Stratts Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Hi guys after some advice and feedback about teaching my twin sons all about air rifles and fieldsports generally I know they are a bit too young at the moment at 4 1/2 years old but when did you teach any of yours or take them out decoying, ferretting, etc? They know that I go shooting and Nathan points his finger at any pigeon and rabbit he sees and says 'pow, 40p or pow, quid!' much to the wife's dismay!! They have also watched me skin bunnies and helped to pluck pigeons already and tnite when I said the bbq was coming out they wanted rabbit kebabs Also when I asked what they wanted to do Saturday they said go to the woods and stalk and watch some deer. Which we tried but to no avail due to the constant questions being asked Just wondering when they would start to understand the safety and danger of guns? Cheers Edited May 22, 2012 by Stratts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 mine were about 8 from memory,hw25 starter kit..my criteria was when were they taking it seriously enough to really listen..obvoiusly always supervised/cans/paper punch only. aged 10 first go at clays... since when shotguns/driven days...they've cost me a f&*((ing fortune! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratts Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Ha ha luckily I don't do pheasant shooting so it'll just be air rifle pellets, although by the time they are that age they'll prob cost a small fortune too!!! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canis Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 The short answer is that it is different for every kid - there is both a physical requirement- big enough to control a gun- and a mental requirement- big enough to be in control of a gun . The best answer is that you are in the best position to judge when they are ready! I think the idea of airguns first and onto other firearms as they develop (if they remain interested) is the best. Your last line of "Just wondering when they would start to understand the safety and danger of guns?" is really the key to it - my step nephew was pronounced ready for airguns at 8, but before he he went near the range he had had gun safety drilled into him such that he could come out with "never point a gun at anything you dont want to kill" and pretty well understood its application. While I would applaud getting young people into shooting i think that theres a point when it is too early. Kids need to have toy guns and run about pointing them at people shouting "bang bang youre dead 50 bullets in your head" (although probably in a yank accent with expletives these days) and its unfair to introduce them to shooting until its also the point that they move on from that - My step nephew having been introduced to firearms, mirroring my upbringing, is now no longer expected to point toy guns at another person( with the possible exception of a water pistol, outside on a hot day ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 My son was 7 when we got an HW25 but he is big for his age. At 10 he was granted his SGC and shot with a short stock 20g (now for sale!) and now has a 12g Browning 525. The BIG thing is safety and responsibility - he has developed a serious outlook towards guns of any kind and when friends of his are shooting with us he demands total concentration from them too. Often kids can be a bit ditsy and whilst they would not deliberately cause problems, inattention for just a moment can have very serious consequences. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 What a cracking post . Remember youngsters are the future of shooting. The boys sound keen and obviously thats down to you and credit for that .Its never to early to start them and yep the best way is with the air rifle. Like has been said earlier a little HW25 would be great although he won't manage to cock it himself just yet. A spring gun is the way to go as well. Don't be tempted to start him with a PCP. A spring gun will teach him how to "hold the gun" and experience recoil rather than on a PCP which is really like shooting something "dead" so to speak, i.e no recoil. An air rifle is probably the way that most people got into shooting. I know i did when i was 6years old. Thats a long time ago now . Remember though that safety is the first lesson you should be teaching him and that needs to stay in his head for the whole of his shooting career. Safety is paramount and the basis for learning to shoot. Idealy it would be good if you have an air rifle club near to where you live that you could join . Get him started now and good luck ATB, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katzenjammer Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Only you will be able to judge when they are old enough and sensible enough but starting to train them verbally from a young age can't be bad - the danger of guns, a tool, safety etc etc. Plus physical strength to cock an air rifle if you go for a springer. Taking them to a properly controled range has to be good for them - we have some very disciplined young lads at our range who started before they were 10 and have carried the lessons through - sometimes better than some adults tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad93 Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I suppose I was about seven when I first was taught, I actually started out target shooting with .177 pistol at around 8 yards, with a table in front. Between every shot the pistol would be placed on the table, the surroundings checked for any people/animals etc, we would talk about the shot placement, breathing etc, then the pistol would be reloaded safely and fired at the target, I then got a gat gun an went mad shooting darts, pellets and anything else .177 sized (y) as many people did I imagine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I remember when my father first started to teach me when I was around 8, we used a Gamo Expo and he drilled safety, safety and more safety into me. Luckily we had a long garden and pro shooting neighbours so I used to plink away for hours. Great memories I would say when they speak responsibly about guns then they are ready to be given the force and a key for lifelong father/son memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I can't remember when I started but last season I was pegged next to an 11year old who was one of the safest gun I have shoot with and he sht well too. I think kids get a hard time on safety and are often better than some adults as they are keen to learn and afraid to loss the chance to do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratts Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Thanks guys some cracking replies and advice. I won't push either of them towards shooting or anything eles for that matter but I do hope they show an interest for obvious reasons I'm lucky in that they are both quite intelligent and bright for their age (due to their mother!!) so I don't think it'll be long before they learn the safety side of things, but I also don't want to wish the time away and stop them from being kids and playing soldiers, etc!! In fact I found these pics of Nath when he was 3 after I came back from the shooting show at Newark with 2 toy guns. They have red dot sights and he was a natural aiming at Peppa Pig on the telly Again to the wifes dismay (You see a pattern forming here?!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Molly was 6. if you dont want to introduce guns yet, at least getting them out into the countyside is a good start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I took my lad lamping when he was seven. He got to see how a gun should be handled, learned some fieldcraft and how to lamp steadily. By the second or third outing he was genuinely useful to have around! Keeps the bunnies on the edge of a steady beam. I did similar with his big sister, and she is now shooting HFT at 11, and competing with Dad pretty well. I also take them to button push at clays. Again they see how people act around guns and can have a go in safety. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I can't remember when I started but last season I was pegged next to an 11year old who was one of the safest gun I have shoot with and he sht well too. I think kids get a hard time on safety and are often better than some adults as they are keen to learn and afraid to loss the chance to do it again. This is so true! We have been at shoots where the safety of some adults has been shocking to the point where we have mentioned it to them or, if they don't take the hint, to the marshals. They are usually the "older generation" so maybe things used to be more casual when they started out. I would rather be around responsible kids who are properly taught and supervised any day. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 i think i was about 8 or 9.my lad will shoot an air rifle if i hold the fore end for him,and he swivels it about to get on target.he'll hit a tin can 8/10 at about 25yds.he's 5 (biggish 5 year old though) and he's using a hw97,so he might do better with a lighter gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matastrophe Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 While I would applaud getting young people into shooting i think that theres a point when it is too early. Kids need to have toy guns and run about pointing them at people shouting "bang bang youre dead 50 bullets in your head" (although probably in a yank accent with expletives these days) and its unfair to introduce them to shooting until its also the point that they move on from that - My step nephew having been introduced to firearms, mirroring my upbringing, is now no longer expected to point toy guns at another person( with the possible exception of a water pistol, outside on a hot day ) My parents both used to shoot clays competitively and checked my for eye dominance when i was about 4 and from then on i wasnt allowed to play with a toy gun unless it was left handed. Spoil sports. I think i started with a really old knackered air rifle at about 7 and a .410 at about 10 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerob Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 i was 7 when i has my first air rifle is i was very small at that age im still a short *** lol a cometa 50 light and small it has counted for many pigeon walking in orchards and last summer i was learning my brothers son who is only 5 i loaded the gun tuck the stoch under his armpit and gently helped him onto coke cans he was able to hit them from about 35 40 feet with a little help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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