EasternShore
Member
Had a great day at the range yesterday. Started out just a buddy of mine and I going. Then he mentioned bringing his son, about 12 years old, who had shot only a .22 rifle once before. So I decided to take my 7 year old son who has practiced with his gun show rubber band special many times. Then I mentioned it on Saturday to another friend. My other friend stated he hadn't shot a rifle in 15 years and he had just gotten a Glock that he was anxious to shoot since he had never fired a handgun before! 
So I call everyone up shortly before noon yesterday and make sure we are still on for about 12:30 at the range. Yep they were, and Buddy #2 is bring his adopted 16 year old who has never shot anything other than a squirt gun. Oh and his boss who has never fired a hand gun before but just bought a 5.7 
wants to learn to use it! So all told we had:
Me and my son
Buddy #1 and his approx 12 year old son
Buddy #2 and his 16 year old son.
Buddy #2's boss
Fire arms at range:
.22 semi rifle (I think it was a Ruger)
.38 S&W detective special
.45 H&K tactical
Walther p22
Bushmaster M-4
Glock 22
FN 5.7
and as a special treat for all of the new shooters:
M-1 Garand
Anyway after a quick class on the four rules and other range saftey regs, we set about having a lot of fun, with me going from shooter to shooter to offer tips and support, a lot of "your doing great, good job on that group." My son who's arms are to short for anything but a youth model told me the noise didn't bother him (he wore his ears without complaint), told me he was ready to shoot. So I showed him how to work the walther and how the saftey worked. Handed him the loaded mag and stepped back. He inserted the mag, took a quick look down range and over the sights (all the while keeping the muzzle down range). Tried to thumb the saftey off, asked me for help with it. We flipped the saftey off and he looked down the sights at a few targets decided on one, put his finger on the trigger and slowly pulled back. Bang! First shot 25 yards! On Target! 2 o'clock 8 inches out. Looks at me for the ok to keep going. I nod and say go ahead. Again he looks down the sights takes a deep breath, seems to be checking his target, takes another deep breath and slowly puts his finger on the trigger, takes another deep breath. By this time I'm thinking shoot boy pull the trigger! But I don't say anything. Finally he slowly pulls the trigger, Bang! (ok as much as a P22 goes bang) Again a 25 yard shot about 10" low at 6 o'clock. The boy went through all 10 rounds that way all at 25 yards. The groups weren't that pretty and the closest he got to the x ring was about 4 inches. None the less this was my seven year old sons first time shooting anything other than a rubber band gun. And while he has practiced and I have taught him as much as possible with the rubber band gun I never expected him to be even close at 25 yards or to even pick a 25 yard target his first time. He listened to the rules, listened to the tips, listened to all instructions and had patience that I would have never expected. The way he waited until he was happy with his sight picture blew my mind. And he wants to go again! Man I am so proud I am bursting at the seems.
His coment when we got home:
"I never realized shooting was so relaxing."
Between his first time and the 16 year olds first time along with 3 others forst time with hand guns, we all had a great day.
BTW everyone on the range except my son shot every firearm listed above and all can't wait to go again.
Best range day ever.
So I call everyone up shortly before noon yesterday and make sure we are still on for about 12:30 at the range. Yep they were, and Buddy #2 is bring his adopted 16 year old who has never shot anything other than a squirt gun. Oh and his boss who has never fired a hand gun before but just bought a 5.7 wants to learn to use it! So all told we had:Me and my son
Buddy #1 and his approx 12 year old son
Buddy #2 and his 16 year old son.
Buddy #2's boss
Fire arms at range:
.22 semi rifle (I think it was a Ruger)
.38 S&W detective special
.45 H&K tactical
Walther p22
Bushmaster M-4
Glock 22
FN 5.7
and as a special treat for all of the new shooters:
M-1 Garand
Anyway after a quick class on the four rules and other range saftey regs, we set about having a lot of fun, with me going from shooter to shooter to offer tips and support, a lot of "your doing great, good job on that group." My son who's arms are to short for anything but a youth model told me the noise didn't bother him (he wore his ears without complaint), told me he was ready to shoot. So I showed him how to work the walther and how the saftey worked. Handed him the loaded mag and stepped back. He inserted the mag, took a quick look down range and over the sights (all the while keeping the muzzle down range). Tried to thumb the saftey off, asked me for help with it. We flipped the saftey off and he looked down the sights at a few targets decided on one, put his finger on the trigger and slowly pulled back. Bang! First shot 25 yards! On Target! 2 o'clock 8 inches out. Looks at me for the ok to keep going. I nod and say go ahead. Again he looks down the sights takes a deep breath, seems to be checking his target, takes another deep breath and slowly puts his finger on the trigger, takes another deep breath. By this time I'm thinking shoot boy pull the trigger! But I don't say anything. Finally he slowly pulls the trigger, Bang! (ok as much as a P22 goes bang) Again a 25 yard shot about 10" low at 6 o'clock. The boy went through all 10 rounds that way all at 25 yards. The groups weren't that pretty and the closest he got to the x ring was about 4 inches. None the less this was my seven year old sons first time shooting anything other than a rubber band gun. And while he has practiced and I have taught him as much as possible with the rubber band gun I never expected him to be even close at 25 yards or to even pick a 25 yard target his first time. He listened to the rules, listened to the tips, listened to all instructions and had patience that I would have never expected. The way he waited until he was happy with his sight picture blew my mind. And he wants to go again! Man I am so proud I am bursting at the seems.
His coment when we got home:
"I never realized shooting was so relaxing."
Between his first time and the 16 year olds first time along with 3 others forst time with hand guns, we all had a great day.
BTW everyone on the range except my son shot every firearm listed above and all can't wait to go again.
Best range day ever.
