AMAZING 1st time shooting with 3 year old son!!!!

[jmildoc]

So I am out shooting the 22 in my backyard. Wife sitting on the deck swing with my 17 month old son whom I swear is scared of nothing. Then my 3 year old walks outside with his hands over his ears and is about to cry like he always does when I am shooting.

So I go in the shop and get some ear muffs and put them on him and he sits on the porch. Next time I reload I ask him if he wants to try. And first time ever he says YES!!! So he comes down,,,, I go over some of the basics with him and help him hold the gun.. (its a bolt action winchester sportsmaster or something like that) I show him where to look at the sights and point him toward the target and he pulls the trigger


and DING!!!!!!!!!!! he hit the target on his first time ever!!!!! He was like mommy I hit it I killed the animal!!!!! It was awesome!!!!

So we sat out there and shot at least 80 more rounds. He did only hit the target one more time today but he was loving every second. I taught him how to chamber a round and he was doing it all by himself.

Guess its time to go and get my boy a red ryder.

Oh I failed to mention that when we were shooting we were 30 yards out!! I have it measured off.

 

[sparky241]

thats priceless. have you thought about a cricket?

 

[shootinghoosier]

Pretty cool, but it's now time to get a gun safe if you don't have one already.

 

[Audie Murphy]

I remember the first time I shot with my eldest son and he has gone with me ever since,at least till his mother and I divorced. IT's great bonding time. I remember looking at my son thinking, man he is growing up quick. Now he is 18 and looking to go into the service. Time flys by so fast. Enjoy your time together

 

[rjstamp]

He is hooked for life now but you better be real careful with your guns for a few years....its like the first time you have sex.....you just gotta have more and you'll do anything to get it!

 

[Stschil]

Exactly what caliber is a 3 year old?

Seriously, though, I think that is cool as H*ll. He's hooked. for bringing another into the fold and teaching him.

 

[Amishman44]

That's AWESOME!!! I taught my 5 y/o daughter how to shoot over Labor Day this year (I had been promising her all summer long, but work...blah blah blah). She too, hit the 6" target on her first try (Ruger 10/22 with a scope). She was sooooo excited that we burned 4 more mags with at least 1-2 hits per 10 rounds going out. I'm going to get an ATI stock with the shorter butt stock just to accomodate her and my two boys(ages 3 & 2) who will soon be following in her footsteps. (Kids are cute and funny when they are little, but they become FUN when they can start doing things we adults do!!!) I love my kids...and spending time with them!!!

 

[alexanjl12]

He is hooked for life now but you better be real careful with your guns for a few years....its like the first time you have sex.....you just gotta have more and you'll do anything to get it!

Couldnt have said it any better my self.


Thats pretty sweet he hit the target on his first shot ever. must be in his blood or something.....

 

[billyboyr6]

hell yes, BIG +1 for this comment, he is definatly hooked. My daughter is 3 and will be 4 in late october. She is getting a cricket .22 for christmas. She already picked it out, and is almost big enough to shoulder it and shoot it, her arms are just a little too short yet. but by spring she will be there. I think all youngins should be tought this early.

He is hooked for life now but you better be real careful with your guns for a few years....its like the first time you have sex.....you just gotta have more and you'll do anything to get it!

 

[Sausagecake]

Awesome story, truly awesome. Way to be "the" dad!

 

[jmildoc]

thanks for all the great comments guys!!!! i would like to get a cricket does anyone know where I should go look for one?

recently upgraded my .22 to a semi auto 597 with a scope and he is loving that.... he likes that he doesnt have to chamber each round. I do think it is important to know how to use every type of gun though.. that is why I am going to have him slowly learn on all of them

 

[cburnworth]

I took my 7 year old son out this summer, he fired off a few 22 rounds. He really wasn't interested, but will keep trying.

 

[Cat-Herder]

my 5 year old daughter is growing into her cricket well. She hits a 6" steel spinner at 25yds with regularity from a sandbag. her arms are a little too short to try off-hand yet. congrats on getting your son interested young. teach him well!
i put a WTB ad for one here in the classifieds and found a nice one in a couple of weeks. stainless target barrel, pink laminate, really nice gun. shoots great!

 

[csaws]

thats priceless. have you thought about a cricket?

Shooting crickets is a little tough for a 3 year old if ya ask me, they are kind of small and jump wayyyy too often

 

[csaws]

In all seriousness though my 3 year old just asked me to take him out to shoot his cricket and I was thinking he waas probably too little yet but maybe I should at least let him try. Sis will have to be out with hers too, and daddy is not going to get to the woods as soon as I wanted but the time with them will be worth it.

 

[JohnP82]

Awesome story!!! Congrats and good job getting the next generation involved

 

[jmildoc]

Thanks for all the replys.....

 

[kalboy]

Awesome thread here. Thanks for sharing this jmildoc! My two G-sons ages 3 and 4 love to shoot too. Got 'em both muffs and glasses.

 

[308jake]

Great job and definitely a day you will never forget. I personally think 3-4 is a good age to begin teaching the fundamentals of gun safety and shooting.

 

[jmildoc]

today is my sons 4th birthday and I think I am going to take him out "special" to do some shooting. I wish that I could find him a cricket.... any ideas anyone?

I am already spending a lot of money on him this year... a john deere gator ride on and he got a $50 buzz light year toy and thats not counting the party