The next generation

[Josh]

We need to remember the main reason for why we do what we do, it is all about the kids. I took my oldest with me today to shoot her 22 cricket. She is 5.5 years old going on 15... last fall she could not hold her rifle... now she learned to shoot open sights.

We were shooting balloons at 10 yds, once we switched from her right arm to her left she was popping balloons EVERY SINGLE SHOT. So like a lot of women she is left eye dominant. (We will work on form next)



And her shooting for the very first time with lots of help. (Video)

http://s1270.photobucket.com/user/joshaaronelli/media/20130430_144329.mp4.html

 

[Rick]

That's great. Wow, to have had a box of 22's like that when I was a kid, whenever I could get a 50 round box I thought I was rich. At 9 I got my first rifle, a Remington rolling block 22, was Grandpa's, then Dad's & then mine & I still have it. I'll pass it on to one of the my Grand kids or maybe even a Great Grandson.

 

[Josh]

She wants to go every week now, i am so proud... The yellow paper is me explaining what the sight picture should be. I plan to graduate her to my CZ 452 by fall, and hopefully integrate a small centerfire too.

 

[smokeywolf]

I do love to see the children out shooting. I still have the Winchester model 57A that my parents had me shooting as a child.

Didn't start my two teenage sons shooting until they were 10 and 12 respectively. Although they had fun with the 22s, they complained that the 22s had no kick and wanted something with more recoil. 2nd trip to the range was with the 1911 and a minimal charge of 4895 under a lyman 311413 in the 03 Springfield.



These pics were at ages 13 (with the 03) and 11 (with the 1911). Both are a couple of years older and have no problem with full house loads in any 30-06 or even in 348 Winchester.

 

[fiver]

I bought each of mine older 22's and cut the stocks down in increments of about 3/4" until it was about right for them, then I replaced each section as they got older.
except the youngest ones I lost her pieces in a move.
she still has the rifle with a duct taped slip-on recoil pad in place and a couple of wood filler pieces screwed in place.
I have offered to fix the stock properly a bunch of times [but it's a no-go] and she still shoots the rifle as is [very well too]

 

[carpetman]

I have been involved in taking many youth deer hunting. It has been educational for me. Contrary to what I would have thought before I witnessed it many times, a well placed .222 or .223 thereabouts drops deer in their tracks. The first few times, I was dreading a tracking job. One did a flat out 60 yard or so death run, the rest pretty much in their tracks. This is not with cast bullets, nor is it with PREMIUM bullets. 55 grain cup and core such as Remington Core lok is as good as it gets. I use either Winchester or Remington bulk packed. Take the kid out and give them a rest and let them shoot a few rounds and get use to the rifle. The .22's having little recoil and mild blast, they are comfortable shooting it. Then put them in a stand with a good rest and have them wait until the presentation of the animal is right before they shoot. It's then pretty much a matter could they hit a basketball at that range. The answer seems to be with their young eyes they can.

 

[carpetman]

I started my grandson shooting at about age 5. By age 7 he was shooting deer. He started with my .222 and various other .22 center fires. By 9 he was using either my .243 or his dad's. By age 12 instead of me doing the cutting and maybe him holding a leg out of the way or whatever he was doing the cutting. When he was about 15 I gave him a Win mod 88 in .308. It wasn't a matter of him needing more gun, I had the .308 and thought he would like it. He does. It has a Pachmayr decellerator recoil pad, extra box magazine with a pouch on the sling to hold it and A Leupold compact 2x-7x scope. He is now 25 and that gun has been magic in his hands, hate to guess how many deer he has taken. I also gave him a Rem 600 in .222 a few years after I gave him the .308, he has taken a spike buck with the .222 for old times sake.

 

[KHornet]

It is the young kids today who are being introduced to shooting, who will be the strong proponents of the 2nd amendment. The more kids involved in shooting the better!