Vector
Member
It seems like SO much fun to us regular-range adventuring adults to want to make big booms. This is very much not the case for lots of kids. Many kids shy away just from the boom. Nothing to do with watching your shoulder to see that the gun doesn't even kick. They hear the BOOM, and they are done! Sometimes for years, sometimes even forever.
While at some level....I must agree....suck it up kid.
Well, society these days does NOT make a kid SUCK IT UP. Hardly ever. So, here we are. Do we want a hunting partner to share the traditions with or not?
My approaches from here on out have to do with getting the kiddo to enjoy their time, and to EASE them into hunting. Not blow their shoulder out of socket, give them a black eye, and tell them they are going to take a bite out of their first deer's heart.
Two guns I have kids shooting at the range with me: Pellet/BB guns and 22's. No need to get any craizer than that. Even a 223.....the dang thing does not kick a BIT, but the BOOM gets em every time.
So.....this 22.... Open sights? Not if we are going to have them using a 243 with a 3x9x40 or a 223 with a red dot. The 22 should have a scope very similar to what they will be using to hunt with. Granted, we can get away with a lower quality scope on the range. Especially with a red dot.
Shoot-n-see targets, or off brands of the such are nice to have on hand too. Then they youth shooter is able to get instant feedback.
The whole point of the range time is repeated gun handling, hunt simulation, and shooter confidence.
Expect girls to be much better shots than boys. They listen more precisely, and have a huge will to want to succeed. Many boys feel they already know how to do it, even if they never have. I have also found boys from non-hunting families to be very good shots because they are eager to learn a new skill you are introducing them to.
I have the shooter get completely out of the gun for every single shot. The gun is set to safe after every single shot.
Proper two handed grip. Confirm we have a shot. Remove the safety. Find the target. Now put the trigger finger in the trigger guard. Find the trigger with the finger without setting it off. Slowly squeeze the trigger while the crosshairs/dot dance on the target in a slow (I prefer counter-clockwise movement) circle. Don't forget to talk about breathing.....exhale half a breath and hold for the shot. Once the shot goes off, continue to watch the target through the scope for longer than you think you need to. Stay with the target. Now put the gun back on safe. Now relax.
Set the gun down in a position you set up for a hunting type situation. And talk about the shot with the shooter. Talk about how the trigger broke over. Show them what part of their trigger finger should be touching the trigger. Talk about what they saw in the scope before and after the shot.
Have some shots fall on an empty chamber. Again talk about what went right and what went wrong. If the shooter has shot guns before with others, you will especially see muzzle jump here of recoil anticipation.....even though this gun is not recoiling! Its a learned response that will be HARD to break.
There is no anticipation of recoil because they don't know what recoil is. Build their confidence to know they will be so focussed on the deer when they shoot that they won't feel anything then either.
Check their shoulder placement of the gun often. Make sure it is exactly right. If their body is too short to get proper eye relief, consider using a red dot scope since they have no eye relief. This will keep their face away from the scope too.
Talk them through the shot. Make them wait sometimes. Tell them the deer turned and they will have to stop and hold on until it turns broadside again. Make the practice as real as possible. Assure them you are not messing with them, but preparing them for what really happens on a hunt.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Everything about getting ready for the shot can be pretty quick
If they get good, but no matter what, the trigger needs to be squeeeezed, not yanked. That initial trigger squeeze training in a new shooter's life is SO important. Teach them right and they will never have to fend off the bad habits many of us have fought for years (many brought on by recoil anticipation from shooting too large of guns at too early of an age.)
I do not bring the deer rifles to the range. All it will do is put doubt in their mind. Even if you are the one doing the shooting. They will ask questions about the rifles, and you will say something that will send a shiver of fear down them. And often they will not admit it.
More on gear prep and such to come. Just wanted to set this stage to begin with. The next installment will probably be about setting up this range gun and your hunting gun to better fit your shooter.
Please feel free to message me with any youth hunter prep questions at any time. Deer and turkey hunting especially.
While at some level....I must agree....suck it up kid.
Well, society these days does NOT make a kid SUCK IT UP. Hardly ever. So, here we are. Do we want a hunting partner to share the traditions with or not?
My approaches from here on out have to do with getting the kiddo to enjoy their time, and to EASE them into hunting. Not blow their shoulder out of socket, give them a black eye, and tell them they are going to take a bite out of their first deer's heart.
Two guns I have kids shooting at the range with me: Pellet/BB guns and 22's. No need to get any craizer than that. Even a 223.....the dang thing does not kick a BIT, but the BOOM gets em every time.
So.....this 22.... Open sights? Not if we are going to have them using a 243 with a 3x9x40 or a 223 with a red dot. The 22 should have a scope very similar to what they will be using to hunt with. Granted, we can get away with a lower quality scope on the range. Especially with a red dot.
Shoot-n-see targets, or off brands of the such are nice to have on hand too. Then they youth shooter is able to get instant feedback.
The whole point of the range time is repeated gun handling, hunt simulation, and shooter confidence.
Expect girls to be much better shots than boys. They listen more precisely, and have a huge will to want to succeed. Many boys feel they already know how to do it, even if they never have. I have also found boys from non-hunting families to be very good shots because they are eager to learn a new skill you are introducing them to.
I have the shooter get completely out of the gun for every single shot. The gun is set to safe after every single shot.
Proper two handed grip. Confirm we have a shot. Remove the safety. Find the target. Now put the trigger finger in the trigger guard. Find the trigger with the finger without setting it off. Slowly squeeze the trigger while the crosshairs/dot dance on the target in a slow (I prefer counter-clockwise movement) circle. Don't forget to talk about breathing.....exhale half a breath and hold for the shot. Once the shot goes off, continue to watch the target through the scope for longer than you think you need to. Stay with the target. Now put the gun back on safe. Now relax.
Set the gun down in a position you set up for a hunting type situation. And talk about the shot with the shooter. Talk about how the trigger broke over. Show them what part of their trigger finger should be touching the trigger. Talk about what they saw in the scope before and after the shot.
Have some shots fall on an empty chamber. Again talk about what went right and what went wrong. If the shooter has shot guns before with others, you will especially see muzzle jump here of recoil anticipation.....even though this gun is not recoiling! Its a learned response that will be HARD to break.
There is no anticipation of recoil because they don't know what recoil is. Build their confidence to know they will be so focussed on the deer when they shoot that they won't feel anything then either.
Check their shoulder placement of the gun often. Make sure it is exactly right. If their body is too short to get proper eye relief, consider using a red dot scope since they have no eye relief. This will keep their face away from the scope too.
Talk them through the shot. Make them wait sometimes. Tell them the deer turned and they will have to stop and hold on until it turns broadside again. Make the practice as real as possible. Assure them you are not messing with them, but preparing them for what really happens on a hunt.
Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Everything about getting ready for the shot can be pretty quick
If they get good, but no matter what, the trigger needs to be squeeeezed, not yanked. That initial trigger squeeze training in a new shooter's life is SO important. Teach them right and they will never have to fend off the bad habits many of us have fought for years (many brought on by recoil anticipation from shooting too large of guns at too early of an age.)
I do not bring the deer rifles to the range. All it will do is put doubt in their mind. Even if you are the one doing the shooting. They will ask questions about the rifles, and you will say something that will send a shiver of fear down them. And often they will not admit it.
More on gear prep and such to come. Just wanted to set this stage to begin with. The next installment will probably be about setting up this range gun and your hunting gun to better fit your shooter.
Please feel free to message me with any youth hunter prep questions at any time. Deer and turkey hunting especially.
