how to start a beginner, rifle or shotgun?

[Wolffire99]

My daughter is turning 5 in march and in another year or two I'd like to start her shooting air rifle and/or .22. My concern, well it's not really a concern as much as a curiosity, is that most everyone I know has some trouble learning to shoot a shotgun properly because they learned to shoot rifle/pistol first and have a hard time learning to point instead of aim. Some take to it quicker than others, but I've also witnessed some get frustrated and give up. It seems to me one would be better off learning to instinctively point with a shotgun first and than move to learning to aim second. The problem is that you can start someone shooting a rifle much earlier than a shotgun. The youngest I've seen someone properly shooting a shotgun at flying targets was 10. I'd like to get your opinion, would it be worth waiting a couple years if it meant a lifetime of comfort with the shotgun??? I look forward to your thoughts.

[Thunder71]

If the end goal is a shotgun, then start her out with something like a .410 single shot bolt action.

I started out with BB guns and still aim when shooting trap, course there are other guys on my trap league that aim and routinely get 25/25.

As far as the age, I think 5 is too young myself but they're all different.

[CJB]

I personally cant see a five year old doing more than hitting large targets (hopefully breakable ones) with an air rifle. My own instinct tells me that that's a bit young for the concept of shotgunning.

[JimBianchi]

Every kid is different.

I started my 5yr old off last year with airsoft (plastic BBs). Great training, lots of forgiveness for poor trigger control.

BB guns this year. (steel BBs) Both in the backyard.

Maybe this year I will let her shoot her 22Lr single shot I bought or her 10/22, I think she is too young for her 410 shotgun. (yes, the kid is 6 and has three guns!)

[Wolffire99]

Thanks for the comment. I see the .410 as more of an experts gun that is more likely to frustrate a beginner than help despite virtually no recoil.

I think the end goal is proficiency with both platforms not just one. But yes, I am biased towards shotguns in what I shoot and hunt.

[Barth]

Ruger 10/22

Update: 5 yrs old!?!?
I need to start actually reading a post before replying - LOL.
I think I had a Sheridan 5mm pump air rifle when I was ~10.
BB guns before that....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My first gun was a Ruger 10/22 rifle.
It's a fine way to enter the world of firearms.

[les strat]

I let my son (just turned 6) shoot at the range with my Marlin Model 60 .22. He has Daisey red ryder, and he is learning the basics of gun safety.... and is actually a great shot (didn't get it from me!)

I do think I'd hold off on the shotty for a few years until that small frame can handle the recoil a little better. ALso, the length of pull is often tough on kids at that age evem with most bb guns. The cricket .22 rifles are a great one shot rifle with a very short LOP, and you can lock it up with a key. I'll probably get him one soon.

[MikeyKahr]

Awesome pics les strat, thanks for sharing. Must be one proud papa!

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[tv_racin_fan]

Thanks for the comment. I see the .410 as more of an experts gun that is more likely to frustrate a beginner than help despite virtually no recoil.

I think the end goal is proficiency with both platforms not just one. But yes, I am biased towards shotguns in what I shoot and hunt.

That is strange, I do not see the 410 as an experts gun. I would agree that it takes someone of real experience to shoot one well at ranges that a 12 can handle easily but to say that it is an experts gun... well.

I'd find a single shot 410 and when I decided that my child was ready I'd put the thinnest saw blade on the old table saw. Take the recoil pad off the stock and drill a couple holes into the butt about 6 inches deep. Then I'd cut that stock as square as I possible could as many times as I needed to in 1" increments. When I got under the LOP my child is gonna need I'd install a decent recoil pad to bring it back to the LOP I wanted and I'd save those slivers I had cut so I could adjust the LOP as needed as that child grew. Maybe paint the stock with some sort of flat black rubberized paint beforehand. The holes are so you can line them slivers up when ya need to reinstall em.

THEN I would go check out some 410 ammo. might start reloading it so I can get what I want since 410 don't have the following of larger bores.

MIGHT even cut the barrel off a bit... even as short as 18". I'd have to see how my child can handle it first. Since you are teachin shotgun shootin seems to me ya gonna have to teach em to swing along with the pointin and ya want something they can handle. Course ya aint gon start em off on swingin.

Dern now I got to go see if I can find a decent single shot 410.. it is time to teach the grands to shoot. I need one I can adjust already.

[les strat]

Awesome pics les strat, thanks for sharing. Must be one proud papa!

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Kind of like watching them bring in their first fish!

[crazymailman]

You could start her out on a 22 with bird shot. She gets the pointing down first and there is no recoil and minimal report.

[KMA]

I like .22 lever action carbines. They have almost no recoil and they are very funny to shoot. IMO the most important at that age is having fun, and not being extremely proficient. If she has fun she will want to practice often and after a while she will master the rifle without problems.

[jwtrumbo]

I started my son out with a bolt action single shot 22 at 9 years old. He is now 11 with his hunter safety and went pheasant hunting with me this year. He shoots a Rossi 20 GA. We when out to shoot clays for his first time out he hit 13 out of 20 with it. He is my new hunting partner never once complained about being tired from all the walking and not getting any shots. He really could of take a couple of shots but thought the birds were too far off. He made some good choices for his first time out. One thing we do is talk about gun safety everyday. Have fun with your daughter take it slow and they will stick with it.

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[JFootin]

I can't remember how old I was, but my Dad got me a Marlin single shot .22 rifle.

[muggsy]

My father started me shooting at the age of six with a cut down single shot bolt action .22 long rifle using shorts. We shot at targets, Necco wafers tape to a box in the coal bin. At the age of twelve I had no difficulty making the transition to a .20 Ga. pump. His early training taught me to be safer in the field at the age of 12 than many of the adults we hunted with. I carry those lessons to this day. I don't think that if your son grows to love the shooting sports that making the transition will be any more difficult for him.