My Grandson ( 14 yrs ) has said he wants to go to the range next time I take one of my AR`s out . He currently has a .410 over and under and a .22 he squirrel hunts with ( supervised , on private land ) , so he has some experience . FWIW , I bought my first .22 when I was 12 and still have it ( Winchester Mdl 69A ).
What suggestions do you guys have to make this a fun , and safe , intro ( private range/gun club and also with the father`s permission ) ?
Probably start him on my beater PSA with a red dot and then go to the Colt 6920 .
First step will be a rule/safety "discussion " .
Looking forward to starting a new shooter on the AR journey .
I picked up a 15-22 for the kids. They started with a Cricket and graduated to this and a Ruger RPR with a bipod. Next will be full-size ARs as I can afford them.
I’d spend at least 30-45 minutes dry firing and manipulating the controls. Then going hot with only 1 round in each of 8-10 magazines. Up the number of rounds loaded by one until you reach 5. I wouldn’t go past 5 on the first day. Make him load the magazines. Repetition is the best teaching tool. As much fun as he probably thinks it would be I wouldn’t allow mag dumps. Make him aim before sending one downrange. Last but not least… Don’t turn your back on him if the rifle and ammunition are within his arm’s reach. Accidents cannot happen without the opportunity to happen. Empty firearms have hurt many people.
First, a question. Do you have iron sights on the PSA? If so, I would start him off using iron sights before moving to the red-dot. Once he shows some proficiency with the iron sights, then move him into the optic. As some others have mentioned, start him with a few rounds per magazine, but I would work him up to 10 rounds if possible. That will be determined by your judgment and his grasp of the weapon operating system. As far as targets, I would recommend setting up some clays (if possible) as they would be relatively cheap and a less of a chance for a ricochet as could happen with steel targets. Of course, having a safety briefing and a discussion on operating the AR-15 is paramount before getting started. I hope the two of you have fun.
All good suggestions and comments . Unfortunately , or maybe fortunately , no tannerite allowed as we had some problems with large craters appearing damaging the range . I had planned to use charcoal brickets as they will “explode” and make a nice visual reference , but the clays will probably be easier to hit for him.
We have a bench rest and benches we can use . He liked the PSA as it was lighter than the BCM or the SOLGW , but no iron sights on it , however , the 6920 does have irons and is about the same weight as the PSA .
Good suggestion about one round first … hadn`t thought about that .
My son son is 14 and has been shooting ARs since he was 10. He can handle the rifle like it is second nature- you will be surprised how fast kids will learn. Paper targets are great for getting him zeroed in and steel targets are a lot of fun. Steel targets are my son’s favorite so l have several set up around my property. I second the iron sights as it really teaches them the fundamentals of marksmanship. Also, I make my kids recite the four rules of firearm safety before every range session, hunting trip, etc… They could do it in their sleep and I constantly reinforce it.
As mentioned use the standard sights and controls so to enable the child to learn the basics. My son of 9 shot his first IPSC match yesterday and was not last. He only shot part of match due to safety reasons, but with basics under the belt he did very well.
I introduced my son by letting him shoot off the bench with an Lmt STD16 equipped with a TA01NSN Acog at 100 yrds. His first group was the size of my fist. My personal opinion is to make a new shooter’s first shoot a successful, low stress event to encourage them to continue in this pursuit…
Too bad about the Tannerite, but clay pigeons and charcoal briquettes will likely be more fun than punching holes in paper.
I think shooting with a red dot is a great idea. IMHO the iron sights thing is more tradition than practicality, especially for an AR-15. Besides, it doesn’t sound like you’re trying to teach him to shoot…you’re orienting him to the AR-15. RDS is part of that platform. Presumably, since he already has a .22 for squirrels, he knows how to shoot. As to the “complexity” of the AR-15…if he’s a normal 14 year-old he’ll do fine and will find the experience more interesting than if you dumb it down excessively.
I do agree with starting off shooting from the bench, and with limited rounds in the magazine.
EXACTLY! I just invested in 3 diferent reactive types of targets, to teach my 13 y.o. daughter the same! I might hold off the tannerite at a club range, though. :eek: