Looking for thoughts on when to progress a young shooter to the next level of recoil and what levels of guns to progress through.
My 7yo daughter and I had a much different upbringing. I killed my first deer at 6, was hunting by myself at 8 with a .223, and walking the brush with a 30-30 by age 10.
I have started her with an air rifle that is a carbon copy of a Ruger 10/22. Obviously the next step up would be a real 10/22 or 17HMR.
Where would you go from there?
Without buying any new guns I was thinking:
22>22 Hornet>223>6.5CM>308
Personal thoughts.
Is 22 Hornet easy to come by?
I might skip that and go 22 to 223 directly.
Also may consider adding a point after 223. 243W or 6mm whatever. Or if old school, a 257 Bob!
I would also consider pausing at 6.5 CM, and only go up if that’s really what she wants to do. Of course you’re looking way into the future at this point and who knows how big she will be, how much recoil she will be able to handle, etc.
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There are still a few made each year and there are 3-4 factory load options. I’ve got a Ruger with a 24” barrel which would make a decent BR gun for a kid. I also still have the single shot H&R that I used when I was a kid.
I kinda agree. .223 is always a great first centerfire option.
I am thinking about adding a 6CM to my arsenal soon.
True. We can always stop progressing at any point or audible as we go.
Just getting them on the range and in the field is the end goal!
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Yeah, agree. It’s hard to beat 223 for ammo availability, variety, ease of getting, and just fun to shoot.
I brought up the 243/6 mm just because if she did decide to pause at that point, she’s got a gun that is plenty capable for deer sized and smaller animals. Plus they’re easy to come by also with availability and such.
Best of luck, and enjoy!
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Kids these day😜 Back in my day my dad let me shoot his ruger blackhawk which I was able to hold up. Hammer in the forehead and a little blood. I was 5 or 6. Not sure why but I was not scared away from shooting - well from that pistol I was.
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In the long run it would probably make more sense to stick to .22lr or similar and take them to events like NRL or local 22lr matches instead. There’s no replacement for just sending thousands of (hopefully cheap) rounds downrange to build those fundamentals.
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The thing I’ve noticed is that the SOUND matters the most.
I like the progression of cartridges you outlined, but just want to add that if you can add a suppressor, you’re much less likely to see them start to flinch.
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OHHH yes! There will be suppressors involved. I try to keep what hearing I have left so I almost never shoot without a can.
Side note, it really bothers me when I’m shooting long range steel, it’s nice and quite, and a guy rolls up next to me with a shoulder cannon and a muzzle break. Me, “pop. pop.” Him, “BALOOOM!” Thank you for the concussion sir. lol
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Was just thinking about this as well. What about 22 ARC as a starter gun? Don’t know anything about ammo availability, price, etc.
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Agree with Wmfeht, more time using something that teaches how to use a weapon, sighting, fundamentals and focus on them versus getting a half moon over your eye, expense, and probably the most important is the time they spend with you doing it. They will or will not take to it, but that is a decision that happens on its own no matter what we tell our kids. I have two girls and one boy. One girl likes to shoot, killed a buck and wasnt put off by it, but has never gone hunting againi. One girl loves to shoot with me on the .22 and i got her a .223 heavy barrel to shoot distance with me, but she absolutely doesnt want to deer hunt. The son, well he shoots anything and everything.
Good luck