Was going to be last Wed, but 41C in a tin shed firing line was going to be brutal, but pulled it off after work today.
He'll be 13 in a couple months, and at 12 is legal...I just wanted to see if it's something that he's interested in.
The range has really good concrete benches, and a few different ranged targets. Started him at 55 yards...strange looks from the older guys at starting so far, but you can see the impact points of the .22 at that range, so stayed there.
Went through the safety stuff (he's used bows for a few years, so it was just the extra with a rifle), then had him dry fire on an empty case a few times to get a feel for how things work, scope shouldn't move on the target if you do it right.
Live ammo, let him do it his way for a few mags (5 rounds each), and got him back on track for operating the trigger rather than snapping it like a squirt bottle. Then worked on cant, and eye relief...his nerves had worn off then, and he didn't jump when the guy 2 benches down let off his .270.
About a box and a half in, he was covering those concepts. Could see that he was now in "study" mode that he gets in when he wants to "do stuff right"...with him, that's usually the point that he knuckles into the theory, or dismisses it. Could see him consciously managing his cant, trying to find the best grip after cycling the bolt.
So sat him down and explained breathing, asking about his experiences of the things moving around while he breathed, explained breathing, and whatnot, and shot a group with him watching what I had gone through.
He powered through another box and a half...fairly quickly, but could see him developing a checklist.
Couple of hours, 3-1/2 boxes of ammo, and my son has decided that he wants us to get his junior's permit, join the SSAA, and do it again.
The range officer clapped my on the back as we left.
Not claiming it was earth shattering, and he's the next Doc Carver...just that he left elated at having done something for the first time, and seen himself improve at it.
Took son to the range today.
- Thread starter Shannow
- Start date
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
What can you say? If shooting means something to you it doesn't get any better than taking your offspring shooting and seeing them progress. Nice.
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
What can you say? If shooting means something to you it doesn't get any better than taking your offspring shooting and seeing them progress. Nice.
Excellent. The shooting sports are quite a bit of fun. Take the daughter too!
I guess it's not as easy there to be part of the shooting sports. It's so different there. I just choose my weapon, walk to the back yard and choose my target.
Originally Posted By: Cujet
Excellent. The shooting sports are quite a bit of fun. Take the daughter too!
I guess it's not as easy there to be part of the shooting sports. It's so different there. I just choose my weapon, walk to the back yard and choose my target.
And here's the proof...
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Funny, when we got home, daughter quipped that she was eldest and supposed to go first.
I think it's great. Nearly every kid (and adult, for that matter) enjoys learning to shoot. Some become quite good.
I've taught each of my children, starting at about age 12. I had the good fortune to be able to take them to one of the US Navy's training ranges nearby, which is a PRISim set-up. Under the tutelage of a small-arms instructor (not me), they learned on real weapons, fitted with laser inserts in the barrel. It's a great way to start, and you then progress to real firearms, with real ammunition.
My youngest, for example, started with a Glock 19 (she was taught with the M-9 but it's a big pistol for a child's hands, the Glock is easier to manage) and AR-15 on the range after her time in the PRISim...and did quite well with them. We continue to shoot together. She continues to enjoy it.
All three of my kids shoot. Not as often as I would like, but that's a function of available time - one is in medical school, one in university, one lives with my ex in Vermont.
Cubic PRISim
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Originally Posted By: Shannow
Astro14,
our range was interactive too...we had to walk uprange and change out the targets with a staple gun.
Originally Posted By: Cujet
Excellent. The shooting sports are quite a bit of fun. Take the daughter too!
I guess it's not as easy there to be part of the shooting sports. It's so different there. I just choose my weapon, walk to the back yard and choose my target.
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Good to see you and your son having fun on the shooting range. In 4 weeks my wife and I will be visiting our son and family in Florida where he takes me the range he is a member of. He has a couple of military style ARs(.223) and a new piece I haven't seen as yet. Ne does a lot of completion shooting with these and hand guns. I always enjoy this sport with him. Memories!!
^^ stupid comment.
My kid at 10 year old will be a better tactical shooter than 90% of the local police dept. Nothing wrong with giving a youngster a nice hobby that they can share with their father, and building lifetime fond memories that they can look back on when Dad is no longer alive.
Excellent! I started my Son and Daughter with guns when they were big enough to pull the trigger when I held the rifle. I sent them to hunter safety courses and as adults they both are gun owners. They do pretty good with rifles and hand guns.
That's awesome. I love taking my oldest daughter to the range. She was 14 the last time I took her and she was showing so much responsibility and ability to handle anything from my AR to my 1911 .45, I rented her a full auto HK MP5. She handled that thing like a champ. Granted, they don't have much recoil, but she was expertly squeezing off 3 round bursts and destroying every bulls-eye I put up.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: CharlieBauer
As an aside, did anyone else see the irony in this photo?
I tried to take my daughter to the range multiple times over the years. She got her mommas genes and said she was too scared to fire a gun. 2 months with a new boyfriend and he has her at the range once a week.
Lol, its all about motivation!
