Good news. I passed.
Good news. I passed.
In reply to Bobzilla:
Thank you for posting this lesson. You can say - don't point the gun at anything you don't intend to destroy...you have to be responsible for where your bullet goes....etc.
But I don't think you can get a more clear message through a kids head than telling them to "go put it back together."
My oldest son is 4. I'll be using that method when it is time to teach him to shoot.
As for when it's time to go shooting, a colleague recently asked me when I'm taking my oldest shooting. My response was when he's ready - meaning he'll understand the message, be responsible and be interested. Age is irrelevant. If he's an irresponsible moron at 16 (and if so, I've failed), he won't be shooting guns. At 4 he's not quite ready yet to shoot. He's held the gun and we've talked about it's parts and the rules.
I don't begrudge those that use them, but I've not been a fan of BB guns as starter guns. To me I can see a kid not treating them like a "real" gun. A .22 to start, and a .410 or light .20 seems better to me.
Bobzilla wrote: This is a lesson I learned when I was 4 or 5. We went out back and set up a watermelon. I sat beside my dad as he shot it with a .357 Ruger Blackhawk. That thing exploded into a bajillion pieces. Dad took out his earplugs, set the gun down and said to me "go put it back together". Straight face, perfectly serious. ME, being 4or 5 looked at him like he had 5 heads. I finally said " I can't, it exploded." That's when he hit me with lesson #1. you can't put that bullet back in the barrel once you pull the trigger. NEVER point a gun unless you intend to destroy whatever you are aiming it at. I'm 36 now. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
Dad did something similar with us (my 2 younger sister and myself). Filled a coffee can with water and sealed the lid on then explained to us that the metal can filled with water is to simulate a body (yeah, metal tougher than skin and water thinner than internal organs but the concept is there) and then shot it with the M1 Carbine. Blew the top off and sprayed water about 15' up and looking at the can, it had a small, neat entrance hole and the back of the can was gone. Never forgot that and I'm 54.
Bobzilla wrote: This is a lesson I learned when I was 4 or 5. We went out back and set up a watermelon. I sat beside my dad as he shot it with a .357 Ruger Blackhawk. That thing exploded into a bajillion pieces. Dad took out his earplugs, set the gun down and said to me "go put it back together". Straight face, perfectly serious. ME, being 4or 5 looked at him like he had 5 heads. I finally said " I can't, it exploded." That's when he hit me with lesson #1. you can't put that bullet back in the barrel once you pull the trigger. NEVER point a gun unless you intend to destroy whatever you are aiming it at.
Very similar to my first experience except that I was ~3 years older. And it was done with a bright orange pumpkin and a 12ga shotgun.
N Sperlo wrote: Good news. I passed.
Kidney stones?
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:N Sperlo wrote: Good news. I passed.Kidney stones?
qualifying with his .38
wlkelley3 wrote: Dad did something similar with us (my 2 younger sister and myself). Filled a coffee can with water and sealed the lid on then explained to us that the metal can filled with water is to simulate a body (yeah, metal tougher than skin and water thinner than internal organs but the concept is there) and then shot it with the M1 Carbine. Blew the top off and sprayed water about 15' up and looking at the can, it had a small, neat entrance hole and the back of the can was gone. Never forgot that and I'm 54.
What about abducting a hooker instead? Much less imagination required... they say they are already dead on the inside and redundancy is not a crime AFAIK.
foxtrapper wrote: I don't care for shooting and many public ranges myself. Populated with squirrels and egos. .
I have a trick for those fools, the first gun out is always the Mosin, loaded with the extra hot, late 1940s Russian surplus ammo. The shockwave, particularly with the barely post WW2 ammo, is so strong, standing anywhere but directly behind the gun you can feel it in your sinuses. If there was anybody within 2-3 tables of me, they leave quickly as their groups get bigger and bigger. Then I get out any more civilized guns I brought along.
I have a similar setup for pistol ranges, a .45 cal muzzleloader pistol, though I have never used it at a public range.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:N Sperlo wrote: Good news. I passed.Kidney stones?
(curls into fetal position) Dayumn those friggin things HURT.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:wlkelley3 wrote: Dad did something similar with us (my 2 younger sister and myself). Filled a coffee can with water and sealed the lid on then explained to us that the metal can filled with water is to simulate a body (yeah, metal tougher than skin and water thinner than internal organs but the concept is there) and then shot it with the M1 Carbine. Blew the top off and sprayed water about 15' up and looking at the can, it had a small, neat entrance hole and the back of the can was gone. Never forgot that and I'm 54.What about abducting a hooker instead? Much less imagination required... they say they are already dead on the inside and redundancy is not a crime AFAIK.
Mutilating or desecrating a corpse is legal? Who knew?
New 40 acre range coming within 5 miles from house . Outpost range lecanto hwy . Hoping for a soft opening invite. Skeet //
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:wlkelley3 wrote: Dad did something similar with us (my 2 younger sister and myself). Filled a coffee can with water and sealed the lid on then explained to us that the metal can filled with water is to simulate a body (yeah, metal tougher than skin and water thinner than internal organs but the concept is there) and then shot it with the M1 Carbine. Blew the top off and sprayed water about 15' up and looking at the can, it had a small, neat entrance hole and the back of the can was gone. Never forgot that and I'm 54.What about abducting a hooker instead? Much less imagination required... they say they are already dead on the inside and redundancy is not a crime AFAIK.
Not a lot of hookers in the Ozark Mountains where we used to shoot. Also might be contributing to the delinquincy of a minor since I was about 9 at the time and sisters were younger.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: I have a trick for those fools, the first gun out is always the Mosin, loaded with the extra hot, late 1940s Russian surplus ammo. The shockwave, particularly with the barely post WW2 ammo, is so strong, standing anywhere but directly behind the gun you can feel it in your sinuses. If there was anybody within 2-3 tables of me, they leave quickly as their groups get bigger and bigger. Then I get out any more civilized guns I brought along.
BOOM!
The three foot flame helps too.
JoeyM wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:qualifying with his .38N Sperlo wrote: Good news. I passed.Kidney stones?
All kill shots rapid fire at 25 yards. I think I'm OK. 
Now you have me looking at a new .22 again. I want a NON-semi repeater. The 77/22 looks sweet, but Holy Hell $$$
Mossy 802 plinkster any good?
Have that Nagant, have that ammo. You don't understand the squirrels and egos we have here at the public ranges. You'd just be chumming the waters.
As for making kids tear down and reassemble a gun, that does nothing for teaching them how to use it safely, how to fire it, and what happens when a bullet hits things. I'm not saying not to teach a kid how to care for a firearm, but teach them basic handling safety and such first. And that frequently can't be done at a normal range where you poke holes in sheets of paper. It usually involves a field and a pumpkin or soda bottle.
Bobzilla wrote:foxtrapper wrote: My druthers are to start in the back field of a friend or families place. Teach and practice the basics of handling ans safety in a low stress environment. I don't care for shooting and many public ranges myself. Populated with squirrels and egos. Doesn't make for a good learning environment or for pleasant experiences. Private ranges can be better, depends entirely on the people that own and run it. But it's also going to have many more people, creating distractions.I have to agree with that. I don't have kids, so my advice is pointless, but IMO you waited way too long. This is a lesson I learned when I was 4 or 5. We went out back and set up a watermelon. I sat beside my dad as he shot it with a .357 Ruger Blackhawk. That thing exploded into a bajillion pieces. Dad took out his earplugs, set the gun down and said to me "go put it back together". Straight face, perfectly serious. ME, being 4or 5 looked at him like he had 5 heads. I finally said " I can't, it exploded." That's when he hit me with lesson #1. you can't put that bullet back in the barrel once you pull the trigger. NEVER point a gun unless you intend to destroy whatever you are aiming it at. I'm 36 now. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
This is exactly what I did with my kids except I let them shoot it. The combination of noise, kick and red stuff splattering all over the place makes for a memorable lesson.
foxtrapper wrote: Have that Nagant, have that ammo. You don't understand the squirrels and egos we have here at the public ranges. You'd just be chumming the waters. As for making kids tear down and reassemble a gun, that does nothing for teaching them how to use it safely, how to fire it, and what happens when a bullet hits things. I'm not saying not to teach a kid how to care for a firearm, but teach them basic handling safety and such first. And that frequently can't be done at a normal range where you poke holes in sheets of paper. It usually involves a field and a pumpkin or soda bottle.
Definitely not at the range, but the mechanics IMO are important. The breakdown should be done in private with no ammunition in the room. When I clean, I have one loaded and holstered and it stays there.
The more explosive targets, the more fun.
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