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OK, my 13 year old son wants to go to the range with me and being springbreak this would be a good opportunity. My question is do you think your average 13 year old boy would have a problem shooting a 9mm? In particular a nano 9mm. I personally think he can handle it without issue and he's like most other boys gone through the usual kids and guns route, nerd, airsoft and bb guns.
I know accuracy will be difficult with the nano or any other hand gun for a first time user but it will be more about just shooting and hitting anywhere on the paper. He's very responsible with any type of firearm, including his airsoft and I've taught him how to handle a firearm responsibly.

How old were your kids when they first went to the range?

I'm a fan of stepping up the kids to larger firearms. Does your range offer rentals? Maybe let him shot a 22 an 380 first? Just my $.02

My 10 y/o likes to shoot the AR 15 and 22. My 16 y/o likes to shoot the 22, 9, 40, 45, 223 & 308. He really likes to shoot the 22 and the AR 15.

Actually they do rentals. Not sure if they have a 22 but I would be surprised if they didn't. That would be a good starting gun, although I was thinking he could handle the 9mm but I think the idea of him starting with a 22 would more fun for him. I'll look into that. Nice to hear your son's are into it and enjoying shooting a good range of firearms.

I don't know your son, but will hazard a guess that he can handle the Nano. That said, I'd start out with a .22 pistol of some kind, move to a full size 9mm then the Nano if that is an option. Stepping up incrementally in power/recoil impulse is a good idea to build confidence in a young shooter.

Enjoy your time at the range.

Don't worry about accuracy, but fun and safety. We often start our 4-H kids with a blank paper, maybe a sticker in the center to teach sight picture. I agree with starting with a .22 first. Smaller is not always better as the extra weight of a full size make a difference on felt recoil. Y'all have a great time! Make some treasured memories!

ETA: I shot a .22 when I was 7, the 4-H kids we work with start at 8 or 9. Some with Air/BB, some with .22 pistol and rifle.

I plan on getting my son to a range as soon as he can see over the bench. He's 14 months now!

My dad started me and my brothers out when we were 12 on 22s and 20 gauge shotguns. I started my daughter about that same age on 22s and my 9mm (Browning Hi Power). As long as your son has the right safety focus, I'd say let him shoot.

My two cents.

He will be more successful and able to foster a love for shooting if you start him out smaller and step up to something bigger. I even start adults out on .22, then step up to .380, then more powerful. Takes the stress out of recoil issues. You could even do a step-up in the same range visit. And the best target - a paper plate. Perfect 8" or 9" round target to practice hitting and grouping. We are enrolling our 16 and 11 year old sons, and maybe even the 8 year old daughter, in the summer shooting program at our local range.

TBM

Great advice everyone! Now I'll definitely hold off on the nano and see how he feels with the 22. I appreciate all the input and I'm going to check the range tomorrow and see if they have an available 22 for later this week. I'm looking forward to spending this time with him and I know he will really enjoy the experience.

My daughter is almost 8 and has been shooting her single-shot Crickett .22lr bolt action since Christmas 2011. So she was basically 6 when she started. Last time we went to the range a couple weeks ago, there were a couple of 1911 .45's barking on either side of her...she didn't even flinch. I would recommend starting small and graduating up, also. Her big brother started that way (.22 to .410 to 20 gauge, etc...) and it will probably surprise you how quickly they advance. I would think 13 would be old enough for a 9mm, but I don't know his comfort level. I never push it on them, I just let them go out and have fun. Most importantly, enjoy y'all's time together!

My 13 yr old has been shooting for a while. He is now shooting a Glock 23 without issue.

My grand daughters started shooting my .22 @ 6 years old. They graduated up as they could handle them. My oldest is 11 and is shooting my only 9mm with ease and has stated she wants to try one of my .45s. We'll see soon.

I took a shooting class in San Antonio back in September. One of the instructor's daughters was there taking the class for the first time with her dad; she was shooting a Glock 34. She was 11 or 12 and had been shooting for a few years. Sad to say but she might have been a better shot than me.

9 years old is a good starting age but It depends on the individual, and the gun, if a 9 mm would be too much. Depends a lot on size and temperament. I've taught all my kids and grand-kids to shoot, starting about that age, but usually with a .22. Some of the kids took to it and were ready move on to something bigger after a few times out. Some are still happy just shooting the .22 - even after having tried something bigger like a .243. My oldest grandson is 14 and can shoot a .270 and skeets with the best of them, yet another who is 13 is fine with just the .22 rifle and doesn't want to move up to anything bigger. They both will shoot the 9mm (but its a hand full for them and can't hit the side of a barn with it.) The girls all stick to the .22 rifles, love to shoot them and love to brag to their school mates, but will not shoot the pistols and we don't make an issue of it. I told my newest daughter-in-law I would by her any gun she wanted and after trying a few out, she went with a .17 HMR - that's all the gun she wants, and we cheer her on like she was shooting a 450 nitro express- and she is getting to be a pretty good shot with it. One of my grand sons wants nothing to do with guns, but loves to fish so that's our special thing together. I think giving a kid too much gun the first time out could scare some kids off, but depends on the kid.