gun for 4 year old

[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.