Dionysusigma
Member
Well, I decided that after not doing so for the past 5-6 months, I'd go to the range and burn up some ammo I've had collecting dust. 
While I set up my stuff, I noticed that a little ways down the firing line a kid, maybe 8-11 years old, in tears. Turns out that his dad is there with his (dad) brother, the brother's kid, and another boy, about 12 y. o. The dad's apparently decided that it's time to get the kids used to guns, and today was their first time at a range. As it was, the only rifle they had between the five of them was a Remington 700 in .308 and the reason the kid was upset was out of fear for the recoil.
So, I took out my Marlin 60 with a relatively new 6-24x50, illuminated reticle, rangefinding mil-dot scope
(believe me folks, this little rifle is worth it) and my SAR-1. I loaded up the AK and started firing away, and as soon as the mag was empty I realized that all the kids were watching me. The dad saw this, and in a tone reminicent of a tour guide at a national park, whispered to the children "See there, that's an AK-47." I just kinda smiled sheepishly as I slapped in another mag and continued firing.
After a little while, the dad came over and we shot the breeze for a bit, and made mention of himself as an ex-marine and is now in the National Guard, IIRC. We talked about the Ma Deuce, the GMG, the M60, and so forth. The kids continued to ogle my .22 and my SAR-1 and then busy themselves with picking up as many different casings as they can find. The dad asked quietly if I'd mind if the boys could fire three shots each with the AK. Having never been asked this before, my immediate respone was "Sure! Of course they can!" (Hey, it's for the children)
Well, everyone gathered around as I explained how the safety worked, how to load a magazine into the gun, and how best to hold it. To my surprise, the youngest one (the one who was crying before) piped up and said, "Can I shoot it first?" Apparently this was no problem as the other two didn't have much of an interest in it (they must be future AR-15 fans ). So he picked it up, and with a little help from his father he had a good grip on the gun. Then, three blasts later, he asks "Can I go check my target? Please, can I dad?" So I show him how to unload it, show clear, and away his dad and his friend go.
After they came back, they all wanted to try the Marlin too.
I handed each of them three shots, gave them the operating procedures, and they each took their shots. After the last one showed clear on the rifle (easy to do with the last shot bolt hold-open) they all went down to check the target again. All of them had the four rules down pat, and as they came back up the dad turned to me.
Him: "Boy, I think we've just created a monster."
Me: "Me too..."
Kids: "I want a .22 for my birthday!"
Him and me: *sigh*
Him: "Their mothers are going to be p*ssed."
Youngest child: "I want an AK!"
By this time, it was sunset and time to go home. Today was the first time I've ever had ammo come back with me from the range...
... but I can't really say I regret it.
While I set up my stuff, I noticed that a little ways down the firing line a kid, maybe 8-11 years old, in tears. Turns out that his dad is there with his (dad) brother, the brother's kid, and another boy, about 12 y. o. The dad's apparently decided that it's time to get the kids used to guns, and today was their first time at a range. As it was, the only rifle they had between the five of them was a Remington 700 in .308 and the reason the kid was upset was out of fear for the recoil.So, I took out my Marlin 60 with a relatively new 6-24x50, illuminated reticle, rangefinding mil-dot scope
(believe me folks, this little rifle is worth it) and my SAR-1. I loaded up the AK and started firing away, and as soon as the mag was empty I realized that all the kids were watching me. The dad saw this, and in a tone reminicent of a tour guide at a national park, whispered to the children "See there, that's an AK-47." I just kinda smiled sheepishly as I slapped in another mag and continued firing.After a little while, the dad came over and we shot the breeze for a bit, and made mention of himself as an ex-marine and is now in the National Guard, IIRC. We talked about the Ma Deuce, the GMG, the M60, and so forth. The kids continued to ogle my .22 and my SAR-1 and then busy themselves with picking up as many different casings as they can find. The dad asked quietly if I'd mind if the boys could fire three shots each with the AK. Having never been asked this before, my immediate respone was "Sure! Of course they can!"
(Hey, it's for the children)Well, everyone gathered around as I explained how the safety worked, how to load a magazine into the gun, and how best to hold it. To my surprise, the youngest one (the one who was crying before) piped up and said, "Can I shoot it first?" Apparently this was no problem as the other two didn't have much of an interest in it (they must be future AR-15 fans
). So he picked it up, and with a little help from his father he had a good grip on the gun. Then, three blasts later, he asks "Can I go check my target? Please, can I dad?" So I show him how to unload it, show clear, and away his dad and his friend go.After they came back, they all wanted to try the Marlin too.
I handed each of them three shots, gave them the operating procedures, and they each took their shots. After the last one showed clear on the rifle (easy to do with the last shot bolt hold-open) they all went down to check the target again. All of them had the four rules down pat, and as they came back up the dad turned to me.
Him: "Boy, I think we've just created a monster."
Me: "Me too..."
Kids: "I want a .22 for my birthday!"
Him and me: *sigh*
Him: "Their mothers are going to be p*ssed."
Youngest child: "I want an AK!"
By this time, it was sunset and time to go home. Today was the first time I've ever had ammo come back with me from the range...
... but I can't really say I regret it.