omegaflame
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- Aug 13, 2010
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- 186
Kids love the AR-15s because it looks like the guns from all the movies and games they see. Fun to let them shoot it.
Have you ever made a youngin's day with the help of firearms?
- Thread starter john917v
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I taught my 3 children when they were about 5 and gave them each a rifle when they were about 7 or 8.
I have been working with grandchildren now. I got Jake when he was 6 and taught him with a 1906 Winchester. His first day, he pumped a few hundred rounds downrange. He didn't hit anything, but was all smiles. When we started back to the truck, my son-in-law started to pick up the winny and I told him no, Jake shot it, he carries it. As we were walking along the boy looked up at his dad and said, "Dad, when I get old, I'm going shooting everyday". I will never forget that. When he was 8 I gave him that rifle.
His brother was 5 when we went out to the woods. we set up clays for them to shoot. Of course we set up about a half dozen clays at 10'. After I sat there rehashing safety with him, I handed him a .22 cartridge. He had his moms Chipmunk. He put it in the chamber and closed the bold. I cocked it and he let go. His eyes got big as silver dollars. After a few rounds I handed him off on his dad. He kept coming back and filling his pockets with cartridges.
This weekend, I got one of the granddaughters. She is 10 and cool as a cucumber. I did my talk and gave her a cartridge. I was amazed...she popped a target on the first try. No putting rounds downrange as fast as she could, all aimed shots. She loved it.
Yeah, I'm a happy Papa. Now I have to somehow get my 15 year old granddaughter up here from Texas so I can teach her. I will have to wait on the 18 mo old granddaughter. LOL.
I have been working with grandchildren now. I got Jake when he was 6 and taught him with a 1906 Winchester. His first day, he pumped a few hundred rounds downrange. He didn't hit anything, but was all smiles. When we started back to the truck, my son-in-law started to pick up the winny and I told him no, Jake shot it, he carries it. As we were walking along the boy looked up at his dad and said, "Dad, when I get old, I'm going shooting everyday". I will never forget that. When he was 8 I gave him that rifle.
His brother was 5 when we went out to the woods. we set up clays for them to shoot. Of course we set up about a half dozen clays at 10'. After I sat there rehashing safety with him, I handed him a .22 cartridge. He had his moms Chipmunk. He put it in the chamber and closed the bold. I cocked it and he let go. His eyes got big as silver dollars. After a few rounds I handed him off on his dad. He kept coming back and filling his pockets with cartridges.
This weekend, I got one of the granddaughters. She is 10 and cool as a cucumber. I did my talk and gave her a cartridge. I was amazed...she popped a target on the first try. No putting rounds downrange as fast as she could, all aimed shots. She loved it.
Yeah, I'm a happy Papa. Now I have to somehow get my 15 year old granddaughter up here from Texas so I can teach her. I will have to wait on the 18 mo old granddaughter. LOL.
czarjl
Member
I was once the recipient of an old shooter’s (Grandpa) generosity. I have that rifle to this day, it is by far the most valuable rifle in my safe even if ones in much better condition can be had for less than $100.
A few years back at the conservation clubs private range, I was sighting in for deer season, when and older gentleman (probably about 80) that I had only really meet in passing, pulled up. He approached me and asked if I would sight in his shotgun for him, said the recoil form more than 1 or 2 shots was to much for him. As we talked he said he had sighted it in about 5 years ago and got a deer every year with one shot but was showing it to one of his “butter fingered” son-in-laws who knocked it over and he wanted to make sure it was still on target. I looked the gun over and noticed a few screws could use a bit of tightening down (scoop mount). So said I would be glad to sight it in. I tightened up the screws and sighted it in, when I was done I gave it a decent cleaning and oiling. He took one shot after I was done and said it felt like a new gun and that it was dead on. A few months later I was talking to one of the clubs board members and he told me that the old man had been coming to the range every few days looking for someone to help him. I was just glad to help.
A few years back at the conservation clubs private range, I was sighting in for deer season, when and older gentleman (probably about 80) that I had only really meet in passing, pulled up. He approached me and asked if I would sight in his shotgun for him, said the recoil form more than 1 or 2 shots was to much for him. As we talked he said he had sighted it in about 5 years ago and got a deer every year with one shot but was showing it to one of his “butter fingered” son-in-laws who knocked it over and he wanted to make sure it was still on target. I looked the gun over and noticed a few screws could use a bit of tightening down (scoop mount). So said I would be glad to sight it in. I tightened up the screws and sighted it in, when I was done I gave it a decent cleaning and oiling. He took one shot after I was done and said it felt like a new gun and that it was dead on. A few months later I was talking to one of the clubs board members and he told me that the old man had been coming to the range every few days looking for someone to help him. I was just glad to help.
Shooters are awsome
I have shot all my life, top bullseye shooter from being 17 till I dropped out of bullseye in 2003, on moving to Florida from Canada.
All ways been involved in training, from 1980 till 2003 full time self employed Instructor (Police/Security/ Armed Vehicle/ATM Employees, etc.)
Class size max 8, indoor range, 4 on the line at one time, S&W Mod 10/64/65 mostly, 99% of my students had never held a Firearm B/4 (Canada) when they worked right out of the holster, and started hitting fast accurate double taps!!!
WOW, their eyes. Plus teaching for free in Gun clubs, it is a gift, and a great joy.
I have shot all my life, top bullseye shooter from being 17 till I dropped out of bullseye in 2003, on moving to Florida from Canada.
All ways been involved in training, from 1980 till 2003 full time self employed Instructor (Police/Security/ Armed Vehicle/ATM Employees, etc.)
Class size max 8, indoor range, 4 on the line at one time, S&W Mod 10/64/65 mostly, 99% of my students had never held a Firearm B/4 (Canada) when they worked right out of the holster, and started hitting fast accurate double taps!!!
WOW, their eyes. Plus teaching for free in Gun clubs, it is a gift, and a great joy.
glassman
Member
Not me personally but my brother tells the story of his nephew. Seems the teenager was staying with my brother and his wife while the parents took a trip. My brother, who is in his mid 60's was wondering what he could do to entertain his young charge. He took him to the basement of his home, opened his six gun safes one by one and showed off a little. He then gave the teen a mini lesson on reloading and they proceeded to load up a few handfuls in .44 if memory serves. They went to the range the following day to shoot what the kid had loaded. My brother (who is an NRA certified instructor) said this kid, who had never shot a gun in his life, was a natural. After learning a few basics this kid was able to make a ragged whole in the targets. My brother said there were a couple of 'old hands' at the range that day and they literally stopped to watch this kid and lavished compliments on his shooting. The teen was proud as could be and the smile on his face lasted a long time. He has been back to visit a few times since and the first question asked is, "when can we go to the range".
Funny, just last weekend my boyscout troop had their annual Father Son Camp Out that me and my Dad have been at for the past 10 years. it's all based around competition between the father son teams and me and my Dad have been running the shotgun range for about 5 years now. Every year is fun and we get to let a lot of kids shoot that normally don't get to. It's also really fun to watch the 12 year old out shoot the 17 year old that shoots trap every week.
Rembrandt
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Having taught firearm safety for over 25 years, no idea how many students have continued an interest in the shooting sports and hunting. Today I'm more focused with teaching our Grandkids....they're the ones who will be entrusted with the Grandpa's collection and the memories when I'm gone.
manithree
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- Sep 18, 2009
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- 112
My 10-year old son has told me that even a bad day hunting or at the range is better than just about anything else.
My youngest daughter begged for (and got) a Crickett for her 9th birthday. She loves it and begs to go shooting.
Last family reunion with my wife's family I ended up taking 11 nephews and 3 brothers-in-law out in the woods with my .22's and shotguns for trap and targets. Since we had the Crickett even the 5-year old had a great time. The Cali cousins especially like throwing lead when they're in the land of the free.
My youngest daughter begged for (and got) a Crickett for her 9th birthday. She loves it and begs to go shooting.
Last family reunion with my wife's family I ended up taking 11 nephews and 3 brothers-in-law out in the woods with my .22's and shotguns for trap and targets. Since we had the Crickett even the 5-year old had a great time. The Cali cousins especially like throwing lead when they're in the land of the free.
parsimonious_instead
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- Apr 1, 2010
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- 791
Sure did... liberal former gf that still goes to the range with me brought her son along.
He was thrilled to shoot my .22 rifles, my m1 carbine, and some other stuff...
He was thrilled to shoot my .22 rifles, my m1 carbine, and some other stuff...
gidaeon
Member
Recently took a french foreign exchange student to local range on their last day here in the States. They had never touched a gun let alone shot one and certainly did not have access to something like an ar15 back home. Both of the teens had big smiles and did quite well!
jimmyraythomason
Member
I let my 4 year old grand daughter shoot my Buckmark yesterday. She was always wanting to "check out" Poppa's guns but NOW she is obsessed!
Couple months ago I gave my 10-year-old nephew his first gun (with parental approval).
It was an H&R MKI Zombie Special, with his name engraved on it & he was ecstatic.
I'd set up the scenario for months. He likes to play a particular zombie video game, I told him I had heard there was a genuine zombie gun in town & asked if he'd like me to try to track it down. YES!
Weeks later, told him I'd found it, but the owner was out of the country & asked if he'd like me to pursue contact. YES!
Weeks later, told him I'd finally been able to contact the owner & asked the nephew if he'd like me to see if we could borrow the gun so he could see it. YES!
Weeks later, told him I had the gun, said we had permission to actually shoot it & would he be interested? YES!
When his Dad brought him out to shoot up on the hill behind the house, I hauled out the MKI, showed it to the nephew (who was suitably impressed), and asked him how we know for sure it's a genuine zombie gun. He didn't know, so I pointed out where his name was engraved right next to MKI Zombie Special.
The look on his face was priceless when he realized what the engraving meant.
He loves his genuine, real life, honest-to-goodness zombie gun. (Gotta be real, says so right on it!)
There was plenty of discussion on differentiating between what's real (people) and what's not (zombies), along with appropriate & non-appropriate uses for the gun, and safe usage.
He had a ball blasting zombie targets & thought the Zombie Hunting Permit that came with his gun was cool.
Denis
It was an H&R MKI Zombie Special, with his name engraved on it & he was ecstatic.
I'd set up the scenario for months. He likes to play a particular zombie video game, I told him I had heard there was a genuine zombie gun in town & asked if he'd like me to try to track it down. YES!
Weeks later, told him I'd found it, but the owner was out of the country & asked if he'd like me to pursue contact. YES!
Weeks later, told him I'd finally been able to contact the owner & asked the nephew if he'd like me to see if we could borrow the gun so he could see it. YES!
Weeks later, told him I had the gun, said we had permission to actually shoot it & would he be interested? YES!
When his Dad brought him out to shoot up on the hill behind the house, I hauled out the MKI, showed it to the nephew (who was suitably impressed), and asked him how we know for sure it's a genuine zombie gun. He didn't know, so I pointed out where his name was engraved right next to MKI Zombie Special.
The look on his face was priceless when he realized what the engraving meant.
He loves his genuine, real life, honest-to-goodness zombie gun. (Gotta be real, says so right on it!)
There was plenty of discussion on differentiating between what's real (people) and what's not (zombies), along with appropriate & non-appropriate uses for the gun, and safe usage.
He had a ball blasting zombie targets & thought the Zombie Hunting Permit that came with his gun was cool.
Denis
Cmiller21b
Member
I bought my son his first gun the day that he was born, a Ruger Mk II with a bull barrel. It stayed in the safe, and he could you which one it was. He learned gun safety with his first Red Ryder BB gun, got a youth model 270 for Christmas at 12. He's now 21 and an Army Engineer (like his old man!) and shoots very proficently! He owns as many guns (almost) as me and love to shoot ( usually my ammo!)! My daughter was never a gun nut like we are, but this past year I was home from Afghanistan on leave and it was here birthday. What do you want for your B-day? I want a pink gun! This was a great chance to get her involved. We went out and a pink Walther P22 caught her eye. "Jenn, I've got 2 black ones just like that, you want one of them?" "NO, they're yours this one will be mine." It's now hers! Went to the range and out of 200 rounds at 50 feet, she hit 190 times! She was smiling the biggest smile I've ever seen on that beautiful face! She was 17 then and she cant wait for Dad to get home and take her back to the range! I have 27 years in the army and have taught new soldiers that have never fired a weapon to shoot. It's a great satisfaction to see the pride in that young soldier's eyes what they can do in a couple days on the range. I feel like my army is in good hands when I leave in the very near future. We still have that old Ruger and he shoots it often! I hope his kids love shooting it as much as we have!
loud-mouth shnook
Member
Do it at least once every year.
My conservation club (Oakland Park Conservation Club) has an annual 2-day program called, "Kids Afield". It's spread out over 4 years (Oct.1st and 2nd this year) where the first year kids take the Ohio Hunter Education course and fire .22 rifles and pistols, muzzleloaders, and then Contenders chambered for .223 Rem., .357 Maximum, and .44 Magnum. After that, they're taught to load shotshells and they each load 25 20 ga. shotshells and shoot trap with the shells that they made. Then comes archery.
For the majority of them, it's the first time shooting anything so they eat it up.
And it's certainly a blast for us instructors as well, needless to say.
My conservation club (Oakland Park Conservation Club) has an annual 2-day program called, "Kids Afield". It's spread out over 4 years (Oct.1st and 2nd this year) where the first year kids take the Ohio Hunter Education course and fire .22 rifles and pistols, muzzleloaders, and then Contenders chambered for .223 Rem., .357 Maximum, and .44 Magnum. After that, they're taught to load shotshells and they each load 25 20 ga. shotshells and shoot trap with the shells that they made. Then comes archery.
For the majority of them, it's the first time shooting anything so they eat it up.
And it's certainly a blast for us instructors as well, needless to say.
FROGO207
Member
Every time I take the MAC 10 out all the kids big-and-small really have a blast with that bullet hose.
About every weekend, my now 11 year old son, gets to try out another one from the safe if he wants. This is after a couple years of safe handling of various 22lr rifles at the range.
He's getting braver. Last weekend he put one round of .308 downrange from a bench rested M1A. Didn't want any more but was very proud of the scruff the butt put on his shoulder Can't say that I wasn't proud of it to.
The conversation comes up several times during the week. What should I shoot this weekend dad?
He's getting braver. Last weekend he put one round of .308 downrange from a bench rested M1A. Didn't want any more but was very proud of the scruff the butt put on his shoulder
Can't say that I wasn't proud of it to.The conversation comes up several times during the week. What should I shoot this weekend dad?
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