First Rifle for Legally Blind Youth New Shooter?

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perpster

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Hi all. My son is turning 12 soon. He is legally blind but functions well and goes to regular school, etc. He benefits from large print books but is embarrased to use them outside of home.

He has occular albinism and nystagmus, which bascially means he's very sensitive to sunlight and his eyes are constantly moving side-to-side (even in the dark or low light). Sometimes it's a little flicker-type appearance, other times it's like watching a typewriter carriage go back and forth. The net effect is that his retinas never get a stable image so even glasses don't help. It's more of a nervous system issue than eye issue.

He has shot a pellet rifle and can usually hit can-size targets at 7 yards. I have heard that getting him a laser red-dot-on-target device/sight would probably help him improve his shooting.

I'd like to get him either a pellet/BB rifle or .22 rifle equipped with such a device. I really have no idea what rifles and what devices to look at. Cost is a factor, and so is simplicity. The rifle will be used almost exclusively for target or plinking. I suppose a rifle known for its accuracy would be advisable so as to keep him from getting discouraged.

Any thoughts, links, etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Perp
 
i suppose a bolt action 22 would be the way i'd start. i started my nieces and daughter on a nef break action, single shot 22. it is accurate enough at 25 yards to consistently shoot quarters, eggs off golf tees, and such. we haven't taken that one back to 50 yet, though.

my niece can blow up soda cans and eggs at 100 yards w/ my scoped charles daly bolt.

can't help ya w/ the laser device though. if you are going to keep the ranges to 50 yards and under - at least for now, i think the nef is probably the way to go if you don't mind having to break the gun open and reload after every shot. if you want to go further, or don't want to reload, look for a bolt gun in the under $200 range.

w/ a 50 yard zero, a 22 will drop around 3-4" at 100 yards. the rainbow trajectory is tough for new shooters to handle, and the laser will show a straight line. something to consider, anyway.
 
I may be wrong, but I thought that people with ocular issues like that actually had more trouble picking up red than other colors. Maybe green would be better for him.

Hopefully you can find a setup that will give him enjoyment, and also encourage some improvement in his condition.
 
I'll look into the red vs green issue, but I still have no idea what type of systems there are, such as where it's mounted, how it's activated, etc. Still hoping for some specific direction, thanks.
 
Just as a precaution, you may want to look into the legalities of this - seeing as you are giving a firearm to someone who may not be totally capable of properly using it and could possibly injure or kill someone by accident because of his disability.
 
The Grand Inquisitor said:
Just as a precaution, you may want to look into the legalities of this - seeing as you are giving a firearm to someone who may not be totally capable of properly using it and could possibly injure or kill someone by accident because of his disability.
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He's 12. You could say that about any 12 year old regardless of vision.

As to the topic, this is not what you were looking for but if you are concerned about boosing confidence, and looking for maximum "bang for the buck" as far as the kids reaction is concerned, why not a shotgun? .410 or maybe a 28 guage and some kind of "reactinary" target; clay, water jug, etc.

My 10 year old would much rather shoot his little shotgun at something since he gets to see a lot more action when he hits the target.

You are going to get a higher hit ratio since your pattern area is larger, the kid will have a blast with something like that. Once his confidence is up then maybe move towards a tack driver rifle.

Anyway, just a suggestion.
 
TxSiggy: good point on the shotgun.

War Hound: Actually, full auto usually results in no hits on target, or so I've heard. Besides, for a new shooter it would probably not be a good idea.
 
I am intrigued by this case. I had a blind uncle who was the source of much education about what the visually handicapped are capable of, and while I'm no expert, a thought did cross my mind in that the Ruger 10/22 rifle is THE king of aftermarket modifications. Any sort of sight or type of optic device that you might even consider can surely be mounted on it somehow and with relative ease.

I'm wondering if a red dot sight, without using the red dot, could be cowitnessed with some kind of fiber optic front sight for some kind of exaggerated ghost ring system that wouldn't be as accurate as a typical sight system but he could probably see it much better... where's the 10/22 nerds when you need 'em?
 
perpster said:
T
War Hound: Actually, full auto usually results in no hits on target, or so I've heard. Besides, for a new shooter it would probably not be a good idea.
Click to expand...

It was a joke...

I do howver think a semi auto might be better than a bolt action for your son, so that he doesnt have to re-focous (as much) on target/sights.
 
A single shot is usually the best way to go for a new shooter, but I think in this case I would choose a tube fed bolt action .22.

Loading a single shot requires you to open the breech, put in a cartridge, and close the breech each time. I know that eventually you can do it by feel, but I think that I would personally find it frustrating to have to deal with all the small stuff like that if I couldn't see very well. .22 shells can get away from you pretty easy rolling around the bench anyhow, I would avoid something where you have to handle them every shot.

A semi auto is too finicky. You don't want him to have to try and deal with jams or anything. I know you plan on supervising him and could handle that yourself, but I still think that keeping things simple would be best in the long run. Let him focus on the shooting rather than worry about the other stuff.

The reason I pick a tube fed, is because the magazine holds more rounds, stays with the gun, and loads easily. Most of them actually have a slot for the rim so that the cartridge can only be put in in one direction also. He could probably load it himself, and he would be able to get 15 or so shots in before reloading again.

At the last gun show I went to, I saw a couple different red dot type sights, that you could pick different types of dots with, and at least one could be switched to green. Some of them weren't all that expensive either.

As far as actual lasers, I can't think of anything off the top of my head that would mount easily on a rifle. With the limited range you're talking about though, you might try something as simple as a laser pointer or something attached to the barrel with some band clamps. Within 7 yards, you don't really need 1/4 MOA adjustments. A few shims, might let you get it adjust pretty close to point of aim, and with a .22 the recoil shouldn't really damage anything.
 
I should clarify--he's legally blind but not blind. He can see cans that are 25 yards away but I don't know how well he really sees them. He hits the cans from 7 yards but not always on the first try. He improved when we switched him from righty shooting to lefty shooting (he & I are both righties. For some reason I shoot handguns righty but longarms lefty).

He is well able to load pellets one at a time into the breech of my Sheridan pump air rifle, so loading .22's wouldn't be a problem.

Actually, I might be better off getting him a nice, accurate air rifle with a laser, rather than a .22. Any suggestions?
 
You might look up an optometrist named Alan Toler on a search engine. He is also an active high power competitor and specializes in corrective lenses for shooters. This would be a different situation but I suspect he would either have some ideas or refer to to someone who might have an angle on this. don't have his exact address but as I recall he was in Virginia.

Might also check with the NRA as they take interest in handicapped shooters.

There are a lot of newfangled options out there now and someone, somewhere must have some usable ideas. I'm sure they'd be happy to help a kid out.
 
two things:

  • are you sure he'd be able to see a laser? laser pointers are cheap, lasers for firearms are less so. get a laser pen and make sure he'd be able to make use of it. doing something as simple as telling him "put the laser on the household object" should make it fairly apparent how well he can discern both lasers and targets.
  • to add to the shotgun suggestion, it might be worth the time to find out if he can see a clay pigeon in flight. shotguns are pointed, not aimed, after all, and if he can get a handle on where the flying clay is...
 
Dienekes said:
You might look up an optometrist named Alan Toler on a search engine. He is also an active high power competitor and specializes in corrective lenses for shooters. This would be a different situation but I suspect he would either have some ideas or refer to to someone who might have an angle on this. don't have his exact address but as I recall he was in Virginia.

Might also check with the NRA as they take interest in handicapped shooters.

There are a lot of newfangled options out there now and someone, somewhere must have some usable ideas. I'm sure they'd be happy to help a kid out.
Click to expand...


Theres some nice semi-auto gas operated pellet handguns and rifles, usually 8-12 round mag, or rotary clip.

Cheaperthandirt.com has a nice 12 rnd 450 FPS pellet rifle, CO2 powered, for 50$.
 
I wonder if maybe a 20 gauge H&R youth model might be a better choice. I find that loading a single barrel 12 gauge by feel is quite easy. Shooting a shotgun is a whole lot easier than shooting a rifle. Put the bead on the target and send some lead at it.
At 25 yards it should do fine and he will be having more fun if he is hitting what he is shooting at.
 
NO law in Va

I worked in a gun shop for a couple of years and we had a couple completely bind customers that would put radios behind steel targets, and could really hit them most of the time, but it did take him years and years of practice,


A least in VA i know that there is no laws to worry about

There are a couple G22 with lasers for sale here in the Trading Post Rifle part
 
Any recommendations that any of us might make would be based on our speculating about your son's ability to see, particularly on his ability to focus at different distances.

You can find both laser and red dot sights cheaply, so you might as well try both, unless you're satisfied with the first that you try. With the red dot, he'd keep both eyes open and his brain will create the illusion that the dot is projected onto the target. What's not known is whether he can see the red dot and the target at the same time. The only way to know that (and asking an optometrist won't give you the answer) is to buy something and try it.

FYI, red dots are available in various sizes. You'd probably do well to start with a large dot, eg., 10m.o.a., as opposed to a smaller dot, eg., 3 m.o.a.
 
Great suggestions, everyone! Perhaps the most cost efficient way to go (after trying Pauli's non-firearm laser pointer advice to make sure he can make use of a laser) is to fit a laser to my 1950's vintage Sheridan Blue Streak CB9 (pneumatic forearm pump; .20 cal ; pellets only)--this is what I shoot with him now. I'll check some airgun websites, but does anyone know offhand what laser designs can attach easily to such a rifle?

If we have success with adding a laser to the air rifle, then a similarly equipped .22 rifle could be in his future!

BTW, I did get in touch with the NRA, and it was Dave Baskin at NRA who first suggested lasers might help.
 
perpster said:
Great suggestions, everyone! Perhaps the most cost efficient way to go (after trying Pauli's non-firearm laser pointer advice to make sure he can make use of a laser) is to fit a laser to my 1950's vintage Sheridan Blue Streak CB9 (pneumatic forearm pump; .20 cal ; pellets only)--this is what I shoot with him now. I'll check some airgun websites, but does anyone know offhand what laser designs can attach easily to such a rifle?

If we have success with adding a laser to the air rifle, then a similarly equipped .22 rifle could be in his future!

BTW, I did get in touch with the NRA, and it was Dave Baskin at NRA who first suggested lasers might help.
Click to expand...

perpster, first of all, congratulations to you for being a father and at least giving him the oppurtunity so many of us didn't have; to spend time with his Dad. Secondly, I think a laser or red-dot projection type sight might work well, but without knowing more than I do, you may be better off just using the old trial and error method. Call it a learning process. Good luck! :)
 
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