Getting kids into shooting

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Merck

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Hey guys,

A friend and I started trap and skeet shooting last year and are considering taking our kids out to get them exposure to the range and safety. What age do you think is appropriate to start shooting trap for a kid? Of course it sort of depends on individual maturity and stuff but any guidelines?

Also, was thinking of starting to put away for a shotty. Any .410 suggestions? I'd kinda like to get an O/U but maybe there's a better option for starting a kid?

Thanks!
 
I do a bit of skeet shooting and have seen guys break a lot of birds a long way out with a .410. Of course the degree of error with a .410 is a lot less then a 28 ga or .20 ga.
The age of a young shooter means very little, the maturity and ability to follow range safety rules/attention span should dictate. How the gun fits has a lot to do with how much recoil a young shooter can tolerate and of course very good hearing protection is very important. For shooting trap they will only be loading/shooting one round at a time so any action from a break barrel single shot to a semi auto or O/U will work.
 
Last year I introduced my two girls (they were 6 and 7 at the time) to their first gun (savage rascals with aimpoint micros)....it was a great success! This year I'm getting set to try their first shotguns....I started with basement dry fire using a mossberg bantam mini .410, but it was awkwards for them to pump and did not seem to fit them very well as they wanted to hold onto the pump handle and it put their support hand awkwardly forward.

So I changed gears....I bought a couple super-cheap break open h&r compact pardners in .410, bought a couple replacement stocks, and got out the BUZZ SAW! I cut out enough that I could install grind-to-fit limbsavers and have the LOP just a hair longer than that of their rascals. The pardners had lots of spare space in the buttstock, so I also added a fabarm recoil reducer and filled the rest of the void space with a piece dowel.

We've been practicing handling in the basement, and as soon as the snow is gone from my range we're heading out to try static clays and helium balloons....I can hardly wait!

Will advise how it all turns out.....

Cheers,

Brobee
 
You nailed that on the head, 28ga shells are bout as easy to find as 16ga shells are.
Click to expand...

I shoot 28 gauge for the majority of my skeet shooting. It does cost me more than for the 12 or 20 gauge, but I haven't had an issue finding them.
 
Merck said:
Hey guys,

A friend and I started trap and skeet shooting last year and are considering taking our kids out to get them exposure to the range and safety. What age do you think is appropriate to start shooting trap for a kid? Of course it sort of depends on individual maturity and stuff but any guidelines?

Also, was thinking of starting to put away for a shotty. Any .410 suggestions? I'd kinda like to get an O/U but maybe there's a better option for starting a kid?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

An O/U is a single if you load it that way. And no hammer to mess with.
 
I have been around firearms for most of my whole life I remember shooting a little PP .22 when I was really young . My dad started me out trap shooting and getting comfortable with firearms with a nice single shot Coey 20g . It was great for trap and I am close to 40 and I still have the shot gun!!!
 
I would recommend not going the break option route. Nothing eats up any recoil, a gas operated 20 gauge is going to be plenty soft shooting and more affordable. Also they're going to break more birds. My local club has a juniors program and I've seen little 13 year old girls handle the recoil with ease.
 
I was 8/9 starting clay shooting but that was in the 60's and we had guns around and in our hands daily prior. 28ga is my choice and what mine started on but I had lots of them and reloaded so it was easy
If you don't reload I suggest a 20ga semi
Anything but a 410 to start on a clay target field hunting one can get away with it but not with skeet or trap
 
Update from my last post...RANGE REPORT!!


Was contemplating trying to get her cheek onto the buttstock but decided not to, instead just letting her run with it for maximum FUN FUN FUN (and safety) for her first outing. Lots of smiles, laughs, and yes I bought her that ice cream she mentioned....:)

What a great afternoon!

Cheers,

Brobee
 
I think I would recommend a conventional range using a bolt-action 22LR to start.

The most-important thing you want to focus on with a new shooter (adult or child) is muzzle control, and the bast way to practice this is with a rifle fixed in one safe direction, and that is toward the target.

I trust the heck out of my daughter to never do anything mean, but I do not trust her at all to have the situational awareness with a firearm to fire it in any other way than fixed.

She just doesn't "get it". Even firing a bow and arrow, no matter how much I drill it into her to keep it pointed at the target, all it takes is a small distraction and in no time she'll start to point it sideways.

Your results may vary, but I would get her firing a fixed (bipod) 22 at a conventional range before using a shotgun at moving targets.
 
That's good advice too - guess I never went that way since I started and have stayed with shotguns. Not too familiar with rifles and there isn't a range close to me. Good point though.
 
Great video Brobee.
Spent shells in the pocket too.

I would suggest to Merck to save up a wee bit longer and gits a shotgun.
Never been keen on dem dere shotty's.

As far as 28 gauge shells, I bought a case from WSS and split it with my moose hunting
buddy. Worked out to under $15 a box.
Last years prices, so no idea where it is now for $$.
Seems to me, this would put it right in there with a box 2 1/2" .410.
 
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