My daughter is going to get her first rifle

Self | Jan.19,2005 | self

[TMSuchman]

On or around the Feb.01,2005, I will get my daughter [age 11] will get her first .22 rifle. I will be getting her a Henery Lever action Youth model. I will also be getting a larger version for myself, so we can go shooting together. I post this in order to get other "Freepers" input on this. Her mother [is a critter lover] is very aginst hunting, but has let me get her one so we can go target shooting on the local range. I hope that this will make for some great "Daddy & Daughter" days!

[TMSuchman]

Thank you for reading & responding to this post.

[bayourod]

I was 11 when I got my Remington Nylon 66 22 rifle. Black with chrome trim and barrel. Had lots of fun hunting with my dad. It cost $44, half of which I mowed yards for a year to pay. Still have it and the memories. (and unfortunately can still taste some of the critters I shot and was forced to eat)

[SWAMPSNIPER]

My Daughter was hunting with Me at an earlier age than this. I would think the weather was too rough for Her, and try to slip out, but I would hear those little feet hit the floor ready to go. She would also dig clams while up to the waist in cold mud. You are going to have a great time, Daughters make super hunting Buddies! Get ready for Her to out shoot You, can't beat those young eyes!This has nothing to do with growing up to be a lady, She will be a Lady with a rounded and balanced view of life.

[Jaysun]

I'm a gun nut if ever there were one, but I have to be honest and say that this doesn't strike me as a good idea. Something about giving an 11 year old girl her own rifle just doesn't feel right. Can't you purchase a rifle for her to use without making it "hers" until she's older?

[Lazamataz]

My daughter is going to get her first rifle

Just make sure to instruct her, when she's shooting her first rifle, that you want to take the rifle just below the bolt. That's where the rifle's heart is, and you can usually cause the rifle to drop right there, instead of needing to track a wounded rifle through the brush.

[investigateworld]

Great choice, That's what I gave my 30 YOA daughter for Christmas. She tried a neighbor's and felt it was for her.

[Lazamataz]

I'm a gun nut if ever there were one, but I have to be honest and say that this doesn't strike me as a good idea. Something about giving an 11 year old girl her own rifle just doesn't feel right.

I completely disagree.

[Lazamataz]

A better picture:

[rellimpank]

---strikes me as being an ideal age to start with her own rifle.

No matter how experienced you are, it would be a good idea to take an NRA safety course, also---

[hiredhand]

Hooray! :-)

Through a rather complicated "horse trade", my daughter (who is now 11) ended up being the proud owner of a stainless steel Ruger 10/22 about a year ago. She's always been my "special" kid anyway, but this was something both of us have thoroughly enjoyed.

You won't regret it.

[TMSuchman]

She already knows about this, but it will be secured in MY gun locker, and will only come out with me there. I have the only keys that will unlock it.
She will learn to shoot thw way Marines do, with lots of time on the range with me standing right over her sholder, ready to take charge when & if I have to!
I have taken her a couple of times before and she is pretty good, and follows instructions very well. I have no doubt that she will be ok.

[Jaysun]

LOL!

[hiredhand]

You'd be amazed at what kids can do IF you take the time to properly instruct them. This is my youngest (just turned 10) shooting his Armalite A-2.

[kingsurfer]

Good for you. Always make sure she knows how to act responsibly with weapons and she will be fine.

[Jaysun]

She already knows about this, but it will be secured in MY gun locker, and will only come out with me there. I have the only keys that will unlock it. She will learn to shoot thw way Marines do, with lots of time on the range with me standing right over her sholder, ready to take charge when & if I have to! I have taken her a couple of times before and she is pretty good, and follows instructions very well. I have no doubt that she will be ok.

Good enough, I was just tossing my pennies on the pile. Your plans sound reasonable and I hope the two of you make some wonderful memories.

[Jaysun]

hiredhand,
Impressive! With all due respect to TMSuchman, that picture is obviously of your son. I personally feel quite different about the matter when we're talking about a son rather than a daughter.

[CR]

I started my 2 children shooting 22's when they were about 6. My son is now 22 and my daughter is 17. By the way, my daughter has always been the best shot in the family. A fact that has always driven my son up the wall.

[hiredhand]

hiredhand,
Impressive! With all due respect to TMSuchman, that picture is obviously of
your son. I personally feel quite different about the matter when we're
talking about a son rather than a daughter.

Yeah. :-) I understand and share your sentiments. The truth is that I TRIED to give the SAME AR-15 to my daughter in lieu of the Ruger, and she just didn't care for it! She likes to shoot....one on one, and is very much a budding marksman. But she could care less about all the CQB drills that we like to practice.

There truly is a vast difference between male, and female. It becomes a lot more noticeable in activities which can be aggressive.

While I'm here, I'll tell you a funny story....then I have to get back to work. :-)

The same girl (this 11 yr old daughter of mine) also shoots my 1911 Colt .45 ACP. She's VERY good with it. She's slow, steady, has fantastic trigger control and puts most self proclaimed pistoleros to shame! But she's fairly shy and reserved. She shoots with me, and me alone most of the time.

One day, me and my boys, and some others were on our range, and she wanted to shoot the .45 ACP. EVERYBODY was watching! It sort of surprised me but I handed her the hardware. She charged a round into it, and plugged a two inch circle five times at about 40 feet, firing from a weaver stance, and taking her time. She stopped shooting at round #5, engaged the slide lock safety and handed the weapon back to me. Then she walked to her target and grinned BIG! I nodded and smiled and said, "I'M IMPRESSED!" All the other guys around were impressed too! I said, "There are three more rounds in the weapon....you gonna shoot em?" She smiled, looked at her target, and then across the group of young men all standing around, and she said, "Nope! I'm done!". ...and she walked back up to the house smiling at all of the guys who just stood there, mouth's agape.

It was a riot! After she was out of sight, I told them all to keep any bragging that they had about their shooting to themselves, or I'd bring her back down to give them lessons! :-)

Several tried their hand at the .45 ACP, but nobody came close to her group that day. :-)

[groanup]

...until she's older?

I know, I didn't get my first pistol until I was twelve. Pearl handled Ruger over/under .22 deringer.

[lindor]

Just a ques ton. Would it be okay to give a rifle to an 11 year old boy?

I like the poster's answer saying he would keep the rifle locked in his gun safe. But as for me, giving an 11 year old a 22 rifle is fine as long as the parent and child are responsible. Easy-Bake ovens are dangerous too.