Introducing boys to firearms (outdoor ranges, kid courses)

[MatthewJ]

Hi Everyone,

My father never owned a firearm and so, not surprisingly, I never learned a thing about them as a boy. I only picked it up as an adult much later on in life. That's one area where I'm going to try to improve upon with my own boys, and I want to teach them how to properly respect and use a firearm.

I'm relatively new to firearms, and thus far I have only practiced at indoor ranges. That's fine for me, and convenient, but I'd like to start to get my sons (ages 11 and 6) into shooting, and I think they would be much more comfortable at an outdoor range. It just seems to me that the reduced noise and generally more open space at an outdoor range would be a more comfortable place for a youngster to learn to shoot. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good outdoor range in Northern VA? I'm in Fairfax County and my indoor range is the NRA range.

On a related note, since they've never shot before, I'm thinking to start them off with a simple 22LR. I was considering picking up a "Cricket" model rifle for my 6 year old. That definitely seems to be the right size for him. I wonder if the boys could share that or if my 11 year old would find it too small. Anyone have any experience with first firearms for boys these ages?

Finally, if anyone knows of any VA-based training classes that are geared toward new shooters who are children, I would appreciate any recommendations or advice.

[smltooner]

I was 10 yo when I started shooting and it was with a full sized .22LR rifle.

[Ironbear]

I believe there is a 4H shooting program out in Culpeper. Don't know the details though.

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[Viper21]

A cricket might be cool for a 6yr old but, I would recommend a full size .22 for your 11yr old. It's a good start. Another option that is way more fun than shooting paper...... a single shot .410 or 20 gauge. My first firearm was a Winchester model 37A single shot 20 gauge. I was 14 when I bought it. No firearm I currently own (including the ones lost in the boating accident), have more sentimental or emotional value to me. It is literally the least valuable firearm I own yet, the only one I could never part with.

If a boy grows into a man who becomes an enthusiast, whether it's shooting, hunting, defense, etc.. he'll always remember his first firearm. He'll always cherish one from Dad as well. Point being, think of the future while providing in the present.

[jdonovan]

big fan of the Ruger American compact
http://www.ruger.com/products/americanR ... odels.html

Assuming it fits the youth with the stock spacer removed. As they grow you can put the spacer back in, and then they don't outgrow the rifle. Also modules are available for irons vs optics.

IWLA in Centerville offers a Friday night air rifle program for FREE to youth shooters. Great way to learn fundamentals. And the program has produced Olympic medal winners, so to say the coaching is good, would be an understatement.

As to outdoor ranges in NoVa, there are none that are public. A few private/club ranges, but all require memberships.

[MarcSpaz]

I don't know what they space is like at your house or the laws there... but I started my 7 YO son with a $100 pellet rifle for a couple of weeks so he could learn things like sight picture, muzzle and trigger discipline as well as general safety. Much less chance of someone getting killed if they make a mistake.

After a few weeks of that, I knew he enjoyed it and had the basics, so I bought him a nice, full-size Savage Arms Mark II .22LR.

From there, we started going to Range 82 in Midland, VA. Its a nice, quiet outdoor range, but it requires an annual membership (no hourly customers are aloud) and it may be a bit of a drive for you. The upside is, you can shout at distances from 7 yards to 200 yards. The down-side... for non-commercial annual members, there are only Saturday hours from fall to spring. Also, from Fairfax it may be a bit of a drive.

I have hard good things about 340 Defense, which may be slightly closer... but it is very expensive (IMHO) to shoot there, due to minimum annual charges of $75 per person plus the hourly rate.

So far my favorite outdoor range is Peacemaker. They are on the VA/WV line. They have everything from pistol to 1,000 yards. There are no hourly prices. It is $35 per day, per person or annual membership (which is currently full).

There are a few others, such as at the Cove campground and a few other places... but those are the ones I can think of thay may be well suited for what you want to do.

I strongly encourage everyone to start their children at a young age. An added benefit to his years of weapons training with me... he has great self-discipline, integrity, is very responsible and is extremely mature for his age. Of course... these values need to be a daily part of a proper upbringing, but strongly reinforced at the range.

BTW... today, my son is 19, daily open carries a Glock 17 for self defense, has his own M4 clone, CZ Scorpion Evo S3, a nice collection of other pistols, and still has that first Savage 22LR... We went to Peacemaker a few weeks ago and he was hitting an 18" target at 300 yards in light wind with his M4 and my SBR 300 Blackout... it has turned into a great hobby for the two of us to enjoy together.

[MatthewJ]

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

After looking over the locations, I think I'm going to give the IWLA Arlington/Fairfax Chapter (located in Centreville) a try.

www.arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org

It requires a membership, and I understand that open spots may be limited, so if that doesn't work out I'll try Range 82 in Midland.

I also appreciate the feedback on the various models of firearms for my boys, and will take a closer look at some of the Ruger bolt-action 22LR rifles for my older boy. I do own a .410 bore shotgun, but I thought I'd start them off with the 22LR and move up from there.

I'll update this thread as things progress for any other fathers out there.

[Rualert]

Please very much consider contacting your county 4-H agent which you can find on-line for your specific area. Inquire about the 4-H Youth Shooting Education program and if there is one in your area. I'm pretty sure there is. We normally start new kids, and kids as young as 9 on Air Rifles and Pistols before we move over to small bore (22 rf). The 4-H age range is 9-19 and we teach safety, basic marksmanship, and competitive precision shooting in rifle, pistol, archery, black powder, and shotgun is clay's and skeet.

Again your local 4-H Extension office can get you in contact with the shooting Education team / group near you. Also check the main website which may also have contact info for you: https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/nree/shooting.html

Local Extension Offices: https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html

Casey

[smltooner]

Ditto on the 4-H.
We have a 4-H camp located about 10 miles from us. They have the best indoor range that I have ever shot in. The NRA donated $750,000 to help build it. 12 lanes now, to be expanded to 18. Computerized target holders. I used to belong to a club that had access to the range. It is also used for LEO training and practice.
This camp is in Franklin County, but I would guess that there is one much closer to you.
I just Googled 4-H and found this, Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center,
in Front Royal, Virginia.
Good luck

[skeeterss0]

The appleseed project is supposed to be very reputable.....I've seen it before in other posts on this website.......might want to check it out.



https://appleseedinfo.org/

[Ironbear]

Appleseed is about marksmanship. I don't really think it would be good for an absolute beginner. At minimum, I would recommend a Hunter Safety course before Appleseed.

[skeeterss0]

I agree with that ironbear

[SHMIV]

I learned how to shoot with a Remington Model 6, single shot .22 boys rifle. I was about 4 years old, at the time. The eldest of my little sisters learned on the same rifle, at about the same age.

My parents have recently moved into a camper, and divided the heirlooms amongst the children. That little .22 was amongst the stuff that I acquired.

It was pointed out, above, that a man will cherish his 1st firearm, and one from Dad. That little .22 is certainly cherished by me. When it was new, a boy could walk into the store, and buy it for about $5, and the value hasn't increased by much. But, I can still remember my father instructing me on gun safety, showing me how the thing worked, and telling me that it would be my rifle, one day.

Shooting is a great bonding experience, not just with sons, but daughters, too.

I'm not familiar with any youth oriented shooting programs, but I did want to encourage you in your efforts to shoot with your children.

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