Training Courses best way to introduce kid to shooting and keep them interested?

[Powerlock25]

my daughter has interest in shooting with daddy. I practically grew up on a ranch blah, blah, blah so I guess I just picked it up naturally. We live in a subdivision, now. My guns are too big for her. I tried to get her behind a 10/22 the other day - she was confused. Any recommendations to make this fun and easy for both kid and dad? reading material? airsoft in the house? BBguns? nerf (gag)? youth 22?

 

[Krazyjohnny]

Look into the 4 H Field and Stream club in your area.

 

[Name Enough]

I started at age 15 with our high school shooting program and we used single shot target 22lrrifles with iron sights furnished by our school . No recoil and success at 25 yards. I think its important for young folks to have fun and experience success. We like things we are good at.
As an aside back in those days 50 years ago - young shooters and guys on the team would bring their rifles to school with them on the school bus. Now days they would get suspended for even thinking about bringing a rifle to school.

 

[AMF]

We started with airsoft, and then moved to pellet guns. We are now starting the transition to .22s. My Sig 522 has an adjustable stock which makes it easier for my son to shoot. He still has trouble with the weight of the rifle, so he has only shoot it prone. Our local club has a jr division. I believe there is a waiting list. I plan to get my son's name on the list a little early.

 

[milo 2.0]

Get some reactionary targets so she can be rewarded with hits. Be firm with rules, but stay excited. If the child is into it, they should follow your lead.

Oh, and good job!

 

[Starvingboy]

I cut down a little Henry .22 so it fits my 5yr old. We duck into the barn and shoot cans and other stuff that is large, yet will go flying when hit. The 3yr old likes to sake a few turns as well. Biggest thing, when they start getting bored, we pack it in, right then. If it's not fun, we're done.

 

[Strykervet]

A Playstation 3, Splintercell Blacklist, Call of Duty Modern Whatever 9, any other realistic shooter. A couple good Red Jacket classic selections, an AK47 and the AK shotgun. And of course, zombie targets and zombie ammo. When their interest wanes, throw some binary charges behind the targets to give it a "boom", that's what they do on the "reality" shooting shows!

No, seriously, my local shooting range that I belong to, they have a youth program and provide them with jackets, rifles, training, and they actually teach them how to shoot right and respect the firearm. The jackets hang in the clubhouse, NICE shooting jackets (hell, "I" want one!) and their very nice bolt action .22 rifles and their .22 pistols and I think some shotguns are locked up in the safes in there. I suppose having a little orientation from dad first would help, perhaps a decent, fairly accurate .22 of his own, or a good, accurate pellet rifle depending on your situation. If the range provides him with everything, a good pellet rifle may be best for his own to start. Or if he's ready now, or if not later, I'd recommend a Ruger 10/22, as he'll still have it as an adult. Regardless, if you sign him up at a range like mine, he'll be provided with all he needs while he's there unless you get the right gear of his own, which looks expensive.

They stay pretty interested, meeting other kids, being competitive with something that sort of evens the playing fields (the nerds can shoot as good as the jocks as good as the girls --who may do better, truth be told). They're being instructed in the adult world and given a lot of responsibility. It's also fun, kids like to shoot, especially boys. I think they like it, they seem to come back and there's enough of them to shut down whatever range their using when they get together.

These NRA sponsored youth clubs are pretty nice. Look for an NRA sponsored range that does what I'm talking about (I'm sure you have 'em in Texas!) and sign him up. It'll give him respect for firearms and proper training in their use, not the Playstation/XBox introduction to how to use firearms. He'll be prepared for shooting NM and service rifle shoots and the like. I wish I was in one when I was younger, but at least I got to go shooting a lot since age 8 and learned from my father. A bit of both would be best.

 

[pyplynr]

Suppressed .22lr and knockdown targets.

 

[Delta4-3]

Suppressed chipmunk .22 in pink, since they are little girls, ages 4 & 6. Shoot reactive targets such as fruit, coke cans, etc. I use a red dot sight because it cuts down on the amount of things they have to learn. When the have breathing and trigger control down, I'll teach them how to use irons. A lot of older guys think you have to teach them on irons, but I find the RDS much more productive because at that age throwing too many variables at them is discouraging and in the end, they are less proficient and have less fun. It also let's them have a high hit ratio the day they start, hooking them for good.

I'm strict on safety rules, but reward them for their safety. Such as, " oh hey, here's a bag of M&Ms because you kept your finger out of the trigger guard before and after the shot." they are more safety conscience than most adults at the ranges ive been too, though we have our own private range I use with them. Make it super fun.

I also only allow 30 minutes of TV and electronics a day, combined. So they don't have the option of staying in and watching tv instead. They'd rather shoot anyway though.

 

[Delta4-3]

Suppressed chipmunk .22 in pink, since they are little girls, ages 4 & 6. Shoot reactive targets such as fruit, coke cans, etc. I use a red dot sight because it cuts down on the amount of things they have to learn. When the have breathing and trigger control down, I'll teach them how to use irons. A lot of older guys think you have to teach them on irons, but I find the RDS much more productive because at that age throwing too many variables at them is discouraging and in the end, they are less proficient and have less fun. It also let's them have a high hit ratio the day they start, hooking them for good.

I'm strict on safety rules, but reward them for their safety. Such as, " oh hey, here's a bag of M&Ms because you kept your finger out of the trigger guard before and after the shot." they are more safety conscience than most adults at the ranges ive been too, though we have our own private range I use with them. Make it super fun.

I also only allow 30 minutes of TV and electronics a day, combined. So they don't have the option of staying in and watching tv instead. They'd rather shoot anyway though.

I also let them customize their guns the way they want, such as mini mouse or princess stickers, I think that adds to their enjoyment. Both started reloading with me at 2 1/2. Now they can load a round start to finish on their own, but supervised of course. They like that as much as shooting. They will bust out an adult for using the wrong terminology too. Don't call a loaded cartridge a bullet, or brass a shell, or a magazine a clip, because they will politely correct you and you'll feel pretty dumb!

 

[Delta4-3]

They saw the pink Ashburry chasis Low Light wrote about and have been begging for one for weeks.