How old is “old enough” for kids to shoot Real Rifles

D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷ · Nov 27, 2024

Got another one for the ol Bear Pit

How old should a child be before they are ready to move to a real rifle? Not a BB, pellet, nerf etc.

I remember getting my start at 10yo. Dad made me read the user manual aloud to him and demonstrate I was actually learning. Took me the better part of a day before I really understood and more important recite it back to Dad.

I have some nephews that I’m very motivated to get into the pew pew thing, but I gotta respect the “rules” if I want to have the opportunity.

I still think 10 is the right age, sure kids differ in size and maturity and while 10 might not be the BEST age for all kids I think it’s a pretty good age.

Oh and I’m starting them on a 22lr bolt gun.

How old were you? What was the rifle?

roostercogburn98 · Nov 27, 2024

I started as soon as I could tote one by myself. Dad had us boys out in the woods most weekends learning stuff and it was just natural to us. I shot an old 6 shooter 22 more than anything else cause dad always had a shotgun with him. He didn’t really use a rifle much in my whole life, except his BP.

That being said, I shot plenty of 22s from at least 8 or 10. Dad took my money and bought me an SKS when I was 13 or 14. It was mine, but he supervised me with it for a bit.

OkieMike · Nov 27, 2024

Don't remember the age... 10ish maybe.

Stevens Model 73 single shot bolt action .22 youth model. One bullet at a time... Probably a smart move. It limited the damage I could do.

Still have it. The gun is a cheap piece of crap. But pretty damn accurate.

Mike

Huskydriver · Nov 27, 2024

Uh.... My kids starting on fa suppressed smgs at 3 to get acclimated with me on the weapon with them.... They won't shoot with people who don't run suppressors

0 pellet rifle introduction and 22lr is soy as hell .... Raising men here not prs shooters

My 8 yo handing some stout 300prc likes "his" ai... Kids dreaming but appreciate the effort

Ankeny · Nov 27, 2024

Started way back in the primary grades, probably around 7 or 8 years old. Shot my grandfather's old 1904 Savage that he called fondly called, "The Plinker".

Clob McStrunk · Nov 27, 2024

My daughter turns 7 on Sunday. She's getting her first .22 rifle.

She could also rattle off the firearm rules at 4 yrs old.

Fx51LP308 · Nov 27, 2024

Yeah, the two primary things for me would be:

1) How "mature" they are in re: following all the safety rules, proper general attitude, etc.; and
2) Are they physically capable of handling the weapon (as an adult would).

Some kids may mature faster than others. In the case of my niece/nephew, my niece was shooting a full size 1911 .45acp with incredible accuracy... more so than a .22LR. My nephew was the same with a 12g shottie. My niece was 17, 5'3" and a "buck-0-5." But she handled that .45acp full size 1911 like a champ.

Look at some of the YouTube star kids that are in competition shooting now, like "Autum's Armory." and "Shyanne Roberts." Now, I wouldn't start every kid that early (probably not most kids that early), but it can happen. Most likely, I'd prefer to wait until after adolescence begins, as the maturity comes in to better focus, but...

All the above said, when I was 10 (before adolescence), we had a summer day camp "super counselor" who was also an NRA instructor and took us to an indoor range every week to shoot single shot .22 LR bolt action rifles. It was nice and we learned a lot about safety. So it might happen.

Farmertan · Nov 27, 2024

Depends on the kid. My daughter is very good at following directions. Started her real early with a pellet gun. Learned trigger and muzzle discipline by 6 or so. Took her to the range with the single 22 around then. I would stad over the rifle to the left of the table while she shot. Then about a year later a 10/22. Built her an AR around 9 years old. She shot it from a bench. A few years later, she can shoot offhand with 22s and a rem 700 in 223.

KYAggie · Nov 27, 2024

Definitely depends on the kid. 10, or younger, is fine with a kid that has self control, a desire to learn, listens to directions, respects adults, etc. if they are on ADD drugs, forget it; forever. Use your best judgment and remember, many adults should not be around firearms, ever; look at the millions that voted for Kamala.

Jigstick · Nov 27, 2024

My son started shooting his 22 at age 7. AR15 at age 9. Graduated to his 6.5 Creedmoor at age 10. Probably depends on the child, their strength and size, aspects of the rifle etc.

I think the biggest key is to start small so they don’t develope fear of recoil or the noise.

Fx51LP308 · Nov 27, 2024

Jigstick said:
I think the biggest key is to start small so they don’t develope fear of recoil or the noise.

Agreed. Funny you mention "noise." The NRA Instructor/camp counselor I mention above told us on our first visit, "Nothing to be afraid of... just a little ol' 'pop'." Of course, then, to me it felt like "cannon fire," but... Now I deal with .50BMGs.

Californio · Nov 27, 2024

D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷ said:
Got another one for the ol Bear Pit

How old should a child be before they are ready to move to a real rifle? Not a BB, pellet, nerf etc.

I remember getting my start at 10yo. Dad made me read the user manual aloud to him and demonstrate I was actually learning. Took me the better part of a day before I really understood and more important recite it back to Dad.

I have some nephews that I’m very motivated to get into the pew pew thing, but I gotta respect the “rules” if I want to have the opportunity.

I still think 10 is the right age, sure kids differ in size and maturity and while 10 might not be the BEST age for all kids I think it’s a pretty good age.

Oh and I’m starting them on a 22lr bolt gun.

How old were you? What was the rifle?

First was a bow/arrow, age 5, his Win 1903 .22auto, age 8, Christmas Present, my own .22LR, age 9. We hunted with all three starting age 5. Deer with our bows, jack rabbits with .22. We did shoot every night during the summer in a box canyon.

M8541Reaper · Nov 27, 2024

My kid started running club pistol matches when he turned 8 and just had his first varmint match on Sunday (4th overall out of 11, and he was the only kid). Fucker is too small for seated at the table so he ran standing clipped into the tripod.

At 7 he ran airsoft at the pistol matches to show the MD he has safe handling skills and knows (and can apply) the safety rules. Then he turned 8 and I got him a G44 (22LR). He’s crushing it with his best finish at 16 out of like 28 or 30 (again as the only kid) with irons.

He’s very competitive and focused when it comes to this shit and it’s a night and day difference when comparing him to other people I see at the range (both kids and adults included lol).

As far as other firearms, he’s shot my G17 and 2011 for handguns, my AXSR in 65cm, 308, and 300PRC, and my LMT MRP and MWS. …300PRC he learned the hard way about listening when I say to get and stay on the gun

so he doesn’t care much for the PRC just yet. But otherwise the little fucker can clean the 150-500yd steel at our range here.

I’m excited to see how he grows with it…but not (even though I am) excited for the day he beats me and doesn’t let me live it down haha

JJMoody · Nov 27, 2024

Soon as they can wear the hat n boots right- dad started us young

HPIguy · Nov 27, 2024

I was 12, and had a shotgun, but .410 was expensive even in the 80's. So I had been begging for a .22lr. My grandfather found and aquired a .22lr that nobody wanted new, and damn sure don't want now. I still have it though, some 37 years later. I was pretty much unsupervised by that point with most guns.

Winchester Model 55 single shot semi-automatic rifle. (yes, you read that right)

Alabusa · Nov 27, 2024

Killed my first deer at 7 with a Marlin 30-30.
My son killed his first at 9 with a 7mm Rem Mag.

Taylorbok · Nov 27, 2024

Huskydriver said:
0 pellet rifle introduction and 22lr is soy as hell .... Raising men here not prs shooters

All right tough guy, There's nothing wrong with using 22LR to introduce kids, also great for small game and pests.

hlee · Nov 27, 2024

I was 7 or 8 when I received a 10/22 for Christmas. I was turned loose in the woods with a brick of ammo and I don’t think my parents ever had a single worry that I’d be irresponsible with that rifle. At 10 or so I got a 30-30 winchester and a NEF single shot 410.

I’ve met adults that weren’t ready for a BB gun.

I helped a buddy RO a bachelor party range day. Most of the guys had never shot a pistol. One in particular was visibly shaking with a pistol in his hands. We didn’t have any safety issues, but I didn’t turn my back on anyone with a pistol in their hands.

Rocketvapor · Nov 27, 2024

Start with a rifle too big to carry into school.
My first gun was an 22/410 O/U, in 1960.

Fx51LP308 · Nov 27, 2024

Rocketvapor said:
Start with a rifle too big to carry into school.
My first gun was an 22/410 O/U, in 1960.

So sad we have to think like that, these days. My private HS had a rifle club and you could bring you rifle to school. MY HS yearbook is filled with pics of that club. And, although we didn't have a range on campus, we did go to others that did.

Not anymore.

W54/XM-388 · Nov 27, 2024

Quite a few well grown and mature 6 and 7 year olds could easily learn well with .22LR rifles under supervision.

A lot depends on where you have to shoot and how much time.

TimK · Nov 27, 2024

My son is 11. He started 2-3 years ago. He's now shooting .22 matches with me and regularly beats a handful of grown men. I paid him the ultimate compliment a couple of matches ago and asked him for a wind call. He was right on.

I started him on a Savage Cricket with a red dot so all he had to think about was the trigger press. He's now shooting my 40X repeater. When closely supervised, I say get them shooting whenever they're physically large enough to get on the gun. Not much can go wrong with a single shot bolt rifle if you have a big enough back stop.

The D · Nov 27, 2024

Took my oldest last year when he turned 7 and let him shoot some .22 rifles. This summer I let him decide if he wanted to shoot any of the big stuff. He declined the rifles but wanted me to help him shoot my Glock and 1911. I sort of anticipate him to be shooting my .30-06 by the time he turns 10 but it will still be up to him

lariat · Nov 27, 2024

I'm not sure it has to do with age so much as it has to do with the maturity to handle the rifle as directed, and only as directed. A public range will readily show that there are some middle-aged adults who should never be around firearms. Not because they don't have the smarts, they simply don't care about the safety of others.

That being said, I think your dad was spot on with the way he started you. A single shot 22 would be ideal IMO as it slows everything down when the excitement is high. 10 is a good age, and it is a great way to teach responsibility - obey the rules, we get to shoot. If you don't, we don't shoot - all actions, good or bad, have consequences.

I started a new dove and duck hunter last year with a single shot NEF. No need for anything else to teach them to slow down and pick the shot wisely. Birds were missed and taken during the season, lessons were learned, and a new avid hunter was made so it was good. Doing the same this year.

alamo5000 · Nov 27, 2024

D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷ said:
Got another one for the ol Bear Pit

How old should a child be before they are ready to move to a real rifle? Not a BB, pellet, nerf etc.

I remember getting my start at 10yo. Dad made me read the user manual aloud to him and demonstrate I was actually learning. Took me the better part of a day before I really understood and more important recite it back to Dad.

I have some nephews that I’m very motivated to get into the pew pew thing, but I gotta respect the “rules” if I want to have the opportunity.

I still think 10 is the right age, sure kids differ in size and maturity and while 10 might not be the BEST age for all kids I think it’s a pretty good age.

Oh and I’m starting them on a 22lr bolt gun.

How old were you? What was the rifle?

I don't remember the exact age but I remember that I was too small to hold the rifle up by myself. I was a bolt action 22LR.

I definitely don't think there is a absolute age cut off of when it's ok. It also depends on the circumstances. In my case I had people literally helping me hold the rifle.

The bigger question for me is how old do they need to be to handle a firearm on their own? Having a kid pull the trigger is one thing and having a kid take a box of ammo to the back yard to target shoot on his own is another.

To me, I would say there is not a definite age limit, and the process to get there is just that, a process.

If you took half of the adults in the US and gave them an empty mag and some ammo a whole lot of them wouldn't know how to load the mag much less have safe handling skills.

Sjh2429 · Nov 27, 2024

My father taught me at age 5 with a bb rifle. Gave me a Savage (yeah yeah) Model 4C in ‘65 when I turned 6. Still have it, and it still shoots tree rats every year. Started teaching my step son when he was about 8. Handed him his first 22 when he was 12.

loboman7x57 · Nov 27, 2024

I had my son shooting a .22 at about 6. he was shooting a 9mm by age 8 and hot (345g hard cast @ 1200 fps} 45 long colt loads out of my Ruger Blackhawk at 9. I think he was about 9 when he started shooting centerfire rifles too. 30-30 and 7x57.

MK20 · Nov 27, 2024

There is a picture of Ernest Hemingway at age 2 or 3 out on the prairie with his Quackenbush 22.

Nik H · Nov 27, 2024

I got a Rossi Gallery 22 rifle from my Dad when I was 6. Needless to say, I was thrilled

jbuck88 · Nov 27, 2024

KYAggie said:
Definitely depends on the kid. 10, or younger, is fine with a kid that has self control, a desire to learn, listens to directions, respects adults, etc. if they are on ADD drugs, forget it; forever. Use your best judgment and remember, many adults should not be around firearms, ever; look at the millions that voted for Kamala.

100% depends on the kid. My kids are all pretty reasonable and they started rim fires around 5 or 6. Center fire rifles when they wanted.

My youngest was the youngest I've started actually packing rifles to hunt with. He pulled the trigger on a deer just after his 8th birthday. His older brother was 11 before he was ready.

lariat · Nov 27, 2024

jbuck88 said:
100% depends on the kid. My kids are all pretty reasonable and they started rim fires around 5 or 6. Center fire rifles when they wanted.

My youngest was the youngest I've started actually packing rifles to hunt with. He pulled the trigger on a deer just after his 8th birthday. His older brother was 11 before he was ready.

I think this is a very wise approach. at a young age, don’t force larger calibers. Let them find their own path. They will get there in time. Even if all they do is tag along, there is quality time and learning that cannot be replaced. Let time and personality dictate the when.

BoilerUP · Nov 27, 2024

First shot a rifle at 8yr old...M1 carbine.
9th birthday, I got a Marlin 60 that I still own.
11th birthday, a Savage 110 in 270 Winchester that I killed my first buck with a few months later. Wouldn't recommend a 270 for an 11 year old tho, lol

hlee · Nov 27, 2024

MK20 said:
There is a picture of Ernest Hemingway at age 2 or 3 out on the prairie with his Quackenbush 22.

And, you can tell it’s him because he’s drunk.

chevy_man · Nov 27, 2024

One of my kids was 6, the other 10. Just based off interest and ability to pay attention.

Oddly enough the one that was happiest to start early isn't all that interested now. The one that wasn't excited to learn is now way into it.

Ronws · Nov 27, 2024

I was 10 when my mom's friend, who would later become our second step-father, taught me how to shoot a pistol. A .38 Special.

But I was 12 before I got to a long gun. I was in boy Scouts and our scoutmaster was teaching us with a semi-auto 12 ga shotgun. And that is how, in spite of being a lefty (I carry my pistol on my left,) I learned to shoot long guns right-handed. He was helping me to avoid a problem. I did not get into rifles until my early 50's, mainly as a means to go hunting.

But I had read a lot about them before then.

LuckyLuke80 · Nov 27, 2024

Dad started each of my brothers and me with a little single shot chipmunk .22lr (don’t remember the actual manufacturer) when we were well south of 10 years old-somewhere around 5 or 6 as I recall. We all used is ruger m77 in 7x57 Mauser for deer when we turned 12. My first deer was actually at age 13 with a 7 mag that belonged to a friend. My son and daughters all started shooting somewhere around 10 based on their maturity level. 22 is an excellent starting point for kids and even a blast for us big kids to shoot still.

Fx51LP308 · Nov 28, 2024

alamo5000 said:
I don't remember the exact age but I remember that I was too small to hold the rifle up by myself. I was a bolt action 22LR.

I definitely don't think there is a absolute age cut off of when it's ok. It also depends on the circumstances. In my case I had people literally helping me hold the rifle.

Which is why my camp counselor had us start shooting "prone." And why, today, I shoot my RPR .308Win prone. Although I could probably do that "seated" if set up correctly with bags, etc.

alamo5000 said:
The bigger question for me is how old do they need to be to handle a firearm on their own? Having a kid pull the trigger is one thing and having a kid take a box of ammo to the back yard to target shoot on his own is another.

To me, I would say there is not a definite age limit, and the process to get there is just that, a process.

If you took half of the adults in the US and gave them an empty mag and some ammo a whole lot of them wouldn't know how to load the mag much less have safe handling skills.

Precisely. It's all about the maturity. Now, for me, the problem is already solved as local/county ordinances forbid the discharge of firearms (no matter the target) in any outdoor area that is less than 1 mile from one's neighbors. Except in self-defense scenarios, of course.

Sandhog308 · Nov 28, 2024

D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷ said:
Got another one for the ol Bear Pit

How old should a child be before they are ready to move to a real rifle? Not a BB, pellet, nerf etc.

I remember getting my start at 10yo. Dad made me read the user manual aloud to him and demonstrate I was actually learning. Took me the better part of a day before I really understood and more important recite it back to Dad.

I have some nephews that I’m very motivated to get into the pew pew thing, but I gotta respect the “rules” if I want to have the opportunity.

I still think 10 is the right age, sure kids differ in size and maturity and while 10 might not be the BEST age for all kids I think it’s a pretty good age.

Oh and I’m starting them on a 22lr bolt gun.

How old were you? What was the rifle?

I was nine or ten when my uncle took my brother and I down on the river bank to shoot. He brought a single shot .22 rifle , a Colt Woodsman , and a Colt .38 Special.
He was safety anal , as I am today.
I took my daughter shooting for her first time before she was 10. Shes 42 now and still shoots whenever possible. I gift her a weapon at Christmas , a tradition that started since she was 13.

Maser · Nov 28, 2024

Mine was an SKS when I was only 3.

CheStadium · Nov 28, 2024

We have a youth league here and start kids at 8 years old. They're given a formal orientation, and have an instructor at their sides for the first session and as long as it takes to get them shooting safely. Almost all of them pick it up quickly and follow instructions religiously. I'm always amazed at what we can get 8 YO kids to do. I haven't looked at exactly what the mix is, but it seems we have almost as many girls as boys.

texastonk · Nov 28, 2024

I start mine shooting at 5 or 6. Both shoot with me all the time. Just built my 8yo son his first AR
In 6.5 Grendel. Been try to get him his first deer for the past few weekends. Daughter shot her first a 9 with a 308 and her second deer Sika buck last year with a SBR 308 at 185 yards. DRT.
Start em as soon as they can hold the gun safely

ggmanning · Nov 28, 2024

I started all 3 of mine with .22 rimfire at about 5. Kept a small kids range off the back deck of spinners and such. First deer kills were between 6 and 8, small game a little sooner. School shooting teams, archery-rimfire-trap, started at 11 in the sixth grade.

I got my first real rifle besides a Daisy for Christmas when I was 7. Remington Speedmaster 552 with 2 bricks. Went through that quickly to say the least. Still pull it out every year for a squirrel hunt almost 50 years later,

Oldloser · Nov 28, 2024

Starting at 8, my dad trusted me with his 223 rem to pick off wood chucks while he was working the fields.

He started me on that rifle when I was 7 in prone then off props. Then we moved to the back of his pickup. I guess he had a plan..

The AR is a favorite with my kids. I’ll do a carbine class with both of them when they are each 18.

Aftermath · Nov 28, 2024

My dad got me a Crossman at age 3. I wasn't exactly 100% free range at that point but we had a mini-range set up in the basement and I was allowed to shoot it pretty much every time I asked.

At age 5 I was given a Belgian made Browning SA-22. Again, not 100% free range but we went shooting often and once out and about, I carried it and used it by myself.

He was KIA when I was 8 and I inherited the rest. A Browning Safari Grade in 30-06, among a few others. It had a healthy recoil for an 8 year old.

At age 14, I no longer had to ask. I kept everything in my closet with my Lee reloading equipment. The 30-06 would go in the rear window gun rack above the Model 97 12 gauge when I left for school during the fall when it was deer/elk/pheasant/quail/duck/goose season. Lots of rifles and shotguns in the back windows of pickups at school. HAHA!

Kinetic Moose · Nov 28, 2024

old enough to physically control it, aim, load, fire, by that time they know what dad's belt feels like and will know the rules if you are any kind of parent. think it was 6-7, honestly don't remember, but I can still hear my grandfather reciting the rules.

sirhrmechanic · Nov 28, 2024

.32 Remington pump about 10 or so... before that just .22's.

Once I started deer hunting alone.... it was a 94. I think I was 13. At 15 I was winning 'running deer' shoots at local range. It had to be because I had a farm license and could drive myself there.

Not a sniper, just a hick.

Cheers,

Sirhr

supercorndogs · Nov 28, 2024

Many of my first memories are hunting with my dad. I was in the field f8nding birds and hiking well before I was big enough to carry a gun. By the time I was carrying a gun and hunting I was very well acquainted with everything exept actually shooting the animals. I think there age limits in CO to get your Hu ti g safety card then another before you can hunt big game.

dino67 · Nov 28, 2024

If you get a dedicated kid sized rifle get them on it early. My son started with a Savage Rascal at 5yrs. He would shoot alongside me with his on a bipod or bag etc. He had the fundamentals down pretty quickly, trigger discipline, show clear/bolt open etc. Once they have that they have years to grow into holding it on their own and positional stuff.

By the time he was 10 he could smoke a row of beer cans at 300m with one of my 223 rifles and understood basic wind calls, favour left or right etc.

He was eager to get into hunting however my rule was unless he shows me he can consistently hit a 3" gong at rimfire hunting distances he has no business shooting game. He passed that test and at 13yrs old he has successfully taken over 10 hogs and 20 or so rabbits with clean shots using various rifles.

His sister is 17 now and is probably a better shot than him but she's a lefty lol.

They've been going away camping with me now for over a decade and that normally includes a couple of days of informal shooting, gongs, beer cans etc. Introduce them to various rifles, bolt guns, levers etc and go through how they work with them. The fundamentals, trigger, muzzle discipline, remain the same and have become ingrained in them.

Sniperwannabee · Nov 28, 2024

Remember this

supercorndogs · Nov 28, 2024

dino67 said:
If you get a dedicated kid sized rifle get them on it early. My son started with a Savage Rascal at 5yrs. He would shoot alongside me with his on a bipod or bag etc. He had the fundamentals down pretty quickly, trigger discipline, show clear/bolt open etc. Once they have that they have years to grow into holding it on their own and positional stuff.

By the time he was 10 he could smoke a row of beer cans at 300m with one of my 223 rifles and understood basic wind calls, favour left or right etc.

He was eager to get into hunting however my rule was unless he shows me he can consistently hit a 3" gong at rimfire hunting distances he has no business shooting game. He passed that test and at 13yrs old he has successfully taken over 10 hogs and 20 or so rabbits with clean shots using various rifles.

His sister is 17 now and is probably a better shot than him but she's a lefty lol.

They've been going away camping with me now for over a decade and that normally includes a couple of days of informal shooting, gongs, beer cans etc. Introduce them to various rifles, bolt guns, levers etc and go through how they work with them. The fundamentals, trigger, muzzle discipline, remain the same and have become ingrained in them.

Like the second time my wife went shooting she was printing about 3.5" groups at 400y with a rifle that will do about 2.5." Sometimes I think women are just better trigger pullers.

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