sugarmaker
Member
Hi everyone, we're new to the forum. My 12 year old son enjoys shooting, we're thinking service rifle might be fun. He's reasonably good standing, sitting, and prone with a single shot .22 bolt. He's tall and slim, 5 feet and 80 lbs soaking wet. I have fond (and somewhat vague) memories of doing SR with my older brother-in-law as a teenager (early 80's) using an M1A. So far, here's where we're at:
Gun: Though I tried, he simply cannot hold an NM AR-15 - think grinch's dog when he tied the antlers on. "I can hold this, dad..." as the muzzle slowly droops. I ended up with a lightly used RRA elite CAR A4, we adjust the stock 2 clicks from full. He can hold this gun reasonably well with his hand under a 20 round mag. It's defintely all he can manage. He really likes the gun. Local club directors say equipment rules aren't strictly enforced for young shooters. I plan on standing behind him at all times.
Spotting scope - found we really needed one of these at the local range (I grew up shooting with a 200 yd range behind our barn, really hate public ranges but...). Have a 20 year old wobbly wal mart tripod.
Gear - none.
Thus far we've been mostly on the bench at 50YDS learning sight picture and trigger control. Shooting federal XM193 (LC09). I'm a reasonably good shot myself, but feel I'm struggling as an instructor. We're in Vermont, neither one of us is a really keen cold weather shooter, so we go on 30+ degree Sundays.
Some questions for experienced instructor / parents:
What gear should we get? I have 2 younger kids coming up, possibly even my wife, would love to make this a family sport. I'm not a gear nut, but I will buy quality gear if it makes a difference. I don't want lack of equipment / poor quality/ ill fitting to be a point of frustration. Cheap is fine as long as it works well. If this dies out I want the reason to be lack of interest and not equipment.
Pointers on books or personal tips on instruction?
Thanks in advance,
Sugarmaker
Gun: Though I tried, he simply cannot hold an NM AR-15 - think grinch's dog when he tied the antlers on. "I can hold this, dad..." as the muzzle slowly droops. I ended up with a lightly used RRA elite CAR A4, we adjust the stock 2 clicks from full. He can hold this gun reasonably well with his hand under a 20 round mag. It's defintely all he can manage. He really likes the gun. Local club directors say equipment rules aren't strictly enforced for young shooters. I plan on standing behind him at all times.
Spotting scope - found we really needed one of these at the local range (I grew up shooting with a 200 yd range behind our barn, really hate public ranges but...). Have a 20 year old wobbly wal mart tripod.
Gear - none.
Thus far we've been mostly on the bench at 50YDS learning sight picture and trigger control. Shooting federal XM193 (LC09). I'm a reasonably good shot myself, but feel I'm struggling as an instructor. We're in Vermont, neither one of us is a really keen cold weather shooter, so we go on 30+ degree Sundays.
Some questions for experienced instructor / parents:
What gear should we get? I have 2 younger kids coming up, possibly even my wife, would love to make this a family sport. I'm not a gear nut, but I will buy quality gear if it makes a difference. I don't want lack of equipment / poor quality/ ill fitting to be a point of frustration. Cheap is fine as long as it works well. If this dies out I want the reason to be lack of interest and not equipment.
Pointers on books or personal tips on instruction?
Thanks in advance,
Sugarmaker