I am breaking my daughter in, age 9, I have brought her when I small game hunt, she actually just shot her first big guns on Father’s Day, .22 Marlin Lever Action and a 20ga with target rounds so not much kick, she still had a bruise even after I put my shirt between her shoulder n buttstock, so did I, but I put 2 dozen 30-30 rounds down range, she wore her bruise quite proudly.