How do I get my 7yro interested in shooting?

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    T

    Tracker

    Active Member
    Aug 21, 2011
    587
    Anne Arundel County
    pbharvey said:
    Air guns with interactive targets: knock downs, swinging, exploding sweet tarts, splatter targets, whatever.
    I’ve been shooting almost my entire life and sometimes I get bored with poking holes in paper.
    Click to expand...

    Sometimes I get bored with poking holes in paper too. I like the exploding sweet tarts idea!
     
    K31

    K31

    "Part of that Ultra MAGA Crowd"
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2006
    35,673
    AA county
    Tell him he can't go shooting, nope, never, and you don't care that all his friends get to go either.
     
    Mack C-85

    Mack C-85

    R.I.P.
    Jan 22, 2014
    6,522
    Littlestown, PA
    Tracker said:
    Sometimes I get bored with poking holes in paper too. I like the exploding sweet tarts idea!
    Click to expand...

    NECCO wafers make a great (and colorful) quarter sized exploding target!!!

    A saw kerf down a 1'x3" or 2"x4" will hold as many as you can safely backstop!!!!

    Only problem is New England Candy Company (NECCO) was recently shuttered...:mad54:
     
    MigraineMan

    MigraineMan

    Defenestration Specialist
    Jun 9, 2011
    19,232
    Frederick County
    Mack C-85 said:
    NECCO wafers make a great (and colorful) quarter sized exploding target!!!

    A saw kerf down a 1'x3" or 2"x4" will hold as many as you can safely backstop!!!!

    Only problem is New England Candy Company (NECCO) was recently shuttered...:mad54:
    Click to expand...

    That's the first "good" application of a NECCO wafer I've heard of.

    Worst. Confection. Evar.
     
    hobiecat590

    hobiecat590

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 2, 2016
    2,478
    Speed3 said:
    Start with a .22 as everyone else mentioned. Loud noises scare kids, double up hearing protection(foam inserts and over the ear protection).

    I purchased a suppressor to introduce new shooters.

    Reactive targets are fun for kids. 2 liter bottles of soda the you just shook up, hearing the bang on cans, milk jugs full of water, etc.

    I really like the pay for score incentive, I'll have to try that next time. Attention spans are short, if you spend 5 minutes and they are ready, leave. Always end on a happy note, pizza/ice cream.....they will enjoy it.
    Click to expand...

    Reactive targets is a good way to spur interest. Use some almost empty spray paint cans, use a white back drop and create some Art :-)

    Shake up some soda bottles and have a ball.

    Use 22 shorts in almost any long riffle and you won't need a suppressor. Use Agulia Colibri (primer only 22 lr) and all you hear is the hammer strike in most revolvers. Only use the Super Colibri's in long riffles to prevent squibs.

    Shooting paper is boring to a 7 year old. Blowing stuff up and making a mess is a lot more fun.

    Good luck
     
    C

    Chem

    Member
    Aug 1, 2018
    96
    When I was that age I was exposed to firearms by my uncle. He started me with a BB gun but taught me proper gun safety and made me treat it as if it were a real firearm. I was angry at the time because of course I wanted to shoot the real stuff but it was a great way to introduce me to the hobby and show me the ropes.
     
    Sirex

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,416
    Westminster, MD
    I started my kids off with BB/pellet guns. Got my daughter a pink Red Ryder carbine. She likes shooting more than my Nerf-aholic son. I took her to the gun range to shoot real guns. She shot the 15-22, my 9mm CZ75, my M39 Mosin with 46gr Czech training ammo and Mossberg 500E in .410. She didn't like the M39 because it is old, heavy, and smelly. Wasn't super fond of the .410. She liked the 9mm pistol, and LOVES the 15-22. We now play games and compete for ice cream.
     

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    tbmcdermott1

    Member
    Mar 26, 2018
    29
    Baltimore
    Do you have friends and family who shoot and have kids that shoot also? Have a cookout and let him see other kids his age shoot and having fun doing it. Might pique his interest, if not then at least y'all got together with friends and family and had a good time.
     
    engineerbrian

    engineerbrian

    JMB fan club
    Sep 3, 2010
    10,149
    Fredneck
    I figured i’d add to this thread.

    My middle son has been shooting since he was about 4 but never really showed much interest in it, actually he could care less about it. This year he got a bug up is ass to go dear hunting (passed hunter safety last year) and is now all about shooting and wanting to get a dear.

    I guess a goal like that got him to the range and ringing steel plates at 200 and 300 yards :thumbsup:
     

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