What do you think is the best way to teach a kid to shoot? Scopes or fixed iron sites?Q

I think iron sight are best for starting kids out. I believe its a little easier for kids to be sure of their target and what is beyond when using iron sights. I think its just easier for them to aim also. Just my opinion, nothing wrong, or inherently evil with starting them out with a scope either.

Started my grandson with open sights. He admired all the scopes on my rifles and wanted one on his, too. Now, both his 22LR and 6.5 Swede have scopes. Only his shotgun doesn't have one:

I have to agree with farmboy.I remember when I was a wee lad when I started shootin iron sights were a lot easier to line up than a scope.The scope of course was set for adultl,which makes it difficult for a youngster to get a full sight picture.I would start with iron sights,when he or she is proficient with it.Then try a scope,make shure you adjust eye relief so they can get a full sight picture

To really become a proficient marksman I would say stick to iron sights. If I am hunting I will use scopes but for all other shooting I prefer iron sights because it makes me employ all that stuff my drill instructor punished me into remembering.

Open sights first. It's the best way to learn the basics. It lets them see where that barrel is pointed and what's going on out beyond. I like starting the kids with sights that are adjustable so they soon learn about bullet drop at different distances. Graduate them to a good scope, not one of those 15mm kind. A 4x32 is a decent scope to start with.

I have to agree with the general opinion so far - iron sights.

I would go further to suggest a small caliber (.22), single shot rifle (break open), with an appropriate stock (length of pull, comb, etc.). Using something simple like this would allow you to easily work with the fundamentals of ammunition, gun familiarity, gun safety, safe shooting practices, etc.

Once the child learns and shows more interest then the sky is the limit. Good luck with your new project.

Lots of very reasonably priced and adquately accurate airguns are around. A single-stroke pneumatic like the Daisey Grizzly series will have the least noise and recoil to avoid encouraging a flinch. A small kid (I was started at 5 years old) will have trouble cocking it by himself. Most kids like smoke and noise, so I would also have a .22 available to shoot on special outings, but let a child work on trigger control and positions with the pellet gun in your cellar. It's cheap to shoot match ammo from one.

I have started both of my kids, now 13 and 11 with the Red Ryder, moved progressively to a pellet gun, 22, 223, 243 and light load 308. The 11 year old is still at the 22 stage, but will move up when she is ready. Until they reach the 243 they were using iron sights. I too want to avoid a flinch.

In using a scope, I would suggest moving into one before they use a gun that will produce some sort of a kick. I have seen too many kids with parents move too quickly to a scope, only to get cold cocked buy the eye piece leaving them bleeding an crying. Takes a great deal of fun out of the whole process.

Brad S
Hebrews 10:39

My 12 year old daughter prefers the .22 with a 6x power scope. I tryed to get her to shoot my old model 69 Winchester .22 without a scope,but she refused. I was just wondering what would be the best way to teach her to shoot. We are going to hunt turkeys together in April. She will be using a .410 shotgun, so I want her to make the first shot count.Q

Fixed Iron sights only.
+ Gives them a natural point of aim.
+ Gives them better cordination.
+ Natural.
+ Gives them a more rewarding experience when they do hit somethin.
I believe that scopes should only be used for very very long range shooting...
It takes the fun out of it for me if they are used on a mid range shot...just my .02 though. :) Good luck!

I started on irons and also started my kids on iron sights.

Mine started on open, but can go either way now. Here's the latest results.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/akpls/P3130047-1.jpg

My 12 year old daughter prefers the .22 with a 6x power scope. I tryed to get her to shoot my old model 69 Winchester .22 without a scope,but she refused. I was just wondering what would be the best way to teach her to shoot. We are going to hunt turkeys together in April. She will be using a .410 shotgun, so I want her to make the first shot count.Q

I don't like the .410 as a young hunters "turkey gun". I think it is abit small for the "task "? Will work with a good hit! Can you "advance" her to a 20 gauge for the hunt?

Must have a proper load and caliber to take game clean! Wounded game would be a "bad" experince for a young shooter?

It is your "call" on this one.

Cheezywan

I gave my son a choice--scope or iron sights, and he chose the iron sights after trying both.

What worked well for my son was a Benjamin Sheridan pump-up pellet gun with an after market peep sight. The peep sight extended the sight radius to the full length of the barrel. The competition we had going between the two of us was to shoot spent shot gun shells off a fence rail about 30 yards distant. As long as you hit one you kept shooting and the other person would have to keep setting them up. It didn't take long for him to get the hang of it and I set up lots of spent cases. Years later he told me that back yard competition trying to beat dad was more of a challenge than quallifying for Marine Corp marksmanship.

I don't recommend either open or scope!

My Mossberg .22 has a peep sight rear, and a circle front sight. It's a whole lot easier to get the circles concentric and on target than using posts in notches!

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I made her shoot the(other gun)tonight,She hates it. We haven't shot the shot gun yet, she still flinches once in a while with the .22. I know the .410 is a fly swatter but I'm concerned about the recoil of a .20 or larger. I like the idea of the loser of the shooting contest has to set up all the cans.That has been my job. I also pick up all the trashed cans , empty brass and clean the guns. Its a labor of love.Q :)

Two things come to mind. I hated the shotgun when I was 10 or so because, no matter how I held it, it kept bruising my cheek. After growing more, recoil started to move the stock away from my cheek as it should. Now I can't make the same gun hit me in the cheek no matter how I hold it. I'd have to watch a kid shooting it to see what the cause was, but my point is that grown-up guns just don't fit kids always and can punish them in ways adults don't feel. Most of your guns probably have pull that's too long for a kid already, so you might want to consider a PAST recoil pad, despite what it ads to the pull?

I don't recommend either open or scope!

My Mossberg .22 has a peep sight rear, and a circle front sight. It's a whole lot easier to get the circles concentric and on target than using posts in notches!

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I'm with you. The peep or aperture sight is much easier for a child to use to get started.