Teaching kids to shoot.

[grfox92]

So my son is 8. He has a classic Red Ryder, and my 10/22 has become his gun. He doesn't really fit the 10/22 but I'm going to put a magpul stock on it to get the proper LOP and can adjust it bigger as he grows.

He mainly shoots the bb gun for now. I've tried everything to explain to him how to line up the iron sights. Drawing pictures of the front and rear sight, what it should look like when they are lined up.

He insists he is lining them up like I've explained, but I can tell he isn't based on where the bbs are flying at the short range we are shooting.

Should I keep on him with the iron sights? Or go to a red dot to get him shooting and hitting targets. I guess I for some reason, and no good reason, think he should start with iron sights before going to an optic, does it really matter though?

Any tips?

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[RS3579]

I got them to shoot balloons to build confidence with open sights with the BB gun. Now my oldest is shooting a savage rascal with a red dot. It’s worked well for him. The red don’t keeps them interested, it’s different and a little cooler than cross hairs

 

[Brightwhite]

Red dot on a cricket and balloons is what I am doing with my 7 year old now. No tips for the iron sights, just getting him used to the fundamentals and safety and think it’s easier for him to have 1 less thing im barking at him about.

 

[Axlrod]

Started both my boys at age 4 on a bolt action with a rear peep sight shooting 22 shorts. At that age I never let go of the rifle, so I would help them steady it and line it up. Shot clay birds at close range. Just had then look through the peep and at the target. Shot a LOT, and they eventually got it.

 

[nosajnh]

I started my son and daughter on a cricket with open sights around 6 and once they got comfortable with the open sights I put the cricket scope on it. What I liked about it is the light weight and small size that lets them fell comfortable holding it.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

My son went from a pellet gun to a 17hmr with a 6.5-20x50 scope. Maybe overkill, but he loved that gun and became an excellent marksman.

 

[ROKnROAL]

Peep sight is easier to handle, but unless they’re always gonna be shooting irons going to an optic won’t hurt anything

 

[grfox92]

Peep sight is easier to handle, but unless they’re always gonna be shooting irons going to an optic won’t hurt anything

That's what I was starting to think. I grew up shooting irons. But in real life hunting situations I'll never not have an optic.

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[brockel]

My daughter started out with a red rider just because it is the cheapest thing to shoot. Would have had no problems starting her and her sister with a scope right away. That’s what they are going to hunt with anyways. They are setup with a tikka 223 with a 6x scope and a 17hmr with a 3x9

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Scoped 22 cricket, took about 3 shots for the 4 and 6 year old to figure out the crosshairs.

 

[Felix40]

When my son was 5 and learning the .22 he had the same issue. I put a red dot on it and he had a lot more success and fun. The squirrels didn’t stand a chance. A couple years later I took the red dot off and he could understand the sights a lot better.


Now he is 8 and we are on to scopes and training for his first year of big game hunting. That is learning deal too.

Whatever makes it fun and helps them have success is what I vote for.

 

[MHWASH]

I started my boys at 5 with Crickets and open sites. I used 22 shot shells to get their confidence up. When they got big/old enough that the Crickets were too small, we moved onto scopes.

 

[Montucky]

8yrs old I would move em right into an AR15 platform & learn the scope…..

 

[Montucky]

Light recoil, small platform fits kids well, this is my daughter when she was 8…..now it wears a Suppressor so don’t have to worry about ear pro in hunting situations….

 

[Montucky]

& her 6yr old brother…..

 

[Montucky]

Here he was 5yrs old behind my AR 9mm…..Damn time flies by

 

[grfox92]

Here he was 5yrs old behind my AR 9mm…..Damn time flies byView attachment 540146

Very cool. I have an AR with a 3-9x on it.

Maybe we'll go out and shoot it this weekend

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[Montucky]

Very cool. I have an AR with a 3-9x on it.

Maybe we'll go out and shoot it this weekend

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Good ear protection & you’re good to go my friend…..my 3 kids love them! My daughter also killed her first deer with my AR15….3x9 scope is perfect for 5.56/.223 hunting capabilities…..she quickly graduated into my bolt action rifles with ease after her first year of hunting. They grow so fast!

 

[Montucky]

Also, keep an eye out for a box or 2 of this…..all my AR platforms love it…

Federal Fusion Ammo 223 Remington 62 Grain Bonded Spitzer Boat Tail

Federal Fusion Ammunition is loaded with a specialized bullet, perfect for deer sized game, that features an electrochemically bonded lead core to...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[HandgunHTR]

If you are set on having him shoot irons, pictures help significantly.

That being said, the trigger on a Red Ryder doesn't do much for helping with proper trigger pull. You may be better getting him set up with a good .22 that has a decent trigger so he isn't trying to pull 10+ pounds while trying to keep the sights lined up.

I started with a Marlin model 25.