Another Eagle Scout here that got their intro to firearms via BSA.
Upon re-reading the rules about Boy Scouts and guns it kinda of bugged me that the rules are so strict regarding rifles for Boy Scouts (not Venture Scouts). For those that don't know:
Boy Scouts are limited to
-Single Shot Rimfire .22lr Only
-.50 or smaller Muzzle-Loaders
Personally it bugs me because that is such a small segment of the firearms out there. IMO that is not enough knowledge to be thrown into the modern world of guns.
BigAlexe,
I totally see where you're coming from here, but I want to take this chance to try and explain where the scouts are coming from here a little bit.
In the last 10 years or so, Scouting in the US has started to place a greater emphasis on the transition from Boy Scouts to Venture/Varsity. Because of the age differences (min. 10.5 for a Boy Scout, 14 for a Venturer), I don't know that the restrictions are really that far out of place.
When you consider that Rifle Shooting merit badge is an introductory course for many scouts, what better introduction is there than the classic .22 bolt action rifle? ANYONE that I am introducing to shooting starts with a .22, be it pistol or rifle.
Moreover, when you're talking about teaching a large age range, with differing skill levels, and your goal being to make your scouts proficient marksmen at the most basic level, I think that the .22 is a perfect compromise. You can't develop trigger slap anticipating a huge recoil if you don't have that recoil.
Also, that restriction puts more emphasis on moving to a Venture Crew, where you can step up to centerfire rounds.
Also, most scouts get their rifle badge at summer camp. That means that they have about 8 hours of instruction and range time, combined. That's not much time.
Additionally, as we adults strive to keep scouting as cheap as possible for the scouts, anything other than the .22 greatly increases our costs, not just in ammo and rifles, but in range construction and maintenance as well.
Is is perfect? No. BUT, we're willing to pay the massive insurance to keep it happening. This is not the case with many scouting movements overseas.
Man this thread takes me back. I was in troop #101 and we went yearly to Camp Pioneer. It was there that I was introduced to the .22 and shotgun. Good times.
That's awesome. Camp Pioneer is where we took the kids for their summer camp extravaganza this summer, and they loved it. It is a great facility.