What age to start kids shooting Action Pistol

[ezterra]

I've been taking my son out shooting since he was 5. We'd mostly shoot single shot bolt action .22 youth rifle. At about the same age I started taking him out to matches with me. All he would do is pick up brass and help tape targets. Sometimes I'd coordinate with some buddies and we'd both bring our kids and they would watch or play in the dirt near the club house.

Anyway, he gets pretty bored now coming out with me. I don't blame him, I'd be bored if someone took me to the range and I never got to shoot. He's now 8 years old. I'm thinking about getting a .22 conversion for my G23 and start teaching him the basics of marksmanship. Then maybe toward the end of the year taking him out to shoot a match or two, if he's ready.

I know the last club I was at would be more than happy to allow a little extra time for young shooters to safely shoot a match. Would this be the consensus with most shooters? I know IDPA/USPSA requires a minimum caliber of 9mm, but I'd have him shoot a .22. I'll check with the club I go to now, but would anyone see any issues with this for club matches?

What's your opinions? I am more than confident he'd be very safe, although I'd be right there while he's shooting. He can already recite and understands the 4 gun safety rules. Whenever I hand him a firearm, he already puts his trigger finger along side the frame. And he does pay attention to what the muzzle is pointing at.

[EKUJustice]

The scores wont count but Im sure most clubs would allow it just to shoot for score. For age its whatever they are able to safely and comfortably move with a loaded gun, reload the gun safely on their own, clear jams/misfires(especially with 22 unless the good ammo is used) draw from holster with it loaded (small clubs may allow the gun to start from out of the holster at low ready especially at a younger age and especially if its a 22 and the scores dont clount anyway. You could even get a dedicated 22 like the sw 22a, slap a cheap red dot tasco on it for some good "open" gun practice

[Glockmeister40]

The only issue I could see is if they use any steel targets them not falling down with a .22 hit. But I think most any club would be just happy to see another young feller getting into the sport. The children are our future as I see it.

[mpolans]

As long as he's safe, I don't see a need for any lower age limit. I started shooting IPSC when I was about 11 or 12. I probably could've started earlier had I known about IPSC. At first, I was just happy to not be last at a match, but I got better.

[ede]

when you said Action Pistol did you really mean Action Pistol or did you mean USPSA or IDPA? if you really meant action pistol i'd say right now and use some really light loads since PF isn't much of an issue. good thing about action pistol is there's no moving or reloads on the clock, except for one reload stage. you can stand with him the whole time and coach him and keep an eye on what he's doing. i'd bet too if it's on the local level they'd let him shoot it with a .22.

[Jay870]

We have an 11 year old who shoots at our club.

His first few matches he shot with a Airsoft Glock replica. The BB's would penetrate paper targets and could scored accordingly. We scored steel based on audible hits (i.e. listen for the "ping"). If there were any popper activated targets we simple left them static & exposed for him.

He has since moved up to a .22LR conversion on a Glock 17. It make scoring him easier, and make timing him much easier as the timer will pick up the .22, it would not pick up the Airsoft.

[SureThing]

I shot IDPA with a guy and his 11 year old daughter who was using a Walther 22.

[4sooth]

Max Michel Jr. started at arouind 10-11 at the St. Bernard Indoor Shooting range in Arabi,Louisiana.He was very fast even at that age.Didn't always hit everything but you could see his desire and when he hit all the targets he would frquently win a stage!

[FillYerHands]

I have shot IDPA and Steel Challenge with 10 year olds shooting .22s.

My 11 year old son is going to start shooting with me this summer. I am saving for a .22 pistol for him to use.

We both have Airsofts and shoot Run and Gun in the back yard. Combination of coke cans and targets from GlockFAQ. Osama bin Laden is always the Stop Target.

[Bogey]

If it's IDPA ya want to shoot...bring him out. (at least I would welcome him)

Talk to your match director and get his opinion on how he would want to handle things as far as what everyone had suggested so far.

There's a man that brings his son to IDPA matches. The kid started at around your son's age. He shoots USPSA and hybrid matches as well.

He also uses a Glock 19. :supergrin:

[ezterra]

when you said Action Pistol did you really mean Action Pistol or did you mean USPSA or IDPA? if you really meant action pistol i'd say right now and use some really light loads since PF isn't much of an issue. good thing about action pistol is there's no moving or reloads on the clock, except for one reload stage. you can stand with him the whole time and coach him and keep an eye on what he's doing. i'd bet too if it's on the local level they'd let him shoot it with a .22.


I was referring to action pistol as a general term for practical pistol shooting, ie IDPA, USPSA, or some variation of it.

[Jim Watson]

I dunno about 8.
We had a pre-teen boy at a recent IDPA match here, but I don't know just how old he is.
Our club pharmacist's daughter was shooting centerfires at 11, with us at the IDPA Nationals at 13.

[9x45]

It's up to the local match director, no matter what the venue, IDPA/USPSA/Steel Challenge. The local clubs host the matches, the local clubs own the liability. We never let anyone under 18 shoot, but that was our insurance policy. However, I shoot at a number of clubs where kids are welcomed even as young as 8. Call the match director, but don't neccesarily expect them to say yes, withour checking out the kid first.

[GMAN40]

Q: What age to start kids shooting Action Pistol

A: When they show they are matuer enough, nowadays age 25...IMHO