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Lothar Lothar is offline
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Southeastern U.S.
Posts: 3,300
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aigel View Post
I would start with a rilfe

- Definitely NOT an automatic. I'd get a break open single shot or a bolt action for safety and for learning that every shot counts.
- I would go with iron sight to start. Everyone should know how to shoot with iron sights - don't spoil a kid with a scope right away. The iron sights will be helpful for handgun shooting later on as well.
- Get a youth model that has at least a shortened length of draw. You want to teach the proper shooting stance / position which is impossible with a grown-up gun.
- Only allow shooting in a proper position (not off a chair!). Train prone, sitting, standing, sitting with shooting sticks.
- Make sure you have the dominant eye correct. A person can be right handed but left eye dominant. If that is the case, make sure to get a ambidextrous or lefty model.

Have fun shooting!

G
+1 ^

This is great advice. My only comment is on the suggestion to avoid a semi-auto. While I completely agree with the rationale, I would point out that you can always load a single round in a semi-auto to get the same effect. Once they have safely mastered that, you can load more in the mag without buying another gun. This keeps rifles like the 10-22 high on my list and a .22 pistol like the Ruger a good choice for learning and fun.

Lastly, I am a natural lefty. I recommend having lefties adapt to RH guns where possible. I have no problem with RH mag releases, rifle safeties, slide locks, etc. I have even shot a 1911 in competition without an ambi-safety by developing a technique to sweep the safety with my weak hand over the top as I push out. It's a right handed world out there. I'd like to be able to pick up any gun and be comfortable shooting.
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Old 04-19-2012, 06:07 AM
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