My boy's first time at the range!

jimmythegeek · July 29, 2012, 11:46 PM

He's been curious about what goes on when Daddy goes to the range to shoot guns. He's a young 9, but very mature and conscientious about anything safety related. In fact, yesterday I saw him exhibit instinctive muzzle discipline when a clerk at the gun counter walked in front of him! And he was already all over Cooper's #4 "Be sure of your target and what's behind it" before he'd ever fired a gun. Just figured out by himself that these things need a good backstop.

We talked about the other rules and he had the concepts down fine. So I set him up with a CZ-455, scoped, which was too big for him but worked out ok anyway. All shots off a rest, various expedients to get him in a good position. Next time his baby sister's booster seat is going with us. We started with a blank sheet of butcher paper. He dug it. After 4-5 rounds, moved him over to a typical target with black rings and a red center. He was kissing the 10 ring with his first two shots, and scoring some in the X by the end of the 90 minutes we had. Good groups, so NPOA probably explained the shot placement as much as anything else. It was 25', not 1000 yards, but I'm still proud of my boy.

We tried my Marlin 795 and CZ-75b kadet, too. Loading one at a time in the Marlin kind of hid its light under a basket, but I might let him go 2 in a mag next time. Even off a rest he found the Kadet heavy. I will demonstrate .45acp, maybe next time. We had the range to ourselves, so the Kadet sounded loud.

Only thing I find I have to keep on him about is trigger discipline. Thinking hard about a Savage Cub for x-mas. Or a CZ 452 Scout. The Scout would be another CZ, which I seem to be drawn to, nice quality and I could go from 1-shot adapter to 10 round mags shared with the CZ-455. The Cub is single shot only, but at least it doesn't have a separate yank to cock and good luck unloading like a lot of youth rifles.

We got home with the same # of holes in us as we started, so that's a win, too.

I am looking forward to the day when he and his sisters start outshooting me. I'll make 'em earn it, but it'll rock my world.

Thanks for reading, if anybody did! :P

10-96 · July 30, 2012, 01:49 AM

Man, that's all kinds of great! I got to shoot with my oldest boy a couple of years ago after not really seeing him much for 13 or so years- what a great time it was!

I'm like you, I'm partial to CZ's and think the Scout would be dandy. Did you haul a camera out for photo's? As fast as a father's time slips away- you'll cherish those photographs someday.

Hats off to you my friend for being such a great Dad.

Good read.

Pahoo · July 30, 2012, 11:08 AM

These days we get too hung up on hanging a price on just about everything. The time you spend with your Kids/Grandkids, is priceless. Currently working with my 10yr. old and he will take his Hunter Safety, this fall. It will be my pleasure to sign his certificate. He knows most of the common calibers as well as the four safety rules. ....

Be Safe !!!

TheNatureBoy · July 30, 2012, 12:30 PM

I enjoyed reading this post. The first rifle my daughter fired was my pellet rifle (scoped). Our set up was about 10 yards away.... A month or so later I took her to the range and set her up with a scoped .22 rifle and let her shoot at a target 25 yards out. She did so well, and I was so proud of her. We've had many father daughter moments and thats one that I will never forget. My hunting buddy has a Remington 22-250 that he wants to sell. She took a look at it, liked it, and in about 2 months I intend to purchase for her. Good post

baddarryl · November 12, 2012, 10:33 AM

Amen. I have had both my kids at the range maybe 3 or 4 times now. I think it teaches them disciple and allows them a level of responsibility and thought about responsibility on a higher level then their peers. Good to pass it on!

Scout · November 12, 2012, 12:26 PM

What a great time that must've been. Here's to many more like that.

Edward429451 · November 14, 2012, 10:07 PM

That's a great story and a great time. I like these threads. Uh, where's the pics, dad?

Dr_Rich · November 20, 2012, 10:25 AM

Aww lol this made my morning. Good job man! Its nice to hear things like this. You just don't see this kinda of bounding anymore.

I'm glad you had a good and safe trip.

aarondhgraham · November 20, 2012, 12:31 PM

Not saying it didn't happen,,,
We just want to share the smiles with you.

Aarond

.

jimmythegeek · November 21, 2012, 05:53 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJKP...ature=youtu.be

This is at the pistol + rimfire range, which has lousy benches for what we're doing. The rifle range would be a little overwhelming, I think, and the closest target is 50 yards.

He's excited to go to a former gravel pit where we can set up some plastic jugs full of water and shoot prone off a bipod. Come to think of it, I am, too!

Since this trip, I picked up a CZ-452 Scout for him. It's a better fit. I thought hard about a Cricket or a Savage Cub. In the end, I figured there's no significant safety advantage of a single shot over a bolt action, and particularly when unloading there is a real advantage over a Cricket.

zincwarrior · November 21, 2012, 08:30 AM

Awesome. Some of my best memories are watching the daughter shoot away.

jimmythegeek · November 21, 2012, 02:50 PM

Little bit of a backward lean, but I like the grip and extension. CZ75 Kadet.

She shoots a .45acp 1911 pretty well, too.

whitearrow · November 23, 2012, 09:04 PM

imho you won't ever go wrong with the cz scout. i,i mean santa, bought my eldest son now 8 yrs old a cz scout with a leupold vx1 2-7x32 two Christmas' ago when he was 6. i need to buy my youngest son which is about to be 2 yrs old in a month a 452 scout before they stop making them. cz has dc'd the 452 action in favor of the 455. i like a couple of y'all gravitate to the cz 452 rimfires myself.
good luck with the little fella and keep spending quality gun powder burnin' time with him as i don't believe that it will be in vain. a boy needs to know how to do certain things and shooting a gun is just one of them. not to disrespect to single moms but i believe that it takes a man to show a man to be a man to quote a bumper sticker that i saw recently.
whitearrow

scsov509 · November 26, 2012, 09:56 PM

Awesome video and great to see you're getting out with your boy to introduce him to the sport. My nephews come over to my side of the State once a summer for about a week or so and I get the joy of taking them out to shoot. Here's a few pics from this past summer with my oldest two girls and nephews, and you can see we're all having a blast!

**Mike Irwin** · November 26, 2012, 11:07 PM

scsov509,

Dude! Where the hell is the eye protection for the kids?

scsov509 · November 27, 2012, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Dude! Where the hell is the eye protection for the kids?

It's sitting at home in a grocery bag that got left on my kitchen table along with the sunscreen I was supposed to be using that day. But honest, it was a one time offense on my part, we're normally really good about ear and eye-pro, and here's my proof from a previous outing.

jimbob86 · November 27, 2012, 03:24 AM

Quote:

And he was already all over Cooper's #4 "Be sure of your target and what's behind it" before he'd ever fired a gun. Just figured out by himself that these things need a good backstop.

Looks like he is on his way "to Ride, to Shoot Straight, and to Speak the Truth"!

zincwarrior · November 27, 2012, 08:08 AM

Very awesome.

Edward429451 · November 27, 2012, 11:55 AM

Those are some super cool pics.

spacecoast · November 29, 2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

It's sitting at home in a grocery bag that got left on my kitchen table

Then at least give them your sunglasses...

12GaugeShuggoth · December 2, 2012, 09:01 PM

Sounds like a good time for you and yours, congrats. I had the chance to take a young cousin of mine shooting this summer and we had a great time. Kind of a troubled kid, I think he smiled and laughed more during that hour and a half than I had seen him do in a couple years.

Nathan · December 2, 2012, 10:07 PM

We have a Savage Cub with a 4x rimfire scope on it which works well. My girls are 10 and 13 now and it still is a good fit. We have had it since the 13 year old was 6 or 7. They shoot it near rapid fire now with me holding a box of bullets off to the side.

The Savage Cub is a pretty good gun. It's trigger is a bit heavy and rough, but they can learn it well enough.

A red dot or low power scope is key to fun. Also, shooting at 5 - 15 yards is a good place to start. Aluminum cans are a fun first target after you sight it in.

July 29, 2012, 11:46 PM	#1
jimmythegeek Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 202	My boy's first time at the range! He's been curious about what goes on when Daddy goes to the range to shoot guns. He's a young 9, but very mature and conscientious about anything safety related. In fact, yesterday I saw him exhibit instinctive muzzle discipline when a clerk at the gun counter walked in front of him! And he was already all over Cooper's #4 "Be sure of your target and what's behind it" before he'd ever fired a gun. Just figured out by himself that these things need a good backstop. We talked about the other rules and he had the concepts down fine. So I set him up with a CZ-455, scoped, which was too big for him but worked out ok anyway. All shots off a rest, various expedients to get him in a good position. Next time his baby sister's booster seat is going with us. We started with a blank sheet of butcher paper. He dug it. After 4-5 rounds, moved him over to a typical target with black rings and a red center. He was kissing the 10 ring with his first two shots, and scoring some in the X by the end of the 90 minutes we had. Good groups, so NPOA probably explained the shot placement as much as anything else. It was 25', not 1000 yards, but I'm still proud of my boy. We tried my Marlin 795 and CZ-75b kadet, too. Loading one at a time in the Marlin kind of hid its light under a basket, but I might let him go 2 in a mag next time. Even off a rest he found the Kadet heavy. I will demonstrate .45acp, maybe next time. We had the range to ourselves, so the Kadet sounded loud. Only thing I find I have to keep on him about is trigger discipline. Thinking hard about a Savage Cub for x-mas. Or a CZ 452 Scout. The Scout would be another CZ, which I seem to be drawn to, nice quality and I could go from 1-shot adapter to 10 round mags shared with the CZ-455. The Cub is single shot only, but at least it doesn't have a separate yank to cock and good luck unloading like a lot of youth rifles. We got home with the same # of holes in us as we started, so that's a win, too. I am looking forward to the day when he and his sisters start outshooting me. I'll make 'em earn it, but it'll rock my world. Thanks for reading, if anybody did! :P __________________ "Jeez, man, what's another word for 'stupid?'" "Tactical." -Tom Servo Marlin 795, 795ss, 39A Mountie, CZ-455 American, CZ-452 Scout, CZ-75 Kadet, AOM160 M1 Carbine, USGI M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, Dan Wesson PM7 1911

July 30, 2012, 01:49 AM	#2
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 2,863	Man, that's all kinds of great! I got to shoot with my oldest boy a couple of years ago after not really seeing him much for 13 or so years- what a great time it was! I'm like you, I'm partial to CZ's and think the Scout would be dandy. Did you haul a camera out for photo's? As fast as a father's time slips away- you'll cherish those photographs someday. Hats off to you my friend for being such a great Dad. Good read. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I'm going to use the words "clip" and "Long Colt" every chance I get. It grinds my gears to see new members attacked when we all know dang good and well what's being refered to.

July 30, 2012, 11:08 AM	#3
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 4,384	Best work, you will every do in this life !!! These days we get too hung up on hanging a price on just about everything. The time you spend with your Kids/Grandkids, is priceless. Currently working with my 10yr. old and he will take his Hunter Safety, this fall. It will be my pleasure to sign his certificate. He knows most of the common calibers as well as the four safety rules. .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

November 12, 2012, 12:26 PM	#6
Scout Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 427	What a great time that must've been. Here's to many more like that. __________________ God bless the U.S. Cavalry

November 14, 2012, 10:07 PM	#7
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	That's a great story and a great time. I like these threads. Uh, where's the pics, dad? __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

July 30, 2012, 12:30 PM	#4
TheNatureBoy Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Posts: 1,085	I enjoyed reading this post. The first rifle my daughter fired was my pellet rifle (scoped). Our set up was about 10 yards away.... A month or so later I took her to the range and set her up with a scoped .22 rifle and let her shoot at a target 25 yards out. She did so well, and I was so proud of her. We've had many father daughter moments and thats one that I will never forget. My hunting buddy has a Remington 22-250 that he wants to sell. She took a look at it, liked it, and in about 2 months I intend to purchase for her. Good post

November 12, 2012, 10:33 AM	#5
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Posts: 602	Amen. I have had both my kids at the range maybe 3 or 4 times now. I think it teaches them disciple and allows them a level of responsibility and thought about responsibility on a higher level then their peers. Good to pass it on!

November 20, 2012, 10:25 AM	#8
Dr_Rich Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2011 Location: Gods waiting room. Posts: 103	Aww lol this made my morning. Good job man! Its nice to hear things like this. You just don't see this kinda of bounding anymore. I'm glad you had a good and safe trip. __________________ Glock 26 \| Glock 36 \| Glock 17L \| Ruger LCP \| Llama .38spc \| NEF 10 gauge \| NEF 20 gauge pump \| Savage Mark II GL \|Remington 770 \| Remington 30/30 \| Remington 25/35 \|

November 20, 2012, 12:31 PM	#9
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 6,356	So, where are the pics?,,, Not saying it didn't happen,,, We just want to share the smiles with you. Aarond . __________________ Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Combat: "A Silent Cry" Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

November 21, 2012, 05:53 AM	#10
jimmythegeek Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 202	Here's the video, short and sweet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJKP...ature=youtu.be This is at the pistol + rimfire range, which has lousy benches for what we're doing. The rifle range would be a little overwhelming, I think, and the closest target is 50 yards. He's excited to go to a former gravel pit where we can set up some plastic jugs full of water and shoot prone off a bipod. Come to think of it, I am, too! Since this trip, I picked up a CZ-452 Scout for him. It's a better fit. I thought hard about a Cricket or a Savage Cub. In the end, I figured there's no significant safety advantage of a single shot over a bolt action, and particularly when unloading there is a real advantage over a Cricket. __________________ "Jeez, man, what's another word for 'stupid?'" "Tactical." -Tom Servo Marlin 795, 795ss, 39A Mountie, CZ-455 American, CZ-452 Scout, CZ-75 Kadet, AOM160 M1 Carbine, USGI M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, Dan Wesson PM7 1911

November 21, 2012, 08:30 AM	#11
zincwarrior Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2011 Location: Texas, land of Tex-Mex Posts: 871	Awesome. Some of my best memories are watching the daughter shoot away.

November 23, 2012, 09:04 PM	#13
whitearrow Member Join Date: September 22, 2008 Location: the great state of MS Posts: 78	imho you won't ever go wrong with the cz scout. i,i mean santa, bought my eldest son now 8 yrs old a cz scout with a leupold vx1 2-7x32 two Christmas' ago when he was 6. i need to buy my youngest son which is about to be 2 yrs old in a month a 452 scout before they stop making them. cz has dc'd the 452 action in favor of the 455. i like a couple of y'all gravitate to the cz 452 rimfires myself. good luck with the little fella and keep spending quality gun powder burnin' time with him as i don't believe that it will be in vain. a boy needs to know how to do certain things and shooting a gun is just one of them. not to disrespect to single moms but i believe that it takes a man to show a man to be a man to quote a bumper sticker that i saw recently. whitearrow __________________ WhiteArrow->>>-------------------->

November 26, 2012, 09:56 PM	#14
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 748	Awesome video and great to see you're getting out with your boy to introduce him to the sport. My nephews come over to my side of the State once a summer for about a week or so and I get the joy of taking them out to shoot. Here's a few pics from this past summer with my oldest two girls and nephews, and you can see we're all having a blast!

November 26, 2012, 11:07 PM	#15
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,097	scsov509, Dude! Where the hell is the eye protection for the kids? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 27, 2012, 08:08 AM	#18
zincwarrior Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2011 Location: Texas, land of Tex-Mex Posts: 871	Very awesome.

November 27, 2012, 11:55 AM	#19
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	Those are some super cool pics. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

December 2, 2012, 09:01 PM	#21
12GaugeShuggoth Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 534	Sounds like a good time for you and yours, congrats. I had the chance to take a young cousin of mine shooting this summer and we had a great time. Kind of a troubled kid, I think he smiled and laughed more during that hour and a half than I had seen him do in a couple years. __________________ ---Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.--- ---Enlightenment is the ability to take infinite pains--- MOLON LABE

December 2, 2012, 10:07 PM	#22
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 1,259	We have a Savage Cub with a 4x rimfire scope on it which works well. My girls are 10 and 13 now and it still is a good fit. We have had it since the 13 year old was 6 or 7. They shoot it near rapid fire now with me holding a box of bullets off to the side. The Savage Cub is a pretty good gun. It's trigger is a bit heavy and rough, but they can learn it well enough. A red dot or low power scope is key to fun. Also, shooting at 5 - 15 yards is a good place to start. Aluminum cans are a fun first target after you sight it in.