Proudly Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 At what age have members introduced their children to clay shooting & generally learning gun safety? How did you go about it? I have a 6yr old sensible daughter I'd like to introduce to shooting but the local gun club has said 12yrs so they can use a 20g as shooting a .410 is counter productive. I'd appreciate peoples thoughts on this, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) I started at 6 with airgun and 6 with clays but 8 for live game with 410. A 410 with open chokes and 14g or more of 9's will break clays to 30 to 35 yards. Ear protection and supervision is key. Sounds like someones calibre prejudice is getting in the way.......... Edited October 12, 2015 by Stonepark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I can remember being as keen as they come till my 11th birthday before I started .... Looking back, it seemed like around the right time ..... though a single barrel 16 bore wasn't the ideal tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 There should be no set age. It is purely down to the individuals' desire to shoot coupled with the ability so safely hold and mount whatever gun is available. Be careful though, dads of younger offspring to not good coaches make. A busy clay range with no dedicated coaching stance is also not an ideal environment. Dads will have a wish for their offspring to do well and will crack on and a keen youngster will not know when to stop. Both of these elements coupled with the need to rush because of a queue forming spell disaster. A good coach working in a relaxed environment will recognise from the students' body language when to pause for a break or if necessary stop the lesson at that point.before the damage is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 As above as to age it depends on strength (not just size) maturity and want to learn. A 410 with the right targets and choke/cartridge combination is a very effect starting tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffin Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Started 100s youngsters over the years my view is when they are big enough to hold a gun and control it they are old enough. One more essential youngsters need to realize that this is not a game with a gun like football or rugby. This is real some learn or know that at a very young age some in there 20s plus have never learnt it and never will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proudly Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I was thinking along the lines of taking my daughter out on shoot days & letting her ride the quad to carry bits & bobs. See how she goes then let her carry an empty gun to teach her safety. When I think she's ready let her try clays on the farm. We have a clay trap that one of the lads spent ages making an alloy frame with seat to attach it to. He didn't try the trap before making the frame....the trap is absolute garbage lol, he was furious spending all that time making the frame. Its ideal for kids though as it doesn't throw them too fast or far lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Little girl with us Saturday and she's five. It was only a small walkabout shoot (12 guns) and everyone looked after her. She had a good time and gets to know the in's and out's of it all before having her own gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) I was thinking along the lines of taking my daughter out on shoot days & letting her ride the quad to carry bits & bobs. See how she goes then let her carry an empty gun to teach her safety. When I think she's ready let her try clays on the farm. We have a clay trap that one of the lads spent ages making an alloy frame with seat to attach it to. He didn't try the trap before making the frame....the trap is absolute garbage lol, he was furious spending all that time making the frame. Its ideal for kids though as it doesn't throw them too fast or far lol Good form to let her carry a gun and mix with other shooters IMHO. Then walking and crossing obstacles and fences with an empty gun. Getting in an out of motor cars is as a good one as is "slipping a gun". An airgun with adult supervision is also a good way to start leading on to target shooting on her own when she fully understands the safety issues. So I suppose the answer to the OP's Q is "when they are ready". Edited October 12, 2015 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I think that shooting is like eating: if a child is taken to nice places, shown a good example and expected to behave with expectations enforced by parenting, they will grow up knowledgeable and with manners. Therefore it is my duty as a parent to go shooting and eat out a lot. As for guns, I've seen 20G semi automatics in the hands of seven and eight year olds at the gun club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Took my boy when he turned six. Uses the air pistol, air rifles and a little .410. He generally shoots static clays with the .410 but will introduce him to the moving targets once he beefs up a bit and I am confident in his ability. As others have said, safety is the main thing. I always make him clean the guns down afterwards, under supervision of course. That way he learns to respect them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 My grandson is 9 and has had a 20 gauge auto for a couple of years. If the OP's local club has an absolute rule - albeit a silly one - go elsewhere. If it is not a rule, I would be inclined to tell them to mind their own business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proudly Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Thanks for all the advice, food for thought..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Our club has no lower age rule, As long as they are capable enough to physically hold the gun then that's fine, Safety is paramount, When they start beating us we ban them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 (edited) My Grandson Jacob is 5 1/2.He's had a 410 since he was one day old, but it's still too big for him.I bought a nice shortened 410 from another PW member for Jacobs 5th. Birthday. Despite its significently shortened stock Jacob still doesn't fit the gun, so he is waiting patiently to take his first shot.He's been to the clay shoot a few times and thoroughly enjoys himself helping Grandad.webber Edited October 13, 2015 by webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 My Grandson Jacob is 5 1/2.He's had a 410 since he was one day old, but it's still too big for him.I bought a nice shortened 410 from anoer PW member for Jacobs 5th. Birthday. Despite its significently shortened stock Jacob still doesn't fit the gun, so he is waiting patiently to take his first shot.He's been to the clay shoot a few times and thoroughly enjoys himself helping Grandad.webber Nice one mate!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 All the above is very good advice, with children growing so rapidly nowadays it is difficult to judge when is the right time. Possibly around nine years old may be right but it really is dependant on their stature and mental ability to understand the seriousness of shooting and safe conduct and their physical ability to hold and control a gun. A .410 in the correct circumstances could be perfect , but failure to hit anything can destroy any latent enthusiasm. If a 28 bore is available they are a superb children's gun. Many many of us learned by walking a shoot with an empty gun for a season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jega Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Like a lot of the guys on here my own son started with air rifles at about 12 years old mainly to teach him safe gun handling and general shooting etiquette . After about 6 months or so we got him his first 12 bore ,another year later and he was wiping the bloody floor with me . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 My Grandson Jacob is 5 1/2. He's had a 410 since he was one day old, but it's still too big for him. I bought a nice shortened 410 from another PW member for Jacobs 5th. Birthday. Despite its significently shortened stock Jacob still doesn't fit the gun, so he is waiting patiently to take his first shot. He's been to the clay shoot a few times and thoroughly enjoys himself helping Grandad. webber Excellent granddad and grandson pic...........his little smile says it all. Good on ya Blue ya beaut (not from Oz just thought I'd add that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James306 Posted October 30, 2015 Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 Never started a youngster off, but my dad used to take me to the Sunday shoots from probably around 4/5, by 6 I used to collect spent cartridges and intact clays from the site and line them up on the fence on the edge of the field and plink them off with an air rifle. Started shooting clays at around 12 or so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) My daughter is 7 now, been going to clay ranges for couple of years, she is keen to do the buttoning for us. Tried shooting static clays with a .410' (thanks DM), still I think I will give her more time to shoot (if she wants to). Not mature enough yet. This is my experience. Edited November 1, 2015 by londonercsecse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris1961 Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 As soon as they are able to handle a gun safely start off with a nice little 410 build their confidence up with nice easy targets then gradually build up to more challenging targets don't try with hard targets or they will get board and not enjoy it once board that's the end of it you have to make it as exiting as possible to keep them intrested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flycoy Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 There should be no set age. It is purely down to the individuals' desire to shoot coupled with the ability so safely hold and mount whatever gun is available. Be careful though, dads of younger offspring to not good coaches make. A busy clay range with no dedicated coaching stance is also not an ideal environment. Dads will have a wish for their offspring to do well and will crack on and a keen youngster will not know when to stop. Both of these elements coupled with the need to rush because of a queue forming spell disaster. A good coach working in a relaxed environment will recognise from the students' body language when to pause for a break or if necessary stop the lesson at that point.before the damage is done. totally agree with all Wymberley is saying here, we coach a lot of youngsters at the coaching lines at gamefairs. we normally have a couple of light weight 410 single barrels available and with shoulder gel pads, eye and ear protection we have some very happy youngsters after they have broken say 4or5 out of 10 incomers. they walk away chatting away to their parents full of it. a lot return to the same fairs the following year. you will have probably seen adverts with bakerboy coaching a young lad who did exceptionally well we also do a lot with them on Basc Young Shot days, air rifles, shotguns, dog training, falconry and pigeon decoying. moving them on to walked up partridge days, some of the ones that started at 7 are now Young shot ambassadors in there late teens I would say as long as the youngster is keen and big enough then you should make the best of that time as they soon grow out of interest in things, not going to be a "party pooper " but if its not at a clay ground then watch the law around" young persons and shotguns", just being with their dad may not be enough. if I can help with more PM me and will do my best to help flycoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 My 7 year old girl is shooting the air rifle in the back garden, it's still too big for her but it all goes into the safety/ getting a feel for it category. She is supervised by myself and is always asking when she can come shooting with me, I've just got her the full camo etc so next month she's gonna spend a day in the hide with me and see if she enjoys it, Start em as soon as they become interested, even if they can't hold a gun yet, it all sinks in with em Atb Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carman06 Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 I started my kids on air rifles at about 7 but the most important thing was when their hands were big enough to hold stock and reach trigger with out having to take hand off the rifle/pistol grip. Safety and control is where it starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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