Fun with Grandkids and the next generation of shooter.

My wife and I were able to grab our granddaughter on Saturday. My wife wanted to spend time baking with her. So in between baking and decorating cakes and cookies, she saw me opening the Caldwell Stinger Shooting Rest my wife ordered for me from Amazon and asked,

“What are you doing, Grandpa?” when I told her that I was putting together a rifle rest, she asked, “Can I help?” How could I say no to that! So I started the screws, and she tightened them up. I was surprised that the screws were pretty tight, did almost nothing to tighten them down all the way.

Kid’s and grandkids are the next generation of shooters. Without them, our sport will die, and the anti-gunners will have more followers who would more likely be gun advocates if they were exposed and taught how to use firearms at an early age.

It irritates me that my Gun Club will not allow the Junior Rifle Training Program to start up again. From what I understand, they are would rather reserve the time slots for the range members (and day-use Money) since the range has been cut to half capacity (every other shooting position). They don’t get that if they don’t promote shooting of the young and get them out to the range that eventually the range will not exist because all of us old farts are going to be too old or dead, and there will be too few shooters to support the club and the sport.

All you have to do is open your eyes and look… You see few young folks at the range anymore.

I’m glad that my kids take my grandkids out shooting often at least they will have fond memories when the time comes when we lose our gun rights.

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Totally agree with your sentiments. I think that firearm asfety and target shooting (small calibre or air rifle) should be part of the sport's activity at school.
It is one of the few sports that is truly equal for male and female, young or old.
We should educate children from 8 ro 9 years old how to respect, handle and make safe a firearm; as well as understand what it can and can't do; you will reduce the number of accidents. You will reduce the psychose and fear that is pushed by anti gun lobby.

In France, children can join the a club from 7 yearsof age. My daughter has been shooting since 7. Now at 9 she is doing very well with our 10m air rifle and also with the Lee Enfield .22's.
Her she's shooting the 1918 SMLE. followed by our 10m targets, she beat me fare and square!
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Originally Posted by 30Three

In France, children can join the a club from 7 yearsof age. My daughter has been shooting since 7. Now at 9 she is doing very well with our 10m air rifle and also with the Lee Enfield .22's.
Her she's shooting the 1918 SMLE. followed by our 10m targets, she beat me fare and square!

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Thats AWESOME! Looks like you have been coaching her ;) I don't think there is a age limit at our club, I think the staff looks at that maturity level of each child.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...r2018gif-1.jpg

I still vividly remember the weekend my grandpa introduced me to firearms safety, handling, cleaning and firing. You fellas are making an impact on those youngsters, I guarantee it.

We teach kid's how to cross the road safely; we teach them how to be safe when riding a bike.
Seems obvious to me that if we teach them how to be safe around firearms their would probably be less bad press and less unfortunate accidents.
An example of what I mean; my daughter's friend was visiting and my daughter asked me to show her the one of the rifles.
The parent's were OK with that, so I took it from the safe, removed the bolt, and handed her the empty rifle. I noticed that her finger went straight onto the trigger!
Why? Because that's what they see in the movies. So my daughter told her that we never put our finger on the trigger until we are on the target.
So we had a little safety lesson and later on we got her shooting an air rifle without any problems. She was surpised how much she enjoyed that.
It doesn't take much to give them the basic's of safety.

I think santa may build a nice wood box with rubber mulch pellet trap in my basement this year for me and the kids (age 9, 11, and undisclosed)
My kids love handling old rifles and learning about them...my son especially...my daughter loves putting holes in paper even more. They both are getting a bit bored with dry firing at a target above the fireplace while we make dinner.
I bought a laser-hit kit during the first hard lockdown. My son got pretty good at off hand with an AR carbine and iron sites with the laser. He'll be practicing for high-power next year.
https://www.laserhit.com
I think if kids are comfortable asking, and adults don't disappoint their curiosity so much with "Taboo" talk - the probability of mischief greatly decreases. My kids know all they have to do is ask if they want to see something in the safe(s). Why on earth would they try to get to it on their own? It's way easier and satisfying to just ask! Kids are more likely to be abducted right now than suffer from a firearms accident.
Looks like Santa is slower than normal at CMP paperwork...a pair of garands likely won't make it in time (order placed 2 months ago...cmp forum looks like 2-3 months right now).

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Originally Posted by 30Three

We teach kid's how to cross the road safely; we teach them how to be safe when riding a bike.
Seems obvious to me that if we teach them how to be safe around firearms their would probably be less bad press and less unfortunate accidents.

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You would think! When I talk with parents who know nothing about firearms, most are against allowing their children around firearms. Even after explaining the benefits of teaching kids firearm safety and neutralizing the "curiosity" of the firearm. Sad how far out society has fallen.

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Originally Posted by ssgross

I think santa may build a nice wood box with rubber mulch pellet trap in my basement this year for me and the kids (age 9, 11, and undisclosed)
My kids love handling old rifles and learning about them...my son especially...my daughter loves putting holes in paper even more. They both are getting a bit bored with dry firing at a target above the fireplace while we make dinner.
I bought a laser-hit kit during the first hard lockdown. My son got pretty good at off hand with an AR carbine and iron sites with the laser. He'll be practicing for high-power next year.
https://www.laserhit.com

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Wowo that laser hit is pretty cool, I want one. Having the pellet trap is a cool one to have. I have a athoc range set-up in my backyard where we use out pellet rifles. If I had a basement, I'd be using CCI CB .22 longs on a DYI range.

My Son has been asking to learn and shoot trap so I ordered him a 20 gauge from CDNN I just got back from the FFL where I picked it up.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

pellet trap is a cool one to have

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I need to get a good pellet rifle too. ole red rider groups 8 inches or more at 10 feet. I wouldn't dare let the kids use it in the basement at 10 meters, no matter how big the trap is.
Sadly, my kids have also learned very early that what goes on in our house must stay in our house - and no firearms talk with anyone non-family. Discretion is a must in this swamp.

I agree with teaching from very early. My kids were taught to shoot when they could hold a firearm in both hands, this is before school. As well as if you want to see and touch, ask. Requests were always granted, time and circumstances permitting. Never any safety issues or trying to handle a firearm without permission.

Always refer to kids being allowed to used knives and similar with no problems but not even talk about firearms. Usually shuts the parents up but doesn't always change their attitudes.