My Son

[Keith]

Took my 12 year old son shooting again today. Hes been asking all week. We went to ElmFork and had a ball for 3 hours. I enjoy watching him as much as I enjoy shooting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kojm_Gz0zZI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[USA1]

good job Keith

it looks (and sounds) like the fine young man is an excellent marksman as well .

[81aggie]

Nice. Good to start them out young. One of these days I'll try to post video of my son on one of our range trips, he's 11 and loves to shoot any of the guns I have.

[joe817]

Well done Keith! You are teaching him the proper way. That's how I learned to shoot...my dad teaching me. Thanks Dad.

[LostInAustin]

Took my 12 year old son shooting again today. Hes been asking all week. We went to ElmFork and had a ball for 3 hours. I enjoy watching him as much as I enjoy shooting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kojm_Gz0zZI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice Keith!

[RiverRat]

Excellent, I have no finer memories than shooting with my father on weekends. I used to bug the tolerance out of him......every weekend.

[mikeintexas]

Good Job Keith!

Just an FYI, I checked with DFW Gun Range the last time I was there on age limits. They said you had to be 18 to shoot by yourself, but if you brought your child, they had no minimum age limit. If you want to shoot inside sometime!

[Keith]

Thanks for the info and great comments. My son actually likes the outdoors better. Inside even with plugs and muffs it bothers his ears. As adults were all a little deaf. These kids though seems like it bothers them a little more. That boy can hear things way before I can and I have decent hearing according to my yearly physical for the FD. Getting back to my son he loves the old cowboy guns like the one he is using (its his Ruger) and to shoot at a place that looks like a old saloon on the outside put a huge smile on his face. Its more then we generally spend but he really wants a Henry rifle and christmas is coming hmmm. What do ya think about the 44 mag version for the boy so he can grow into it. Figure he can use 44 special if it bugs him. Mayby 357 is a better idea. He already has a 22 bolt action rifle.

[joe817]

IMO a .38 special or .357 magnum is plenty enough gun for him at his age. He's still growing like a week, and a hand cannon caliber might give him a bad flinch habit that could be hard to overcome. Compare it to giving a youngster who has just received his unrestricted driver's license, and give him a muscle car.

I'd say when he's 16 or 17, you bet a .44 mag would be great for him. But at 12, it might be a little to much. Note that this is only my opinion and how I remember how I progressed up to larger calibers as I grew older.

[Keith]

I was thinking in a rifle that 44 wouldnt be that bad especially in 44 special. I def dont want to freak him out though. Never shot a Henry rifle so not sure what to expect. For those who dont know its a lever action rifle . Looks like the old cowboy Winchesters. Thats why I was thinking it may be better in 357 and then he could shoot 38 but for a rifle is this to week? As all us fathers know we want to make the correct decision for our kids.

[joe817]

Oh Lord Kieth! I was thinking that you were wanting to give him a pistol in that caliber! Sorrryyyyyy!

IMO he DEFINITELY can handle a lever action in .44 mag. I had one when I was 13 or 14, although it wasn't a .44 mag. It was the old 44-40 caliber, a small step down from a .44 mag, in a Winchester 1892 lever action.

I guess he's leaning toward cowboy shooting, as the reproduction Henry's are quite popular. There's always the Winchester 1894 in various calibers to. Good choice!

[mr surveyor]

I'd go with the .38 spl/.357 mag. Lots more ammo available, and much more affordable, which equals lots more shooting. Ballistically you will find a big difference between the 38 and 357, but once you pattern the gun it's just a matter of remembering poa for each chambering. The .357mag from a carbine ain't nothing to sneeze at either, as they have taken their share of white tails. It would be a rifle that wouldn't be "outgrown", rather it would most likely seed a future large, lifelong collection.

just my opinion


surv

[wford]

Get those knees bent, lean forward from the hips.....Sorry couldnt help myself. Way to go Dad, wish I had got started that early.

[Keith]

Wford funny because I was actually talking to him about that. He has a little strength issue holding his right arm up for a period of time. He is working on that though and im sure his strength will come around in the near future.