Early Father's Day Gift 2014

L

lmar

Regular
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
With school being let out 2 weeks early in BC due to teacher's strike -- my daughter thought we should take advantage of the nice weather for our annual Dad/Daughter shooting session.
Never one to argue with putting rounds downrange - off we went.

Prior to posting these pictures I reviewed the ones posted last year at this time.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/933006-My-father-s-Day-Gift

What a difference a year makes.

Equipment Straps:
Got them under control this year by purchasing strap retainers. The excess strap material is no longer blowing in the wind but is nicely tied down with these pieces of wonder plastic.

Rifle:
Her upper body strength has increased substantially - she no longer has to tuck the butt under her arm and point the barrel 45 degrees to the horizon when reloading.
Muzzle control is rock solid during a reload and doesn't waver like it did last year from the fatiguing weight of the gun.
Secondly, she use to have to shoot with a pronounced forward lean and shoulders square to the target in order not to be rocked back onto her heels when rapid firing.
She can blade away when going for accuracy and maintain a pretty good cadence without constantly having to lean forward.

Revolver:

15 yards - double action - she can now put all 6 rounds in a 10" circle - all day long. Last year the weight of the revolver was such that one noticed accuracy dropping off as the string progressed.


























Cheers,

L
 
Last edited:
Looks like you both had a great day. I can't wait until my girls can go with me.

How did you know when she was ready to go?
 
Better education than she would have got in school. She looks full on tactical!! Great too see its not just the boy's that like too shoot,I have raised 2 sons.
 
WRH said:
Looks like you both had a great day. I can't wait until my girls can go with me.

How did you know when she was ready to go?
Click to expand...


It would depend. Each kid was different (she has a brother who is 2 years older).
I mention the brother because there is nothing like having an older sibling to lead the way.
Be it weaning herself off her soother, abandoning the bottle for a sippy cup, sleeping thru the night, riding a bike, or learning to tie her shoes.

The earliest indication was around six. She wanted to try my 12 gauge shotgun. Being mindful of the recoil and noise I "humored" her for 2-3 range trips until she figured out I was stalling.
Just like her mom she let it be known that she was on to me and that the answer of "no" was not an option.

Against my better judgment I loaded up #8 low brass birdshot - doubled up the ear protection (plugs + muffs) showed her how to tuck/clamp it under her arm - lean way forward - (with me behind her to make sure she didn't tip A$$ over tea kettle) - how to release the safety - and let her to it.

Recoil knocked her safety glasses off and of course she flew back into my arms. When I asked her how was it - she said not very good. When asked why not - she said because I wasn't pushing those red things out of the gun. After some confusion her brother and I determined she want all 5 rounds in the shotgun so she could pump it between rounds. After switching to tighter glasses - she then proceeded to ask me to teach her how to load the "red things" into the gun. 5 rounds later she was satisfied that she had mastered the thing and informed me she was good.

We proceeded to Crossman air pistols for a couple of years shooting from a rest in our basement. She graduated to my 10M Daisy competition pistol for a year or two. She then didn't shoot again until she was 11.
I had gotten back into shooting for fun and brought her out to shoot my Ruger Mark II .22 pistol. After a couple of range sessions she told me she wanted to be able to shoot the gun I was using. It was a Colt 1911 .45ACP. Informed her that although she got full points for being gung-ho - 180 grains making the high end of the power factor was not the gun to start with.

Figuring she could use my equipment I elected to buy a GSG 1911 in .22. and a separate belt for her. She used the holster for carrying the gun but never drew from the holster with live rounds until I was confident she could follow instructions (and proved to me she could after a couple of hundred dry runs). After a couple of range sessions she informed me that this was pretty boring. When asked why - she told me she liked the shooting and moving (taught her basic IPSC) but their was no recoil. She also didn't like the fact that she had to use her left hand to release the magazines and her thumb wasn't long enough to rest the thumb on the safety like her brother could.

Fast forward a couple of months and we just happened to be in a local gun store picking up targets. On a whim I asked to look at the 9mm Glocks on display. Passed it to her and said how does it feel. Was told too big for her hand to properly reach the magazine release and grip the gun properly. Clerk just happened to remember they had a 9mm S&W M&P Range kit in the back and brought it out. Swapped the grips for the smallest size and she was able to drop the magazine without shifting her grip. She was also able to rack the slide and manually lock it back with some practice.
The rest is history - her M&P sits on her hip in the pictures.

Two summers ago she took the IPSC Black Badge Course with an instructor friend of mine. You can see the results of this effort.

Note - she had played full contact spring football for 7 years (starting when she was 7) where there were only 2-3 girls playing with 400+ boys. She is used to tackling (and being tackled) by kids that outweigh her by 100 lbs. She ended up playing in an entire game with a separated shoulder (she didn't tell the coaches or us until after the game was over) once and in another with a nail that was torn off (again she didn't tell anyone but coaches noticed the blood dripping from her hand). She has a high pain threshold which might explain why recoil doesn't seem to bother her much.

Both kids have been informed that on the day they are old enough to receive their RPal that they can choose a pistol/rifle/shotgun from my safe - that is theirs.
She has claim to the Norinco M4 and her M&P. Her brother to the tricked out Remington 870 and one of my 1911's.

Her brother at 11 with a 12 gauge (00 Buck)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg6oZTewI60 (Starts at 2:13)

Brother at 14.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6LR4G_C_P0&feature=em-upload_owner

Like everything else - you have to invest a lot of time up front. Spending quality time with the kids is a lot of fun.

L
 
Last edited:
That's awesome! My Daughter is 6 and I've really enjoyed taking her to the archery range. She is getting pretty good at hitting balloons at 25 yards. Both her and my wife enjoy it in the evenings after dinner. They aren't into the firearms though but maybe in time...
 
Imar,
You are a very lucky man to have kids like yours! You and your wife have done well. Your support and encouragement have sown a good crop!
I wish my kids, both boys and old enough, are into guns like yours! Everytime I drag them to the range feels like I'm making them eat a bowl of raw liver! They hate shooting and have zero interest in guns! Yet one of them regularly plays Call of Duty!!
Truly envious of you, Imar! Keep it up. We need our next generation to speak up for their rights too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom