Going to teach my daughter to shoot

[tboesche]

Well I realize I am about 10 years behind the power curve her but I am finally going to teach my 16 year old daughter to shoot. She has not expressed much intrest in it, however I want her to at least have a basic knowledge. She did not want to race Autocross either but once I made her do it she discovered that she loves it and races with me regularly. Any way, that is my hope with shooting also. I am going to start her out with my .22 Winchester pump that I have had since 1965. Afte she gets comfortable with it, I am thinking of getting her a Walther p22 or maybe a Ruger MkIII to introduce her to handguns.

[FightinAggieCHL]

I have a Ruger MkIII Hunter that I use for pistol competition. Excellent firearm, I highly recommend it.

[WarHawk-AVG]

1. Teach your daughter the safety rules
2. Teach her to shoot

Its safer and more enjoyable this way

Anyone can pull a trigger, not everyone can do it safely

[tboesche]

Oh she will definately learn the safety rules first. I am pretty adamant about safety. Unfortunatley, I learned the hard way years ago. Luckily no one got hurt and I only had to repair some holes in my parents house.

D'OH

[Liberty]

Well I realize I am about 10 years behind the power curve her but I am finally going to teach my 16 year old daughter to shoot. She has not expressed much intrest in it, however I want her to at least have a basic knowledge. She did not want to race Autocross either but once I made her do it she discovered that she loves it and races with me regularly. Any way, that is my hope with shooting also. I am going to start her out with my .22 Winchester pump that I have had since 1965. Afte she gets comfortable with it, I am thinking of getting her a Walther p22 or maybe a Ruger MkIII to introduce her to handguns.

Why not a 9mm or a 38, I haven't met anyone yet complain they cant handle a full size 9mm autoloader. a 22 is great plinkin' but its real easy to outgrow it one and its a crappy defensive weapon.

[WarHawk-AVG]

Well I realize I am about 10 years behind the power curve her but I am finally going to teach my 16 year old daughter to shoot. She has not expressed much intrest in it, however I want her to at least have a basic knowledge. She did not want to race Autocross either but once I made her do it she discovered that she loves it and races with me regularly. Any way, that is my hope with shooting also. I am going to start her out with my .22 Winchester pump that I have had since 1965. Afte she gets comfortable with it, I am thinking of getting her a Walther p22 or maybe a Ruger MkIII to introduce her to handguns.

Why not a 9mm or a 38, I haven't met anyone yet complain they cant handle a full size 9mm autoloader. a 22 is great plinkin' but its real easy to outgrow it one and its a crappy defensive weapon.

+1

Most full size frame 9mm are GREAT beginner pistols

Even a smallish compact 9mm (the muzzle flip will be enhanced) but still fit smaller hands well

[jbirds1210]

Sounds like fun! I can't wait for the day I can teach my daughter to shoot. Well.....maybe I can because that means she will have grown up

I would just lay out the pistols you have, explain the differences and let her pick the one she feels like shooting.

I best she surprises you!

Good luck and take pictures!

Jason

[tboesche]

I think she could probably handle the CZ 75B, and if she wants to fire it I will definatley let her. The millenium Pro, maybe after she has gotten comfrtable with the CZ. We will see how it goes and I will definately take pics.

[Crossfire]

I always start beginners out on a .22 (Ruger MarkIII), and I highly recommend that.

It gives them a chance to get used to handling the gun, site alignment, and trigger management without also having to deal with recoil and muzzle flip. Once they get comfortable with all that, then we move on to larger calibers.

[Dan20703]

A good site for your daughter is:

http://www.corneredcat.com/

My two daughters liked it (14 yr & 12 yr old) and both learned to shoot within the past 2 years. Start her out with a .22 because it will be less intimidating. She will let you know when she is ready for a larger caliber.

[Liberty]

A good site for your daughter is:

http://www.corneredcat.com/

My two daughters liked it (14 yr & 12 yr old) and both learned to shoot within the past 2 years. Start her out with a .22 because it will be less intimidating. She will let you know when she is ready for a larger caliber.

I was suggesting that the 1st purchased gun for the OPs daughter should be a 9MM because at 16 she is approaching adulthood very quickly. I have no problem with using a .22 as a training aide and as a toy to take to the range. If her dad buys her a .22 it will end up probably in a burried drawer when she moves away from home. If he bought her a defensive handgun she will probably take it with her when she eventually moves away from home. and she is more apt to keep it close. Others have mentioned that she could pick her own. not a bad idea.

I have to admit its been a long time since I had a young teenage daughter. But other than the cost of ammo, I see no reason to start off using such a mild handgun. A 9mm or similar gun is not difficult to handle, if one wears hearing protection it shouldn't be at all intimidating. From what I've read and understand sex and age have little to do with caliber preference. From what I read here women don't have any more aversion to .45 than us guys. In fact, typically, young ladys are better students and shots than us guys. I have never heard of anyone being intimidated by being on the correct end of a 9MM that has actually fired it with with ear protection, although I've seen some folks intimidated before they ever took the first shot, and I've seen folks flinch real bad when they don't wear ear protection.

Thats not to say I would let a young lady fire a 12 gauge with full loads, her first time down the range, or a 44mag even.

[Dragonfighter]

Well I realize I am about 10 years behind the power curve her but I am finally going to teach my 16 year old daughter to shoot. She has not expressed much intrest in it, however I want her to at least have a basic knowledge. She did not want to race Autocross either but once I made her do it she discovered that she loves it and races with me regularly. Any way, that is my hope with shooting also. I am going to start her out with my .22 Winchester pump that I have had since 1965. Afte she gets comfortable with it, I am thinking of getting her a Walther p22 or maybe a Ruger MkIII to introduce her to handguns.

Why not a 9mm or a 38, I haven't met anyone yet complain they cant handle a full size 9mm autoloader. a 22 is great plinkin' but its real easy to outgrow it one and its a crappy defensive weapon.

+1

Most full size frame 9mm are GREAT beginner pistols

Even a smallish compact 9mm (the muzzle flip will be enhanced) but still fit smaller hands well

I dunno, there is a psychological aspect to this. Understand I am saying this with an 11 y.o. that likes to shoot my .22 but occasionally likes the .357. But if you are going to teach her to shoot, the .22 offers a good platform to teach trigger control, sight pictures and target reading without the distraction of an active weapon or loud report. Repetition is what is going to train her, not caliber. Even the Air Force uses, or use to use, 1911 frames converted to fire .22 LR to train and qualify with, culminating in a familiarization shot with the .45 ACP.

Once she is good with the .22 then familiarize her with the big boys. In the mean time, if she has to defend herself with a large bore weapon, the training will kick in and it doesn't matter how big of a pistol she's holding, the BG is gonna be sorry.

[Lodge2004]

I started my daughter at around 15 with a Ruger MkII. We added some accessories to dress it up accoring to her desires. She now considers this pistol as "her" gun and when she turns 18 it will be given to her.

A defensive firearm is, in my mind, a completely different thing. She is now comfortable with anything up to .45 and, assuming she continues to maintain an interest, will probably get a 9mm from Dad to go along with her CHL at 21.

Work on stimulating her interest before you move to the more practical aspect, even if it means you have to walk onto the range carrying a flourescent green pistol with flashing lights.

[seamusTX]

I think starting with a .22 pump or bolt-action rifle is the way to go for the following reasons:

• The shooter has to make a conscious decision to cycle the weapon and pull the trigger, which is not the case with a semi-auto.
• It is easier to maintain muzzle control and harder to shoot yourself with a rifle than a handgun.
• The lack of recoil and noise make it less intimidating.
• The beginning shooter can achieve immediate success at short ranges, which again is not always the case with handguns.
• The low cost of ammo allows lots of practice.

I still shoot my .22 revolver ten times more than my centerfire weapons, and I think I can say that I usually hit the side of the barn.

While you're at, don't neglect the shotgun.

- Jim
Edited to correct typo.

[tboesche]

We went to the range this morning. Spent some time at home first discussing safety and the basic dynamics of gun operation and sight alignment. As we were walking into the range area, she was just infront of me. The guy in the first lane was shooting a large caliber wheel gun. He pulled the trigger and she jumped a bit at the recoil. We walked down to the far end and picke dthe last lane. I ran the target out to about 15 yards. Proceed to go over a few things with her and then had her load and make ready the rifle. Her fist shot wa about a half inch right and a half inch low. Not bad! She fired about 200 rounds total. SHe tends to shoot a bit to the right. May be pulling on the trigger a little. Something for us to work on the next visit. YES, there will be a next range visit. She said she had a lot of fun and definately wants to do it again. What a daughter! Racing and shooting with the old man.