Emphasizing the four rules

[Series 70]

My son started shooting at age 8 - he's now 12. From the beginning, I emphasized the four rules, and I don't cut him any slack. If I hand him a firearm with the action closed, he must make sure it's unloaded. He keeps his finger off the trigger and the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. If I see him break a rule, I point it out every time.

The hardest one for him was the finger off the trigger. I'd stand behind him at the range and say, "finger" after just about every shot. Finally, he corrected the habit. I'd still watch him, occasionally having to correct him again.

Yesterday I got his favorite pistol, a Walther PP, back from the 'smith. Needing to test-fire the PP, put some rounds through the new P3AT, and verify the functioning of some new Wilson mags, we headed for the range.

I put some rounds through the P3AT and the 1911 while he loaded mags for the PP. I watched him shoot the first couple mags, then turned to the table to load some of my own. I'm watching out of the corner of my eye, and he turns suddenly to his right, brushing at his eye - he swept the two people in the next lane.

But he had his finger well off the trigger, indexed correctly. I reached over and pushed the muzzle downrange. He had a piece of brass lodge between his glasses and his temple. He reacted in pain and surprise and broke one of the rules, but his adherance to another prevented anything bad from happening.

He left the bay to go check on his burn - very slight. I apologized to the couple in the next lane. They had no issues - they saw how it happened.

Dan came back in and was visibly upset. He did not want to shoot anymore, so I finished up quickly and we left. He hardly said anything in the car. I pointed out that keeping his finger off the trigger prevented anything bad from happening. He was still very upset. After a while, he got past it. The fact that he was so upset about his inadvertent lapse shows me how seriously he takes the safety of our sport. He went though the hunter safety course over the winter and was complemented on his safe gunhandling at the range.

I think this experience will make him even more safe, and I'm sure he'll not repeat his mistake.

Oh, and he won't be wearing sandals to the range anymore, either. Four hotfoots in one session will take care of that.

 

[GunGeek]

The hardest one for him was the finger off the trigger. I'd stand behind him at the range and say, "finger" after just about every shot. Finally, he corrected the habit. I'd still watch him, occasionally having to correct him again.

You take your finger off the trigger between every shot??? Hmmmmmmm......

 

[Series 70]

Unless I'm shooting pairs, or some other rapid-fire drill on the same target, yes. For my son, shooting one at a time, lowering his muzzle to see the impact, then getting back on target - he should absolutely have his finger off between shots.

"Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target."

 

[El Tejon]

Wow, that's great, Series. Painful lesson for the boy. Did he have a hat and wrap around glasses?

I'm the uncle of 4 young boys. The oldest is 6. Their grandfather (my dad) is taking him out to the horsefarm to shoot air rifles. It is almost time and I still know nothing. :banghead:

 

[Standing Wolf]

Good for you and your lad both! If more fathers taught their children to shoot as you're doing, we'd be a happier, safer, more polite nation.

 

[Series 70]

Did he have a hat and wrap around glasses?

Wrap-arounds - yes, hat - no. I usually wear a hat - brought one with, in fact - but forgot it in the car while grabbing gear. I've suggested it to him before, but he had not seen the merit in the idea.

I think he sees it now.

 

[DevilDog]

I like your method - got him shooting one shot at a time, lowering it AND taking his finger off the trigger every time.

You can tell someone 'til you are blue in the face, or even tell yourself over and over, but it does not replace the need to practice it.

 

[whm1974]

Wrap-arounds - yes, hat - no. I usually wear a hat - brought one with, in fact - but forgot it in the car while grabbing gear. I've suggested it to him before, but he had not seen the merit in the idea.

Wearing a baseball cap is a good idea when shooting. If nothing else it keeps brass from the gap between the glasses and the orbit of the eyes.

Also make sure he wears shirts that are tight fitting around the neck. Having brass going down your shirt isn't fun.

There is a another rule you should teach your son. "Never depend on safety devices, they may fail at any time" I have heard of people haveing ADs when decocking a DA auto so I have to point out the above.

-Bill