gun for 4 year old

[argie1891]

I found this on another forum and was wondering if I was the only one who would think this guy is not using good judgment anyway here is the post

My son shoots my AR right now. 223 doesn't have a lot of recoil with them. He shot a deer this year during the youth season, 64gr soft point. It's nice to shorten the stock up for him. Next yr though I'll prob bump him up to my 300blk for a little more knock down.

For a single shot option, my niece has a CVA Hunter which is a break action. Think they make it in 223 243 and possibly 308. The 223 would be about right with a 4 yr old. Hers is a 243, which would be a bit much still. They are very budget friendly too, check out Academy, even comes with a scope.

[Skyvalhunter]

Which other forum

[Curly]

I think the 223 and 64gr is a  good choice for deer.   

Now, letting a 4 yr old shoot deer........does seem a little bit young.

[pianoman9701]

Are we absolutely sure that someone isn't tugging on lower limbs? I know everything's true if it's on the internet, but...

[YoungFowler]

I was under the impression that 223 was not a caliber allowed for big game, other than cougar.


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[jackelope]

That’s just Washington. It is legal elsewhere .
And i have no idea why a 4 year old is shooting deer.

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[92xj]

I shot my first deer at 5 years old in South Carolina sitting in a stand with my father shooting a lever action 32 special. I went hunting with my dad at age 3 and would sit at the base of his ladder stand while he was in the ladder for the morning and evening hunts, every weekend of the season. Based off that texted post above we know absolutely nothing about the location, situation or education of the kid and adult supervising him on a hunt. No information given to judge. Some kids have it in them young to hunt, shoot and kill, others don't.

[bhawley76]

I don't see a 4 year old with a gun being a safe or smart idea 

[MADMAX]

BB gun

[N7XW]

4 year old = nerf gun in my opinion.

[Holg3107]

At 4 years old Nerf or at most a good old Red Rider BB gun.

[boneaddict]

IMO way too dang young.   

[bobcat]

IMO way too dang young.

 

[quadrafire]

Might have been a Typo meant for 14
That would make more sense to me

[runamuk]

I shot my first deer at 5 years old in South Carolina sitting in a stand with my father shooting a lever action 32 special. I went hunting with my dad at age 3 and would sit at the base of his ladder stand while he was in the ladder for the morning and evening hunts, every weekend of the season. Based off that texted post above we know absolutely nothing about the location, situation or education of the kid and adult supervising him on a hunt. No information given to judge. Some kids have it in them young to hunt, shoot and kill, others don't.

Everything he just said.  The rest of the US is not the same as here snd,we do not have any information. Basically jumping to judgement is exactly how anti gunners would spin that text.

[lokidog]

I don't see a 4 year old with a gun being a safe or smart idea 

My son knew the main gun safety rules at 4, he had to treat his toy gun like a real one.  Having said that, 4 seems pretty young but if the adult is right next to them helping out, and its legal, whatever....

[b23]

At 4 years old Nerf or at most a good old Red Rider BB gun.

I've known a few adults that this would be good advice for as well. 

[Badhabit]

How can a 4 year old pass Hunter Safety? If the 4 year old can or has, power to them. I think and I'm totally guessing that some states have requirements that children under the age of XXX have to be accompanied by an adult while in the field. If that's how dad is doing it and its legal where they're hunting, go get some.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

A BB gun under supervision is the most I would trust them with.  If you cannot read, write, form complete coherent sentences, etc, you should not be shooting a gun or hunting.

I know there are a lot of adults that own guns that probably do not meet the standards I just listed, but 4 is way to young.   

[lokidog]

A BB gun under supervision is the most I would trust them with.  If you cannot read, write, form complete coherent sentences, etc, you should not be shooting a gun or hunting.

I know there are a lot of adults that own guns that probably do not meet the standards I just listed, but 4 is way to young.

My son was reading better than the majority of my wife's 5th graders at age 4....      Too young?     My biggest concern would be muzzle control for a gun too heavy for the kid.  However, with all of the different gun cradles these days, as long as an adult is there to supervise, I don't have any issues.

[pianoman9701]

I wouldn't have a problem with a 4 year-old shooting a .22 that fit him/her with hands-on close parental/adult supervision. If that adult's hands are not within inches of the barrel, forget it. I was squirrel hunting at 6 and by myself within a year or two. But those were different times.

[Stein]

My 9 year old isn't ready, he expressly is nervous about the recoil despite being fine with the 20 gauge in the duck blind.  I don't want to push it because I think in another year he will naturally want to go shooting with the rest of the family.

From a safety perspective, I am 100% sure I could make it work safely and effectively at virtually any age.  For me, a single rifle and a single deer would be much easier to manage than a shotgun in a duck blind where they are coming in all the time from every angle and other hunters and dogs also in the mix.

From a hunter's ed perspective, I think it would be a pretty remarkable kid that was able to legitimately complete the WA course at 4.  Again, not impossible and I have no idea what other state's courses look like.

So, at the end of the day I would leave it up to the responsible parent to make the call.

[boneaddict]

I have to laugh.  I got pulled over one day because my daughter was in the front seat of my truck hunkered down reading her book.  I was in trouble because she wasn’t in a car seat or in the back seat.  (Age thing)She got out to move to the back.  She was bigger than the officer was.  He was embarrassed but those are the rules.  I obviously hate how the government gets involved in everything raising our kids, but I could almost justify it for this.  I guess it’s like saying you aren’t old enough to drink, but you are old enough to go to war.

[2MANY]

I have a problem with telling other people how to raise their kids.
Kinda seems like their business.

[jackelope]

I can't see a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle competently. I suppose you could teach or control the rest. The parent or bystander could handle the muzzle control aspect, target ID, and pretty much everything else. I just can't picture a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle as needed. I'm trying to picture my kid doing this at 4. She's pretty mature, responsible, pretty even keeled, etc but I can't see her being physically able to handle the actual shooting aspect of it at 4.

[argie1891]

ok I was asked what forum so I will tell you it is on the 300 blackout forum.    true story no bull. and no brains

[pianoman9701]

I can't see a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle competently. I suppose you could teach or control the rest. The parent or bystander could handle the muzzle control aspect, target ID, and pretty much everything else. I just can't picture a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle as needed. I'm trying to picture my kid doing this at 4. She's pretty mature, responsible, pretty even keeled, etc but I can't see her being physically able to handle the actual shooting aspect of it at 4.

Have you seen some of the kid-sized ARs? I'm not saying buy a 4 year-old an AR and leave it with her. But again, with hand-on adult supervision, very young children can enjoy shooting in a responsible environment.

[PastorJoel]

It could have been in a ground blind, with a bench rest or tripod.  ( )

I have a 4-year-old and he has been with me hunting, but he will not be hunting himself until he is probably 10-12.

[JDHasty]

I can't see a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle competently. I suppose you could teach or control the rest. The parent or bystander could handle the muzzle control aspect, target ID, and pretty much everything else. I just can't picture a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle as needed. I'm trying to picture my kid doing this at 4. She's pretty mature, responsible, pretty even keeled, etc but I can't see her being physically able to handle the actual shooting aspect of it at 4.

Have you seen some of the kid-sized ARs? I'm not saying buy a 4 year-old an AR and leave it with her. But again, with hand-on adult supervision, very young children can enjoy shooting in a responsible environment.

Bridget has had her Davey Cricket since she was born, but started going to the range with me and shooting it when she was about four. 

She has co-opted one of my Contender frames and has a 23 inch 17 Hornet heavy barrel w/5-20 Nikon Monarch and a 21 inch tapered 7-30 Waters barrel w/3-9 Nitrex TR1 on it.  She shoots chucks w/her 17 Hornet, we spot together and when she is ready to shoot she says: OK cock.  And I reach over and cock the hammer for her.

We don't go to the range when any one else is likely to be there and when we go together and have her guns along I don't have any thing in mind except helping her.  Our benches will set up 24 inches high so they fit kids.

She isn't ready yet to shoot her 7-30, she wants to shoot more at chucks this spring, but it is there for her when she is ready to start going after deer.  She just turned 9. 

[tlbradford]

I think I am age 4 in this photo with a browning .22 auto.  As you can see I am reaching for the trigger and these are small rifles.  I was allowed to pack that on my own starting at age 7.  I can't imagine a child being ready to fire a big game rifle before the age of 8. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

[jackelope]

I took a 9 year old on his first successful hunting trip. He killed a buck at about 50 yards. He shot 3 times. Somehow the deer never moved.
You can help All you want cocking the hammer, holding the rifle, supporting the kid, etc but you can’t aim for them. That’s what I can’t see a 4 year old being able to do. At least not enough to be sure that they will make a clean shot leading to an ethical kill on their own. They don’t even hardly know how to form complete sentences at that point. 


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[argie1891]

i started taking my kids with me when they were still in 3 corner pants. I would stay out till they got so cold or tired I sometimes had to carry them back to the car. then off to the restaurant for hot chocolate and toast. I can tell all of you I enjoyed it more than the kids did. just had  49th year anniversary today. I sure hope the kids remember those days like I do. once my daughter couldn't understand why I didn't shoot a hen pheasant that the dog flushed right at her feet. after raising 5 kids some are ready to handle a gun at a fairly young age others take a bit longer parents must use good judgment. one son just wasn't ready till he was a bit older than the others now he understand but then it created a bit of hard feelings. age does not relate to maturity. but 4 years is a bit too young to turn loose with even a bb gun like that father in the post above. 

[Pegasus]

He needs to buy the 4 year old a car or a truck first before the child gets a gun.

[fishngamereaper]

My rules where simple for my kid, you hunt when you can do everything yourself. Hold the gun, shoot the gun, load the gun, carry it all day, carry all your own gear.....etc.....this was his first year, he's 12.  Seems pretty straight forward.

[JDHasty]

I took a 9 year old on his first successful hunting trip. He killed a buck at about 50 yards. He shot 3 times. Somehow the deer never moved.
You can help All you want cocking the hammer, holding the rifle, supporting the kid, etc but you can’t aim for them. That’s what I can’t see a 4 year old being able to do. At least not enough to be sure that they will make a clean shot leading to an ethical kill on their own. They don’t even hardly know how to form complete sentences at that point. 


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Bridget has had her Hunter Ed card for a couple years.  I have had her 7-30 barrel set up and ready for when she is ready to go deer hunting.  She has been shooting chucks for since last spring w/her 17 Hornet barrel and does a very good job of putting the shot right where she wants it to go.  She has a lot of patience for a kid her age, she waited out a chuck last year for ~45 minutes because she wants one taxidermied and had removed half the head from ones she hit in the noggin.  I told her to just shoot the next big one right in the middle, but she thought that would make a mess for the taxi to clean so she waited out a heart shot. 

She said she doesn't think she is ready for deer yet this year, and I told her:  That is fine, we will do more chucks next year and if you are ready for deer next year your rifle is all ready for you.  But you have to make up your mind by summer so you can practice with your gun set up for deer. 

She shoots off a Harris S-25 pivoting bipod unless she is shooting off the benches, then she uses a S-BR.  She is solid on chucks out to at least 150.   

 

[Special T]

I have to laugh.  I got pulled over one day because my daughter was in the front seat of my truck hunkered down reading her book.  I was in trouble because she wasn’t in a car seat or in the back seat.  (Age thing)She got out to move to the back.  She was bigger than the officer was.  He was embarrassed but those are the rules.  I obviously hate how the government gets involved in everything raising our kids, but I could almost justify it for this.  I guess it’s like saying you aren’t old enough to drink, but you are old enough to go to war.

Well said

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[yorketransport]

I'm not that surprised by the thought of a 4 year old taking a deer. My kids were shooting their little 22 LR by the time they were 3-3.5 years old. They were both capable of hitting a 10" target at 100 yards while sitting, off of shooting sticks with my 6mm BR by the time they were 5. I would have been confident letting either of them take a shot on a deer with that gun a reasonable range when they were that young. If the shooter is capable of making the hit, I don't see any real reason for an age requirement.

It's worth mentioning though that my kids are currently 13 and 15 and neither of them hunts. Every kid matures differently and right now neither of mine is ready to kill a big game animal. They're certainly capable of making the shot though.

[PastorJoel]

My rules where simple for my kid, you hunt when you can do everything yourself. Hold the gun, shoot the gun, load the gun, carry it all day, carry all your own gear.....etc.....this was his first year, he's 12.  Seems pretty straight forward.

I like this. I think I will do the same.

[Skyvalhunter]

Problem is your not allowed to hunt deer with a .22

[Curly]

I think I found the thread.

http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=101338&sid=fcc06ecbe24f1b3c6fa896fd5a08e064

[Magnum_Willys]

My kid was packing my 338 out of the canyon for me at 5 on elk packout and started hunting at 8 as soon as he could quickly read the hunter safety test questions.  But all kids age differently.   Big kids at 5 are pretty capable.  My small nephew is just there at 12.    12-15 can be a kids best hunting years b4 cars and boy/girlfriends take over. :-)

[Jpmiller]

I was four the first time my dad let me shoot his .223 ar. He has a picture of it squirrelled away somewhere. My mother was none too pleased. Knowing my dad I'm positive he was right there the whole time to make sure if anything seemed off he could take over in a split second. Don't know how I'll handle it when my kids are older but my oldest is three so I have a few months to decide 

Every kid is different and every parent is different. It can be done, don't know if it should be done but I only know how to parent my kids. If you're being safe and not endangering the kid or those around do what you think is best raising your own kids.

[Dan-o]

My sons started carrying muzzleloaders for elk and rifles for deer at age 9 and 10.

They packed bb guns for some hunts before that.

My basic rule at the time was show me you can safely pack your bb gun, and we'll move up to big game weapon.
It worked well for us.

Even then, I didn't pack a weapon on some of those first hunts.......   I had enough on my hands just making sure my sons were safe and hunting safely at that age.

 

[Thehowler]

4 years old, young undeveloped brain, Really?

[lokidog]

I made a wooden rifle for my son when he was two.  He had to follow all of the gun safety rules with it. If they can pay attention to the rules when "playing" by themselves, they will probably be ready to be immediately supervised with a real firearm.

[Jpmiller]

I made a wooden rifle for my son when he was two.  He had to follow all of the gun safety rules with it. If they can pay attention to the rules when "playing" by themselves, they will probably be ready to be immediately supervised with a real firearm.

And there we have it. My kid was not ready at two for even a toy gun yet here is another kid who was. It's all a case by case basis determined by the parent. Parents make bad decisions sometimes sure but I'll trust a parent until they prove me wrong before I'll trust a blanket statement applying to every kid.

[lokidog]

I made a wooden rifle for my son when he was two.  He had to follow all of the gun safety rules with it. If they can pay attention to the rules when "playing" by themselves, they will probably be ready to be immediately supervised with a real firearm.

And there we have it. My kid was not ready at two for even a toy gun yet here is another kid who was. It's all a case by case basis determined by the parent. Parents make bad decisions sometimes sure but I'll trust a parent until they prove me wrong before I'll trust a blanket statement applying to every kid.

I agree completely, my brother, at 52 still shouldn't be allowed to have a gun....

BTW, my son was making everything into a gun so I figured it was time to teach him the rules.  They also included not touching real guns.  That was why I made a wooden one, all of the toy guns were, IMO, too similar to real guns for a two year old to differentiate.

We had some raccoon issues with our chickens and had an unloaded shotgun by the door. About six months after getting his wooden gun, I happened to see him walk over toward it and was curious what he would do.  He did not know I was watching from the balcony as he stepped next to it, looked it up and down, started to reach for it and then yanked his hand back when he remembered what he had been taught.

[KFhunter]

I was thinking one of those cork guns you see at Cabela's would be a good gun for a 4 yr old

[lokidog]

Mine was similar, I took my daughter's little .22 (bought for her when she was 5 or 6) and traced the stock on some nice yellow pine, then attached a nice straight dowel to it.

It is still in his room at age 14.