How young can you start?

My daughter is 4 months old now, and I already know that guns will be in her future. When should I start teaching her about guns, and what should I start off with?

Initially I figured starting at the gun range around the age of 10 would be ok, but I have never seriously looked into it. Figured there was plenty of time before I had to tackle the issue.

Thoughts and advice?

 

Earplugs! I don't know, I think you can start bringing her with to the range earlier than 10 if you want. Just because kids can't shoot doesn't mean they can't learn the importance of safety. But without a doubt, .22 is the caliber to start with. Gotta have success right off the bat to keep 'em interested.

 

When she gets old enough get her a BB gun.. start with proper trigger discipline safety steps and ear and eyes...this will let her learn to not flinch when the trigger is pulled and when shes got it down a single shot cricket rifle in pink then go from there

 

I started shooting at 5yrs old....22lr revolver.
Started my son at 5yrs old....22lr revolver.
At 7yrs old, he is a trusted member of the range we use.
None of the regulars have any concerns about him being there, his use of firearms.
They like to shoot against him for a Coke, cookie, whatever.
Clays on the 50yd berm with 22's is the game and he usually wins.
Amazing eyesight...can see 22lr holes at 50yds.
Kids need exposure from a mature source.
I see kids at the range with DBag dads and the kids are <surprise!> Dbags.
Set the example.
Make it a good one.
My son has no access to firearms other than when we open the safe to go to the range.
We clean guns when we come home and they go back into the safe.
He knows I carry and knows not to say anything to his other buddies about that, either.

 

put a loaded gun in her crib and let darwinism take its course?

 

too far.

 

You can as soon as she is able to hold up a gun and follow instructions. Thinkingman, brought up some good points, on safety and respect for guns. If you set a good example, and she is a responsible kid and supervised, she will do well.

 

Make an effort to get the best hearing protection for them....30db muffs and plugs together.
Those little ears are sensitive and you can turn them off from shooting with too much muzzle blast.
Same for recoil.
Have good equipment for them to use.
Nothing is more discouraging than making good shots and getting crappy results because of the equipment.
Good triggers, good sights....don't give a kid a full-weight 22 rifle and expect them to shoot it well.
I got my son a Colt Frontier Scout revolver and a CZ Scout rifle.
Great stuff, will last a lifetime...hopefully his kid uses them.

 

I've had this conversation before. I don't have the papers in front of me but child psychologists tend to agree that the concepts of permanence and death aren't really developed until around age 6. I can't see how you can start a child on shooting before they can understand the implications of a fatal accident.

 

Ear protect is very important, I was not able to join the military because my hearing was bad from shooting.

 

Standard at 6 years of age

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTsdXJ1QY1A

Standard at 11 years of age

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDlodGEp_9o

 

because its never to early to learn safety....and that is why i recommend the BB gun....while it can still be lethal(a boy about an hour from where i live got shot with one and died) they are a lot safer and can be something they can master

to the OP once your child is old enough i recommend taking them to an Appleseed Shoot for kids its free and its pretty cheap for adults. and in most places they hold the event you can camp out for a fun daughter dad outing you can do one day or 2 etc http://www.appleseedinfo.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCU8lei7s2g

 

Congrats on your new baby girl!!!

Here are some opinions from NutnFancy.

http://youtu.be/BrorxilPMFo

http://youtu.be/ixNNsXbrkC4

I think he brings up some good points. Take it or leave it.

 

i agree get 'em started early, ...6 should be fine if the kid is a listener... drill safety safety safety, 4 rules, ..range safety, into them... wish i was taught as a kid, i had to learn on my own later in life... good luck!

 

My father taught me how to shoot when I was 6 yrs old, which seems to be the norm for boys. Girls, a little older.

 

4 or 5. I shot my first deer at 6 with a .243

My grandad played a huge part in my life (he had 2 daughters and I was the first grandson) He started me off with a chipmunk .22 with iron sights. I think they are called a "cricket" now. then I got upgraded to a bolt action .22, then a ruger 10/22. then the .243

I say start with one of those red ryder bb guns in the back yard shooting into a pellet trap.
something like this

$32 Gamo Rocker Pellet Trap Resets with center shot!

http://www.amazon.com/Gamo-Rocker-Pellet-Resets-center/dp/B000H4PL3K

thats where you start with fundamentals.
-trigger safety
-muzzle awareness
-dont shoot anything you dont want to kill
-be aware at what is behind your target

just to name a few.

My son is almost 2 and I cant wait to get him shooting haha

 

I started shooting a .22 at 5 with my dad's close supervision.
One of my sons started shooting at 5, the second son at 9 and the youngest at 6.

It was based on their maturity level. I had my guns around the kids since they were born. Told them firearm safety rules their whole life. Once they know and can follow the rules, then we can move on to safely handling the guns.

At the range they know it is all business and if they start screwing around, they get to sit down and possibly not shoot. They usually behave. After we are done shooting, they help clean the guns and I get to listen to how good of shots they were for the next couple of days.

Good luck, have fun, be safe.

Ken

 

I think you aught to start about 6 or 7 with a bb gun. use that to teach safety and very basics. hell im 22 years old and i still like to get out the 40 year old bb gun and plink dip cans and such at 25 and 30 yards. Once she gets a handle on safety and very very basic marksmanship bump up to a .22. like everyone else said make sure she has hearing protection. I have neglected that and my hearing is already takin a toll. Be sure to make it fun and exciting because as young as she will be shooting holes into a paper target at 10 yards will get monotonous and boring very quickly. One of my favorite things to do is fill a water bottle about half way up with dirt or sand and try to shoot the top off of it. Clays are also fun to shoot as are nearly empty spray paint cans. just make sure you clean everything up afterwards

 

I started at 5 or 6 I believe... That doesn't seem too young, just make sure to teach good habits!

 

I started at like 6 with a red ryder
and was ranked #9 in the state of hawaii for high school shooters

gonna do the same with my kids.