Len_in_Phoenix
Member
Ok, I realize that asking "Should I buy another gun?" on this forum is probably not going to generate many negative responses, but I'd really like to know if I've gone off the deep end this time.
A little background: My son is 10 years old and is an avid shooter. Given a choice of activities, going shooting is always #1....closely followed by going to gun shows. After a few years of shooting a single shot .22, this year he graduated to "his own" Ruger 10/22. I say "his own" in quotes because he obviously can't "own" it.....I "own" it and he is the exclusive user. He is at the point now that I no longer feel the need to hover while he is shooting. He loads his own mags, hangs his own targets, has an outstanding safety record, and is a fine shot. He surprised me by making repeated hits on a 200 yard gong with his .22 the first day he shot it. He now is able to make hits at will out to 400 yards with either of my .223's from a bench.
There are few things I can think of that are more fun than a father and son on a sunny afternoon with a pair of .22's and a brick of ammo.
He still loves his 10/22, but he's discovered something that he likes even more: my AR-15. On the way home from our last shooting trip, he hit me with this bit of logic:
"You know Dad......to keep it fair to you, we really should build another AR-15. That way you wouldn't have to wait for me to finish shooting in order for you to have a turn."
Now, I've wanted a 16" AR as a companion piece to my 20" AR for a while. If I put an "LE entry" stock on it the length of pull would be about perfect for the kid, and I could change the stock length to suit him as he grows. I can always swap the upper onto my other lower when I want to shoot it. I'm seriously considering doing this for several reasons.....a) He wants one...b) I want one....c)There may come a day (God forbid) when buying an AR-15 is no longer possible.
I've heard of parents buying cars for their kids several years before they are old enough to drive, but buying an AR-15 for a 10 year old? Have I gone over the wall? Have I snorted too much Bullseye? Should I quit drinking my rum and coke with an H335 float? Do I need to stop wearing Hoppe's #9 as aftershave?
Or is it ok because, after all, "It's for the children."
The boy is in Kentucky for the summer visiting his mother and grandparents, so I have a few weeks to chew on this.
Feedback would be welcome...........
Len in PHoenix
A little background: My son is 10 years old and is an avid shooter. Given a choice of activities, going shooting is always #1....closely followed by going to gun shows. After a few years of shooting a single shot .22, this year he graduated to "his own" Ruger 10/22. I say "his own" in quotes because he obviously can't "own" it.....I "own" it and he is the exclusive user. He is at the point now that I no longer feel the need to hover while he is shooting. He loads his own mags, hangs his own targets, has an outstanding safety record, and is a fine shot. He surprised me by making repeated hits on a 200 yard gong with his .22 the first day he shot it. He now is able to make hits at will out to 400 yards with either of my .223's from a bench.
There are few things I can think of that are more fun than a father and son on a sunny afternoon with a pair of .22's and a brick of ammo.
He still loves his 10/22, but he's discovered something that he likes even more: my AR-15. On the way home from our last shooting trip, he hit me with this bit of logic:
"You know Dad......to keep it fair to you, we really should build another AR-15. That way you wouldn't have to wait for me to finish shooting in order for you to have a turn."
Now, I've wanted a 16" AR as a companion piece to my 20" AR for a while. If I put an "LE entry" stock on it the length of pull would be about perfect for the kid, and I could change the stock length to suit him as he grows. I can always swap the upper onto my other lower when I want to shoot it. I'm seriously considering doing this for several reasons.....a) He wants one...b) I want one....c)There may come a day (God forbid) when buying an AR-15 is no longer possible.
I've heard of parents buying cars for their kids several years before they are old enough to drive, but buying an AR-15 for a 10 year old? Have I gone over the wall? Have I snorted too much Bullseye? Should I quit drinking my rum and coke with an H335 float? Do I need to stop wearing Hoppe's #9 as aftershave?
Or is it ok because, after all, "It's for the children."
The boy is in Kentucky for the summer visiting his mother and grandparents, so I have a few weeks to chew on this.
Feedback would be welcome...........
Len in PHoenix
