I got a cheap, single pump BB gun for Christmas when I was 8. It was so weak it would hardly knock over a tin can. I year later, a much better one showed up, but still a single pump BB gun. Prior to those, nothing more than toy guns. It wasn't until I was around 10 that I first shot a .22, and that was on the Fourth of July with Dad standing there watching. Just 4 or 5 shots and that was it But once I had some history with the BB guns, and later that .22, and was shown to handle things safe enough, I was allowed to walk out the door with any gun in the house. That was around age 12.

I've got a 7 year old grandson and wouldn't trust him with anything past foam darts. Just not ready. Yet I see guys starting kids with lethal powder burners much younger.

Just curious when you have got them started and how it worked out?

Every kid is different. If you think yours is not ready then that kid is not ready. My 8 eight year old grandson killed his first deer in Oct. He was 8. I was sitting right beside him in a blind. No way I would leave him alone to do that.

I don't remember when I got my first BB gun. I was pretty old though. It was the "you'll shoot your eye out thing". I think I was around 12 or 13 although I had already been shooting a bow for quite some time. No one in my family hunted or did anything outdoors to speak of. I bought my first shotgun at 15. An old Mossberg 16ga bolt action. I still have it and it's has taken sacks full of game and killed thousands of clays. I probably haven't shot that in 30 years. I bought my first .22 a Marlin bolt probably around 16 or so. My father finally broke down and figured that this was going to be a thing when I was around 18 or 19 and bought me a .22 H&R pistol for trapping although I was too young to carry it legally. It wasn't until I got into my late 20's and 30's with a decent job and some extra money that I really started collecting.

My boy started shooting at 5 or 6 with a red ryder. 6 with a 22. He is 8 now, shoots 223, 410 shotgun, 380 pistol 22 pistol and a crossbow. He has been taught gun safety as a kid just like my dad taught me.

I think what you're parents did was just about perfect. It's pretty much what mine did too. That was back when kids respected authority, listened, and did what they were told. My sons got to do a lot of things I would not consider doing with my 11 y/o granddaughter. That's because when I told them to do something because their safety depended on it I knew they would do it. The granddaughter does what she decides she wants to do and I cannot trust her to do what I tell her to do. You sure can't put a gun of any kind in the hands of a kid that you can't trust.

my opinion but age isnt the question, the ability to follow directions - Yours - and the physical ability to operate the firearm safely

Yes, Mole is correct^^^

I was shooting slingshot at 5, and toy bows. When Dad and .om saw I could handle those without aiming at my sisters. It happened, that's how we learned not to.

Then I was given A bb gun probably 7

My Dad Also shot at a Range, And we were brought with to observe.

Danny and mole nailed it. I cringe when I see a photo of a child struggling to hold a gun safely.

Depends. In my opinion, the most important lesson is that the weapon is a tool.

That lesson is learned by observation and not as much by teaching. Obviously, teaching specifics is critical too.

Alot of time on the range, the reloading bench and in the blind is how they soak up the lessons.

My kids and when they got it:

5ish, Red Ryder

7ish, Pellet Gun

8ish, 22lr and 20 gauge

10ish, deer rifle

13ish, AR

16ish, handgun

After that, they can buy their own darn guns or wait until I'm dead and have mine! The kids even have their own gun safe--you get the combo at 13ish.

I let my oldest son start hunting by himself at 13. I'm sending my oldest daughter to college soon with her 9mm pistol with 5 magazines of dad's reloads--in violation of all kinds of rules and regulations.

I went beyond the question but this is an important topic.

For me it was BB gun at 5 .22 at seven. I wasn’t allowed to take a gun hunting till 10. Now I can shoot anything and go squirrel hunting, trapping, woods walking with my shotgun. I shot a .44mag at 13 and handled it safely o shoot .45acp all the time I shot 12ga at 11. It all depends on your feeling if a kids d is ready or not.

Edit: I got my first .22 at seven. My dad made me save up to get it. It was a test to see if I was responsible and would stick to saving money. From the get go I was the one dealing with the gun shop (very small local gun shop where they knew my name.) I put t on layaway went and made payments and used all my birthday money. I think that s has s a good idea to prove if they are really willing to work for the gun.
Another thing when I was three my dad would take a milk jug of water and step back and shoot it with a shot gun. He would then say “now imagine that being you. Never touch my guns unless I am there and hand it to you. I never did.

Start them as soon as they drop out of the birth canal !!!

We need all the patriot militia-men we can get to preserve the Republic !!!

walleyed

I did the milk jug thing with my brother in law just a couple years ago. A Rem 870 fell into his lap and he brought it here to get some instruction on it. That makes a big impression. My uncle did the same with me at around age 12 or 13 with a .243. First centerfire rifle I ever shot. Except that was a 5 gallon metal herbicide can filled with water. Big bang, light recoil.....which were expected, but seeing that can jump 5 feet in the air.....seeing the small entry hole and seeing water fly 20 feet, the can split open and laid out nearly flat made an impression on what I was holding in my hands.

And I think there is a difference between physical ability and maturity to realize the danger in a powder burning weapon. A 5 year old girl can hold and shoot a pink Crickett or Savage Rascal, but do they realize the danger?

Years ago, guy we knew took a shot at a rabbit that was doing damage in their garden. He was shooting uphill.....and missed high. Bullet kept going, flew over an Interstate highway and came to rest in the brain pan of a lady standing in her driveway. She dropped dead where she was standing. Just a dinky little .22 lr, but that was what got her. Took police a week or so to figure it out, but when they did, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in the pen.

I remember that story every time I even think of taking a gun outside and shooting it. I'm in the country, but lots of houses around. There is almost no direction I can fire that is not in the direction of a place where I have seen people walking, livestock like horses or cows or dogs........where I would feel all that safe letting loose.

Would a kid realize that and hold off......or let loose and fire?

Yes for sure.The more the child is taught at a earlier age and brought up right to know right or wrong the better it is.

My buddy has 5 girls he starts them early and they can shoot.

With NO assist from you! I see a lot of kids deer hunting in a blind with there rifle on a gun rail and he look in the scope and pulls the trigger. In many cases the rifle or gun does not fit them. But anytime dad is spending with there kids if good time for both.

My two sons started with BB guns about age 8. Shotgun at age 10. Rifles at 16. Each child is different.

My dad got me a BB gun when I was 5. You could literally see the bb in flight...but I got very good with it. I think I was around 10 before I got a .22. I didn’t get center fire guns till I was 13.

Teaching firearms safety a kid has to be 12 years old to get their firearms safety certificate after taking the class. However, we find most kids are already familiar with some firearms prior to the class and that includes both genders.

I was in the 5 th grade..or 10 years old...So that’s when you start...lol

Started our son out at 3 with a pop gun...and the family rule that guns are NEVER pointed at people. Around the same time he got a little stickbow with the same rule. Couple years after that he got his first BB gun. Then came a pellet gun and it escalated from there. He now is an extremely safe handler of firearms and I am proud of him.

He made his first kill with the pellet gun...a gopher that I skinned cased for him. Made a little stretcher out of a 1X2.

Tomorrow our 3 year old Grandson is getting a popgun from Gamma and Bumpa...with the same rule that it is never going to be pointed at people.

I have always made sure his guns fit him well. Had his 20 ga. 870's stock cut down so it fit him very well.

I have long been an advocate of safe gun handling and fit, and that a kid should not hunt until they realize that the act of taking the life of something is a big decision rather than just pulling the trigger and taking pictures.

Moosetrot