Teaching kids to shoot?

[Dirty30]

Wondering what’s the best way to break in young shooters. Getting my 11yr daughter ready for 1st deer tag this year. Shes shot, 22s, 224 AR. Etc but nothing for precision. The custom 6 creed “family” gun will be here soon and want to make sure I’m not teaching her bad habits. It will be suppressed and I may load some softer loads for her to start with. But curious how others teach the shot process? Any tips, or do/donts would be appreciated. I was thinking starting her at 50yrds, and try and teach her the Joel turner process (talking through the shot, slow trigger, etc) How’d you guys do it?
I know I should have a 223 for her to start with but all I have smaller is a 224 valkerye AR. And want her shooting the bolt gun.
Thanks for any advice

 

[RaggedHunter]

Man, I think you are doing it right. Mild recoil gun & suppressor will help a bunch. Make it fun, focus on repetitions and good fundamentals, maybe try to make it a bit competitive see if she can shoot a group smaller than her last group etc..

I bought a 6 creed for my wife (and kids when they get older). With a suppressor, that is a very tame gun to shoot. I think a kid would be able to handle it just fine. If you're worried about it like you said you could find some lighter loads for it, but I really doubt that would be necessary. I would stick with the bolt 6 creed over the AR, get her used to what she is going to be using & the operation.

 

[Nine Banger]

I know I should have a 223

If you already know...

The 6 creed is going to push her directly to recoil management and probably have her flinching without ever learning the fundamentals. She may get scoped on the first shot and quit. You're jumping ahead to your end goal with that gun. If a kid can shoot 10 or 20 rounds of 223 before becoming fatigued, you'll probably only get 1 or 2 shots out of them with a standard case gun and that's not training.

You need to be focused on safe gun handling and the fundamentals of marksmanship, and it has to be fun or it won't matter.

Start at 100 yards and explain how gravity affects the bullet, and why we zero at 100 yards, and how we're actually shooting up, etc. Kids eat up the "why" and you're teaching science at the same time.

Don't make the target too small. If they can't hit it, failing emotions will halt the learning process. I have stencils for 1.5, 3, 4.5, 8 MOA. Explain the vital area and that 8MOA is a dead deer. Let her whack an 8" target at 100. It builds confidence and then when they start getting complacent, they miss and you can see the gears working to get back on.

 

[wesfromky]

Thread 'Kids rifle manifesto'

Feb 24, 2024

I've chimed in on so many different "what rifle for my age XX kid?" threads that I thought I'd try to consolidate my thoughts here.

My oldest son is 14 now, started shooting centerfire rifles at 9. My younger kids started shooting centerfire rifles at between 5-7 yrs old. 5 kids shooting now, and a bunch of their friends that I have been involved or around as they learn to shoot. probably 20-ish kids? Here's what I've learned in the last 5-6 years.

Recoil matters, a lot. "Handles it pretty well" is way way different from "ideal for building skills as a rifleman." My oldest loves to...

• eric1115
• Replies: 281
• Forum: Firearms

• 
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[Q_Sertorius]

I’m a big believer in a bolt action .223, suppressed, with a steel or other reactive target out there at least a hundred yards away, as a great way to make shooting fun. There’s something addicting about the ring of bullet on steel.

For close range rimfire training, making black walnuts explode has always been fun.

If you make it fun, then you can work on breath control, trigger control, and safety. Not that safety is a third place requirement, it’s critically important, but it has to be part of the overall experience. I have seen some fathers hammer safety so hard that they take all joy out of it.

 

[Dawg In Montana]

Whatever you do, make it fun for them and minimize any recoil and muzzle blast.

 

[OsoMountain]

Explain to her that real hunters use a belted magnum. That if you want to be in the chips, you gotta ante up.

All kidding aside, I feel that custom 6 bolt gun should be fine. Load them light and bring her up to speed so she’s boring out the center without even realizing you’ve been slowly working the powder up.

Things explained to me that made me 100% accurate 50% of the time.

Relax, don’t over complicate it.
If you’re rushing, you shouldn’t do it
Subtle and even rearward pressure. Coax it, don’t demand it
Focus on your target, not your sight apparatus
BREATHE. control your heart rate
Hold position even after firing
Always respect it, yourself, and others. It’s deadly as hell.


Enjoy it, dude. Those are the things that make a man rich in this life. Spending time with your children and them wanting to be a part of your life too.

 

[Rotnguns]

I’m a big believer in a bolt action .223, suppressed, with a steel or other reactive target out there at least a hundred yards away, as a great way to make shooting fun. There’s something addicting about the ring of bullet on steel.

For close range rimfire training, making black walnuts explode has always been fun.

If you make it fun, then you can work on breath control, trigger control, and safety. Not that safety is a third place requirement, it’s critically important, but it has to be part of the overall experience. I have seen some fathers hammer safety so hard that they take all joy out of it.

Indeed, reactive targets are an excellent way to introduce kids to shooting. And from what I've observed as an RSO at our public range, young girls are by far the best natural shooters. They take to it like ducks to water - if more of them become involved in our sport, we'll see women dominate in target shooting. But it's paramount to instill proper firearms safety in new shooters. No doubt, some parents do this in a very negative and counterproductive manner, unfortunately.

 

[OsoMountain]

I’m a big believer in a bolt action .223, suppressed, with a steel or other reactive target out there at least a hundred yards away, as a great way to make shooting fun. There’s something addicting about the ring of bullet on steel.

For close range rimfire training, making black walnuts explode has always been fun.

If you make it fun, then you can work on breath control, trigger control, and safety. Not that safety is a third place requirement, it’s critically important, but it has to be part of the overall experience. I have seen some fathers hammer safety so hard that they take all joy out of it.

Fun?! We’re trying to live vicariously through our children here!! Can’t kill Buckasaurus Rex having fun!

Man, you’re so dang right. I’ve seen a lot of fathers who berate their children about safety to the point where it’s concerning. Others push their kids so hard that it’s obvious they are living through them vicariously and want them to be the next Fred Bear. It sucks all the fun out of it for everyone else. And that is what it’s supposed to be. FUN.

 

[Thinkingman]

Explain to her that real hunters use a belted magnum. That if you want to be in the chips, you gotta ante up.

All kidding aside, I feel that custom 6 bolt gun should be fine. Load them light and bring her up to speed so she’s boring out the center without even realizing you’ve been slowly working the powder up.

Things explained to me that made me 100% accurate 50% of the time.

Relax, don’t over complicate it.
If you’re rushing, you shouldn’t do it
Subtle and even rearward pressure. Coax it, don’t demand it
Focus on your target, not your sight apparatus
BREATHE. control your heart rate
Hold position even after firing
Always respect it, yourself, and others. It’s deadly as hell.


Enjoy it, dude. Those are the things that make a man rich in this life. Spending time with your children and them wanting to be a part of your life too.

I started my son on a youth CZ 22lr bolt gun shooting clays on the berm with open sights-10yd, then 25, then 50....He had to 'earn' a scope.
Busting clays was fun for him, the gun fit and recoil wasn't a concern.
I absolutely agree suppressed is the best teaching platform-as long as you're away from the guy with a brake on his 300PRC.
If you reload, you have lots of options with 6CM.
Just make sure it fits.

 

[Huntindog45]

Make it fun. Do a lot of plinking. Shooting up an aluminum can is entertaining and useful.

 

[TxLite]

I’ve started my daughters on suppressed 22’s and 17hmr. My plan is to move them into 223 when they’re a little older and then eventually my 6gt or 6 creed. If she’s 11 and has experience shooting then I’d think suppressed 6 creed would be fine.

I’d start with talking through the shot and teaching good fundamentals before she fires a live cartridge. Then I’d 1 and shoot and see how it goes from there.

 

[mad_angler]

I took my grandsons out a few weeks ago... They were 5 and 7.

I made sure to give them success...

I used a suppressed 223 Tikka
I had the scope set at 3x
I set steel targets (4", 6", 8") at about 40 yards.
I used a gun clamp on a tripod
I had them sit on a stool

I started without a round in the chamber. They just clicked at the target. We repeated that many times.
I eventually put a round in the chamber and told them it was there.

They were able to get the sight on the steel and slowly squeeze the trigger. They hit the steel almost every time and had a lot of fun.

About half the time, I would not fully work the bolt. So the gun was cocked but didn't have a live round. It taught them to just squeeze and not worry about the round.

We also worked on getting the gun in a safe state before we walked down to look at the targets.

We moved to 65 yards and repeated the process. They still hit the steel almost every time.

We made sure to quit while they still wanted more.



That exercise was a long way from getting them trained. But I think it was a very good way to introduce a "real" gun.