they have been told many times that if they see one, they are not to touch it. But I keep all but 2 locked in the safe, and the 2 are on top of the cabinet in the kitchen, and are almost high enough that I need a chair to get them.
I started at 6 as well, get them going early and teach them right from the start and they will never forget it. I think you have to base when to start shooting off when they seem competent enough and good judgment on your part, either way learning early and learning right is the key to a responsible shooter.
+1, I have a nephew, that sadly isn't going to be ready for quite awhile and he's almost six. Haven't even looked at a dart gun yet for this one. Still love him, we'll just stick to fishing and camping for the time being.
