Encouraging the Younger Generation
Recently, I was able to assist my son's Cub Scout/Webelos group with their qualification for the shooting patch that Cub Scouts and Webelos can work towards. At last week's Boy Scout campout, the younger Cub Scouts and Webelos were invited to come along. While there, they were allowed to qualify for the patch so many of them desire.....that of shooting and handling a gun safely and responsibly.
As you can see from the pictures, the boys were enjoying themselves immensely, paying attention to their advisor who helped them determine which eye was their dominant eye, how to pump up and load their Crosman Powermaster and Crosman 760 airguns, and proper sighting techniques.
At a range of 15 feet, each boy is required to place 5 shots on the target somewhere, with a minimum score of 35 required to qualify for their patch. It came as no surprise to me that each of the boys present scored over 45 out of a possible 50 when they took their actual test! These kids love shooting, and they were given many accolades by the adults present.
The two different guns, as mentioned above, were the Crosman Powermaster in .177 and the Crosman 760, also in .177. We opted to use steel BB's for our ammo this day since our targets were non-ricochet targets borrowed from the local county firearm range that is used by police and prison guards for their training sessions.
These two guns are very good training guns for young shooters, and the requirement to pump each one helps them to make their shots count, for they don't get an immediate second shot without having to load, pump up the gun, and take the safety off "safe" before firing again. And marksmanship was the name of the gun this day!
One young man, as seen in the pics, was getting advice on which eye to use for his "shooting eye". It isn't uncommon to see young and new shooters use the "off" eye, their non-dominant one when they first pick up a firearm or airgun. Helping them to understand which eye to use helps their marksmanship, and their shooting stance and form improves as well.
Helping the next generation of shooters is of primary importance to those of us in the shooting sports. And airguns are a great way to get started. So check out Airgun Depot's selection of guns suitable for young shooters, and take a child shooting!
Comments
I am very pleased to see parents partisapating in shooting and teaching our younger generation of kids about BB, and Pellet guns. I was lucky enough to learn the same way as these kids did. People dont understand how valuble this can effect a kids life. If you get kids starting shooting BB or Pellet guns 99% of the time that child will learn about gun safty and will understand the true meaning of gun responablty. They will also understand that a BB gun is not just for shooting at birds ect; Target shooting is really alot of fun, and its real fun to shoot with the whole family. When I saw the pictures of the kids shooting with there father i was very pleased, this is what many, many more fathers should take in consideration. I will NEVER FORGET the good old days when I shot BB guns with my Father, then when the rest of my family saw how fun it was we all started shooting every Saterday afternoon. We had a crosman modle 760, and to red rider BB guns. I was 4 years old when I started shoting with my family,and those memeries will be with me for ever. My father would not let me shoot by my self until i was 9 years old. So if you want to spend some qualty time with your kids just give it a try, it will be fun for the whole family. The best BB gun to start out with is a Red rider, or a crosman modle 760, there afodable and accurate as well as ALOT OF FUN... This is how I got started and I've won a state champeonship in pellit rifle divishion. So please teach your child gun safey then do some taeget shooting your child will remember this for the rest of there lives. Thanks agin JEREMY THOMPSON
Posted by: jeremy thompson | November 3, 2008 09:49 AM