So I have brought my daughter up with the rules of firearms safety and more specifically what she should do should she ever come across a gun. I have been waiting to teach her to shoot.

Up until now she has only had experience with one air rifle in my home indoor “range”.

So we are on vacation and with family who has a fair number of suppressed firearms to include several .22s. This and being able to shoot on their property was the perfect teaching opportunity. Subsonic .22, suppressed, private area perfect.

Now my ONLY goal was to teach my daughter safety and respect. If she didn’t like it I would not force it on her beyond knowledge and safety.

Well holy hell did she take to it like a duck to Water. Started with a bolt Ruger 77/22. She hit a 2 inch steel spinner at 20 yards within a few shots. Eventually went to a 10/22 and she was banging a 4 inch steel Plate at 20 yards like she had been doing it for years. I couldn’t stop laughing she was ringing that steel like she was born to it and even understood pulling right due to trigger pull.

Ran a couple mags through a Ruger Mark 4 as well. All started with a single round, but she built up to full mags very quickly.

At days end she cannot stop asking. “So can we shoot everyday... can we shoot tomorrow...etc.”. She had a blast and I am a proud papa. I have taught adults who could do near as well.

So I guess we add another to our ranks or I have contributed to the delinquency of a minor depending on your side of the fence.

It was a hell of a day and one of the best days of my life.

That's just awesome! I hope that she will keep being enthusiastic about it!

I can tell you from past experience as a small bore and high power rifle coach, girls usually shoot better than boys.

Be aware of the girl, she might just clean your clock!

I love seeing youth especially girls learn to shoot! I hope that she caught the "bug" and there is no cure! Be proud! I'm glad that y'all had a great day!


ARman

Awesome!

I took my son around his 8th birthday. I bought him a Cricket for the occasion. He is 11 now and loves going shooting. Plus it gives me an excuse to buy more guns. You know, for him

That's Soooooo cool, it's fun to watch them get excited about shooting. Just stand back load mags and try and keep up Dad!! lol

To hear her look up and say “I’m out” was awesome.

I am astonished at how well she did.

She did a hell of a lot better then her old man when he learned.

Awesome!

I took my son around his 8th birthday as well. Great feeling to pass it on.

Awesome! My kids love shooting too. Love being able to pass on my passion to them and sounds like you are well on your way too.

You won the internet today

There's an indoor range in South San Francisco that advertises on their website "Youth Training." I looked into it, and for only $50.00, they teach a kid along with his parent(s) all of the gun safety rules, how to hold a pistol, finger off the trigger, etc., then allow the child and parent to use a lane for up to 4 hours. Gun provided, as well as ammunition.

So, when my son was 12 yrs old, I signed us up. He proved to be a "natural!" He's a sharp shooter for sure!

Sheesh - that was 11 years ago already. Ever notice how having a kid is like having a yardstick on time?

One of those proud papa moments! I have two boys and a girl. She is the youngest(17) of the three and out shoots both of them combined.

I had a similar experience with both my daughters, although neither particularly enjoyed shooting all that much. They were incredibly accurate, though. My oldest now shoots sporting clays on a company team. I had her fitted with a nice Cesar Guerini shotgun a few years back. She did, of course, take a Glock and a HP when she left home, along with a shoe box full of mags and half a case of ammo.

You did a great job raising her and your priorities were right. It's awesome you get to enjoy such a great hobby with her.

A guy I know (used to work at my favorite FFL) taught his daughter to shoot around that age. By the time she was ten, she was slaughtering bowling pins with his 1911. Better shot than he was to be sure.

You’re doing well, dad.

-Rob

Congratulations on a job WELL DONE

Well done, Sir, well done!
Rod

I love hearing these stories!

Congrats, it is great to shoot with your kids.

I took my son to the range when he was 8 yo and he too exhibited real skills; shot dime sized groups on smallbore A-17 targets at 50 feet, outshooting all of the adults in the class. He eventually became one of the top rifle shooters at the club bar none when he was only 10 yo. He is in college now, but can still outshoot me, rifle and pistol, every time.

When he was a little kid, I used to tell folks that my son was my 1st choice in a zombie apocalypse. I was serious.

No pics or videos? I absolutely love to watch kids shoot. The perpetual smiles on their faces is just terrific.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
To hear her look up and say “I’m out” was awesome....

Call sign, Winchester.

It works, too. I taught my kids to shoot in Florida, but they have lived most of their lives in Massachusetts. Not only are they conservatives in that liberal state, but my eldest and her fiancee have unrestricted concealed carry permits.

I don't believe they would be conservatives, or have carry licenses without having learned to shoot young, and without understanding the obligations of personal responsibility, the right and ability of self defense, and the possibility that the state could try to take those things from you.

Teaching shooting, helps teach those other values also, and can last a lifetime.

Looking forward to taking my oldest shooting whenever she's ready (she's 5 now).

Good for you and even better for your daughter. I think the moral of the story is clear, you need to jump into the suppressor game. You know, for your daughter...