What age to transition to a pistol?

[Vol Texan]

My 6 1/2 year-old daughter has been shooting her Crickett .22 for about a year and a half. I'm considering teaching her to shoot a pistol now, and I'm looking at a couple of options in the .22 size: Walther P22 and/or the Ruger SR22.

I wonder...am I starting this transition too early? Has anyone here any experience transitioning the kids at age 6 1/2 to pistol, or is it too soon?

I welcome your opinions.

[Rvrrat14]

My son started shooting my 22 Ruger MkII at about 6-7. At 13 he got his own 22/22mag single six.

[RPBrown]

My granddaughter has been shooting a single six since she was 7 (got it for her on her 7th birthday). She has now moved to a 9mm at age 13.

Two things I will no longer compete against her in, (1) shooting and (2) bowling. She shoots better than me and has been beating me in bowling for about a year now (197 average at 13 yo). Proud of that girl as I am with all of my grandkids.

[RogueUSMC]

If she has been shooting that Cricket for a year and a half, you might consider up sizing a little bit. Savage makes a little one called the Cub that is midway between the Cricket and the 10/22.

[barres]

Both of my boys have been shooting .22 pistols since they were 6. Colt .22 pistol and Beretta U22 Neos. My older son has graduated to 9mm, .45ACP, .38Spcl., .410, and 12 guage. Maybe others I have forgotten. He's a teenager, now. The younger boy has shot .38Spcl., 9mm, and .410. He's still in the third grade. They enjoy the handguns more than the long guns, just like their old man.

[rotor]

My grandson at 8 can handle a Browning Buckmark with red-dot and plinks pretty good but needs close attention and I don't let him do anything without me right next to him.

[kragluver]

It depends on the kid of course. If your child is safely competent with a long gun, then try them with a 22 pistol. Stay in close contact with them initially and make sure they maintain safe muzzle control. It is so easy for a new shooter to forget how easy it is to point the muzzle of a pistol in an unsafe direction.

My twins both started shooting my Woodsman at about age 7 after starting on a single shot 22 rifle. They are now 16 and good pistol shots. One of them really enjoys shooting and has no trouble with any handgun up to 44 magnum. (He learned to field strip my 1911 by age 8 and knows all about JMB )