That was actually a well thought out response Pepperpopper! Like I mentioned earlier, I learned on the #7 Enfield, which is a single shot .22lr bolt. Do keep in mind you can take the magazine away, and make any bolt a single shot rifle. When I was 12 years old, the captain taught me these basic shooting rules:
#1, Always shoot prone unless you can't.
#2, Support the rifle with your bones, not your muscles.
#3, Grip the rifle, so as not to flinch. Squeeze your hand and not your finger.
#4, During aim, breathe out a little and hold your breath. Don't let your heart start pounding.
We then proceeded to learn ballistics, wind, ammo quality, etc. It got to the point where kids 13 years old were shooting 90-95% @ 60 feet with .22lr #7's and Anshcutz rifles. After this they graduated us to #4 Enfields and FN FAL's shooting 200-300yards.
The sad part is that those days are over, and this was only the mid 1990's. I believe cadets all just shoot daisy air rifles. Somewhere earlier I read in Britain they don't want cadets using Enfields for ceremonial parades now?
Most of my friends haven't reached 30, none are criminals, and all own guns. Every one of them can make raggy holes, even the ones that barely practice. A lot of this is because they were given something to do when they were kids. A lot of the cadets came from broken or dysfunctional homes, and stayed out of trouble because they were always shooting or learning survival skills.
I think what I'm trying to say here is that kids should be shooting, but should also learn properly. No scoped m305's or red dot AR15's haha.