Took my six year old shooting today...

[davasmith]

My sons first shotgun came in today and we went to the Smoking Gun to pick it up. I use them for a local FFL. I figured while I was waiting for the approval I would shoot my 38 special with my boy. I did the paperwork, bought the ammo and target and took my son into the range area. I set up the target, pushed it to about 7 yards and gave my son the 38. He sighted, grasped the trigger and shot. His first shot was in the 7 ring to the right about dead center. Needless to say, I'm a proud daddy. I just wanted to post some of this great experience with my son today and ask, "when is the last time you took your child shooting?"
The staff at the Smoking Gun were very friendly and they loved to see my son shoot. If your in the area of colonial heights and want a great place to shoot and shoot the bull, by all means its a good time waiting to be had. Josh

[Kreutz]

"when is the last time you took your child shooting?"

My oldest is 3 and a half...gotta wait a bit more to get her firing. Truthfully

Nice story though, look forward to those bonding experiences.

[acguy45]

Thats good stuff my daughter just turned 1 I can't wait till I can take her to the range

[meak99]

Thats good stuff my daughter just turned 1 I can't wait till I can take her to the range

And mine will turn 1 this month... few more years.

[ShadowByte]

My son turned 9 months today, so I have a little ways to go as well. I can't wait though. Not to mention when he gets at a good age, I'll be "forced" to get at least another .22, you know, so he can have his own

....time to start looking around for some nice .22s that I...he, that he might want.

[Riana]

It's been a while since I got to take my 11-year-old shooting. He wants to wait until summer.

[GeneFrenkle]

My son is turning 5 soon. About two years ago, I picked up a chipmunk single shot .22 and a bunch of snap caps. We dry fire together and clean our rifles together. He's still a little too young to get a decent sight picture, but he tries really hard. When his Sisters (youngest is 13) want to look at "his" rifle, he lectures them about safety before they touch it. LOL!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Hammer]

My daughter was about 15. We were shooting her Uncle Dan's guns. I'll have to shrink some pics to post. She can't believe I have 2 in the house now (she's 19), but she'll go shooting with us.

[moss20]

I took my 12yr. old son to YHEC practice Friday and he shot .22, muzzleloader, and compound bow. Have another practice this Saturday, shooting the same and maybe some skeet if time.

[ChicagoGuy]

[quote="davasmith"]My sons first shotgun came in today and we went to the Smoking Gun to pick it up. I use them for a local FFL.

I'm curious what they charge for FTL? I've never purchased online and question the actual savings when its all said and done.

Thanks

[gunderwood]

My sons first shotgun came in today and we went to the Smoking Gun to pick it up. I use them for a local FFL.

I'm curious what they charge for FTL? I've never purchased online and question the actual savings when its all said and done.

Thanks

They charge because they have to do work for you. They have to receive the gun, inventory it, transfer it and keep the paperwork around for quite some time. As for savings, tt really depends on the gun. Some you can save a lot on, some you won't. Generally as the price goes up it is easier to save money. I.e. the percentage of the total cost shipping and fees amount too becomes less.

[Taggure]

My son and I go to the range on a regular basis at least once a week. I started him shooting at 9 and he has been in love with it since and he turns 22 this month. His girlfriend wanted him to get her a promise ring so what did he do? Well I was working the VCDL booth at the Dale City Gun show a few weeks back and he comes up to the booth and tells me he bought the promise ring. I asked him if he was stupid and then he looked at me and grinned and hands me a box. When I open it I see a Browning Hi Power MK3 9m with the digi-cam pattern. Needles to say I was very I was very proud of him. He loves that pistol and says often that that is the best Promise Ring he could buy. Needles to say the Girlfriend was not pleased and I say good riddance

[SgtBill]

She is gone and he kept the (RING) I hope. Or she is still there and the ring is still his as she won't touch it.
LOL
Bill

And who the hell ever heard of a promise ring anyway. If your son decided it was time to ask her to marry him then he would get one of them high dollar engagement rings with the nose hole puncher that is with it in the box.
LOL
Bill

[Yarddawg]

If my son (15 yrs) had his way, would live at the gun club! My daughter (19 yrs) doesn't shoot near as much, but is a better shot! Her boyfriend is leaving in a couple of weeks for Army National Guard basic and AIT training. I'm looking forward to picking up a few pointers from him when he returns.

[Taggure]

She is gone and he kept the (RING) I hope. Or she is still there and the ring is still his as she won't touch it.
LOL
Bill

And who the hell ever heard of a promise ring anyway. If your son decided it was time to ask her to marry him then he would get one of them high dollar engagement rings with the nose hole puncher that is with it in the box.
LOL
Bill

Nope she is gone and he kept his trigger finger ring and is a much happier man now.

[davasmith]

This is all very good news guys. My oldest child is 19 and used to go shooting with me all the time. She at one point was so good I was looking at putting her in the junior olympics for shooting the .22lr. When she was nine we went to her grandmother's house for dinner one Sunday afternoon and while we were waiting for lunch to be ready began talking about my daughter's shooting abilities and the very real possibility of her going to the jr. olympics. For some reason, my mother in law said "I don't think that shooting guns is very lady like!" To which my daughter took to heart and quit shooting with me that day. It broke my heart for several years. I was mad as hell at her for saying that to my daughter. So.... fast forward 10 years I finally have a shooting buddy again, and this time no-one stands a chance of changing his mind except for him, and by the looks of it my son will be another natural. I have pics of my daughter and I shooting and of her punching the letters off the bottom of the target at 25 yards (with a scoped .22lr) I can't wait to get some of my son. I wish all of you the best shooting with your children. Josh

[SgtBill]

Yep, know what you mean. My daughter and my youngest son are both Police Officer's and love to shoot. Who would have known that when I took them out at about 5 or 6 that it would have all rubed off on them.
Bill

[OleMan]

"when is the last time you took your child shooting?"

It was a long time ago, when my son was in his second year at Va. Tech. Took him (now age 40) and his girlfriend to an indoor range to shoot my .357. That was the first time I met her, first time she fired a handgun, and she is now his wife and mother of my three youngest grandchildren.

Now my son takes his oldest son shooting (age 11) and recently took his 8 yr old daughter shooting. My daughter-in-law also shoots and is planning a handgun purchase and classes.

My Dad taught all of his five children to shoot beginning about age 5 or 6 and that old .22 Winchester is a family heirloom. My son and I are trying to join the same shooting club so we can shoot together and as a family group.

Shooting sports or hunting can be many positive things for families, and it can carry down for generations.

Oleman

[davasmith]

Amen to that! I still have the original Marlin .22lr rifle I purchased for my daughter to shoot on. Now, my son has it, a shotgun and a Taurus pt-22. These are "his" weapons. Good times, good times!

[OleMan]

Yep, know what you mean. My daughter and my youngest son are both Police Officer's and love to shoot. Who would have known that when I took them out at about 5 or 6 that it would have all rubed off on them.
Bill

Please give your son and daughter my best. My grandfather was a town policeman, state "Forest Warden" (combo forest ranger and game warden) a very long time ago in NC, I have two nephews who are law enforcement (one Federal the other a Lt. in a major city). My Dad had a cousin who was a long term, very well known officer in a major city. All of them have faced significant dangers, so I have a lot of empathy for LEOs.

Oleman