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Davy Jones · Member

Just wondering what the concesus is of the community as far as letting your kids use a bb or pellet gun. I've seen a lot of warnings suggesting to be at least 16, I was just wondering if that is the rule of thumb here as well. Heck, I was thinking like 10 ...am I wrong?

Lipoly · Veteran Member

I was ~10 when I was allowed to go around my grandparents country farm shooting blackbirds w/o any adults around...that was with a pump Crossman 760. Other than intentionally shooting out a couple windows in my grandpas barn (followed by a prompt whipping), I was responsible w/it in terms of safety. I was blamed for killing an Oriole which really pissed my g-ma off, but I didn't do it...honestly!

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I take my 8 year old hunting with me quite frequently. I even set up a 2240 with a cut down shoulder stock to fit him. He had only like an 8 inch pull so it took a lot of removal to get there.

He is in no way allowed to touch his rifle without me being right there. He is a mature 8 year old and he understands my rules quite well. He also knows if I catch him with it, he will lose any gun privilege till he's 14.

fritz · Silver Status Member

I think I was about 7 when I got my red ryder. Rarely was I supervised (along with the power tools...) I still have all of my appendages, but then again I took quite a few knocks to the head so maybe I can't count right anymore.

donec · Senior Member

I don't think you can place an age on something like this as I know a couple adults that should not be allowed near a gun of any kind. With that said I really feel that a BB gun is more dangerous than a pellet gun because of the ricochet danger and can generally be used as a repeater causing several ricochets. Something kids seem to think is cool.

Slavia · Moderator

I was 10 when I was allowed to shoot my Daisy 1894 without supervision. My kids shot when they were about 8 with my supervision. They still complain about our first trip to the range, when I made them walk around with sticks to practice safe carry. This makes me happy, because that lesson was burned into their little brains (both college age now).

broommaster2000 · Moderator

I say it depends on the mental age of the person who teaches the child. Mr. Green

Roy · Veteran Member

It really does depend on the child; each is different.

I can offer an example of an individual, who, while lacking discipline in other areas, did demonstrate exceptional responsibility regarding the safe handling of guns. His father, an ex-US Marine, wanted to start him on a "real" gun, that is, one with a rifled barrel rather than an inaccurate smoothbore BB gun, despite the fact that his older(much older) brother had been given a Daisy model 1894 for is first gun.
The child was introduced to his uncle's Winchester Model 1890, caliber .22WRF, at age 9. At age 12, the kid voluntarily completed Wisconsin Hunter Safety training(taught by another ex-US Marine), and, that same fall, bagged his first squirrel with a single shot from his dad's Browning BL22 .22 rimfire. Soon after, he began shooting another of his father's guns: an 8x57mm Mauser Model 98 high powered rifle. Impressed with his son's progress, the father allowed the boy to hunt alone with a firearm at age 13. At age 16, the young man was given a Winchester Model 1200 12 gauge shotgun for his birthday. And at age 17, having bagged deer in each of the previous 3 years, he was presented with a Remington Model 760 .30-06 rifle and scope(selected by his older brother) on the occasion of his high school graduation.
He went on to shoot on his college rifle team at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, earned an "Expert" classification in DCM high power competition, and, at one point, was nationally ranked in 4 competitive shooting disciplines ; three in smallbore and one in 10m airgun.

This example is not typical ; the boy I write about grew up in an environment that fostered responsible shooting practices, and he posesses superior genetic gifts, as does his older, much older, brother.

ellodrith · Member

Early supervision and training is the key. If you take your youngsters out with you and teach them the "rules" of firearms, I've found they respect those for the most part. Once you've been out with them a few times, you'll know which ones can be out on there own with an airgun, and which you can't trust because of that big sh&t eatin grin they get Smile

common sense works with kids if introduced early Smile

cheers
Jeff

Slavia · Moderator

Roy - an "older, much older" guy would be lucky to have a brother like you, er, that is, him.

sniper · Silver Status Member

i had my first bb gun at 6. my ruger 10/22 at 8.

first 12GA at 13.

around 10 i had my airguns on my own terms..

at 16 i had my burners (4 then) on my terms..

i've been around loaded guns since i was 6. dad said.."don't touch that"..

i never did. i agree with roy.... I AM the exception to the rule.., Mr. Green

and look at me now. Mr. Green

midnightsniper · Member

I really think the age for taking up air guns is based on the child.Do they have the discipline and responseable enough to handle a gun.My kids are 15 and 12 year old gurls and 12 and 6 year old boys.I claim my step gurls as my own.My gurls and 12 year old son have moved up to real fire arms.They have me with them anytime they shoot,only one shooter at a time,and the gun must be secured before passing off to the next shooter.My 6 year old boy got his first BB gun for christmas.He got a Daisy Red Ryder.He follows the same rules.I have had no issues and everyone enjoys their gun time.Also,all of the guns,including BB and air guns, are kept locked up.Air soft guns included.

Oh I got my first Daisy spring pistol at the age of 9.I was not responseable enough to have one.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Davy Jones · Member

Hey thanks for the input, you guys are awesome.

The thing is, my 6 year old has always had a thing for guns, I know as kids we all have at one point. Little plastic cap guns, Nerf...Star Wars guns, he's got one heck of a gun collection. He will set up targets all over the house & crawl around on the floor like a sniper with his Nerf guns, (how do those bright Orange darts just disappear?) you can take his video games, Hotwheels, anything but his guns, he's not going to grow out of it. The kid absolutily loves walking in the deep woods, I have a 25 year old that doesnt even like walking in tall grass...because you know, "there might bugs or a snake in there or something" lol, the 6 year old would fling the snake around his shoulder & eat those bugs.
We were walking in the woods the other day, & I started shooting around with this little Daisy I picked up while I'm waiting for a 1377 I ordered, he was silent for a bit there, then looked up at me mouth wide open, his eyes were like magnifying glasses. Not really knowing the gun all that well, & being 15 shot bb gun I didnt let him shoot, to say he was disappointed is an understatement. My biggest fear is that he will get furthure into the wrong guns for the wrong reasons. I would just like him to stay focused on the hunting & target shooting aspect, unlike basketball players & rappers lol.

I could let him shot the Daisy without bb's in it for a while, just to get a feel. Then see how he reacts & handles it. Maybe let him shoot the single shot pellet.

I think I'll do a post about this experience, might be interesting.

Thanks again...

Slavia · Moderator