My Sons First Shoot

[PCGS65]

I had the last two weeks off and took my son out shooting clays for his first time with his youth 12ga. my brother gave him for his 13th birthday. He loves it!!!
I've had him out 5 times so far the last 2 weeks and his first shot was perfect. The first time out he was shooting about 40% but it was just a safety lesson first, accuracy later. It was so windy that day the clays were actually flying like a frisbee. I missed a few too. Then with some good coaching from dad/me he's up to 70-75% already. He will be ready for goose hunting soon.
Here's a pic of his first shoot. I'm so proud of him.
Oh to his left is my side by side early 1900s double barrel.

 

[sm]

Thank you for sharing! I wish you and your son many years of Felled Targets and No misses in the guns.


This is Responsible Firearm Ownership!

To keep it - give it away.

 

[Rob1035]

great job, looks like he's off to a great start.


Here's a picture, not of my child, but my better half the first time we went shooting together. Durn girl outshot every single one of the boys there in a little informal trap shooting; and by outshot, I mean she didn't miss... Afterwards, I offered to set up a 20g for her to shoot exclusively, "No that's ok, the 12g is fine..."

Here's to new shooting partners!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, you just made my night....

 

[sm]

Rob1035

The female of the species is the deadlier of the two- Kipling

"No that's ok, the 12g is fine..."

Oh how I really really like these "cow pasture" range set ups.


Thanks for sharing as well...

We got anyone else?


Dave - where is my Shotgun Smilie? You were supposed to be working on that ...

I need it here for example...

:shotgun smilie:

Steve

 

[azflyman]

PCGS - How old is your boy? Mine has had his own .22 since he was 8 and is now 11 but he has not fired the big boomstick yet. I was thinking a little later this summer for a 20ga youth gun or my Remmington 100 28ga but it won't really fit him. How did your son do with the 12ga recoil in a light single shot? The las thing I want is to put my son off because of recoil.

TIA,

az

 

[PCGS65]

azflyman, my son is 13 and about 100lbs. The recoil is quite an expierience for him. It knocked him back a step the first 20 or so times untill he learned how to handle it. But I warned him of that first. To be honest with a federal 2-3/4" 1-1/8oz 7-1/2 shot load is a little too much. So I brought along a kitchen towel and folded it so it was 4x as thick. That worked out much better.
I was going to get the 20ga youth gun for him. Earlier this spring my brother was remodeling a basement for a retired hunter. This gentelman found this youth gun he forgot about when moving. It had been sitting in the case so long the side of the barrel had surface rust/pitting on it. I met him and almost bought his remington 30-06 from him. We talked for a while and I mentioned I wanted to get my son involved in hunting before he found the youth gun. He decided to give it to my brother for doing such a nice job on his basement so my son could have it. My brother took it home cleaned it and re-blued it.
So I decided to let my son try it before buying a 20ga. Things are working out just fine. The 12ga is a little much for him like I said but he will not admit it. His shoulder gets sore but not bruised. So I'll let him keep using it. I let him hold my other two 12ga's and they're just too heavy.
When getting ready to shoot clays for the 5th time I was showing him my 3-1'2"BB goose loads and found a 3"#4 1-3/8oz. heavyshot duck load. He said he wanted to shoot it so I warned him but let him shoot it after folding the towel so it was 8x as thick. That one hurt his houlder and almost knocked him on his can. It was fun for me though.
For an 11 year old I think the 20ga would be perfect. Also he can still use it for hunting as you know. I also like the fact that it's a single shot. If anthing happens after firing it(he drops it,thinks he only fired one ect.)nothing will happen.
Take care my friend. Oh let us know what you go with and how your son does?

 

[PCGS65]

I've had my son out trap shooting about 7-8x now and he's doing quite well. His accuracy is 75-80% and his confidence is 100% better also. At one point I told him you just shot 7 in a row then he said well lets make it 10 dad. He didn't make it 10 he made it 11 in a row!!
I also have video of his last shoot on friday. I don't know who's having more fun me or him?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Great!! Keep it up, I can imagine no better way to share this sport....

 

[scout26]

I recognize Silver Springs State Park. We'll have to get out kids together at ASC sometime to shoot trap and skeet. Give me a call and we can work out the details.

There is a FREE junior shotgun class at ASC from 12-5pm on August 5th and 12th. If you and he are interested.