5 year old a crickett 22

[gsdelong]

For a 5 year old starting with a 22 crickett how would you set up a range and targets?

Beginning distance?

I have a nice range just not suitable for short distances and crosses a ravine so simply moving closer is not an easy option

Thanks

[tigweldit]

For any new shooter, no matter what age, big targets at close range. Safety first and always. Eye and ear protection. Since short range is not an option, the bigger the target the better.

[garandsrus]

Balloons stapled/taped to a target backer work really well!

[Thumbcocker]

Balloons stapled/taped to a target backer work really well!

+1 one on balloons. Reactive targets are always a hit with the little ones, CB caps are nice for almost no noise. Keep shooting sessions short and stop when attention starts to wander.

[country gent]

Reactionary style targets up close. A target that gives visual feedback holds their attention since hits are seen when it jumps pops of splashes. Targets need to be sized so that they are easy to hit and also still a challenge. Ballons are good and size can be adjusted. clay pigeons work well. tennis balls will jump and roll as they get farther away they become more challenging, OLd candy suckers shatter when hit. as skills progress golf balls can replace the tennis balls. The plastic eggs filled with flour or other powder give a nice cloud when hit

[3leggedturtle]

Pop bottles filled with water. Same with empty soup cans. Anything that reacts when they hit it! Potatoes and oranges work great too, you can fun later on watching the critters clean it up. Todd/3leg

[mattw]

That was exactly when I started with both of my girls. Shooting from a bench will be a must at first, they do not have the strength to hold up rifles yet. I used 2 liter pop bottles filled with water, balloons, and conventional targets. They need to see something happen at first. Limit the sessions based upon them, if they are happy and want to shoot 20 then shoot 20, if they only want to shoot 5... that is good as well.

Safety is a must, eyes, ears and muzzle control. If they make a mistake, stop all action and address it immediately. Serious infractions (muzzle control) costs them the shooting session that day. Drag out something bigger, give them a demonstration... Think watermelon with a big hollow point! That drives home the danger of a firearm more than anything.

Most importantly.. Have fun with them!

[daloper]

I made a movable target stand out of PVC pipe with 2x2 shoved in the end of the pipe. I put some spring clips to make it easy to hang a 2'x2' cardboard backer to and picked up some of those splatter burst targets with some cover dots. Got the idea off the web. Just put in Target stand and it should pop up.

[gsdelong]

Thank you for all the input

[frkelly74]

Balloons stapled/taped to a target backer work really well!

Yes, it is very exciting to save ones-self from hoards of invading balloons. "Here they come pick them off ". With the crickett rifles with their short 16" barrels I used the CCI quiet loads to keep the noise down. I had one youngster that was really freaked out by loud noises and she would tolerate the quiet loads well. Any reactive target is good except steel plate. Ricochet at close range is not a good thing as the bullet might just come right back at you.

[gsdelong]

I still don’t know how many feet is “close range”

[Adam20]

I still don’t know how many feet is “close range”

30-40 feet close enough to have them hit something, distance does not matter, make it enjoyable.

[Thumbcocker]

Close enough for pretty sure hits. 10 yards or a bit less to start.

[rancher1913]

check goodwill for china plates that nobody wants, they are big enough to see and break like clay pidgins when hit.

[foesgth]

One target that gets a great reaction from young shooters(those under 100) is a can of shaving cream. I get them at the 99cent store.

[gsdelong]

Thanks again for all the input.

Greg

[frkelly74]

I guess if there no hits on the target , it is too far away or possibly too small. Positive reinforcement is important for kids, target too small or too far away works against that.

[country gent]

Another are the fun hard targets. Snuffing out a candle, splitting a bullet on a knife blade to hit 2 balloons. And such throw something like this in the mix at some point thru the session. You'll be surprised how the young ones rise to the challenge. Keep the sessions short and start with them on a bench as they will tire easily and they need to build the muscles needed. Mix it up and use different targets

[Edward]

Balloons stapled/taped to a target backer work really well!

2nd that/Ed

[jonp]

Taught our granddaughter at 5 with a pink cricket. Kids need a payoff or they will lose interest. Ballons are very good

[WRideout]

My brother used to use NECCO wafer candy as targets when he shot small bore competition many moons ago. When I looked it up just now, I was astonished to see that they are still around!

Wayne

[Thumbcocker]

There are still a few neccos in my range bag.

[PerpetualStudent]

Those DIY popsicle molds make great ice targets and you can freeze some string inside to hang them off of your target stand. They're thin enough to shatter easily, already sloped, and if you're hanging it will swing. Depending on where they're hit another smaller target might remain after a first hit.