Shooting Children.

[bugg 84]

Hi all, how old were your kids or you when you started shooting? My little lad is 4 he's always asking if we can go shoot some pigeons and is showing interest in hunting in general, loves fishing too, what would be seen as appropriate to teach him to use a rifle? I can't remember what age I was when I first used a gun, but now the little ultra is in the equation can't help but think that'd be a good one to do some can shooting for him

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Do it mate, my daughter was 5 when I started takinig her ferreting. She loved it.

I think I was around 6 or 7 when my uncle started to let me have a go on his air rifle. I was walking round the woods alone at around 10 or 11. How times have changed.

[toby63 1,236]

My daughter was 5 when she used to come with me over night carp fishing she is 10 now still coarse fishes with me goes lamping with dog and she as a bsa ultra now and she is a fairly decent shot with it . Trouble is now is geting to go out on my own lol ha

[3175darren 1,102]

Ok allowing for the physical abilities required to fire a gun,it varies a lot I was very young when I started going out,and as soon as I could handle a airgun I did with other people present of course, after a while I moved on to a 410 which was really used to implement gun safety I was watched like a hawk,constantly told to break the gun,it did me good though, its never a bad time to learn,and kids love to be out and about,

[Lab 10,979]

I read the title and thought "oh Socks is at the psychological questions again"...lol

[Flipper_Al 1,012]

My youngest is 11, were just back from shooting(Target), he uses my old Ultra, and absolutely loves it

[paulus 26]

my youngest started with a 410g at about 6 or 7 progressed to a single 20g by 8 and o/u 20g by roughly 12 he was using the rimfire and other rifles from about 6 or 7 the same as the 410g,

[jamesS410 106]

I read the title and thought "oh Socks is at the psychological questions again"...lol

My first though was to check the general licence

[mushroom 14,081]

Had mine at it since she was 3ish she took her fist rabbit solo at around 4/5 obviously with me there mind lol

[Chr15j 59]

Teaching my daughter, slowly and she's just turned 5

[John Stott 202]

Grand daughter 5 and desperate to shoot with granpa and dad, leaving it till she is physically big enough though. If it keeps them away from screens and silly "apps" then all for it at any age.

[j j m 6,615]

My eldest lad started at 6

[pianoman 3,589]

I started shooting with my dad when I was six years old. He was a cracking shot with a .22LR on open sights and I learened with that rifle and his help 'til an aunt in Australia sent me a Webley .22 air rifle for my 7th birthday and I've been spring air rifle shooting ever since!

 

Then, last year, I went out with a friend's two young lads and we had a brilliant first-time shooting session one afternoon, teaching the boys to shoot properly and responsibly. They now have their own air rifles and have already proved capable hunters; though we never let them wander off by themselves. They are allowed the lead and we follow behind watching them carefully. It's marvelous to be able to watch a youngster develope properly with his/her confidence and fieldcraft skills as well as marksmanship from your own abilities.

 

Did anyone see a documentary about Children and Guns in the US recently? What a bloody eye-popping doc that was! There are something like three thousand children killed by firearms in the US every year. One moronic arsehole bought his FOUR year old daughter a .44cal trapping rifle for her Christmas present ...and couldn't understand why she suddenly lost her enthusiasm after she shouldered it, with her idiot dad's help and fired one round from this massively recoiling cannon that walloped her little shoulder hard!

 

I know the average American is not the smartest of people but, bloody hell, after seeing this documentary, even I was in favour of limits on childrens access to firearms!

[Rez 4,961]

Yep, saw that Simon. Thought the same, bloody elephant gun kick. Ex marine I think he was.

 

Saw one of your paintings in a boozer in Wragby today, "before we go" I think it was titled. Look a print mind. The Ivy pub.

[pianoman 3,589]

"Before We Go", my celebrated 7-peeing Bomber aircrew! Yes Rez it would be a print as I keep the original drawing. Glad you saw it mate . I've yet to visit The Ivy.