My little girl is showing interest in firearms and making a trip to the shooting range. First things first, she needs eye and ear protection. She is young - 4 (AND A HALF! - those halves really matter, she will tell you), and petite. So, I'd like to get her started on fundamentals with an air rifle and my old little single shot .22 rifle.

What all has worked well for the little ones in your lives? I'd love it if the ear protection has electronic microphones - it's pretty important that she be able to hear instructions without needing to remove the ear protection. The eye protection seems easier to find.

And, if things come in pink or purple, that's a big plus - she's a girly girl, but girly girls can shoot too!

Walker's makes an electronic one for women and kids with pink trim.

quote:

Originally posted by HayesGreener:
Walker's makes an electronic one for women and kids with pink trim.

That would be the ticket! I'll go hunt for it. Thanks!

My son called them ear-muffins when he was five or six. Get some ear-muffins.

Use ear plugs and ear muffs if you shoot anything bigger than .22 LR. I think she's too young.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
I think she's too young.

Honestly, I'd rather tackle this in a year or two, but I rather feel like I need to guide this process now since she's showing interest and initiative, and asking questions, asking to come with me to the gun range, etc. I don't want to stifle her. Rather, I can use this interest to guide her into understanding and safely enjoying shooting sports. I can either provide a safe avenue for her to learn, or I can try to put the brakes on and I'll run a greater risk that she'll try to explore her curiosity on her own. I definitely don't want the latter.

It's not like I'm turning her loose with a firearm. This is going to be a very measured and controlled, age-appropriate introduction.

Awesome. 4 1/2 is too young for some kids, perfectly fine for others. Every kid is different.
Mine put his first deer on the ground at 5. He's been shooting and around shooting every since he's been in the world.

He's 10 now and still enjoys it. Wears hearing protection religiously. Shooting and hunting is "our thing" he and I. I am thankful he took to it and liked it early.









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That's awesome, Dusty!

Air gun and ear muffins (Let her get used to shooting and hearing with them on). Move up to .22 with some quiets followed by standard velocity.

My 6 y/o daughter has some pink muffs and kid framed glasses with flat ear pieces. We’ve only shot suppressed .22 to this point so nothing too major, still good to instill the habit early.

We used ear muffs. Usually the kids wear the non electric ones. Not enough of those to go around.