Dang kids...

[Larry Ashcraft]

Had a couple of beautiful days here in Southern Colorado yesterday and today. My son Jimmy and his family were here with us. Yesterday we hauled wood and shot rifles, and this morning, hauled hay with Jimmy's BIL and his GF Denise helping. We decided to reward ourselves by shooting some clays this afternoon.

Now, I've been shooting the two 28 ga guns I picked up last spring and summer, an 870 and a Baikal sxs. I've been blaming my misses on 3/4 oz of shot and "28 ga can't reach that far".

Sandy asked Jimmy if he had his shotgun and he said, "yeah, but I might play with dad's 28s".

Dang kid picked up that little 870 and proceeded to smoke just about everything thrown out in front of him. On one, he pulled Steve's trick of 2/1 when he broke the bird, and then smoked the still spinning center.

All my excuses just went down the tubes...

 

[sm]

Larry typed that with a puffed out chest and grinning - don't let him fool you.

Youth is wasted on the Young

Yeah well I heard that growing up, now I better understand.
Mentors and Elders I now realized taught me a LOT more than they thought they did. I really believe this.

I'm a bit rusty, not as young as I once was, and I haven't shot 16 practice rds in one day in some time.

I have used a hand "Sickle" to get rid of weeds. I have used a push broom , regular broom to clean up around a range.

I outshot the young whippersnappers after the tidying up. Weed-Eaters, Blowers, and such, messes with one's nerves and affects shooting.

I never said a word, not even why I chose to use the "old tech" tools...still haven't, don't plan on it.

Some things we have to accept as a part of aging - some things kids got to learn for themselves.

 

[P95Carry]

Excuses Larry - forget it!!

I can tho even from this side of the nation - see the remnants of the big grin you had earlier . Good time had by all it seems and - in fact any time spent doing such things with family are priceless. You know my thoughts on that.

My son at that last session - you read it - getting him set up with his carry piece. Well - darned if the whippersnapper didn't totally outshoot me with my lil' R9 - and that was first time ever he'd shot it.

Oh well - time to concede - the young folks often have it, and age has taken something of a toll maybe! I can take it - the pleasure of seeing their success way outweighs and churlishness!

Best to you and Sandy

Steve - same to you dude.

 

[Capt.Stubby]

Tell me about it.

I hear ya... just last week I got outshot by my sixyear old. He threw me down with some dandy daisy showmanship.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

puffed out chest and grinning

You got that right!

Lesse, I gave Jimmy his first shotgun when he turned eleven, that was, uh, 18 years ago (and several shotguns later). His first rifle came at age eight, a Chipmunk that he got blisters shooting that first range session. I gave him a Remington model 700 .270 for his 18th birthday.

I didn't own any ammo from the time Jimmy started shooting until he got married. Whatever I bought or loaded just "disappeared". "Dad, can I take your Gold Cup out?", "Is this MY brick of ammo?" He easily outshoots me with a handgun, has passed my with a shotgun, and we're still working on rifle shooting.

After an IPSC match a couple years ago, I asked Sandy "Should I be proud? I've raised a gunfighter."

Dang right I am. And I know you feel the same way, Chris.

 

[Capt.Stubby]

What Next?

You boys seem to have raised some pretty respectable sportsmen. Being a father of three future birdslayers, how about some solid ideas on how to start them out right. I plan on the "Red Rider" christmas. How early is too early to hand them the real thing, and what gauge? I started on a H&R greenwing special 20.

 

[P95Carry]

Stubby - I daresay Larry - and Steve too - could well suggest you find a sweet 28G - that'll get em off to a great start - still wish I had one.

 

[kudu]

Stubby, 28ga, 28ga, he said jumping up and down. I think I hear sm yelling in the background too.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

How early is too early to hand them the real thing, and what gauge? I started on a H&R greenwing special 20.

Jimmy's first was also a H&R 20 ga single. If I had it to do over, I would probably look at the 28ga. Baikal makes a pretty decent sxs for about $450. CZs are more, but better. IF you get a 28, figure another $100+ for a MEC 600 jr, ammo is super expensive, but reloading is not.

As to the age, well it depends. My wife and I were shooting IHMSA handgun silhouette when the kids were little. They would wear their earmuffs and play in the sand while we shot, but Jimmy was paying attention. His toy revolver always kicked like a .44 magnum, and when he transported it out to play with it, it was always in the barrel in the air position, loading gate open. The safety rules were ingrained by the time he was about four.

Jimmy was perfectly safe with a single shot .22 rifle at the range at age eight. However, I've tried to teach my 14 year old nephew the rules and couldn't get through to him. I told his mother he wasn't ready yet. It's more a question of maturity than age.

Oh, and welcome to the forum! You'll find the best, brightest and most entertaining members right here in shotguns (at least we think so).