Youth Shooting

[callerys]

Just a general question and my searching of the NRA site didn't turn up anything definitive however I could have missed it. My son is 9 and soon to be 10 this year. Has been doing a lot
of backyard BB and pellet shooting over the last few years and is interested in doing more as far as team based shooting. Trying to find out if there is a defined minimum age.

Just realized after I posted that it should be elsewhere in the shooting sports forum.

[.455_Hunter]

My son started shooting NRA Small Bore last year at 11. There is a kid who is 9 in the same range group.

[esaabye]

My daughter started at 9. You can look at 4h or the NTC Juniors club at the OTC as starting place.

[Irving]

Sounds like you're talking more about rifle, but one of the shooters at my main IDPA match started when he was 11 I believe.

[O2HeN2]

Fort Carson hosts a Kid's Marksmanship "Camp" the first Saturday of every month, ages 6-12. $10

Rifles provided if you don't have one.

About an hour drive for you.

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/533510936757840/)

Home page (https://carson.armymwr.com/programs/cheyenne-mountain-shooting-complex) (Expand "Special Offers, Events and Monthly Activities")

What age to start? Depends on maturity and attitude. I know some 6 years old that I'd trust with a firearm and some 60 year olds I don't.

O2

[Delfuego]

Hoser's 22 match in Pueblo is a fun time and could be a good place to start.

[BigBear]

Check out a local Appleseed shoot. Lot's of kids and they learn a ton about our National history... true history, not the crap taught in schools.

[O2HeN2]

Check out a local Appleseed shoot. Lot's of kids and they learn a ton about our National history... true history, not the crap taught in schools.
I'll second this!

O2

[Musashi]

Another option is to find a local YHEC program like this one: https://yhec.nra.org/

http://www.greenmillsportsman.org/gm/?q=node/397

I help run one in Erie that happens twice a month. If you want more details, feel free to contact me.

[callerys]

Thanks for this information. Going to check it out.

[Hoser]

Hoser's 22 match in Pueblo is a fun time and could be a good place to start.

Thanks for the plug buddy.

We have been running semi-formal Steel Challenge type matches in Pueblo Wednesday afternoons for 10+ years.

When we started them up making them kid friendly was a goal of mine. We often get fathers and sons out for an afternoon of shooting.

Steel Challenge is entertaining for kids because the rules are as basic as it gets as is the scoring. Its even better when they know if they have a bad time on a stage because of a gun jam or a brain jam, their worst time gets thrown out. A mulligan of sorts. Another plus is the fact you can use a 22 to play the game and not be handicapped at all.

Let me know if there is any other assistance I can offer.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I haven't done, but I've heard rave review about the Appleseed shoots. I started my son out at the CRC 22 rifle comp. It is praire dog cut outs from 30 yards and out. Cy makes it a great place to start. My son was 10 when he started. He just turned 13 and he runs his rifle the whole match with out any help from me. I started him out on the CRC USPSA/Action-rifle match when he was 12- but he is a big kid and can run an AR no problem. I belong to CRC and am closer than Pueblo, but the Boy and I came down once for Hoser's 22 match. Lots of fun.

[ColoWyo]

Thanks for the plug buddy.

We have been running semi-formal Steel Challenge type matches in Pueblo Wednesday afternoons for 10+ years.

When we started them up making them kid friendly was a goal of mine. We often get fathers and sons out for an afternoon of shooting.

Steel Challenge is entertaining for kids because the rules are as basic as it gets as is the scoring. Its even better when they know if they have a bad time on a stage because of a gun jam or a brain jam, their worst time gets thrown out. A mulligan of sorts. Another plus is the fact you can use a 22 to play the game and not be handicapped at all.

Let me know if there is any other assistance I can offer.

My 9 year old son and I shot this last week. He did great and had a great time. I think this would be the perfect "first match" for a kid. I'm hoping to go this week as well. I think Hoser has done a GREAT job of keeping this match very chill.