I had a great day at the range with my 12 yr old daughter this weekend. It was cool and in the 50's. There was only one other couple shooting the rimfire range and they were clear on the other side of the line. I have a ruger 10/22 with a chopped stock for her arm length with a cheap Tasco holosight and a threaded barrel with a suppressor.
When we got there, she started off shooting about 5" groups (25 shots) at 25 yds. We worked on some basics; breathing, sight picture and trigger control. I coached her and had her slow down a bit and by the end of the session, she was shooting 1-1.5" groups with 25 shots!
I was happy as a clam! I needed to brag so I called the other couple over from their shooting positions to check out her targets. I have taken my daughter out before but it was usually with other guys and bigger guns. She would get bored easily and just kind of hang back while the rest of us shot.
Since I recently joined the local gun club, I found the perfect environment where we can just shoot rimfire with a nice bench instead of leaning over a boulder at the local quarry. It was just her and I, and I decided not to bring any other guns but the 10/22. She had a much more fun time and I think we will be doing this on a more regular basis. I think the next step is to get a sling and teach her some other firing positions off the bench.
To make your shared shooting enjoyable for both of you...
Something I have been meaning to do but hasn't been on my priority list, is to buy one of those "Crapco" (as much as I don't like their quality) collapsible stocks for my 10/22. This would make it much more convenient for both of us to use the same rifle without switching stocks, which is what I currently have to do. That or I have to deal with a small stock on my shoulder.
Of course the other alternative is to buy another 10/22!!
I've been taking my daughter out shooting since she was maybe 6. I have a Walther P22 that is perfect for her and my wife's small hands. My wife also likes the 22 range the best, as long as we aren't there too long. My daughter can shoot 3-4" groups at 7 yds with a Walther. I tuaught her early on about the basics of firearms safety and had her memorize them. Admittedly, she still like fishing over shooting though. Hopefully, this structured range can change that around.
Tony.
Last edited by tonyben; October 28th, 2008 at 07:40 AM.
I'm going to start mine out on a Marlin single shot rifle. I cant remember the model but its a youth gun and I stripped the stock finish and painted it pink. I'm waiting for my wife to stencil on her name and a flower before I clear coat it. I looked at some of the other models you could buy with a pink stock already installed but like the quality of the marlin better and it also has the fire sights while no other had those.
Congrats on having a good range day with your daughter!
I'm looking forward to the day when I can take my daughters shooting. My oldest is turning five next month and she's already expressed interest, but I think she's still a bit too young just yet. Maybe in a year or two.
I only hope I won't be kicking myself if she changes her mind.
Good stuff.
Going to start my 7 yr old daughter this summer with a little Marlin single shot I got her 5 yrs ago. Hopefully she'll enjoy and will get into the rest of the collection that I have going for her when she's able to handle them properly.
I'm going to start mine out on a Marlin single shot rifle. I cant remember the model but its a youth gun and I stripped the stock finish and painted it pink. I'm waiting for my wife to stencil on her name and a flower before I clear coat it. I looked at some of the other models you could buy with a pink stock already installed but like the quality of the marlin better and it also has the fire sights while no other had those.
Thanks for the advice.
Jason
15Y. Here is my daughter with hers. She wanted to paint it, picked out her colors and pattern and we painted it up She loves shooting it. And, Yes, she is wearing a camo tank top over flowered PJ's. She likes to mix "girlie" with "Tomboy".
15Y. Here is my daughter with hers. She wanted to paint it, picked out her colors and pattern and we painted it up She loves shooting it. And, Yes, she is wearing a camo tank top over flowered PJ's. She likes to mix "girlie" with "Tomboy".
Thats great. Mine prefers the camo attire also. Great idea having her pick the paint scheme, I'll do the same. I think she'll be a bit more proud of her rifle.
I started my 14yr old out at 10 with a nice old Winchester 67A single shot. When she mastered gun safety and handling and the basics of sight picture and trigger pull, I moved her up to a repeater.
Nothing beats a .22 for teaching folks to shoot. Plenty of time to shoot the big stuff later. First make it fun!
I bought my 9 year old a pink 22LR Savage and put a Leupold 22 scope on it and we have a blast. She wants to go shooting more than me. I am way cool with that. Good times Dads. Shooting makes daddies girls. Start off slow and build on it. We have been shooting buddies for 3 years now. I first bought her a Cricket rifle. The Cricket is a piece of $hit and not worth the money, we traded it in on the Savage. The Savage with scope was 3Xs as much but you get what you pay for.
Great work, sir. Build strong family values while teaching critical skills and having fun time with your child. I'd call it a win, win, win situation Best Regards-Dan
At 12:15 tomorrow my little girl's flight leaves out of Ontario airport to take her up to Oregon for college. She's claimed my 10/22 over the years but it won't fit in her bag so we'll bring it up for her around Christmas. I'm a little worried about her safety but she's had 2 years of Taekwondo and she'll be staying with my wife's parents. My father-in-law survived raising 3 daughters and one grand-daughter, and 5 tours in Vietnam so I think she'll be OK.
I just noticed the date of the original post on this thread. The OP's a father of a teenager now. Boys coming over wanting to take his daughter out, learning to drive, high school drama. Poor guy.
Yup, she just turned 15 and I keep asking God why he couldn't make her ugly. My life would be so much easier! She's going to be a sophmore in high school this year. No boys in the picture as of yet, luckily. :)
3Thanks
Best Regards-Dan
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