How should I start her out?

T

thedaddycat

New member
Suprise of all great suprises, my 16 year old daughter after years of not wanting anything to do with guns(probably because I hunted and she's a vegan) was looking over some of my stuff that I had out after a range day. She asked a few questions about shotguns and rifles and then floored me with this... "Dad, can you teach me to shoot?"

We had a bit of back and forth and long story short she wants to learn rifle, shotgun, and handgun shooting. Besides having a new reason to get more ammo I will get to spend time with her one on one.

Now for the question... What should I start her on first? I have a pretty good assortment to pick from but don't want to blow this chance by either going "too big" and scaring her or going "too small" and boring her. I will talk to her more to see what she thinks but want some info to have at hand for that discussion...

Thanks for any input and insight.
 
I say give her a tour,,,

I take new kids shooting all the time,,,
I always start them on a .22 gun of some sort,,,
And then graduate to larger calibers of different types.

Don't overwhelm her with too many guns at first,,,
Two or three would be sufficient for an outing.

Have her look at your collection,,,
Ask her which ones she would like to try.

If she chooses your elephant gun,,,
You might steer her away from that for awhile.

Keep it light that first time out,,,
Big targets and close range to start,,,
Make the first few outings just for safety and fun.

Good luck my friend,,,
You have a rare opportunity.

Aarond
 
Ok, as a dad myself I would wonder what has happened to her to prompt this new understanding of firearms and how to shoot was she more wanting to use pistols? or long guns if pistols be sure to reafirm her on not having to be afraid and teach her to shoot. The reason to ask her is one day she'll truly love you knowing you care so much and want to protect her.
 
I would start her out on a light recoiling rifle, not necessarily a rimfire, but could be. Something in the .223 to .243 class will let her feel some recoil and noise without discomfort, plus they are easy to be accurate with. Shotguns have much more recoil and handguns are too hard to hit (succeed) with.
 
.22 rifle and pistol for starting out. Close targets are great and if you can use reactive targets (plastic pop bottles filled with colored water are a blast).

If she really wants to shoot shotgun, I suggest a good 20 guage gas operated semi auto. Almost no recoil and still able to powder clay birds. Start her shooting static birds if you can.

I had a blast teaching my step daughter with a 22 cal pellet rifle on burned out light bulbs. Later, she shot the .22 LR. Alas, she got older, learned about boys, school activities, and now college and I'm once again shooting alone:(
 
I would have to concur with a .22RF rifle.
However, I started my son with a Browning HiPower at age three.;) Then followed up with my daughter with a 1911A1 at age two.;) They both have their Carry Concealed License now. But that was then. My three granddaughters started with a Ruger 10-22. The middle one, age 7 now, likes to shoot my 20in bull barreled RR uppered AR (with bipod).:D The 4 year old just likes to pick up brass:rolleyes: and the 9 year old could care less.:confused:

Remember safety and ear protection.

OSOK
 
For rifle and handgun, I would start out with a 22LR. A firearm does not have to have a big bang or be a centerfire to have or keep their interest. Having a contest to see who has the smallest group can be a lot of fun even with an air rifle. Have fun and make sure she knows the safety rules and follows them.
 
Start her out with a state-run HSC (Hunter's Safety Course)...

Its like riding a Motorcycle...always start a newbie with the MSF Course...

Safety is the main word in both those acro's. They learn, they live, and you worry less.
 
bring a 22 rifle, 22 pistol, and major caliber pistol, and shoot them in that order. if shes "hungry" for a big bang and big recoil, introduce her to a shotgun. if she prefers the 22, start kicking the target out further and further. keep it fun and challenging.

might be over the course of a day, or a couple months. stress safety. as enthusiasts we take it for granted, but its so easy for a newbie to sweep you with a loaded gun, finger on the trigger. thats a teeny nerve impulse from a major accident.

when i was teaching one of my brothers to shoot (along with my dad) he swept me with a loaded .410, i slapped the barrel in the air, and he let one off. scared the crap out of me and him. STRESS SAFETY
 
Sorry to ignore the main point of your post, but congrats on the opportunity with your daughter. Id be happy shooting pop Guns if i could come together with my step-son on anything!
 
Start her out on a .22 cal rimfire rifle and handgun and a 20 gauge shotgun with light loads and work your way up from that. ie: .204, .222, .223 ect rifle and a .380, 9mm ect handgun and the 20 gauge with heavy loads or a 12 gauge with light loads. When she can handle that and she's still keen to go bigger then move her up to .243, .260, 7mm08, .308 ect rifle and 10mm, .357, .45 ect handguns and 12 gauge shotgun with standard or hunting loads.

Also make it intresting and challenging for her (my kids like shooting lids off soft drink and milk bottles, balloons, cans ect and with the bigger cal stuff I fill bottles with colored water and they love it when they explode).
 
To start a 16 year old obviously the first thing to try would be a .22 lr, rifle and pistol. Wait a while to even start the shotgun.

I would not stick her with the rimfire. Give her the opportunity on her first outing to fire a centerfire of both pistol and rifle. take a .223 bolt, .357 rifle with .38 ammo, or any similar very light load rifle, in a full sized gun. Go for low shock (low recoil, moderate noise). Take .22 pistols, and a larger one as well, but nothing bigger than a low power load in a .38 or similar low power in a 9 mm, in a full sized pistol. You don't want magnum noise, or magnum recoil. The shock of firing a 30-06 when you have never fired a weapon of any sort is not the way to start out shooting.

just simply have her start out iwth the rimfire, let her watch you use the centerfires, and if she chooses to, allow her to try them. There is a thrill to shooting a bigger bore, one that jumps and barks, that just isn't there when firing a .22. She may not want that thrill until a few hundred rimfire rounds are down range, but she will want it someday.

I taught a wonderful girl how to shoot, and she fired light 30-06 handloaded rounds on her second session, and the punch of that rifle was what sold her on shooting forever. She may not have gotten into it if she never had that chance, but I may have ruined her forever with full power loads.
 
Shooting with our children is just one of those "Hallmark" card things...

My oldest son started college this fall, fortunately only two hours from home. He hasn't missed coming home for our monthly range session yet. It's a great way of getting outdoors, and spending quality time together myself and my two sons.

We started out with long guns, and then handguns were added to the mix.

Personally, I found that the basics of trigger control are more easily mastered on long guns. This will not only build experience- but more importantly confidence. Nothing worse than a young shooter that gets frustrated, and flustered, because they can't do what looks to be so "easy"...

I'm going against the grain here and saying that I don't feel it's necessary to "start" with a rimfire. I think a mild recoil centerfire like a .223 is perfect; recoil is not an issue- and it has more "excitement" to the round; IMO, this will add to keeping her interest piqued and the "fun" level at full tilt.
 
I have always started new shooters with a .22 LR (handgan and rifle). Progression to centerfire depends on how fast students master safe gun handling and their sensitivity to recoil.

When we start with 22 LR handgun, we shoot 15 yards (I would opt for 7 but 15 is the closest distance available at my range).
When we start with 22LR rifle, we shoot at 25 yards.

Some new shooters tend to lose interest when they keep missing or if they cannot see the holes on the paper.

Depending on how the students perform, then we progress to 9mm or 38 handgun or .233 rifle.
 
I agree with the step up method. start her off with a 22, if she likes that ask if she wan't so try something else and move up to the second smallest round and then if she's comfortable move her up to a mid sized hunting round. and let her get good with it. if she wants to try a shotgun try out a 410 or 20 gauge first.
 
My daughter surprised me the same way about a year and a half ago, she was 19.

We spent a lot of time in the living room discussing safe handling etc.
She started with a 22 pistol, I think it was the right move.
They can go up from there quickly but you can't go back,
I didn't want her to be scared off from a larger caliber.

She shot my S&W Mod 19 with 38's and then rented a few different 9MM.

She has a G19 now and is going to be taking her CWP course soon.
We've had a lot of fun doing it together, shooting steel matches and just
fun at the range. :D
 
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