First trip to the range for a new rifle shooter - 8 Milsurps taken

[Cheese Noodles]

My middle son has become my regular shooting partner and he has been limited to an indoor range and 22LR, pistols or an M1 Carbine. He was done a bit of longer range shooting with is 22LR rifle. As requested on his 15th Birthday I took him to the Lytle Creek range in LA County and he selected 8 of my military surplus rifles. He did not want to shoot for score just learn the care and feeding of the long guns. He did a great from easy 6.5 Japanese to the 8mm Mauser. He also did half the cleaning at the end of a long day.
Here is a picture of the 8 rifles after cleaning before going back to the safe.
Attachment 88175

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[BruceHMX]

That is outstanding! This is how we keep the hobby alive by introducing it to young shooters. Also he was able to shoot some outstanding weapons with lots of historical value. Plus great bonding time without phones, ipads you name it.

[painter777]

He did not want to shoot for score just learn the care and feeding of the long guns.

This shows me he's really wanting to learn and showing a high level of interest.

He also did half the cleaning at the end of a long day.

This is how I learned from my Father, who passed away this past January. Even though worn out from long days. I'll always cherish the memories and never forget the lessons learned. I do believe it was the same for my Father.

Cheese Noodles,
Nicely done...... Make the memories count ! As they grow and start their busy lives it gets harder and harder to find these brief encounters.

As BruceHMX has said... "That is outstanding"

May they be life long memories for both of you with many more to come
He's lucky to have the opportunity to handle such nice Surps at his age.

VR,
Charlie-Painter777

[Ovidio]

We can’t here, unfortunately, but sometimes...
Two years ago I was at the range with my very shortly lived AK47 and, once alone in the range, the range director asked me if I wanted to let my son, at the time 12, shoot a few rounds.
He was very pleased with the discipline and perfect handling the kid showed.
It was great also for me.
But the best happened a few months ago, at my new range. I was shooting my beloved K98 and my son had come just to spend a few hours together (we have almost one hour drive to and fro).
Again alone, I asked if I could let him try and the range director said yes.
It was one of our best days. I was feeling so unbelievably “father” that I can’t explain.
Now my son is waiting to get to age and be my permanent shooting buddy.
I can really imagine how you’re feeling, that’s all I wanted to say...

[painter777]

I was feeling so unbelievably “father” that I can’t explain.
Now my son is waiting to get to age and be my permanent shooting buddy.
I can really imagine how you’re feeling

Hello Ovidio,
From reading your reply, I can feel and can share the well deserved PRIDE your enjoying. Makes a guy feel warm and fuzzy inside, Doesn't it?
And as Cheese Noodle has shared as they get older the more that feeling of PRIDE will equate to a Fathers memories of raising and having the chance to influence a fine young man or woman.
Like I stated above enjoy these moments..... they grow up so fast! At my Private Rifle club as long as the youngster is being looked after it's not unusual to have kids shooting as young as 10 as long as they are supervised by a family member. They even have their own small bore classes and leagues. I started both my son and daughter at age 10. My son is now 31, daughter 27. Son lives 1/2 hr away, daughter is now in Virginia. Son is a Computer IT Tech for our states Capital City school system that comes with lots of pressure and stress. When he needs a 'Deep breath' to unwind he'll call ahead and schedule a day to shoot. I can tell how stressed he is when he requests what he'd like to shoot. Bigger the caliber= the higher stress level. Luckily my range is just 10 minutes from me. Quite often we might just shoot from the bench plinking targets and talking. One thing for sure, the both of us always leave the day at the range feeling better!

We are blessed to have these opportunities, after all our collections or part of will become theirs one day. Our job.... teach them right, let them know about those that taught us and most importantly those who carried these in battle. They will be the ones to carry History forward.

Thank You For Your Efforts, Cheers Gentleman,
Charlie-Painter777

[Cheese Noodles]

I am very lucky to have a son that has found the same interest in historic military firearms and their history. In this age of video games and I pads, time with my sons in the outdoors and doing things that require learning some skill and self confidence has been a goal. Being safe was first on the list, second was having fun. The most valuable thing I can share with them is my time, as my Dad gave me. My Dad is still here, he and my Mom see their Grandsons all the time. My Dad has been great, even when I pocked a whole in ceiling showing him my new acquired bayonet for my Lithgow SMLE. My middle son got a laugh out of that one.

[BruceHMX]

Ceilings and ceiling fans are not safe with long guns and bayonets. A fan and a Gew 98 with heavy butcher blade bayonet do not mix. LOL And the folks that say they have never done it well I won't say they are lying. LOL. Then you teach them the fine art of sheetrock repair or electrical by replacing the blade on the fan. It all works out in the end. I agree with Charlie my Son turned 16 in August he grew up at age 7 shooting a Lithgow 22 SMLE. Time flies by and before you know it they are gone and doing great stuff.

[WarPig1976]

Beware!!! No matter how old they get or how well they're making their own way they always try to shoot YOUR ammo.

[Ovidio]

I was the same with Dad. Shooting his ammo and having him pay for my jumps, but he was happy, so...;-D
I started paying everything by myself once gone from home and independent. That forced me to make hard decisions.
I quit skydiving due to the high cost and downshifted shooting for quite a few years.
Now I'm picking up again strong on shooting and collecting arms, but it is not sensible to start again skydiving.... no time.

[painter777]

It's been a tough year for me dealing with deaths in the family and hearing from friends that are trying to deal with major health issues. That point in ones life where you don't want a knock on your door or hear the phone ring.
Before I retired I had a close friend/partner who worked as a field supervisor for me for nearly 20 years. He took the company over when I stepped down and was doing very well for himself and his employees. He was killed in a car accident just before July 4th of this year at the age of 50. Every other Tuesday morning his 24 year old son comes over to go shoot. I feel like it's our own 2 man support group. It's as though as the down range round count increases the loss gets easier to deal with. At first we'd barely talk while there, now we've turned a corner and have come to a point that we can tell stories and leave with a 'Feeling' like things are going to be OK. A 24 year old who was going to see his Dad over that Holiday and tell him he was getting married and that his Dad would soon be a first time Grandpa.
But this thread makes me grin every time I read back through it. It brings back so many memories of shooting in my youth, with my wife, kids and even the boy scouts when I helped train them.
I hope the years seem to go by slooooowly for your 15 and 16 year olds.
I really appreciate you guys sharing your thoughts and memories.
By doing so it helps 'Refresh' the memories.
As far as supplying the ammo.......... It's Worth It !!
Sometimes it takes hearing from others to realize how blessed one is.

Cheers All

Charlie-P777