youth 22 rifle

I started with a Daisy repeater when I was 7. I shot everything I could. Cans, Cans full of water, bottles, crickets, birds, dragonflies, targets... basically anything that would show that I shot it, if it reacted that was even better.


When I moved up to rifles, I learned on a single shot bolt gun. I must admit that it was fairly boring. I was a far better shot than anyone else learning at that range and spent most of my time cutting down trees that were growing out of the backstop, which would have been much easier with a semi :D. When I went into the Military, again I was bored. I had my rifle disassembled and was cleaning it while the Sgt was still explaining how to remove the hand guards, and when it came to shooting I got myself expert marksman then dropped a few rounds in the black of my neighbors target who was struggling.

The trick is to keep them interested, and keep them focused on that sight picture. Starting with balloons is a great idea. However I can see that it does help to have them resetting each time, then that cheek weld becomes second nature. If the child is patient enough a bolt gun is the way to go. If he/she will get antsy and want to run and check the target every shot you might want to stick with a semi-auto.
 
I got the cricket for my 9 year old daughter, and the ruger 10/22 for the wife. The cricket can usually be found for $100 to $129. at the highest i've seen them. But watch local gun sites outdoorstrader.com is a place i use. Theres typically a good deal on a 10/22
 
Is 3-years old too young to have access to a firearm - even if it is 100% supervised?

I really don't know if there is a correct answer to that question, but personally I think it's too young.

I have a 3 year old, 4 year old, and 18 year old.
I think that a bb gun would probably be appropriate until about 8 years old.

Has anyone come across any good rules for kids & guns?
I'd really like to see some.
 
MaxxXJ said:
it was a bad few months for me... i was being an asshat for sure, for the most part i learned to not put myself in situations where i might have to take my foot out of my mouth later...
Click to expand...

You learn well, Young grasshoppa! :D
 
RTicUL8 said:
Is 3-years old too young to have access to a firearm - even if it is 100% supervised?

I really don't know if there is a correct answer to that question, but personally I think it's too young.

I have a 3 year old, 4 year old, and 18 year old.
I think that a bb gun would probably be appropriate until about 8 years old.

Has anyone come across any good rules for kids & guns?
I'd really like to see some.
Click to expand...

I started my son as soon as he could talk a little bit. Toy guns at first, under my control only. Muzzle awareness was the key lesson. Eventually I let him have the toy guns and he has shown that he not only practices muzzle awareness, he corrects anyone violating good safety practices with toy guns. You should have seen the scene he caused when the kid next to us at mardi gras got a toy FAL and started running around shooting at everyone.

I have kept his toy guns and now his bb gun with my rifles. He has been taught not to touch them unless supervised. I've even left a rifle on the table and walked out of the room while keeping an eye on him. His response was to go and get his toy rifle and place it on the table next to mine. This is a far cry from the first time I did it, where he said "oooh pow pow" and immediately started jerking the trigger on my AR.

It's never too young to start with firearm safety and handling. It also takes the mystery out when I let him help me clean the real guns. As for leaving him with an actual firearm under his control, not on your life. He'll be 7 or 8 before I let him have control of his BB gun and 11 or 12 before he actually gets a .22 and 20 gauge.

The toy guns give me a chance to teach proper mechanics, form, stances, trigger control, and safety, all while making it a game for him. We just started on sight picture last week when he got a BB gun for his 4th birthday and he just fired his first shots.
 
I think the starting age is all based off the parent/kid I know some 12-15 year olds that I wouldn't trust with a cap gun. My family has always been in the group that says teach them young. I tried my hardest to remember the first time I shot a real gun and I couldn't. I know it was before the age of 5.

Lane usually likes to check the target after about 25-50 rds and then he claims whichever holes are the lowest because he can touch them. I think next time I'll try hanging some ca ns from the tree branch and getting my auto resetting targets out.

I do remember my first .22 it was a single action and so was my brothers. We still sat outside of camp and shot the hell out of them.
 
Schnoz said:
Lane usually likes to check the target after about 25-50 rds and then he claims whichever holes are the lowest because he can touch them. I think next time I'll try hanging some ca ns from the tree branch and getting my auto resetting targets out.
Click to expand...

Reactionary targets are awesome. The kids get instant feedback and get really excited. :) A box of clays is cheap, easy to see, and they shatter when hit. :)

These are really fun.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...inCatcat602007-cat600835-cat600837&id=0024321
 
RichP said:
Thats a really really really fast way to make a mortal enemy of our gun clubs grounds keepers for sure... pretty much anything that the mower can spit out will get you on their ass chewing side.
Click to expand...

Ours use gravel. :D The private section of property we shoot at is gravel around the target backstops, too. ;)

But yeah I know what you're saying.
 
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