Start them young I say....

[WarPig1976]

The time has come for my 3rd son "#4 is still a Rug Rat" to learn the in's and out's of firearm safety and use. We'll work on form and technic later. Jeff can safely remove the rifle from the case, load the magazine, load the rifle and knock down all six steel silhouettes @50yds within 10 shots, not bad for a 5yr old.
After they take notice of Dad's hobby I start them in the backyard with a BB gun. Beyond that I take them to the range, not to shoot, but to witness the power and noise of a real firearm. Whenever cleaning needs doing I involve them. It gives me a chance to reenforce safe handling and respect. When I think they're ready we head out with the .22's
What I think is most important is to take all the mystery out of firearms. They all knew/know if they want to handle something all they need to do is ask and the safe gets cracked open.
By taking the mystery away and showing the raw power of arms I think it less likely a youngster would play with an unattended firearm at say a friends house.

To the peanut gallery, When did you start? When do you introduce your children or Grandchildren?

Jeff shooting the "Sniper" as he likes to call the Rem597.
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[Aragorn243]

I don't remember to be honest. Probably somewhere between 6 and 8, both girls.

[browningautorifle]

Mine were all young, four or five I think. My daughter is now 35 and had a flake of something hit her in the corner of the eye when shooting an M1 Carbine...she still remembers. They never mentioned the guns to their friends either as far as I know.

[Doco overboard]

You know that's a good question. I have four (two boys,two girls) that are nearly all grown and I cant entirely remember. I do recall the oldest mimicking repair at around five by nailing broomsticks into junk rifle stocks for his own.
We live in a relatively rural area and hunting shooting is part of the culture so it kind of came natural. Learning how to waterfowl and deer hunt while participating in 4h shooting sports and the mentor-ship/coaching associated in that regard reinforced the home training.
The girls were the best. It was the grandmother who was the biggest influence by encouraging them to shoot and giving them the confidence to do it well and safely. She was real deal and spent enough time to make sure they could hit a 3/8" rope hung from a tree periodically with a 22 to keep them entertained.
They still worry me when there off on they-re own though because of all the things they have not experienced. Not so much as firearms, but things like traveling the river when its cold, climbing into stands at dark and things like that.

[WarPig1976]

They never mentioned the guns to their friends either as far as I know.

A very important point to teach the youngsters.

[browningautorifle]

I told them others simply didn't need to know.

[Jonzie]

I have three and they took some interest when in early teen years did not really take off from that point.
My grand daughter shows some interest likes to be out in the garage with me when I clean my rifles after a day on the range she is 4 so will see.
I came from a family that did a lot of hunting so I started young my father made sure I went to the hunters safety program.

[CINDERS]

@ 9 y/o for me staying at my Uncles place in Northampton W.A shooting his "Pea rifle" (colonial for the .22 rifle) then in the cadets with the .303 & Bren when 14 the rest is history.
Started my son with .22 (10 y/o) then built him a 223 F class sadly he has decided not to shoot anymore favoring bikes & chicks so it sits in the safe I have placed a repossession notice on it as if he aint gunna use it I will to save my barrel burner as it is throated for the 80 grainers so is useless with anything but those.

[Aragorn243]

When the girls were growing up, they had a 12 year old age limit to get a hunting license. That has changed now and as a traditionalist, I'm not real happy about it but it is what it is. Kids don't need a license anymore and can "hunt" at any age so long as there is one firearm between them and the adult they are with. Basically the adult carries the gun and if they see something the kid can shoot it. Again, not real thrilled with the idea.

Anyway. My oldest at 12 was pretty small, thin, had a 6mm Ruger single shot and killed her first deer with one shot at 175 yards as it tried to sneak along a fence row. She can shoot extremely well. Shot her second one at 13 at 100 yards uphill. Shot a large 8 point and had her picture in all the papers at 16. Then she went off to college and never hunted again. She can pick up a rifle and shoot a dime size group with it anytime she wants. She says she hasn't quit, her husband is a non-hunter who never fired a gun until he started dating her. He says he may like to go hunting at some point so I imagine that is when she will start again. He shoots all the time, mostly what I consider light stuff. Hasn't figured out recoil yet.

Youngest was considerably larger at 12 but couldn't hit the broadside of a barn if she was standing inside the barn. Had a little Rossi 243 single shot for her. At 16 her grandfather gave her a beast 356 Winchester and told her she could trade it for something else if she wanted. Kicks like a mule, son-in-law shot it one time right before she did and bloodied his eyebrow when the scope hit him. Crazy daughter shot it with zero problems and actually had a decent group with it. She's gotten two deer over the years, at 24 still hunts with me but can't remember what kind or caliber of rifle it is she carries.

[Ovidio]

I started my kids with a nice Diana air rifle in .17.
At 12 and 13 I could smuggle my son in a couple times at the two ranges I go to and had him try my AK47 at short range and my K98 at 100 meters.
He liked both a lot so, as soon as he got 14, I enrolled him at the range that would allow so (private ranges have own “politics” concerning under age people).
Now we go together and shoot with all my handguns with great joy.
He’s just waiting to be allowed my milsurps, which he admires.
Also my girls seem to like the shooting.
They’re still just 12 and 8, so we’ll have to wait. But it looks good with both of ‘em.