How young is too young to start training?

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I have three kids, 18,15, and 5. The two older ones I have started with but I am unsure as when to start with my youngest. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Bb, air soft or paintball, start now. Safety and fundamentals will be habit by the time he shoots a real one, but the real one will depend on how he does with the others. Have fun & be safe.
 
Why are you unsure? When did you start training the first two? How did you know when they were ready?

My dad gave me my first bb gun when I was about 10...and I was hunting deer with a .410 slug barrel by 12, and a .30-30 by 13.
 
My nephew got started around 6 years old. I started my niece (other side) at 14. It really depends on the kid. If my granddaughter is mature enough, I'll start her with my Single-Six and 10/22 at around 6-7 years old, under the strictest supervision. That said, one of my best friend sand I agreed that we won't even mention the range around his son, period. I'd say that most kids under 6 may not have the focus required for anything heavier than an airsoft gun. You'll have to play it by ear.
 
I bought my son his first 22 when he was 5. I took him to the range every week for the first 3 months and spent many hours going over the rules of usage. He learned to respect the "real" thing versus playing and I have never regretted my decision. He is now 30 with two young daughters. If you are willing to put in the time to help them understand basics, I believe if they can physically handle the gun they should be taught the correct usage.
 
When my oldest son was around a year and a half, he chewed a PB&J sandwich into the shape of a gun. I said, "dont point it at anything you dont intend to shoot and kill". Thats when his training began
 
It shouldn't have to do with age. If you feel your child is ready, then go with that. Every child's has a different mentality rate. I've seen some 14 year olds that I wouldn't give a nerf gun to, and I've seen some 10 year olds I would feel completely comfortable given them a .22 to start training with.
 
I bought my son a BB gun when he was 4, a .22 bolt-action rifle when he was 7, and a left-handed Remington 1100 skeet gun when he was 11. He won the New Mexico Junior Skeet Shooting Championship when he was 12.
 
I think safety traing should start as soon as they can understand. I waited until my kids were about six before I took them to the range. Today, my son is 12 & my daughter is 10.

They surprised me the other day when we went to lunch. They picked out a table for us and the asked: "Daddy, you know why we chose this table?"

I was inquisitive and asked them, "Why?"

They replied; "Because you can see the entrance/exit and parking lot clearly from here and you can see any Bg that may be coming in to rob the restaurant."


I told them they did good in thinking about SA.

They have been listening. :biggrin:

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tcox4freedom said:
I think safety traing should start as soon as they can understand. I waited until my kids were about six before I took them to the range. Today, my son is 12 & my daughter is 10.

They surprised me the other day when we went to lunch. They picked out a table for us and the asked: "Daddy, you know why we chose this table?"

I was inquisitive and asked them, "Why?"

They replied; "Because you can see the entrance/exit and parking lot clearly from here and you can see any Bg that may be coming in to rob the restaurant."

I told them they did good in thinking about SA.

They have been listening. :biggrin:

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Wow! If they are aware and listened like that, I wouldn't be surprised if they get straight "A"s in school.
 
Tucker's Mom said:
Wow! If they are aware and listened like that, I wouldn't be surprised if they get straight "A"s in school.
Click to expand...

We home school and they do pretty good. (If I do say so myself)

I did use this time to help educate them a little further. They did well; because they were also thinking about using a dividing wall & table for cover. (They told me this figured into their thinking as well.)

But, I still encouraged them to choose a table closer to the bathroom or "emergency" exit next time.

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It's never too early to teach children about firearms safety, safe sex, or rock and roll.

They only question is are they mature enough to understand it?

That's your call as the parent.
 
You should start training, as soon as they are able to comprehend speech. They need to know that guns are not to be played with, and the rules for handling one. Then you can train for other aspects as their comprehension grows. As far as actually shooting? Start with Air (pellet, or bb), and let them work into .22, and then in to something more powerful. By the time my kids were 5 they had already been shooting and were pretty fair shots.
 
My oldest killed his first turkey at 7. The others couldn't start before 11 due to a change in state regs. We(the voters of the state) got that fixed so my Grandsons can start when they're ready to hunt. As for shooting, each child is a different case and must be judged on their maturity and ability to listen and follow directions to the letter. At 5, they normally have the coordination to physically hold a sight picture and fire a small cal rifle.
 
Started my oldest at 7 with BB gun and bought him a 10/22 at 10. Youngest I didn't feel was ready until 12' just bought him a Henry lever 22 and is doing great. Guess each is different.....
 
Mines 7, and we've been teaching the fundamentals of safety for the last yr!
Started with learning the first 4 rules of gun safety (I'm pretty sure there are 10 but the first 4 are the big ones)
1 all guns always loaded!
2 finger off trigger
3 never point at something don't want to destroy.
4 be sure of your target and what's beyond it before putting finger to trigger!
Those are the big ones. He just proved to me that he's almost ready for live fire, gave him my handgun (safety checked by me first) and the first thing he do was put trigger finger on the frame and check the chamber!:D!
Never to early to start. Also you might want to teach how to unload your guns. You'll be surprised at what they can do.
 
Guns are only one of the many, MANY things in life that require careful and responsible handling. The time to begin teaching personal responsibility and safety is the first time the baby is able to endanger themselves, I suppose. Earlier, the better. Only you know when your children are able and willing to demonstrate the necessary self responsibility to handle any dangerous object, but that's what they have to learn first.

Good luck!
 
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