My boy is still too young to get to the range with me but I’ve been thinking lately how to get him out to the range and introduce him to firearms.

So a basic question – when introducing a youth to rifle shooting, should I start with a scope or the iron sights? My first thought was go with basic sights but it occurred to me that the simplicity of a scope, with one focal plane, would be easier than first teaching him how to line up front and rear sights with the target.

What do you think?

Good question! I know my dad started me out with irons on a .22. Then, for a centerfire, a Win 94 in .32 Spl. It also had irons. BTW, I still have that gun, and have now mounted a Burris Fast Fire sight on it. So far, it's a keeper. Good luck.

That's the way it should happen... start him on irons, for sure

-NR

Iron sights are a bit trickier, but it is a quick learning curve. Be sure to show him simple drawings of the sight picture, and use a gun with easy to see sights. My very anti gun wife finally asked me to teach her to shoot a pellet gun when crows started to raid her garden. very quickly she caught on. learning on a carefully prepared padded rest helps them steady the gun, focusing their attention. I think shooters who learn open sight shooting first tend to have bettter concentration on sight picture later.

I agree start him with the iron sights.

+ 1 on open (iron) sights for beginners.

We all still own one or we buy one.


Mine is a Marlin 336 C in .35 Remington; perfect for tight cover.

A scope may be easier, though irons are a must.

I also agree with iron sights. This not only trains the shooter with proper sight alignment, but also allows a young shooter to see what's around the target without obstruction. I still shoot iron sights on my brush rifle, but need the clarity of a good Leupold on distant shots. The eyes aren't what they used to be at distance.

Thanks for the replies. Iron sights it is.

I have trained my 3 girls on both...

My Remington 541-T is scoped, they can keep their shots inside an inch at 50 yards...

My Ruger Mark II .22 pistol has iron sights...We shoot mistletoe out of trees with it before Christmas...

Never know when they might need to use either...