How old is old enough to shoot? RANGE REPORT

[Daltex1]

After going thru all the basics of firearm safety at the house and showing how to load ,unload, rack the bolt back, clear the weapon and render it safe we made our way to the Garland Public Shooting Range. I started him off on the Marlin Model 60 .22. He fired off about 10-12 rounds he checked the bolt for any rounds that could be remaining and layed the weapon to the side muzzle pointing down range,HE FORGOT TO PUT ON THE SAFETY!!! So I tell him Remember to put the safety on every time when you are done with it.So I load 10 rounds or so Let him have another crack at it, He did great following all the safety steps this time.Then I asked him did he want to shoot the SMITH & Wesson MP15T .223. He said you do it first, I say ok I will shoot a couple and put the safety on and he could then take over.He says "OK" After firing 5 or 6 shots and put the safety on and this look of Horror comes over his face with the side to side head movement motion of "HECK NO!" I said "are you sure?" He said "YEAH THATS WAY TOO LOUD!" So we continued with the .22 and he had a great time.I have pics of his target that I will post on photobucket if any of Yall care to see. Thanx to all that responded to me on the original post. I now know what to get him for christmas!!!!!

http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn283/daltex123/

[pedalman]

I took my eleven-year-old daughter shooting for her first time yesterday (Saturday). She had a good old time with my Ruger Single-Six 22LR revolver. I only had to remind her twice about proper muzzle control when not firing. I didn't want to discourage her, so I started her off at the 3-yard mark on paper. She quickly grasped the concept of a proper sight picture with iron sights, and we discovered which eye is her dominant eye (left eye, like her father).

I also brought out a half-set of IHMSA 22LR steel targets. Again, I didn't want to discourage her, so I set up only the rams at 25 yards. I also explained the dangers of backsplash and ricochets from solid targets; hence our stepping back so far away. She actually nailed a few of them. Unfortunately, her hands are still a tad small for the Single-Six, but I thought she did well for her first time out.

I let her fire a single round of 38 Special (standard pressure, no +P). It didn't scare her, but she didn't like the recoil. So I guess she will remain with rimfire handguns for a while.

[Daltex1]

I didnt want to discourage my nephew either, although it did cross my mind to give him a good ribbing over not wanting to shoot the .223, I just said afterwards, you are going to wake up in the morning and say " man, I should have shot that" He is a big Playstation player, and was amazed how he knew the correct names for rifles he was seeing. He plays a war game called "call of duty 4" and he even knew the type of weapon I had was a M4 Version! With not having any kids myself it sure was fun to see him expierience something he had never done before.

[Skiprr]

I didnt want to discourage my nephew either, although it did cross my mind to give him a good ribbing over not wanting to shoot the .223

Really? I wouldn't push him too fast. Sounds like he's given you a good indicator of his comfort zone, for now.

[lawrnk]

After going thru all the basics of firearm safety at the house and showing how to load ,unload, rack the bolt back, clear the weapon and render it safe we made our way to the Garland Public Shooting Range. I started him off on the Marlin Model 60 .22. He fired off about 10-12 rounds he checked the bolt for any rounds that could be remaining and layed the weapon to the side muzzle pointing down range,HE FORGOT TO PUT ON THE SAFETY!!! So I tell him Remember to put the safety on every time when you are done with it.So I load 10 rounds or so Let him have another crack at it, He did great following all the safety steps this time.Then I asked him did he want to shoot the SMITH & Wesson MP15T .223. He said you do it first, I say ok I will shoot a couple and put the safety on and he could then take over.He says "OK" After firing 5 or 6 shots and put the safety on and this look of Horror comes over his face with the side to side head movement motion of "HECK NO!" I said "are you sure?" He said "YEAH THATS WAY TOO LOUD!" So we continued with the .22 and he had a great time.I have pics of his target that I will post on photobucket if any of Yall care to see. Thanx to all that responded to me on the original post. I now know what to get him for christmas!!!!!

http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn283/daltex123/

Maybe I missed it, but how old is he?

[DoubleJ]

He plays a war game called "call of duty 4" and he even knew the type of weapon I had was a M4 Version!

Yeah, that game is realistic as all get out. the pics are pretty dead-on, and looking down the iron sights is exactly the same. even the way you put the sights on a target is similar. all handguns have night-sights, which is kinda neat.

[Daltex1]

He is 12. While at Bass Pro picking up ammo he told me he was going to shoot the 223, your right I found his comfort zone! If he was a year or 2 older I would have ribbed him all day long!

[DParker]

He plays a war game called "call of duty 4" and he even knew the type of weapon I had was a M4 Version!

Yeah, that game is realistic as all get out. the pics are pretty dead-on, and looking down the iron sights is exactly the same. even the way you put the sights on a target is similar. all handguns have night-sights, which is kinda neat.

It's visually realistic, but some of the factual inaccuracies drive me nuts. According the game, an ACOG somehow reduces a rifle's range (huh?), and it tends to render the gun less accurate than open sights. Figure that one out.

I still like it though

[DoubleJ]

I hadn't noticed that. weird...

[lawrnk]

Eh, I took a 13 year old to psc this weekend. Never shot before as well. In retrospect, I think the AK, .40 carbine, and Glock 22 should have waited a few months. We started on .22, and the kids dad wanted them to try the spectrum. It was WAY too much, and I leanred a lesson.

[Daltex1]

I just wish I knew he wasnt gonna shoot the 223 before I dropped $80 on ammo! BUT like the guy said in previous response," you found his comfort level"

[Liberty]

I just wish I knew he wasnt gonna shoot the 223 before I dropped $80 on ammo! BUT like the guy said in previous response," you found his comfort level"

Look at it this way, the Ammo you bought will probably cost about $110.00 by July.

[TDDude]

He said "YEAH THATS WAY TOO LOUD!"

Kids are more sensitive to that sort of thing than we adults. Perhaps his muff or plugs didn't fit right. I know I have to be extra careful with my kids when I take them out. I purchased a new set of Howard Leight Leightning's so I know my kids have a nice tight fit that works. Once I did that, the complaints stopped.

[Keith B]

He said "YEAH THATS WAY TOO LOUD!"

Kids are more sensitive to that sort of thing than we adults. Perhaps his muff or plugs didn't fit right. I know I have to be extra careful with my kids when I take them out. I purchased a new set of Howard Leight Leightning's so I know my kids have a nice tight fit that works. Once I did that, the complaints stopped.

Very good point TD. What we don't think is loud really can be intimidating to those young kids with their keen hearing. Good ear protection is key to helping them be more comfortable and also to keeping what they have intact. We men that have shot for years, or listened to/played rock & roll, or just in our 40's & 50's in general (all of the above) usually have some, if not substantial, hearing loss, especially at higher frequencies. I myself am deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other. My lost frequency range just happens to fall right in the area where my wifes voice is.

[iratollah]

Youth shooters should wear both earplugs and earmuffs.

BTW, I started each of my kids shooting at age 7. Main goal was safety and to demystify guns so if they were ever at a playmate's house and the other kid said, "Want to see my Daddy's gun?", my kids would have no interest.