When is/was it time for your kids?

Harry Callahan · January 4, 2006, 06:33 PM

To first go shooting with you? My grandfather took my brother and I when I was around 7(1968). My brother is 3 years younger than I am. We would always look forward to going to Arkansas so we could go shooting with Gramps. That planted the seed for me and my love of firearms and I was hoping my kids would be interested also. My wife and I decided not to push the subject on them and let them decide for themselves if it was something they might want to look into further. I told my son, now 12, that he would have to wait until he was 10 before he could go to the range for the first time. I also impressed upon him the importance of safe gun handling habits-all of which he has mastered long before firing that first shot. Of course, there's no substitute for adult supervision which I happily provide. I got him started on my .22 rifle, an absolutely perfect gun to get started on. Not much recoil, not overly intimidating, just right. He then graduated to my .22 revolver, then 9mm,.357, all the way up to the holy grail as far as a 12 year old is concerned, the .44 Magnum. After he got over the bang and got comfortable with the recoil he at least started hitting the target and I could see the look of satisfaction and pride in his eye. Now he picks the guns we shoot. His favorite is my Colt HBAR .223. Now my daughter is about to turn 10 and seems to be getting interested. Hmmm....

hIPSHOT33 · January 4, 2006, 08:29 PM

way to go harry . Its grate to get the kids started on the right path . I have two Grandsons 11 and 9 and they can both shoot well . The oldes one picked up my 1187 last week for the first time and broke 5 out of 6 straght away clays with it . He got his hunting license this year and beat his dad in the Dove fields with a little 20 gage 870 wingmaster that I cut down for him .

Harry Callahan · January 4, 2006, 09:28 PM

Thanks, hipSHOT. Also, thanks for your service to our country. It is appreciated.

Peeweester40 · January 4, 2006, 09:56 PM

"To first go shooting with you? My grandfather took my brother and I when I was around 7(1968)."

I don't have kids but credit my dad for my love and interest in firearms. As a kid I grew up in Georgia, close to the Okeefenokee (sp?) Swamp. I remember my dad and I going to the swamp with his Winchester .22 model 69 and shooting at snakes and beer cans. Safety was always stressed, and nothing ever was shot that I didn't think needing shooting.

Lebben-B · January 5, 2006, 06:56 AM

I waited for my son to say the magic words, "Teach me." Being a military family, my son was exposed to small arms at an early age (meeting Dad at the company as he comes home from exercises/deployments, static displays during All-American Week/Week of Eagles, driving past hot ranges, etc) so I waited to see if he would take more than a passing interest in firearms.

We were at a mall waiting on the wife to buy something and we wandered into an arcade. My son wanted to play one of those zombie killing games. One of those games that have the plastic pistols attached. So I fished in my pocket for some quarters and we cranked it up. Mindless fun. The family that slays together stays together, right?

Afterward, with the world saved from zombification, he looked up at me and asked how I got so good at shooting. I told him that his great-grandfather taught me (with a little help from a rich uncle). He then asked if I could teach him. I immediately scooped up the wife and went to the local gunshop and bought a used .22. He was 10 at the time and now at 13 is a pretty decent shot with a rifle and is itching to try a pistol.

Mike

kingudaroad · January 5, 2006, 02:45 PM

The biggest thing for my boys was making the adjustment from toy guns to real. That started with bb guns at age 7 and a lot of teaching , yelling, and occasional ducking until he learned how serious the muzzle of that gun was compared to the toys that he was used to pointing at anything he wanted for the last 6 years. 1 year later he is an accomplished safe shooter, listens intently to instruction, and never touches a gun without my permission. Here's a picture of him shooting our 17 hmr. http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...1&d=1135059619

Average Joe · January 5, 2006, 03:33 PM

Depends on how mature they are. I took my sons when they were around 10 to shoot .22's. At 12 they were shooting shotguns and hi power rifles.

Wisby · January 5, 2006, 03:45 PM

I don't have kids but I was 6 or 7 and I think it was the most fun and first thing me and my Dad really did together. Well my first memory anyway

PaulBk · January 5, 2006, 03:48 PM

My daughter started shooting (air rifle) with me when she was 5.

-PB

Quantrill · January 6, 2006, 01:41 PM

I started at 7. My daughters (2) started at 8. My grandsons have started at 6 and 8. Quantrill

Chris Phelps · January 6, 2006, 02:17 PM

I started at 5 with air rifles. Got my first .22cal for my bday when I was 8. My grandfather gave me a 257 when I was 12. Im only 24, so I dont have kids.

January 4, 2006, 06:33 PM	#1
Harry Callahan Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 691	When is/was it time for your kids? To first go shooting with you? My grandfather took my brother and I when I was around 7(1968). My brother is 3 years younger than I am. We would always look forward to going to Arkansas so we could go shooting with Gramps. That planted the seed for me and my love of firearms and I was hoping my kids would be interested also. My wife and I decided not to push the subject on them and let them decide for themselves if it was something they might want to look into further. I told my son, now 12, that he would have to wait until he was 10 before he could go to the range for the first time. I also impressed upon him the importance of safe gun handling habits-all of which he has mastered long before firing that first shot. Of course, there's no substitute for adult supervision which I happily provide. I got him started on my .22 rifle, an absolutely perfect gun to get started on. Not much recoil, not overly intimidating, just right. He then graduated to my .22 revolver, then 9mm,.357, all the way up to the holy grail as far as a 12 year old is concerned, the .44 Magnum. After he got over the bang and got comfortable with the recoil he at least started hitting the target and I could see the look of satisfaction and pride in his eye. Now he picks the guns we shoot. His favorite is my Colt HBAR .223. Now my daughter is about to turn 10 and seems to be getting interested. Hmmm.... __________________ "Ah ah. I know what you're thinkin'. Did he fire 6 shots or only 5? To tell you the truth in all this excitement I've kind of lost track myself. But with this being a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off... you've got to ask yourself a question. Do I feel lucky? WELL DO YA, PUNK?!!!"- Harry Callahan(Dirty Harry)

January 4, 2006, 09:28 PM	#3
Harry Callahan Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 691	Thanks, hipSHOT. Also, thanks for your service to our country. It is appreciated. __________________ "Ah ah. I know what you're thinkin'. Did he fire 6 shots or only 5? To tell you the truth in all this excitement I've kind of lost track myself. But with this being a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off... you've got to ask yourself a question. Do I feel lucky? WELL DO YA, PUNK?!!!"- Harry Callahan(Dirty Harry)

January 5, 2006, 06:56 AM	#5
Lebben-B Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: WHy is an Infantryman being sent to Ft Sill? Posts: 132	I waited for my son to say the magic words, "Teach me." Being a military family, my son was exposed to small arms at an early age (meeting Dad at the company as he comes home from exercises/deployments, static displays during All-American Week/Week of Eagles, driving past hot ranges, etc) so I waited to see if he would take more than a passing interest in firearms. We were at a mall waiting on the wife to buy something and we wandered into an arcade. My son wanted to play one of those zombie killing games. One of those games that have the plastic pistols attached. So I fished in my pocket for some quarters and we cranked it up. Mindless fun. The family that slays together stays together, right? Afterward, with the world saved from zombification, he looked up at me and asked how I got so good at shooting. I told him that his great-grandfather taught me (with a little help from a rich uncle). He then asked if I could teach him. I immediately scooped up the wife and went to the local gunshop and bought a used .22. He was 10 at the time and now at 13 is a pretty decent shot with a rifle and is itching to try a pistol. Mike __________________ "But officer, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are three of my favorite things."

January 5, 2006, 03:48 PM	#9
PaulBk Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Location: Western Washington Posts: 164	My daughter started shooting (air rifle) with me when she was 5. -PB __________________ Hero's aren't born, they're cornered - According to Jim

January 6, 2006, 02:17 PM	#11
Chris Phelps Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: South China, Maine Posts: 814	I started at 5 with air rifles. Got my first .22cal for my bday when I was 8. My grandfather gave me a 257 when I was 12. Im only 24, so I dont have kids. __________________ Bushmaster Superlight AR-15 5.56mm / Custom 24" Heavy BBL Varmint AR-15 5.56mm / Ruger M77 .257 Roberts / Ruger MKI 22LR Pistol / EAA Witness 9mm Pistol / Daisy 2202 22LR / Remington Viper 522 22LR / Stevens 200 .223 / Savage 10FP 24" .308 / Mauser 98 Sporter 30-06

January 4, 2006, 08:29 PM	#2
hIPSHOT33 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2005 Location: ETNA CA. IN THE REAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Posts: 120	way to go harry . Its grate to get the kids started on the right path . I have two Grandsons 11 and 9 and they can both shoot well . The oldes one picked up my 1187 last week for the first time and broke 5 out of 6 straght away clays with it . He got his hunting license this year and beat his dad in the Dove fields with a little 20 gage 870 wingmaster that I cut down for him .

January 4, 2006, 09:56 PM	#4
Peeweester40 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2006 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 143	"To first go shooting with you? My grandfather took my brother and I when I was around 7(1968)." I don't have kids but credit my dad for my love and interest in firearms. As a kid I grew up in Georgia, close to the Okeefenokee (sp?) Swamp. I remember my dad and I going to the swamp with his Winchester .22 model 69 and shooting at snakes and beer cans. Safety was always stressed, and nothing ever was shot that I didn't think needing shooting.

January 5, 2006, 02:45 PM	#6
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	The biggest thing for my boys was making the adjustment from toy guns to real. That started with bb guns at age 7 and a lot of teaching , yelling, and occasional ducking until he learned how serious the muzzle of that gun was compared to the toys that he was used to pointing at anything he wanted for the last 6 years. 1 year later he is an accomplished safe shooter, listens intently to instruction, and never touches a gun without my permission. Here's a picture of him shooting our 17 hmr. http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...1&d=1135059619

January 5, 2006, 03:33 PM	#7
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 746	Depends on how mature they are. I took my sons when they were around 10 to shoot .22's. At 12 they were shooting shotguns and hi power rifles.

January 5, 2006, 03:45 PM	#8
Wisby Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2005 Location: Bangor, Wa / Cypress, Tx Posts: 302	I don't have kids but I was 6 or 7 and I think it was the most fun and first thing me and my Dad really did together. Well my first memory anyway

January 6, 2006, 01:41 PM	#10
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: N.J.,USA Posts: 509	I started at 7. My daughters (2) started at 8. My grandsons have started at 6 and 8. Quantrill