Boyscout merit badge: Rifle shooting

[10/22plinker]

At summer camp one of my merit badges will be rifle shooting. I have taken it before but with the setup they use meeting the 5 shots within a quarter is very difficult. I personally have 2 .22 rifles a single shot bolt action and a ruger 10/22. My problem with the boyscout setup is that I am not permitted to adjust the sights for my eyes I have tested several of their .22s and they feel off but the rangemaster tells me otherwise if I remember correctly they are savages any hints to improve my accuracy.

 

[MrCleanOK]

The camp's rifles being zeroed or not will have nothing to do with your ability to shoot a quarter sized group. Aim at the bull every time and just shoot the group. Where it lands on the paper doesn't matter.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Ah my FIRST merit badge was in marksmanship.

 

[Nugilum]

Also, per BSA rules, semi-automatic rifles cannot be used. Only bolt action single shots or bolt action magazine fed one at a time.

 

[Curator]

Have the Boy Scout "rangemaster" read the merit badge pamphlet. (Be nice about this) After you shoot your quarter-sized groups you have to adjust the rifle's sights and shoot 5 standard 50 foot targets with all five shots making a "9" or better. Adjusting the sights is part of the requirements.

 

[ElToro]

wow. probly about 18 or 20 years ago i got rifle shooting but our troop had a bunch of surplus trainers that had been donated. one of the dads was a local PD sarge and got us access to the county outdoor range. evrybody qualified after taking teh test and doing the shooting.

i got shotgun merit bade becuase i was at summer camp and trap shooting was after dinner before dark. they had this old break action 12 gauge that kicked like mule.. anyway. i was consistently busting clays and they range guy said i had broke enuff to qualify so if i came and took the test and passed hed sign off on the merit badge for me.
just get consitistent groups and get your MB

good luck and have fun. get your Eagle. one of the best things that I did as a younger man. i know for a fact it got me some jobs/job interviews becuase had it on my resume. one HR manager even told me she only called me for an interview was it was on there. and this was when i was like 23

 

[kludge]

Also, per BSA rules, semi-automatic rifles cannot be used. Only bolt action single shots or bolt action magazine fed one at a time.

AFAIK this only applies to camps and boy scout activities. If you shoot the targets on your own own and bring them to the counselor it doesn't matter what the action was.

Have the Boy Scout "rangemaster" read the merit badge pamphlet. (Be nice about this) After you shoot your quarter-sized groups you have to adjust the rifle's sights and shoot 5 standard 50 foot targets with all five shots making a "9" or better. Adjusting the sights is part of the requirements.

There's also a " * " with a note that says adjusting the sights isn't always practicle and that if your groups touch a quarter you meet the requirement. Having 10 different people people shoot the same rifle in the course of a day is why the range officer doesn't want the sights moved.

 

[GRAYRID3R]

My 12 year old Grandson just got back from scout camp yesterday. He got his rifle shooting and archery merit badges but missed the swimming one. It was the first time he ever swam in a lake instead of a pool and couldn't handle openning his eyes in the muddy North Georgia lake water.:banghead:

 

[FFMedic]

When I taught rifle and shotgun at 7Ranges we did not mess with adjusting sights on the rifles. An average week had 50 to 60 scouts in the rifle class plus a few hundred using the range during open program with maybe 2 dozen reliable rifles. During staff week I shot 5 shot groups with them all to make sure they were on paper at 50 feet (pretty easy to do) and then called it a day.

The rifles were mostly Marlin 925s so the sights are not very easily adjustable anyways. Sadly the schmuck who took over after the year I worked there caved into requests from the camp director to "up" the rifle passing rate so they put 4x scopes on the rifles.
I'm sorry but if you can't put 5 shots into a quarter sized group with a .22 off the bench at 50 FEET you do not deserve a badge of "merit" for rifle shooting.

Shotgun was pretty simple as well. Clays tossed from the shooters right at a 45' angle with a cheap mechanical thrower. Guns were H&R 20s and a couple 870s also in 20 GA.

I always stressed to the scouts I wanted them to shoot safely, correctly and accurately, in that order. I hope that rile and shotgun merit badge are still around 25 years from now when I retire from the FD because I would love to go back and teach again.

FFMedic

PS, Grayrider, don't feel too bad. The camp I worked at for 4 years averaged 500 scouts a week for 8 weeks. Swimming and lifesaving merit badges and our camps swimming requierment for the camp honers award made many a scout stumble and hopefully resolve to do better next year if not sooner. For me at least the 10 mile compass course was a breeze compared to the swimming rescue drills