Old enough to shoot?

[Ruger_Up]

We have a few hundred acres with a cabin where we love to spend time fishing, riding atvs, hiking, and of course, target shooting. My 5 year old son and I spend a lot of time there with other family. All of us love shooting sports and my son has become interested or better yet, curious, so a few weekends ago I sat with him and my old faithful Ruger 10/22. We went over all of the safety rules and I held the stock straight while he gripped the rifle at the hand rest and fore grip and looked down the scope. I let him fire about 50 rounds into splatter targets. I noticed that every time he finished he indexed his finger and aimed the muzzle at the ground so I could safety check the chamber and lock the bolt back.

My wife enjoys shooting as well and is all for having firearms in the house, but this makes her a bit nervous, as it would any mom. Everything is always stored safely, as it should be.

My question is; is he too young to be shooting?

I was raised around firearms and always had respect for them, because I was taught what they were capable of and what they were for. Of course, the fear of losing bits of my hind end if I did mess with them, was a large factor as well.

My intention is to take my son's curiosity about guns away and make him aware of the dangers as well as the fun. Am I jumping the gun? (So to speak)


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[crsides]

He's old enough. Get him a 22 chipmonk ( maybe Crickett now) that is made for young folks. I got my first son a chipmonk at age 4, and he and his sister and two brothers grew up with it. Well made rifle.

Charlie

 

[Cpl Ken]

It is all about parental responsibility first, which you are absolutely exercising very well, and secondly about the maturity of your son and how he handles responsibility. Safety first because he is a child, but a lack of knowledge can also be dangerous. I would make sure he can swim too, drowning is far more common than gun deaths... In other words, we teach children to swim to prevent them from drowning. Not knowing how to properly handle a firearm will not prevent injury; on the contrary, ignorance and naïve curiosity may increase the chance of harm. When a child expresses interest, the naïve youthful genie is out of the bottle. You can teach them your way or some else will teach them their way. The child will find out. Jumping the gun? I don't think so, you sound like you are very conscientious about the instruction process and house rules...

 

[BigBill]

Great time to start him shooting but,,,

I started mine off with soda cans and the BB gun for eons.

Get him a turn of the century, single shot Stevens, remington rolling block of falling block in a few years.

Do not give him a semi-auto because being small things can happen fast with a semi auto.

My son's finally shot my 10/22 & sks when they were in there early teens for the 10/22 and 16yo to shoot my sks.

My 4yo grandson wants to shoot already but again it's one on one with me or his dad with the BB gun.

It depends on where you live.

 

[Cpo1944]

I have young Grandchildren and I have taught them how to shoot, but ONLY under constant supervision. The youngest was about 6 when we started, so your son is old enough. You need to be aware that shooting is dangerous and in spite of all precautions and carefulness things can and do happen. Case in point one of our members was hit in the face with a ricochet recently. There was no lack of care, just bad luck. That incident has me rethinking some of my precautions, for incidence we will wear eyes and ears at all times on the range even when we are not engaged in actual shooting. ie:loading mags,having a snack or a drink etc. I am open to any suggestions to make things safer.

 

[brucev]

You are most assuredly going about this matter in the right way! You are not pushing your son but rather responding to his demonstrated interest. Encourage him. Help him to learn basic marksmanship skills. In the years to come your family will enjoy many happy times together at the range and in the woods and fields.

 

[Rastoff]

My intention is to take my son's curiosity about guns away and make him aware of the dangers as well as the fun.

I agree with the previous posters, this is exactly the right attitude and time. As soon as he shows interest, show him how to do it right. This will do exactly as you say, remove the mystery and make him responsible.

When I was about 7 I started showing interest in knives. My dad took me out back and showed me how to whittle. I did it a bunch and eventually he let me do it on my own. When I joined the Boy Scouts, my dad made an observation at one camp out. He noticed that while all the other kids were "playing" with their knives, I had graduated to the understanding of what it was for and didn't "play" with it.

Your son will have this same growth because you are doing this now. He may become an avid shooter and he may become bored with it. Only time will tell. But, he won't ever be unsafe because of this training you're giving him now.

 

[Vision Remodeling]

I like what everyone said above. One thing I do with my kids is to shoot something other than paper, like wood, and take the time to show them the damage it causes. When they see that the little 22 will go through 2 2x4's it drives home the point a little more than just a hole in paper or a soda can. They were especially surprised to see Daddy's rifle will shoot clean through a full grown tree.

 

[TheBreeze]

My son just turned 8 and started shooting around your sons age. I'd fill up balloons with powder/corn starch, blow them up then let him shoot them. He loved doing that. He deer hunts with his own marlin 336 and has other guns as well. One thing I did with him and his older sister - I got every gun out and laid them out and told them they could touch/handle them and ask any questions. My girl couldn't give a rip about any of that but he enjoyed it and when we shoot together now he understands how much safety matters. I have family & friends who have never taken their sons shooting or taught them any gun safety that I'm aware of. Your doing the right thing starting him early. Don't be surprised when he outshoots you in a couple of years.

 

[littleriver1]

My dad got me a small 22 rifle when I was vary young. I don't recall the make. It was small, a 22 short single shot bolt action. You had to pull the bolt back after loading a round. I don't remember how old I was but I wasn't strong enough to pull the bolt. I probably shot what seemed like 10,000 rounds with it. A funny thing was dad used to shoot rabbits in the garden at night out my bedroom window with it. He shot a hole in the back porch roof once and said if it doesn't leek don't tell your mother.

 

[Smith357]

My question is; is he too young to be shooting?

Physical age is irrelevant IMHO, some kids are ready by age 4 some are not ready at age 44. For me its more about maturity, attitude, self control and maintaining focus. My son was way too spastic in his early years, I did not attempt to get him started shooting until he was about 7-8, and could control himself better. It's up to the parent to recognize when it is the right time to give them live ammo.

 

[Ruger_Up]

Well Gentlemen, as always, the forum did not let me down. I appreciate all of the great advice and ideas. It sounds like a few of you are having a good trip down memory lane too, which is always fun.


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[pownal55]

I started mine at seven, before that they just watched. The safety factor cannot be over emphasized as I'm sure you know. Any silly activity or fooling around at the range always resulted in punishment of not being able to shoot. Certain friends were not allowed to go simply because they didn't accept the seriousness of it. The training lasted years until he was old enough to go alone.

 

[3dots]

...It sounds like a few of you are having a good trip down memory lane too, which is always fun....

Very true, as soon as read your post the sights and sounds of my first time shooting popped into my head like it was yesterday. I was 6 years old when my dad took me to little secluded area on the Red River, Okie side. There was a little hill where we shot his .22 down into the river at little sticks floating by.

He explained everything to me in detail and helped me to hold, aim and shoot. I'll NEVER forget this and did the same with my sons. I truly wish every child in the US had these opportunities. I strongly believe it builds character and maturity faster than any other sport, well, this and fishing .

 

[MOONDAWG]

A lot depends on the maturity level of the child.

All of mine started between 5 and 7.

 

[BigBill]

Please teach him not to shoot the little birds they have a hard enough of a life. Blue jays I hate them but I don't shoot them.

 

[Ruger_Up]

Please teach him not to shoot the little birds they have a hard enough of a life. Blue jays I hate them but I don't shoot them.

I don't think he has the heart for that. I was raised not to shoot animals unless you were going to eat them and he's getting the same lesson. Thanks again guys. I've enjoyed this one a lot.


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[rwsmith]

Since....

Since he can handle it well without going all over the place like some kids do, he's old enough with good supervision. It sounds to me like a real rifleman coming along. I'd be proud.

My much older son handles guns well and seriously at the range, but I never let him close to a gun off the range. He's just too impulsive and erratic.

 

[Ruger_Up]

Since he can handle it well without going all over the place like some kids do, he's old enough with good supervision. It sounds to me like a real rifleman coming along. I'd be proud.



My much older son handles guns well and seriously at the range, but I never let him close to a gun off the range. He's just too impulsive and erratic.

Here's the boy's target from about 45'. Proud is probably an understatement.


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[joonbis]

My grandson is interested also but the only place I have to shoot is the range and their age limit is 18. He is 10 now.