Good age to start rifle shooting?

Question

Anyone have any guidelines for age to start my son shooting? He's six but will be seven soon enough and has been paying his dues sitting in the blind or walking through the woods for more than a year - anyone have suggestions when's a good time to get him handling a real (but of course unloaded) firearm and after that, when to put the bolt in and live ammunition and let him try some paper targets?

Thanks for the feedback.

Answer 1

Sounds like he's off to a great start. That was the way my Dad got me started.

Different time in a different circumstance, we needed the food. I got my first. a Winchester 62 when I was 4YO. I used to go off into the woods by myself, shoot a rabbit or two and bring them home for my Mom to clean. Heck we got our water from a "rain barrel", like I said, it was a different time.

Children are raised differently now, we didn't have a TV let alone computers, video games and cell phones.

Good first gun. You can't go wrong with a .22 rimfire
Chipmunk
Crickett
Are both small bolt action .22 rimfires

The Ruger 10/22 is a very fine little rifle, but, I'm always leery about starting with a semi-auto.

One place you could start is with a fairly inexpensive BB gun like the Crosman 764 or 760. With one of those he could practice in the garage or basement, if you don't live in the country that is.
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/crosman-760-pumpmaster-air-rifle.shtml

http://www.pyramydair.com/p/crosman-764sb-pumpmaster-air-rifle.shtml >link fixed

Indoor range for BB/Pellet guns
http://www.pyramydair.com/range.shtml

Teach him to handle and treat the BB/Airgun the same as you would any firearm.

Good luck, and good for you, you're going to make a lot of great memories together.

BTW: I still have that little Winchester

Answer 2

I would begin the shooting before the ages of 12 -13. Sounds like you are spot on so far with everything you are doing! I began my Daughter with firearms (.22) when she . For her 12th birthday last month I bought her her own .410/.22 combo, but I'm already ready to move her up to a .20 gauge and .243.

We began with a single shot bolt .22, then moved up to the Henry .22 lever action as her proficiency grew. Kids are all different, so yours might be ready to handle a .22 cricket at 7 or 8 or maybe not until 10, but certainly by 12.

Heck, I remember by 13, I was taking my double .410 alone and bringing home dove and rabbit for the family to eat. But we lived in the country and that was acceptable there and then.

I'd think he's ready to start handling a disabled gun at this point, and start him on the shooting soon after he's 7!

On a related note, my best friend just started his son out with a 10/22, and I'm now buying from him, as he's had to take it away. At 7, the young man just can't be trusted with a semi auto. Seems he gets enthralled with the pop-pop sound and can't lay off the trigger.

Answer 3

Hmmm. Probably 14 the first time in Boy Scouts at camp with some kind of single shot military trainer .22 bolt action. Peep and globe sight. I hated it. Didn't realize I needed glasses so couldn't see the target, couldn't see the sight and being left handed it was awkward to shoot. (the range guy made me shoot right handed because he didn't know any better.) Didn't shoot a handgun until I was about 27. Glock 17, a rental gun, my best friend was trying hand guns out for his first purchase. Did everything wrong and was absolutely terrible. Was literally skipping rounds off of the concrete floor I was jerking the trigger so hard. Heck I had barely even fired a pellet gun by that point. Parents wouldn't let me own one. Finally, one Saturday at work a group of guys that worked for me included me in a trip to the range after we'd been busting some OT to make end of month. By that time I was convinced I was never going to be a shooter. One of the guys was a marine that had served in Desert Storm and was a pretty regular shooter and he said, "trust me and give me 15 minutes and I'll get your grouping on a soda can at 25 feet." I took him up on it and he put a 1911 in my hands. A few instructions and sure enough started ripping out bullseyes. Bought myself a 1911 not long after that. Still have it. Ah. Good times. Thinkingblade

Answer 4

I shot my dad's .22 when I was 6 whenever we went over to my grandpa's house which was in the country. My father and grandfather were strict about learning firearm safety and hunting laws, so I had to show I knew my stuff before the gun was ever loaded. I was squirrel hunting with just my cousin and the dogs by the time I was 12, but they those were different times. I guess they'd lock parents up for that these days.

I have been teaching my 8 year old nephew the basics of safety and shooting for about six months now. Every couple of weeks we go to the range with an old single shot .22. I use the shoot'n'see targets and one of those rimfire spinner targets, because they are always fun to see where your shot lands. I started him from the bench with bags and now he's shooting offhand, seated and prone very well.

I was concerned at first because the kid was not very well behaved (his single mother spoils and coddles him, IMO), but now that he knows I'm Alpha dog and won't put up with foolishness he's now respectful and very alert to safety. Making them memorize and repeat back the rules of gun safety may seem foolish, but it becomes ingrained on their mind and thoughts when you do that. Print them up and quiz him often.

The single shot is ideal for children, it makes you focus on that one shot and make it count and they learn patience. Also a lot safer for everyone around.

We went "coyote hunting" last weekend....well, not really hunting. We went and sat in a canyon in our camos, scouted a good cover spot and waited silently for about 90 minutes. It was his first time and I was impressed at how hard he tried to sit still and quiet and kept scouting the area with the binocs. He found a few jackrabbits that I didn't see for sure. You forget that a person needs to learn and develop those skills, especially a kid that never sits still.

Not only are we having a good time, but he really feels a sense of acomplishment as we move the targets out more and more.

Answer 5

My dad started us with a .22 Savage that had a manual pull cock bolt but don't remember the model {34 maybe} as soon as I could safely cock it. He rated as marksman/sniper in WW2 so he could obviously shoot well. I was about 5 when I got started and shot many targets and empty cans before I was trusted to go after my quarry of choice {prairie dogs} of witch we had thousands of. I don't use age as a guideline as much as maturity when it comes to firearms or martial arts and I do both. Some kids are ready at 4 and some at 34, use your judgment. Teach him gun safety or find someone that can {not saying there is anything wrong with you but kids don't alwayes listen to their parents} and there is hopefully an adult figure you know that can help you out with this.

Answer 6

I know this seems young but I say now.
My father started me when I was around 7 yrs old
He was with me and taught me all the rules of safety
I never shot the rifle without his supervision
I am now 32 yrs old and just walked in the door from a long day of buck season.
and I am one of the best marksmen (women) in our local area I never really went out for competition
I only have done competition with friends
but I started young
and the experience has made me what I am today
start him today
when he is ready to hunt he won't be discouraged or afraid
good luck

Answer 7

I work with a Junior rifle program and we generally want kids to be ten or eleven so they are large enough and coordinated enough to handle a rifle. There is the issue of maturity which can not be fully measured by age some eight and nine year olds are mature enough. There are "cub' rifle made for children that age. Though most children that age would need constant one on one supervision, more of dad letting them shoot then of them shooting with dad.

Answer 8

Yeah, as soon as he's ready, and able to properly hold a rifle, you should get him practicing with a single shot .22. When he has that down, and the fundementals of proper firearms handling and care, maybe it's time for a 10/22. Then in a few years, maybe move him on to some centerfire rifles and see where it goes from there.

Answer 9

I dont have children yet, but have nieces and nephews. Honestly, I would start your son out ASAP. Let him get a feel for the weapon, and learn him the basics... Safe muzzle direction, different ways to hold the weapon(like walking with a group of people) I think once he has learned that a gun is not a toy, and has respect for it, you could then take the next step. Good Luck

Answer 10

I'd think he'd be fine next spring, with perhaps a little squirrel hunting next fall. I was six when I started shooting, and eight when I killed my first deer, all with my father standing next to me, of course. That was the pattern among my peers and has been among many of their children as well. You'll have to judge how responsible he is for his age, of course, but I don't think there's really a wrong answer.