My boy joins our ranks!

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MachIVshooter

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Well, in truth, this wasn't his first time shooting, but it is the first time I had anyone else to take pictures! He's 2-1/2, and a precocious little turkey, so I felt he was ready to get started :D OD Green Savage Rascal, of which he can already manipulate the bolt, load and fire with my only assistance being to support the rifle. Proud daddy!

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I pretty much feel they're never too young to start learning. He's been drilled on what they are, the rules, and that he's never to touch without daddy's permission since about 14 months. The rifle hangs in his bedroom with the bolt removed. I feel that taking away the mystery and teaching kids to develop respect for weapons as early as possible is the only way!
 
Agreed. They are never too young to learn. I'm always amazed at the folks that'll throw their babies into a pool to tech them how to float, but freak if they see someone teaching a youngin' to respect firearms. :banghead:

To me, they're both good things to know. ESPECIALLY if you have firearms and pools! :D

We grew up around 30 or so high-powered rifles and various handguns. They weren't caged up or behind bars, or even under glass. We knew what they were, what they did, and that all we had to do was ask dad about 'em and he'd help us understand them. After we took the necessary safety precautions, of course! I was three when I started shooting my dad's Colt 22. We BOTH wish he still had it!

Good for you in teaching the next generation about our something that has been a part of our heritage since the beginning.
 
Nice work and beautiful country! My boy isn't far behind in age but the misses thinks he should be 5 or 7 before getting to go shooting with daddy. The poor kid (and daddy, cuz when shooting is an excuse for both of us to get out of mommy's hair it's a win for all).

Hopefully I'll sway her opinion with single shots and single actions as surely they are safer.....right?
 
Way to go! Great job all around getting the young fellow of to a good beginning.

Started my kids out when they were 5 or 6 with an air rifle and took it from there. Both are decent shooters today but holy cow, can my daughter burn through the .22s! Should never have bought so many spare magazines!
 
That's awesome. Those rascals neat, light little guns. I joked one time that I was going to SBR it, cut the barrel down, put a suppressor on it, red dot and vertical foregrip.
THEN try to tell me kids won't want to shoot lol.
 
Fun!

I've got a savage Cub, a Pink savage rascal, and will be getting my youngest a Blue Savage Rascal here soon!

Great times & good lessons!

(The oldest is starting to eye some of my other rifles and has somehow scored the Henry H001 from me!..... :eek: :))
 
They weren't caged up or behind bars, or even under glass. We knew what they were, what they did, and that all we had to do was ask dad about 'em and he'd help us understand them. After we took the necessary safety precautions, of course! I was three when I started shooting my dad's Colt 22. We BOTH wish he still had it!

My sister and I grew up the same way. My dad started me on rifles and bows between age 3 & 4. I always had an interest, but simply knew better than to handle dad's weapons without his express permission. He bought me my first BB gun at age 6, but I wasn't allowed to take it out by myself until I could recite the 10 commandments of shooting safety, and had the clear understanding that any violation would cost me the privilege. It was never a problem.

the misses thinks he should be 5 or 7 before getting to go shooting with daddy

While I wouldn't encourage you to fight with her about it, I think that "age appropriate" is wholly dependent on the kid. Eli is so bright, so well behaved and such a good listener that I allow him to do things most kids even a good bit older aren't ready for. He has two older sisters from his mother's marriage before she and I were together who I helped raise from 3 months to 5-1/2 years until I was forced to kick her out late last year; they weren't ready even at 4 for the things he does now. RC cars, power wheels, video games, use of hand tools. The child speaks in full sentences, follows multi step instructions, can be reasoned with. His limitations have much more to do with physical size than cognitive ability. I'm not interested in holding him back, just take reasonable precautions to ensure safety!

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Those rascals neat, light little guns.

They are, far better than the Cricket. Cock on open instead of a separate cocking knob, an actual feed ramp rather than having to stick the round in the chamber through a minuscule port. I also like that they have really good triggers so that small kids can focus on what they need to instead of being distracted trying to squeeze a high effort trigger.
 
Outstanding!

I just ran my boy (10) through the initial range experience with classic Ruger Bearcat.

Half cock, open gate, load one, skip one, load four, close gate, full cock, lower hammer. Repeat as necessary.
 
I pretty much feel they're never too young to start learning. He's been drilled on what they are, the rules, and that he's never to touch without daddy's permission since about 14 months. The rifle hangs in his bedroom with the bolt removed. I feel that taking away the mystery and teaching kids to develop respect for weapons as early as possible is the only way!

That's the way good parenting used to be! I applaud you for being the dad you are.

I cannot put into words how gratifying it is to be able to shoot with my son... but we didn't begin shooting together until he was in his teens. Although I had plinked often throughout the years with friends, my own arsenal didn't materialize until I was a little older.

:)
 
Good for you! My nephew is the same age as your little guy. I wish like heck my hippy brother would let me teach the kid to shoot but I don't see that ever happening, no matter what age he is.
 
Absolutely fantastic.

All of those "Firsts", one of the things I only get to live through from the "uncle" standpoint.

How'd he do ? I wanna see hits on target !:evil:
 
How'd he do ? I wanna see hits on target

We're still working on sight alignment. lol. At least he understands looking down the barrel, and that bullets come out the end! For now, he finds it very satisfying to make little dirt puffs. He's quite advanced for his age, but still a toddler :p

It is amusing, though, that since his first time, everything that remotely resembles a firearm in shape becomes that to him. Sticks, pieces of metal stock in my shop-basically anything with a semi-perpendicular protrusion will do!
 
We're still working on sight alignment...

I recall getting a lot of "hipshooting" practice as the kids were learning.
 
2 and 1/2? Geez....now I have to catch up. My son turns 3 in September and I was gonna wait until 5 to start him on airguns.

You are a good dad.
 
I know a guy who started his son on a recurve bow when he 18 months. By the time he 5 he could hit the kill zone on most 3 d targets to about 50 yards. It can be amazing what kids can learn at such a young age. No different than other kids being able to do all kinds of stuff on the computer by the time theyhit kindergarten.
 
You are obviously doing a great job with that boy and you SHOULD be proud. Keep up the good work.
 
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