Youngsters and shooting games

[rob_s]

I’d like to hear from some folks that have gotten their kids into completion shooting, particularly girls, and particularly from 12/13 onward and not much before that.

My older daughter is 13. She has a BB gun that we have shot in the yard a few times, went to the range once as a family and shot some .22s, and has been with the wife and I several times to shoot sporting clays where she and her sister trade off trapping and scoring. Point is, she knows we have guns, she knows that I shoot, and she has laid hands on a gun a time or two before. She knows the four rules and understands them, granted at 13 with the teenager sass in full affect she makes it a chore to drag them out of her. :rolleyes:

This past weekend I shot my first steel challenge match in years, and really enjoyed the relaxed pace and couldn’t help but think it might make for a good entry into competition shooting for her. The lack of movement seems safer to me and strips a level of complexity that she wouldn’t have to contend with, the feedback of the “ding” is enjoyable and offers positive reinforcement for all ages, and the existence of rimfire divisions means reduced recoil, reduced cost, and generally a lower barrier to entry for a kid starting out.

I’d like to hear from others that have gone down this path*, and get some feedback on my above concept re: Steel Challenge, thoughts on guns and gear (I have an M&P15-22 and a youth 10/22 that she could choose from), and anything else I may be missing.

Ideally, if she likes it, I’d like to graduate her up to Action Steel, USPSA, transition from a rifle to a pistol, etc.

* nothing personal, but if you don’t have kids, I’m not really interested in hearing from you, unless you have some sort of other experience that makes it relevant like running a kids only match or something. Simply being at matches with other people’s kids isn’t the same thing, thanks. I know it’s the internet, and people like to chime in, so just trying to get this out there. If you simply can’t stifle yourself, at least start you reply with “I don’t have kids but” and then go on to explain how, in spite of that fact, your comments are relevant. Thanks!

[Duelist]

I hope she loves it.

My kids did go to two project Appleseeds with me, and both hunted small and big game with me. Both later decided they don’t have any further interest in shooting or gun sports, but the time spent together was well worth the investments made.

[1Rangemaster]

2 daughters; I started years ago with both of them, initially “plinking” with a short 10/22 from a bench. My youngest fired a few rounds when she was in single digits, me basically holding her hands, holding the Buckmark(I think) while we were seated at a single piece of steel-big plate, if I recall, about 10 inch diamete 10 yards away..
I think you’re on the right path. Both girls helped paint steel when young, and I asked every month if they wanted to shoot. When the youngest said yes, out came the 10/22. Simple setup, fiber optic front, rear peep, sling and case for moving from stage to stage. Reload mags in a Fanny pack she carried(“you pack your own gear”).
We made days of it; breakfast w/Dad, then to the range. Steel Challenge is the best competitive format in my opinion and just about everyone is more than helpful. One thing-focus on her/them, don’t worry too much about your shooting.
Youngest has been to a couple of pistol classes now, has her CCW and carries pretty consistently. Neither daughter competes much anymore, but Steel Challenge was a major component of their safety consciousness and shooting training. Youngest wants a class every year or two, which Dad subsidizes. I shoot with the oldest once or twice a year just so she keeps some knowledge.
I didn’t push and I think that’s important. If they didn’t want to shoot, or early on, got tired/hot, etc. I did not insist. Later, when she committed to a day we kept at it. Oh, and no phones-“safety first”. Amusingly, the youngest was considered “awesome” by young teenage boys; that gave her a confident attitude.
The .22 AR would be fine too. I’m going to try and schedule an Appleseed for one or both next year before they get families, etc. I wouldn’t trade the range days for anything…

[Caballoflaco]

I’ll be the first guy that doesn’t have kids to chime in for one reason. I recently went on a quail hunt where one of the guys brought his 11 year old son. The kid had a little .410 single shot, killed plenty of birds and most importantly was safe. (I don’t think there’s a safer gun for beginners than a break action single shot)

This is relevant because you and your wife have been enjoying clays and you didn’t mention shotgun anything for your kids. There might be youth opportunities in your area worth exploring.

ETA: maybe some folks who have introduced their kids to shotgun sports will chime in and share their experiences with that.

[GyroF-16]

Here’s my experience…
Two sons, a few years apart. Introduced shooting and gun safety with BB gun, then trips to an indoor range to shoot a PCC. Then introduced handguns using Airsoft replicas, first manually-cycled spring action, then gas-operated that was a full simulation of the real gun. Then trips to an indoor range for supervised live fire. This was all done from ages 10-16.

My wish was that one or both would want to join me in IDPA. After a class with a local guy that culminated in them getting to shoot at moving and disappearing targets, the youngest son (then 15) was game to try an IDPA match the next day. He was quite nervous about the match, but had a great time, and as we left the range, gave me a big smile and said “this was really fun - can we do it again soon?”
I can’t tell you how pleased I was.

All this to say - I offered to take them to IDPA matches for over a year, but they always declined (until last year). The biggest mental obstacles for both my boys were:
- fear that the IDPA match would be rigid and stressful, and that they’d be berated if they made a mistake
- lack of interest in getting up early on a weekend morning (usually leave the house around 0700-0730)

My youngest commented after his first match that it was much more relaxed and fun than he’d imagined. He was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming all the other shooters on our squad were.

So my advice for your daughter would be:
- try to paint a picture of a fun, low-stress event, as opposed to the tense competition that she might be imagining.
- keep dangling it out there, and let her try when she feels ready

FWIW, my older son has still never tried a match, and my younger son has been at it for a year and been remarkably successful- winning his division as a Novice at the regional match, and placing 4th at Nationals as a Marksman. He always enjoys the local matches, and several of the other shooters are becoming like uncles to him.

[Jim Watson]

I don't have kids but

I watch the ones I see on the range. They are invariably safe, polite, and most are having a good time*.
They have good eyes, no nerves and can really ring the steel fast in Steel Challenge rimfire divisions.
I hope she gets enthused, it is a place where a kid can compete on an even footing with adults and be treated as an adult.

*Most. I recall one Junior IDPA shooter equipped with a Little League Dad. Dad didn't shoot, he just caddied the gear and coached his son on the stages. I never ever saw the kid smile or indicate he was enjoying himself. But he stuck with it, he is now a professional shooter.

[Quantrill]

My son is 16 & daughter is coming 10. My son started NSSF/ ruger challenge (rimfire rifle & pistol) @ 9, my daughter started @ 7. I realize that is younger than the examples you asked for but I think it’s a good path for any age. I started my wife on rimfire steel with hopes she'll shoot uspsa.

My kids started hunting before shooting sports which drives home the lethality of firearms.

With both of my kids (and wife) we dry fired the make ready, unload/ show clear, chamber flag administration stuff WAY more than shooting skill. My goal was that they would feel comfortable with the process and not afraid they would “get in trouble” for doing something wrong.

My son started USPSA @ 11 after spectating matches at the same range he shot rimfire. That helped his comfort level, knowing people, etc.

10/22 is the easy answer for gaming.

[rob_s]

Thanks for the responses.

Every time we’ve taken the girls with us to sporting clays. We’ve asked both if they want to try it, even just to shoot a shell off into the abyss, and both continue to decline.

Someone up above mentioned reinforcing the relaxed nature of the match to put her at ease, and I think that’s a great point. I think maybe we will try to schedule some time where we can all go together, shoot some clays in the afternoon, stay over, and I can shoot a match the following day and anyone that wants to come see what it’s like is welcome to.

[Duelist]

Thanks for the responses.

Every time we’ve taken the girls with us to sporting clays. We’ve asked both if they want to try it, even just to shoot a shell off into the abyss, and both continue to decline.

Someone up above mentioned reinforcing the relaxed nature of the match to put her at ease, and I think that’s a great point. I think maybe we will try to schedule some time where we can all go together, shoot some clays in the afternoon, stay over, and I can shoot a match the following day and anyone that wants to come see what it’s like is welcome to.

Forgot to mention: Thing 2 shot one pistol match with me. Just made sure to notify the RSOs that the shooter is a beginner. They allowed me to walk with them (I was a frequent RSO of the match at the time, but didn’t want the timer or scorecard responsibility when my kid was shooting) and give calm advice when needed (the gun stopped because it is empty - get your reload out and get the gun running, there’s another target to the left you didn’t see - stuff like that to help walk through the stages).

Kid had a good time, didn’t make any safety errors, shot very slowly but well, but determined for himself that due to chronic depression issues, having guns of his own or being around shooting very often was a bad idea for the time being.

[JCN]

rob_s

I plan on introducing my daughter to steel challenge when she is older as an intro to shooting sports with live ammo. One of my good friends does it with his 12 year old son.

The advantages of steel challenge are also that you can dry practice at home and there is the familiarity aspect of the stages.

You can also transition them from 22 rifle to 22 pistol in the future.

My daughter is 4 and a half. I plan to start her with airsoft steel challenge and USPSA type plinking first (tactrainers has Airsoft reactive USPSA targets that I used with my 12 year old nephew to great success).

[Clusterfrack]

I worked on safety with both of my girls for about a year each before I would let them draw from a holster or shoot a match.

One daughter did speed steel at 13. She liked it ok, but wasn’t really into it. Too much standing around with adults. But it helped her learn how to handle and shoot guns. She now has a G43 for self defense that she can run like a boss.

The other daughter did Appleseed at 13 and kicked butt. She earned Sharpshooter. Then she shot two USPSA matches with a stock G17. Like her sister, it wasn’t her thing. Few people her age… But I trust her to run any firearm with safety and skill.

[littlejerry]

My daughter is only 6 months old.

My closest shooting buddy has a daughter who is now 16. High school and puberty seems to have made her less interested, but from ~10-13 she came to almost every steel challenge match we shot together.

It started out as her coming to hang out with dad. Then we hung out after the match a few times to let her run a stage or 2 with a 10/22. Then she started competing for real, and actually shooting really well. She and her dad basically raced, with him shooting Glock 34 and her shooting a 15/22 w/dot. Their times were close and eventually she got to where she beat him at every match.

I wasn't around for all of the parenting stuff so I can't help with that. But it was cool to see her shoot with her dad, grow up a little, and get proficient with 22 rifle. Makes me hopeful I can have a similar experience with my daughter. In 10 years.

[steve]

My Grandson is 15. He has been shooting since he was 8 years old. He did some GSSF matches when he was 12 and 13 but was not really interested in them and in general it seemed like he was bored with our range training sessions. We decided to try something new and we set up a course like a USPSA match without walls, but we had movement and hidden targets. He loved it. He shot his first USPSA match in May and has 4 under his belt now. He tried steel challenge but he didn't like it and said it reminded him of GSSF.

So now we are sticking with USPSA and he is excited to go. He even likes to practice again and I think it helps that he is beating his dad at the matches. (Our local club has been great with kids also, the coaching and encouragement have been excellent.)

I think finding something she likes and letting her decide what she wants is most important; with that increased participation and skill will follow.

[rob_s]

My Grandson is 15. He has been shooting since he was 8 years old. He did some GSSF matches when he was 12 and 13 but was not really interested in them and in general it seemed like he was bored with our range training sessions. We decided to try something new and we set up a course like a USPSA match without walls, but we had movement and hidden targets. He loved it. He shot his first USPSA match in May and has 4 under his belt now. He tried steel challenge but he didn't like it and said it reminded him of GSSF.

So now we are sticking with USPSA and he is excited to go. He even likes to practice again and I think it helps that he is beating his dad at the matches. (Our local club has been great with kids also, the coaching and encouragement have been excellent.)

I think finding something she likes and letting her decide what she wants is most important; with that increased participation and skill will follow.

I tend to agree, but the caveat right now is that she doesn't know what she doesn't know. and, I'm reluctant to hand her a firearm and have her moving and shooting as the starting point in this endeavor.

She's gone with us to Sporting Clays, as mentioned. And she knows I shoot (or, used to shoot, in the era before her :p ) other types of matches, so I'm thinking first steps is to just get her exposed and let her see what's out there.

Trying to balance the fun, with the skill building, with the "find something, ANYTHING, that you actually like", with the time spent together...

We spend a ton of time together as a family goin on adventures, vacations, etc. so I'm mostly looking for something that she and I both enjoy that we can do together.

I get it, a lot of parents go in for that whole "I'd suffer anything for the kids" but we're just not those parents and we find it to be a recipe for failure for all involved (and, all too frequently, simply an excuse for parents to not have to have their own lives and be interesting), and prefer activities where everyone is having fun, or at a minimum not miserable! (I'm looking at you, travel softball!) :cool:

I'd love it if shooting of any kind was that thing for her and I, but I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket, or even getting my hopes up (I think...).

[steve]

I tend to agree, but the caveat right now is that she doesn't know what she doesn't know. and, I'm reluctant to hand her a firearm and have her moving and shooting as the starting point in this endeavor.

She's gone with us to Sporting Clays, as mentioned. And she knows I shoot (or, used to shoot, in the era before her :p ) other types of matches, so I'm thinking first steps is to just get her exposed and let her see what's out there.

Trying to balance the fun, with the skill building, with the "find something, ANYTHING, that you actually like", with the time spent together...

We spend a ton of time together as a family goin on adventures, vacations, etc. so I'm mostly looking for something that she and I both enjoy that we can do together.

I get it, a lot of parents go in for that whole "I'd suffer anything for the kids" but we're just not those parents and we find it to be a recipe for failure for all involved (and, all too frequently, simply an excuse for parents to not have to have their own lives and be interesting), and prefer activities where everyone is having fun, or at a minimum not miserable! (I'm looking at you, travel softball!) :cool:

I'd love it if shooting of any kind was that thing for her and I, but I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket, or even getting my hopes up (I think...).

I had daughters and no sons. My oldest liked to shoot as pre-teen but then it wore off and she didn't like it. My youngest participated in a GSSF match when she was 23 and likes to shoot when she visits. (She had no interest until her twenties). The only thing you can do is give it a try but if they don't like it and you try and force it, it will not go well. I agree with everything you said.

[rob_s]

I had daughters and no sons. My oldest liked to shoot as pre-teen but then it wore off and she didn't like it. My youngest participated in a GSSF match when she was 23 and likes to shoot when she visits. (She had no interest until her twenties). The only thing you can do is give it a try but if they don't like it and you try and force it, it will not go well. I agree with everything you said.

Yeah I think I may have missed the window with the 13-year-old. she's well into the teenage brat stage, and is just as likely to tell me to FOAD re: shooting even if it's something she secretly wants to do more than anything else in the world. I see this behavior escalating at an exponential rate as well, so hoping to get her out there ASAP and see if there's any hope. She's still in middle school, and starts high school next year, after which my guess is there's not much hope. If not, in the words of Dr Jones Sr "you left just as you were starting to become interesting (youtube_share;7NM_LgjNj4k]https://youtu.be/7NM_LgjNj4k?t=82)" and maybe we'll see her on the range in 7-10 years. :D

There' a 10-year-old daughter behind her, and she loves doing anything that means we spend time together. So ALL hope is not lost! :cool:

[JuneAmara]

More like laser tag;)

[UNM1136]

Oldest daughter and son are enrolled in GSSF Indoor league. One has a Gen 5 19 MOS, and he has a G44, both Christmas presents this year. With the GSSF membership. Sold the wife on it as "like a bowling league, only with guns..."

pat

[IDontDoQuests]

I’d like to hear from some folks that have gotten their kids into completion shooting, particularly girls, and particularly from 12/13 onward and not much before that.

My older daughter is 13. She has a BB gun that we have shot in the yard a few times, went to the range once as a family and shot some .22s, and has been with the wife and I several times to shoot sporting clays where she and her sister trade off trapping and scoring. Point is, she knows we have guns, she knows that I shoot, and she has laid hands on a gun a time or two before. She knows the four rules and understands them, granted at 13 with the teenager sass in full affect she makes it a chore to drag them out of her. :rolleyes:

This past weekend I shot my first steel challenge match in years, and really enjoyed the relaxed pace and couldn’t help but think it might make for a good entry into competition shooting for her. The lack of movement seems safer to me and strips a level of complexity that she wouldn’t have to contend with, the feedback of the “ding” is enjoyable and offers positive reinforcement for all ages, and the existence of rimfire divisions means reduced recoil, reduced cost, and generally a lower barrier to entry for a kid starting out.

I’d like to hear from others that have gone down this path*, and get some feedback on my above concept re: Steel Challenge, thoughts on guns and gear (I have an M&P15-22 and a youth 10/22 that she could choose from), and anything else I may be missing.

Ideally, if she likes it, I’d like to graduate her up to Action Steel, USPSA, transition from a rifle to a pistol, etc.

* nothing personal, but if you don’t have kids, I’m not really interested in hearing from you, unless you have some sort of other experience that makes it relevant like running a kids only match or something. Simply being at matches with other people’s kids isn’t the same thing, thanks. I know it’s the internet, and people like to chime in, so just trying to get this out there. If you simply can’t stifle yourself, at least start you reply with “I don’t have kids but” and then go on to explain how, in spite of that fact, your comments are relevant. Thanks!

Speaking as a father... Don't waste her time and yours if you think she's not into it. I know we gun guys like to think that the world revolves around guns, but the reality is that unless she seems AT THE VERY LEAST okay with the idea, don't bother pushing it. It's one thing to shoot leisurely at the range with your daughter on occasion, it's another to force her to do competitions which require drive and interest. Find something she really likes and push her to be the best at that. You might have to learn about ballet in order to bond, but that's what being a father is. You're there for her, she's not there to accompany you. Not saying this is the case, I don't know her or what she wants. But it's something to consider. If she's really into guns and she wants to compete... Then sure, go for it (statistically speaking 99.9999% of 13 year old girls probably don't care about shooting). Luckily I have a lot of kids, so one of my boys was bound to be a shooter like his dad. Have them do the rimfire division in steel challenge. What gun you have doesn't matter as they're learning. Most adults can't even outshoot their own guns. Wait until they try it a couple of times, if they like it and want to pursue it, then worry about gear.

[rob_s]

Speaking as a father... Don't waste her time and yours if you think she's not into it. I know we gun guys like to think that the world revolves around guns, but the reality is that unless she seems AT THE VERY LEAST okay with the idea, don't bother pushing it. It's one thing to shoot leisurely at the range with your daughter on occasion, it's another to force her to do competitions which require drive and interest. Find something she really likes and push her to be the best at that. You might have to learn about ballet in order to bond, but that's what being a father is. You're there for her, she's not there to accompany you. Not saying this is the case, I don't know her or what she wants. But it's something to consider. If she's really into guns and she wants to compete... Then sure, go for it (statistically speaking 99.9999% of 13 year old girls probably don't care about shooting). Luckily I have a lot of kids, so one of my boys was bound to be a shooter like his dad. Have them do the rimfire division in steel challenge. What gun you have doesn't matter as they're learning. Most adults can't even outshoot their own guns. Wait until they try it a couple of times, if they like it and want to pursue it, then worry about gear.

All of that is true of anything, not just shooting.

[rob_s]

Kinda glad this got bumped back up though.

Last weekend we went out for sporting clays, and the older daughter asked (through the wife) if we could also take some guns they could shoot. So we packed up the mp15-22, the youth 20/22, and I popped the Advantage Arms .22 slide on one of the Glock 19s because (again, through the wife) she specifically requested to shoot a handgun.

She did remarkably well with the mp15-22 right out of the gate. Both her and her sister were able to make some hits on the 100 yard steel plates with the MP, and most of their misses were damn close.

Struggled a bit with the pistol but did ok with it (we were getting close to our lunch reservation at the clubhouse and we’re in a bit of a rush).

Enough so that I think that if I orchestrated a family weekend trip to the range (they have cabins we’ve stayed in before) to coincide with a steel match, I think they’d all agree to go and she’d get to see how things work from there it’s up to her to express interest, but as it stands right now she doesn’t know what she doesn’t know.

Might also dig out the airsoft G19 and see if that holds any interest for her. Should be able to cobble together some “steel” for her to shoot at.

[curious]

a suggestion, put your youngsters in the hands of an 8 hour basic pistol, rifle, shotgun courses to, in one swoop session for each, have the necessary skill, knowledge, and glean the necessary attitude in handling these firearms you have exposed them to in incremental segments in the past.

then you have the opportunity to build on the basic schemes as well as introducing them to different firearms and opportunities to shoot them w/o having to reiterate previous subject matter each time you go out.

J

ps: also consider archery...

pss: successful movement into the competition arena for both shooting activities could lead to a full ride from a collegiate persective.