There's an ER Physician female friend of mine suggesting that I NOT start out with a loud shotgun with young girls as it would probably drive them away from ever wanting to participate with gun usage again .
So I'm asking you, my internet family, if I start slow with nonleathels, like pellet comes, pump guns, etc. What would you recommend? I'm thinking about a little handgun that shoots pellets or bee bees. Small enough that they could handle the weight but accurate enough that it doesn't feel like a toy.
I'm thinking handgun first but possible a daisy rifle too. I don't know whether to do hand or rifle, BBs or slugs. . Cartridge or pump action.
What say you on proprly teaching of weaponry to children age 10-14 girls.
As a female that was exposed to firearms often and early (my dad took me to the range for the first time when I was about 5), I think I can speak on this subject!
ReplyDeleteA youth sized .22 rifle. They aren't expensive, make a loud enough noise to impress a child, make a big enough hole in a target to give the child satisfaction in accomplishment AND are lethal enough to impress upon the child that guns are NOT toys. Have them shoot a few bottles...seeing a bottle explode DOES register as a "Holy Cow, these gun things can kill you!" experience.
Shotguns may frighten a child away from a love of firearms/hunting. Big boom, big kick can be very scary. BB guns seem like toys. Handguns can be too difficult for a child's hands to operate efficiently. They feel clumsy in a petite hand.
Mind you, my dad was a drill instructor, range instructor and sniper instructor in the military, so we had guns all over the house, so I was used to seeing them on a daily basis.
My older sisters took almost no interest in firearms. My oldest sister, when 15 INSISTED on going target practice with me and our dad once. She stubbornly demanded to be allowed to fire the 10 gauge shotgun that my father was using. He finally let her---just to hush her up. (If you knew her, you'd understand) She didn't follow his instructions and ended up with a broken collarbone. As far as I know, she never shot another weapon again.
I really do think a youth sized .22 rifle is the best place to start. Progress from there.
As a mom who also teaches riflery, I wouldn't start your kids on a 12 gauge. I'm an adult and still dislike the 12 gauge. I get my deer with a 20.
ReplyDeleteIf I'd been started on a shotgun, instead of pistols, I might never have gone shooting again.
We started our girls last year (when they were 7&9) on air rifles at a homeschoolers' class at the university shooting range. Actually, they got to shoot those at church every week during the summer two years before that, so really 5&7) Anyway, they love them. They desperately want to learn to shoot pistols (they have another year of air-rifle before they will have finished that program, then I'll let them do the pistol program - more out of my flinching at the cost than anything else). And my oldest really wants to come Appleseeding with me. We'll do it as a mommy-daughter thing in the fall, I think - with my 10-22. It's lightweight and there is no kick. Great for learning without developing bad flinches right at the start. I'd prefer not to have to fix bad habits!
FWIW, my oldest is very tall for her age (she is often mistaken for a teen), and my youngest is teeny-tiny - I've met bigger 5 year olds. I try to choose for them firearms experiences that are not particularly loud, or physically painful in terms of recoil, or in terms of weight - the girls won't get to shoot my Featherweight for awhile because it is kicks, and they won't get to shoot the Garand because it is far too heavy for them to shoulder. They get to shoot the Cricket and the 10-22s.
Just make it painless - then it's a daddy-daughter thing they'll love, and when they think about shooting, they'll think about how much fun it was.
Xa Lynn
Can't resist...... must...take...bait....
ReplyDeleteJust get them each a small handgun for kitchen defense in a neutral color to match whatever they are wearing. Long guns get in the way of woman's work too much to be all that important. :)
I'd start them with a 22 single in an appropriate size for their stature. You want their first experience to be all good, if possible ...no down side. They are learning to aim as well and nothing will feeds their confidence and enthusiasm like hitting the target. In my opinion, BB guns and pellet rifles are too inconsistent to make the process of learning to aim a good experience. A 22 rifle will give them just enough 'pop' and just the hint of a kick ...all good despooking exercises to help them relax and not flinch. When they're confident and truly have the mechanics of aiming down pat, let them move up if they want to. But the first scatter gun I would let them try is a 410. WAY less kick than a 20 or 12 gauge, but definitely more than a 22 rifle. They'll let you know when they're ready to go from the 410 to the 20 or 12 gauge.
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion. Make it fun and they'll be lifetime enthusiasts.
Our daughter was 6 when she got her first BB gun, but due to our family's way of life, she already had a lot of exposure to guns. My mother in law carries a .25 auto in her purse, there was a .45 on the coffee table in the living room, a 12gauge leaning up against the wall next to the door, etc.
ReplyDeleteA shotgun is really loud compared to almost any other gun. I don't shoot shot guns for that reason. We bought a .243 rifle for our daughter's 14th birthday and she loves it. But her favorite gun is a .22 and that is the one that rides in her car with her, especially during squirrel season, (until she leaves for college on Wednesday).
There are so many guns made for women and girls now. In fact, there is actually many pink guns, including .22s. I think a .22 is the best gun for kids because it is easy to handle, no kick, lots less noise but it is still lethal.
Our kids were always taught guns were not toys. We didn't buy toy guns or even squirt guns. Our family had too many guns easily accessible to anyone for our kids to treat them as toys.
Remember ear plugs if you are going to use a shot gun or even rifles. My daughter has really sensitive ears and the only gun she shoots without ear plugs is her .22.
Hope all this rambling helps.
Just like everyone said. A 22 is the best bet in a hand gun and a rifle.
ReplyDeleteI have three girls and I started all mine at the tender age of six on 22's and 410's. They then graduated up to the 243, 20ga and the 38. My oldest shot competition with an AK while the middle likes the hand guns and the youngest prefers the 20ga loaded with buck shot. She says it makes a bigger mess.
All my girls can destroy me when it comes to shooting. I am luck to leave with any dignity after we shoot together.
We went target shooting one time and the oldest brought one of her Barbie dolls. I told her that the gun range was not the place for a doll. She said "No daddy, I want to see if I can take her head off at a 100 yards". That was the first time I ever wept as an adult. I was so proud.
I trained my kids on the Canadian single shot bolt action .22LR Cricket. Nice little gun, not expensive, perfect for kids.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother that is also teaching her young to shoot, I wouldnt start them off with a 12 gauge. Get a nice little .22 we just got ours a cricket, its a nice little single shot youth rifle with lots of safety precautions, and it comes in pink for girls.
ReplyDeleteCricket .22LR is probably the way to go. Air rifles just don't provide the same experience.
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to let the 3 year old try the Mosin, but Momma kinda has a problem with that LOL
Gotta be a BB or pellet rifle. Build success using the target bullies before the loud noises. Hook 'em once on success....
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