Granddaughter to the range, first time...

[Steelharp]

Today was awesome. I took my 9 year old granddaughter to the range. This was her first time. They have a pink .22 Cricket there for just such an occasion. My middle daughter Leah came along to watch.

I had gone over all the safety rules with her last week, preparing for today. She knew them. I loaded up the rifle, and she just looked at it, said she wanted me to shoot it first. I did. She said it wasn't too loud. Tried again, she was still too scared. I shot about 6 rounds, then Leah shot one. Anabella finally decided she would try.

The first shot, she hit the target, and wanted to try another. By ten more rounds, she wanted a machine gun! She shot 300+ rounds, what was left of my entire brick, and still didn't want to stop! She said it was the best time ever, way more fun than skating or anything! She wants to go tomorrow, lol.

I think I may have started an Annie Oakley. She hit the X at 75 feet... yes, 75 FEET once. Better than I could ever do...

[Steelharp]

[quietguy]

Awesome, and thank you for paying it forward.

[xRUSTYx]

Awesome Mike! What range is that? If we ended up with a Girl, we'd probably end up with a pink .22 as well LOL

[Dolomite`s Breezy]

I am not ready for grandkids but when they get here..its gonna be ponies and bb guns right after birth..lol..

[Steelharp]

Sumner Gun & Supply in Gallatin. Great place.

[TrickyNicky]

Good job! I know one of the best feelings to me is to share the sport with someone and it's even better when you can get a young person started on the right track. I really wish I was a better shot, one of the things I think I would enjoy most would be an opportunity to teach marksmanship to kids or even adults for that matter.

[BigK]

I can imagine how happy you were that she enjoyed it so much.

While I'm in NO hurry to be a grandpa, myself, at least there's moments like that to look forward to.

[Steelharp]

Going this morning for trip # 2; not sure which of us is more excited, lol...

[Steelharp]

Great time! Stepped her up to 9mm for a few; she liked it a lot.

[DaveS]

AWESOME stuff!

Dave S

[Steelharp]

Today, she shot my 10/22. It fit her much better than the Cricket, and she handled it perfectly. I'm thinking Christmas time...

Then, she tried my Ruger PC9. She liked it, but hot brass bounced once and got her on the arm. That spooked her enough to stop the 9mm for today. She went back to the 10/22. She's anxious to go back again...

[peejman]

Great stuff! Get her to lean forward, into the gun rather than backwards as she's doing here.

[williamsburg]

Good deal! +1 to you sir. Everyone that shoots should bring aboard a few others to the shooting scene. I recently took both my step sons to the range to get them involved.

[Steelharp]

Great stuff! Get her to lean forward, into the gun rather than backwards as she's doing here.

Yeah, I did. That was the first time "hands on" gun, before she ever fired a shot. My daughter was quicker with the camera than I was with instruction. You should have seen her today; I asked her in the car on the way over, "Rule # 1?" "Every gun is always loaded, even if it's a toy." "# 2?" "Point it in a safe direction; the ground." "# 3?" "Don't put my finger on the trigger until I'm pointing at the target." Then, when we got there, she checks safety, proper foot placement, leaned in, proper shoulder... without me even saying anything. She learns quick, and didn't forget one thing.

[vujade]

great job! My 9 year old daughter has a pink Cricket also but has since claimed my 10/22 (she said the cricket is too slow to load). =)

Really though, I love hearing about this. I attend a gun show or the range and look around. There aren't just a lot of kids out there; most of them are at malls or Justin Beiber concerts and these are the ones going to be voting later on.

I think we all need to continue missionary work and share this with others.

[Parrothead]

Awesome post!!

[QuietDan]

I used to take my son out to the rifle range to shoot, and now he's a Marine. Not only did I get a finder's fee, they're paying for his college, and his housing and food and car payment. And, I don't have to yell at him anymore. They do it for me, and more effectively.

Actually, he turned out to be a helluva guy, which I don't tell him often enough.

Ruger 10/22 was the first rifle, great choice for the littles. Spouse (who's 4'10") shoots one to this day.

Edited September 12, 2012 by QuietDan

[peejman]

Yeah, I did. That was the first time "hands on" gun, before she ever fired a shot. My daughter was quicker with the camera than I was with instruction. You should have seen her today; I asked her in the car on the way over, "Rule # 1?" "Every gun is always loaded, even if it's a toy." "# 2?" "Point it in a safe direction; the ground." "# 3?" "Don't put my finger on the trigger until I'm pointing at the target." Then, when we got there, she checks safety, proper foot placement, leaned in, proper shoulder... without me even saying anything. She learns quick, and didn't forget one thing.

That's really cool. I was eying a Henry .22 at wally world the other day. My boys aren't quite big enough for that yet, though a Red Ryder may be on the Christmas list for the older one.