Thinking of taking my 4yo shooting

[blackpowdershooter30]

Start with a rough rider B.B. gun. It’s a good way to start teaching him the ropes and it’s practically harmless to shoot at cardboard box and can be done in the backyard

[camper4lyfe]

Sadly, not in my back yard. Damn liberals. Just don't tell them about the squirrels that came down with acute lead poisoning.

[WARFAB]

Sad. A friend that lives out in Wayne county has an open invitation to shoot any groundhogs he sees in the neighboring farmer's field.

[camper4lyfe]

That's awesome

[blackpowdershooter30]

Sadly, not in my back yard. Damn liberals. Just don't tell them about the squirrels that came down with acute lead poisoning.

More then welcome at my place to shoot a pellet or B.B. gun lol

[24Pink14Stink]

Most of my runs are actually on my lunch during the week. I get one run on the weekends, but that's typically either at the ass crack of dawn before everyone's awake, or at nap time. Yeah, it's something, but there's a LOT of things I've put on hold as a parent.

I totally get that. BTDT. Weekend alarm goes off at whatever time gets you home from your run by 7 AM. I used to go out at 10 PM until I figured out why my ex was OK with that time.

Generally, I agree with Thug and Flash - kid introduction time and your range time are 2 different things.

[masterswimmer]

She was tired and wanted to go to sleep?

[24Pink14Stink]

She was definately sleeping. Just not with me.

[masterswimmer]

Ohhhh, but technically that's not really sleeping.

[blackpowdershooter30]

At least now you can teach gun safety with a toy gun. Teach him trigger discipline, muzzle in a safe direction, etc.

[Cgrutt]

I'd stick with bb or 22 but a lot depends on the kid and they're all different. My son always had a sensitivity issue with loud noise whether music, TV, pots & pans or otherwise but never had an issue with cartridges firing. Of course he was wearing ear and eye pro anytime near a range. Some kids (and adults) may be put off just by the repercussion of the report. Have to figure out where your son is comfortable. 4 is still young you have plenty of time. And just as a PSA FUAC says he has to be 12 within NYS. FUAC

[camper4lyfe]

I'd stick with bb or 22 but a lot depends on the kid and they're all different. My son always had a sensitivity issue with loud noise whether music, TV, pots & pans or otherwise but never had an issue with cartridges firing. Of course he was wearing ear and eye pro anytime near a range. Some kids (and adults) may be put off just by the repercussion of the report. Have to figure out where your son is comfortable. 4 is still young you have plenty of time. And just as a PSA FUAC says he has to be 12 within NYS. FUAC

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

[camper4lyfe]

Small update: He was being a bit of a piss pot last night, as 4 year olds an be when antagonizing their younger brother. I let him in on my plans for this weekend and holy crap did he get excited. He started packing a bag with snacks and his drink and was damn near ready to run out the door.

My plan at this point is to take my bb gun, a .22, and my shotgun. We'll make a stop for a case of clays on the way down, and I have some OLD cans of beer that just need to be tossed, so we'll have some reactive targets to use (my wife reminded me that I have tannerite still, and I laughed at her and told her "no way, not this time"). I'll let him try the bb gun and figure something out with the .22. The shotgun is for me only, as I do need to put some lead through it before next weekend.

He woke up this morning and his first question was if we were going to the cabin today. The kid is ridiculously excited.

[camper4lyfe]

Success. Downsizing the plan was definitely the right approach.

I picked up a case of clays (wow they're cheaper than I expected) and some paper targets and off we went.

He is still too small to be able to hold the BB gun properly, so I held it for him and let him pull the trigger. We did the same with the 22 for a bit, then he just enjoyed watching me break clays (I was oddly good at shooting the centers out of the clays).

By the time I was ready to move to some slugs, he was getting bored, which was perfect. I let him wander off and it got him far enough away that the noise didn't bother him (he was still wearing muffs, too), but still exposed him to it. No issues at all.

[camper4lyfe]

And I may have made sure to post pictures on Facebook on the off chance I could piss off some liberal friends.

[WARFAB]

Glad to hear it went well. My father is already gearing up to do some shooting with my daughter.

[camper4lyfe]

I made sure to sit him down with the BB gun before we left, so we weren't trying to go over safety stuff on the cold in case his attention was a little divided.

He was so so excited he was shaking a couple times.

Overall, I'm really happy with how it went. He's already asked to go back and do it again.

[WARFAB]

How early do kids get started with archery?

My daughter watched the movie Brave today. When I showed her the little junior compound bow her grandfather gave her , she started jumping up and down with excitement.

I'm n wondering if she'll have the strength to draw it next summer.

[camper4lyfe]

How early do kids get started with archery?

My daughter watched the movie Brave today. When I showed her the little junior compound bow her grandfather gave her , she started jumping up and down with excitement.

I'm n wondering if she'll have the strength to draw it next summer.

I would say that's way more driven by strength that anything else. I'm pretty sure I was shooting a bow before I got a BB gun.