first range trip for kid #3
 

Child #3 has been asking when she can go to the range with Daddy...

Much like pierced ears, we wait until it has been asked repeatedly, and they are old enough to understand...

So #3 went for her first trip Saturday. Rebuilt my 10/22 target set up (removed 20" GM heavy barrel and Boyds tacticool stock, and 20x scope) into sporter configuration (factory stock, barrel, red dot sight) and took her out. Had to stop at Wally and get the PINK ear muffs... black wasn't gonna cut it with my princess. Daddy shot the first 20 to get the dot zeroed, then she put about 200 rounds down range. Starting wtih single shots, then 2, then 5, then 10. We were shooting on my local steel range, so nice big 12" targets at 25 yards that would give a nice audio feedback on a hit (they are for CF pistols, so 22lr doesn't knock 'em over).

Now I need to find a not-so-nice birch stock to cut back severely... almost mare's leg like... keep it 27" OAL but shorten the stock as much as I can so it can fit her.

http://itsjustcrap.com/firstshots.jpg

Congratulations to both of you! Well done!

Why not just buy her a little Chipmunk or similar rifle? They even come with pink stocks these days.

$170 for something she'll outgrow in a year or so... I'd rather spend $20 on a cheap birch stock and cut it down, and spend the extra on ammo :D

If the stoopid rules on SBRs and the wrist brace/shoulder stock weren't so asinine I'd buy a Charger and set it up... but I'm not paying a $200 tax stamp or flirting with felonies...

Beautiful. That is a Daddy Grin.

My sister was very competitive in shooting 22lr.

On my home range, we have introduced probably 20 girlfriends, sisters (of friends and Jacks), wife's and other young ladies to safe, responsible target shooting.

"Fun" is the range report.

Very fun. I took my daughter for the first time last month. the grin is very similar

How old? I'm thinking of taking my oldest.

Well done sir....Start them young.

Turned 6 in November,

More important than physical age is ability to pay attention, follow instruction, and not be instantly bored.

I *hated* the fact that I had to make her watch me shoot for 10 minutes to get the dot sight zeroed in. I know it was boring for her, and I got it done as quick as I could... but I would've much preferred being ready to go for her right away.

We spent a couple of minutes in the parking lot listening to the noise, then put the muffs on and listened again, then hit a range bay. Wanted to be sure she was OK with the noise.... Only one of the 3 bays available was busy, so sighting in was quick and easy and not noisy (no loud CF stuff going off, etc) and then we moved over to the steel plate range, which we had to ourselves.

Be prepared to leave 5 minutes after you arrive.... or stay all day. Leave it up to the kid, let them do all the shooting.

I bought both of my boys used Chipmunks for their sixth Christmases. I found them at the gun show for less than $100 each. They both shot them well into their early teens. We still shoot them because they are just plain fun to shoot. They make a great backpacking gun for an adult, just because they are so small and are pretty darn accurate. Nothing like squirrel stew for dinner high up in the alpine wilderness...

I'm thinking of a Savage Rascal as a training gun. I already have some things set aside for the boys when they get older. I only need one training rifle.