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<blockquote data-quote="Vigilance OKC" data-source="post: 3917675" data-attributes="member: 46233">I’ve got two sons and both understand how to handle guns safely and can recite gun safety rules as I drill them religiously.&nbsp; &nbsp; I introduced them to “real” guns around age 8.&nbsp; &nbsp; I wanted them to know what to do if they were in someone else’s house and saw a gun.&nbsp;&nbsp; Mine are locked in safes, no exceptions, but you can’t count on that in other people’s homes.&nbsp; &nbsp; Not condemning, people just may have a different situation.&nbsp;&nbsp; I think it’s important to remove the curiosity.&nbsp; &nbsp; I also wanted to differentiate the seriousness of real firearms vs. their toy guns they played with.I would let them handle all of my guns regularly.&nbsp; &nbsp; Working actions, loading and unloading dummy rounds, helping clean them, etc.&nbsp; &nbsp; What I was looking for was a desire to go further and actually learn to shoot.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sounds like your nephew has reached that point.&nbsp;&nbsp; My oldest started asking me to go to the range and we’ve done so and he can handle anything in my collection safely and can shoot reasonably well.&nbsp; &nbsp; I started him out on .22’s - a Ruger Mark IV and a Ruger 10/22.&nbsp; &nbsp; If they were younger I would have looked at one of the Savage Rascals.&nbsp; &nbsp; Small bolt action .22 that is a single shot.&nbsp; &nbsp; Saves you when they get excited and sweep you with the barrel.&nbsp;&nbsp; The one thing I wish I desperately had was land.&nbsp; &nbsp; An indoor range is no way to learn.&nbsp; &nbsp; Way too loud with the guy next to you shooting his .44 mag or SBR unsuppressed.&nbsp; &nbsp; It’s way too intimidating for most kids.&nbsp; &nbsp; Outdoors is the way to go and sounds like you already have that.&nbsp; &nbsp; The noise is way better, you can usually mix in camping, hunting, fishing, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are no pressure of crowds or someone doing something stupid.&nbsp; &nbsp; As a note - if you can and are willing to pay and wait, shooting suppressed is an awesome way to introduce a kid to shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp; Especially one who might be timid.As a note - I also use a G-Sight ELMS laser training cartridge with Mantis targets and app.&nbsp; &nbsp; I wasn’t sure about this but have found it to be incredibly helpful for myself on trigger control, accuracy and muscle memory.&nbsp;&nbsp; It also saves on ammunition.&nbsp; &nbsp; One of the best ways to start practicing drawing your weapon and quick target acquisition safely.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Mantis app is great, especially if you upgrade to pro.&nbsp; &nbsp; I just happen to like the ELMS cartridge for accuracy.&nbsp;&nbsp; I purchased some magnetic stick on white board material and some 8.5x11 magnetic backing to put the targets on and I can easily swap targets.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This has been a game changer on getting my youngest interested plus a nice bonus for myself.&nbsp; &nbsp; I always tell my boys that I’m willing to train them as much as they want but they have to show the desire.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Using and carrying firearms is a huge responsibility and you must be committed to training.&nbsp; &nbsp; I always tell them that once that round leaves the barrel you can’t take it back.&nbsp;&nbsp; Try talking with your nephew’s father about guns.&nbsp;&nbsp; I think if you can stress your philosophy around safety, use, etc and you can separate the idea of guns from the criminal behavior he witnessed you may be able to win him over.&nbsp; &nbsp; It’s not the guns, it’s the people that are the problem but I’m sure that’s worth a whole new forum!&nbsp;&nbsp; If he starts to see you as a responsible gun owner, as most are, then it might help ease his mind.&nbsp;&nbsp; My father-in-law carries a Ruger LCP that he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from the inside.&nbsp; &nbsp; He’s only fired maybe 100 rds through it in 10 years and has never cleaned or knows how to.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have a philosophy that a gun doesn’t get carried until it has 1,000 rds through it.&nbsp;&nbsp; If he ever had to use it he’s more likely to shoot himself or hit an innocent bystander assuming he could even draw it.&nbsp; &nbsp; There are plenty of people who carry who have no business doing so.&nbsp; &nbsp; Without training that gun is useless and dangerous.&nbsp;&nbsp; (Sorry - ranting a bit).&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Anyway - I don’t want my boys to be one of those guys.&nbsp; &nbsp; They know how to handle a gun safely and use one.&nbsp; &nbsp; My oldest is interested in CCW when he gets old enough and we’re training with that in mind.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Vigilance OKC, post: 3917675, member: 46233"] I’ve got two sons and both understand how to handle guns safely and can recite gun safety rules as I drill them religiously. I introduced them to “real” guns around age 8. I wanted them to know what to do if they were in someone else’s house and saw a gun. Mine are locked in safes, no exceptions, but you can’t count on that in other people’s homes. Not condemning, people just may have a different situation. I think it’s important to remove the curiosity. I also wanted to differentiate the seriousness of real firearms vs. their toy guns they played with. I would let them handle all of my guns regularly. Working actions, loading and unloading dummy rounds, helping clean them, etc. What I was looking for was a desire to go further and actually learn to shoot. Sounds like your nephew has reached that point. My oldest started asking me to go to the range and we’ve done so and he can handle anything in my collection safely and can shoot reasonably well. I started him out on .22’s - a Ruger Mark IV and a Ruger 10/22. If they were younger I would have looked at one of the Savage Rascals. Small bolt action .22 that is a single shot. Saves you when they get excited and sweep you with the barrel. The one thing I wish I desperately had was land. An indoor range is no way to learn. Way too loud with the guy next to you shooting his .44 mag or SBR unsuppressed. It’s way too intimidating for most kids. Outdoors is the way to go and sounds like you already have that. The noise is way better, you can usually mix in camping, hunting, fishing, etc. There are no pressure of crowds or someone doing something stupid. As a note - if you can and are willing to pay and wait, shooting suppressed is an awesome way to introduce a kid to shooting. Especially one who might be timid. As a note - I also use a G-Sight ELMS laser training cartridge with Mantis targets and app. I wasn’t sure about this but have found it to be incredibly helpful for myself on trigger control, accuracy and muscle memory. It also saves on ammunition. One of the best ways to start practicing drawing your weapon and quick target acquisition safely. The Mantis app is great, especially if you upgrade to pro. I just happen to like the ELMS cartridge for accuracy. I purchased some magnetic stick on white board material and some 8.5x11 magnetic backing to put the targets on and I can easily swap targets. This has been a game changer on getting my youngest interested plus a nice bonus for myself. I always tell my boys that I’m willing to train them as much as they want but they have to show the desire. Using and carrying firearms is a huge responsibility and you must be committed to training. I always tell them that once that round leaves the barrel you can’t take it back. Try talking with your nephew’s father about guns. I think if you can stress your philosophy around safety, use, etc and you can separate the idea of guns from the criminal behavior he witnessed you may be able to win him over. It’s not the guns, it’s the people that are the problem but I’m sure that’s worth a whole new forum! If he starts to see you as a responsible gun owner, as most are, then it might help ease his mind. My father-in-law carries a Ruger LCP that he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. He’s only fired maybe 100 rds through it in 10 years and has never cleaned or knows how to. I have a philosophy that a gun doesn’t get carried until it has 1,000 rds through it. If he ever had to use it he’s more likely to shoot himself or hit an innocent bystander assuming he could even draw it. There are plenty of people who carry who have no business doing so. Without training that gun is useless and dangerous. (Sorry - ranting a bit). Anyway - I don’t want my boys to be one of those guys. They know how to handle a gun safely and use one. My oldest is interested in CCW when he gets old enough and we’re training with that in mind. [/QUOTE]

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