I’ve got a 9 year old boy that I have been teaching to shoot over the last year. He is currently shooting a Colt LE6920 5.56 with a 3-18 Leupold that I put on it. He’s a pretty good shot, body positioning looks good, he’s slow on the trigger, breathing is good. I did upgrade the trigger to a 2 stage 4 pounder. He shoots left handed so the Colt is all I had that he could shoot. We are shooting paper at 100 yards. My plan has been to have him spend time learning the fundamentals with the Colt and when he gets to 11 or 12, upgrade him to 6.5CM in something better suited for precision shooting. 6.5CM because that’s what I shoot and reload and it’s a caliber he could deer hunt with. Here is the problem, the Colt is not very accurate and he is starting to lose interest because his groups don’t look like dad’s. I have shot the gun myself, with the ammo I have, it’s shoots about 1-1/2 minutes. If I could find 3 or 4 different match ammos to try that might help but that’s not happening with the current ammo situation. Should I throw some money into the Colt in hopes it shoots better or should I look at upgrading his gun sooner? Budget for a new gun would be $1500-$2000. He’s a pretty big kid and turns 10 in November, think he could handle a 6.5CM when he turns 10? I don’t want him to develop a flinch. Thoughts?
Help with my kid’s shooting
- Thread starter leclairk
- Start date
divingin
Gold $$ Contributor
Not saying anything about his shooting, but if that's a turn-off, he's in for a rough time later in life. Getting good at *anything* is a matter of learning and practice. It takes work, and no matter how good you get, there's always someone better than you. If not now, in a little while.
First suggestion would be to pop a good quality new barrel in the rifle (should be a couple-three hundred bucks.) I have little respect for most factory barrels.
My suggestion is to get him involved with Project Appleseed. https://appleseedinfo.org/schedule/?qstate=OR&state=Oregon
Ad I also reccommend that you swap out the rifle with a 22LR. Either an upper or a 10-22. And shoot at 25-50 yards.
Ad I also reccommend that you swap out the rifle with a 22LR. Either an upper or a 10-22. And shoot at 25-50 yards.
What about a nice bolt action 22lr? It's not something he'd outgrow because he could continue with nrl22 if he wants later.
As for lefty... I shoot long guns lefty too, but I've never owned a left handed rifle. As long as the chassis/stock are ambi, then working the bolt from the wrong side is common.
As for lefty... I shoot long guns lefty too, but I've never owned a left handed rifle. As long as the chassis/stock are ambi, then working the bolt from the wrong side is common.
Im guessing that is an ar15? If it does not have a free floated forend like some that would be a relatively cheap upgrade that can improve accuracy dramatically.
Another thing that could keep his intrest is shooting some type of reactive target instead of groups. Claybirds offhand at 100 yds, 12 gauge hulls at 20 yds, then switch to 20ga. My dad used to put up 10 12 gauge empty shells at 20 or 30 yds and give me a 10 rounds to see how many i could knock down.
Another thing that could keep his intrest is shooting some type of reactive target instead of groups. Claybirds offhand at 100 yds, 12 gauge hulls at 20 yds, then switch to 20ga. My dad used to put up 10 12 gauge empty shells at 20 or 30 yds and give me a 10 rounds to see how many i could knock down.
If he has any interest in competing you may want to seek out a Smallbore Junior program for him. He will compete with kids his age, learn a lot and have opportunities later on that will not come with any other shooting activity. The link below will take you to a list of programs and contacts in your state.
usashooting.sport80.com
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dellet
Gold $$ Contributor
My brother is left handed and shooting together was always a lot of fun. Generally at some point in the day we would trade rifles.
Bolt guns and bottom eject autos were never a big deal. Wrong side flintlocks were another story. Side eject autos someplace in between.
I recently bought my father in law his first actual left handed rifle. From his reaction and improvement in his shooting, I wish I had done it 35 years ago.
Nothing is worse than a pair of shoes that don't fit.
Kids, wife's and girlfriends always get to start with some hand me down that's good enough until we see if they enjoy the sport. Then we wonder why they don't enjoy it.
A left handed upper is a couple hundred bucks with a bolt carrier group. Barrel and handgaurd will switch over if you don't want a complete upper.
I'm a pretty big advocate for getting what fits and they want to use, if i want them to play my game.
Just a thought
Bolt guns and bottom eject autos were never a big deal. Wrong side flintlocks were another story. Side eject autos someplace in between.
I recently bought my father in law his first actual left handed rifle. From his reaction and improvement in his shooting, I wish I had done it 35 years ago.
Nothing is worse than a pair of shoes that don't fit.
Kids, wife's and girlfriends always get to start with some hand me down that's good enough until we see if they enjoy the sport. Then we wonder why they don't enjoy it.
A left handed upper is a couple hundred bucks with a bolt carrier group. Barrel and handgaurd will switch over if you don't want a complete upper.
I'm a pretty big advocate for getting what fits and they want to use, if i want them to play my game.
Just a thought
Forum Boss
Administrator
Get a used Anschutz or East German Suhl. Put it in a benchrest stock and shoot at 25 yards. He will get good fast, and probably out-shoot you within a year or two.
From the Good Old Days. I’ve seen a $450 Suhl from Mac Tilton outshoot a very expensive benchrest
From the Good Old Days. I’ve seen a $450 Suhl from Mac Tilton outshoot a very expensive benchrest
D-4297
Gold $$ Contributor
He's NINE . Not Nineteen . I'd be willing to wager that he's flinching from the recoil and NOISE of the AR . Dad ; you may not think it has any recoil , but I'm thinking , "HE DOES" . I have five sons , and four of them have served in different Branches , in SO . They were all brought up in NRA Jr. rifle program , on .22 cal. competition , iron-sight rifles . Riflewoman , Forum Boss are absolutely correct in their suggestion . You can move him straight to a Creed when he's fourteen or fifteen , and he will do well with it because he has learned proper techniques and marksmanship . And done it with his peers who are , and will be learning with him . And believe it or not ? He'll learn faster , and have more fun along the way . And he won't be trying to compete with Dad , either . That will come later on .....
I am missing something in the comments.
What is his eye dominance. Is he left or right eye dominant. That is what should determine if he shoots right or left hand.
I agree with post for 22. Use a good bolt gun or if you want AR style get 22 upper from Compass lake.
For your Colt if it is not free-floated you can find a handguard to replace existing handguard with for a reasonable cost.
Another suggestion made was to get a good barrel.
What is his eye dominance. Is he left or right eye dominant. That is what should determine if he shoots right or left hand.
I agree with post for 22. Use a good bolt gun or if you want AR style get 22 upper from Compass lake.
For your Colt if it is not free-floated you can find a handguard to replace existing handguard with for a reasonable cost.
Another suggestion made was to get a good barrel.
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