Youngun's first trip to the range.

[Todd Rickard]

Today, I took my girlfriend's 10 yr old son to the range. He was able to handle the light weight of the 20ga. fowler. He shot several clay birds on the ground, then took one on the wing. He also shot .62 round ball at targets later. He had never used a 'real' gun before. He also shot my .50 flintlock rifle off the bench. All his previous experiences were shooting BB guns in the basement last winter. He also tried a modern 20ga cartridge gun on some clays, but said it kicked too much, and I finished his round after about 7 shots. Later, at home I asked which gun he had prefered, and right away he said he liked the flint fowler...lol. I was proud, and we had a great day together.
The fowler was great. We shot about 50 rounds and had only one missfire near the end of the day. Not bad, as I had ignored the flint altogether, and it was getting dull. Even then I just closed the frizzen, pulled back the hammer and pulled the trigger and it went off.
The gun is still new to me and I haven't really done any pattern work with it yet, so I still don't have a pet load. Guess I'll have to go to the range again next week.....darn! lol

 

[snagg]

Hats off to you for taking that young lad to the range and spending time with him. :hatsoff: :hatsoff: I'm sure he'll remember that for years to come. :thumbsup:

 

[d.thomson]

Nice to bring the kids to the range :thumbsup: Future black powder hunter. F.K.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Way KOOL :thumbsup: :applause: .

This Boy may look up to you for guidence as well as become a great shooting partner, if you know what I mean!

It's great to get Kids involved at a young age. My Son was only 8 years old when a friend of mine gave him a .410 SxS birdgun that had been chopped-down to make a boy's size shotgun. We used to take it to the range and set-up coffee cans at 15 yds. on the berm. He used to lean forward, pressing the stock to his little shoulder and double-tap the single trigger and make them cans dance with #4 shot! I can remember it like it was only yesterday .

You and the Boy have a lot of fun!

Dave

 

[PreglerD]

Great job, perhaps the lad is hooked now!

Would like to do the same in Germany, but here youngsters are allowed to use firearms at a age of 14. Under that age only airguns are allowed to shoot with.

 

[silverfox]

Yes but what airguns you have to use. Wish I had access to some of your airguns.
I leave in 1 hr hope for good trip.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Take the boy wiht you next week, too, so he can begin to learn what is involved in working up the loads. He will be useful for running down range to pick up a target sheet, and replace it with a new one when you pattern the loads. Thanks for introducing another young person to the sport. I suspect that he is sharing his " adventure " with all his friends at school as we write.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

One of the joys in life is teaching a toung man to shoot a flinter for the first time.