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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Posted: July/08/2008 at 21:58 |
What are your thoughts on teaching children to shoot?
My seven year old son has been observing me shooting and loves it--we work alot on safety and the like. However, the difficulty is rifle fit. We have been shooting a 22LR with open sites, but his favorite is a browning a-bolt 243 with a 3x9x40 nikon. What's neat about this rifle is that the original owner ordered it with the boss system, but upon delivery didn't take it, so I got a great deal. The problem? My son is so small that we have sacrificed form over function--he shoots with his rear arm over the stock instead of behind. The advantage--absolutely no recoil for him! Should I do something different b/c I teaching bad form, or do I keep on going?
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martin3175
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/19/2005 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 3773 |
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I did the 22LR thing, then a 22 mag , and up to a H&R 223 ...this rifle, with the youth stock was ideal, and I could have skipped the 22mag thing. Right size, accurate enough to reward the right technique,very inexpensive ,and load one round at a time with a highly visible hammer to ensure safety -- worked perfectly. I like the using the correct size firearm..worked great, but that being said, it's a tough call , and as I am not there to watch just how well your youngster is doing.
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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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The interesting thing with him is his accuracy--I intended to start him close and work back. However, we don't overshoot and we don't shoot so much that he is tired. The little guy must have great vision--we shot tonight at 100yds, the 3 shots he took were all vertically grouped within a 1/2 inch (of a vertical line connecting all three) and he put two of the three within the black of a 25 yd slow pistol target. I am impressed, (and he shot better than the recent college grad shooting his graduation present), but I want to make sure the form follows. all his form is fairly accurate (except the butt plate).
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martin3175
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/19/2005 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 3773 |
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maybe you might be able to find a micro hunter stock on an auction website or maybe an aftermarket cheapie somewhere you could have cut down to fit a shorter length of pull for your Browning
Edited by martin3175 - July/10/2008 at 08:09 |
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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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That's a good idea--unfortunately I am growing fond of shooting it as well!
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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Here is what I see. Kids love guns. I was shooting my uncles High Standard pistol before I was carrying a rifle.
More people need to let thier kids grow into guns. You let him shoot dads gun, No Problem, that's dads gun. It is a reward for him shooting something smaller well. It lets him have a goal for good behavior.
Now let him his body get larger and his ethics mature. Get him a gun in a year or two that he can keep and shoot for his life time.
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
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mercenary1947
Optics Master ** Joined: April/02/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1392 |
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It's a great idea .... just make sure he knows not to use any when dad's not there . Even firearms his friends may have he has availability to . I was weened on firearms .... good luck and I hope you 2 have a great time together ... he'll never forget who taught him .... I did'nt .
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One Shot One Kill .... *S.O.F * Head Shots Only
SWFAM |
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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You could add this to the rifle and cut it down to fit the lad. Fit will only help make his shooting more enjoyable.
Ram Line Stocks Browning A-Bolt LA. Not for Magnum calibers, Made in Black Only $89.95 |
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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I think your correct in teaching him the safety factors first, form and function will follow as he gets older. I'm sure at this point that he doesn't care whether the rifle fits him or not, I assume whats important to him, is that he spending time with dad and getting a little trigger time.
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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cyborg
Optics God Gaseous Clay Joined: August/24/2007 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 12288 |
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Teach them early and properly. Starting with MUZZLE CONTROL. If they can grasp that, you won't have any issues as long as they are supervised. Children are naturals at doing things and normally grasp lessons rapidly. One thing is certain, children brought up around guns with responsible parents are very rarely a problem. The last thing any of us wants is that a child with no experience with guns grows up and gets their hands on one.
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With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other
An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects. OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause. Cyborg |
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mbielec
Optics GrassHopper Joined: October/28/2006 Location: new york Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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We should ALL bring our kids shooting once they show intrest! How are we going to grow our sport if we dont!
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SHOOT SAFE,SHOOT OFTEN, AND BRING A FRIEND
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hdsofttailrider
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/26/2006 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Started my son at 6 with a single shot .22/20 ga youth combo Rossi. Moved to a NEF youth in 7-08 at 8 for deer. Pacakage deal at academy pulled the junkie BSA scope bases off.
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martin3175
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/19/2005 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 3773 |
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As a FYI --the advanced tech collapsible stocks for the H&R handirifles work great for a growing youngster .. I installed the pictured stock ( with a recoil ATI pad ) on a 30-30 handirifle, as as my son grew -so did it. He is up to a full size rifle now, and this one will be passed along to my 10 yr old as his first deer capable rifle. Worked just fine , and he thought it made the rifle "look cool"
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Longhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: February/02/2006 Status: Offline Points: 466 |
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My grandfather taught me how to shoot when I was barely old enough to hold a small .22 rifle. He nailed a pocket matchbox on a fence post, and told me to hit it. I did. He took me on a rabbit hunt, and several fishing trips while I was still a very young boy. These are among the never-to-be-forgotten highlights of my life.
This started a lifelong love of shooting and hunting that I have shared with my own (now grown) children. I will never forget my grandfather, or the love of the outdoors he taught me.
By all means, teach your children to shoot. Skill-at-arms should be part of any young man's education. Young ladies need to understand the realities of self-defense.
Many of the tragedies the news media love to share with us would have had a different ending if intended victim had had a gun, with the training and the will to use it.
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rifle looney
Optics Master Joined: November/21/2008 Status: Offline Points: 2553 |
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Besides my own three kids I have introduced all of my nephews,and one daughters boyfriend to shooting,and or hunting...this was just as much fun as one can have...and the memories come back as when you were being taught as a kid .what's better than that?...I will tell you that too....give them the gift of a firearm...be it new or used!
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trigger29
Optics Master Extraordinaire X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ? Joined: September/29/2007 Location: South Dakota Status: Offline Points: 4353 |
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I am also a firm believer that all schools should be required to have a gun safety course. This would educate kids on the proper uses of guns, and teach them safe handling techniques. This used to be a requirement in our school. It's gone away now.
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." |
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Monster
Optics Master Joined: December/16/2008 Location: So. Cal Status: Offline Points: 2031 |
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As a person who was not into the shooting sports and introduced to the sport by someone else, I plan on sharing the sport and hunting with my kids or anyone who is interested in the sport
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"Get Busy Livin' or get busy dyin'" -Red (Shawshank Redemption)
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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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I went with my son on youth hunting day here (this past weekend) in SC and he harvested his first deer--a doe! He made a perfect shot--the practice worked out. The same 243 we spoke of earlier. But he has grown enough that his arm reaches around the stock for proper form. To say he is hooked on hunting is an understatement!
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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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He was just as excited about being in the woods as he was with the harvest.
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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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When I get the pictures downloaded, I will upload! They pass the respect test!!
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