Amen, Mike.
Is the end in sight?
- Thread starter Mikem
- Start date
Amen, Mike.
I'm with you on that one Mike!
Mike
Mike
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
katokoch: If you're in your 20s and going to school, at least you've got something going for you. The biggest majority of the younger folks that I see are doing nothing but playing video games and taking up space on this planet. "You" have a desire to learn and make something of your life. More power to you!
When I was young my stepfather didn't care too much for firearms. I still got a few.
I packed up my family and moved out of the city to the country.
I'am not sure where my desire for firearms came from. I don't hunt much, just a creater of "bug holes". I'll pass along anything I've learned over the years to "anybody" that wants to learn. I've had young kids maybe 12 to 14 show up at the range with their Grampa. With Grampa watching, I'll slip the kids behind one of my rigs and have them take a few shots. The "BIG" smiles are my reward. Grampa liked it too.
If I see someone that has a desire to learn, I'll do my best to help all I can. That's "my" reward!
Just trying to pass it around. ;D And a "ding" on a steel target at 430 yards will do it every time.
With that, folks are hooked!
When I was young my stepfather didn't care too much for firearms. I still got a few.
I packed up my family and moved out of the city to the country.I'am not sure where my desire for firearms came from. I don't hunt much, just a creater of "bug holes". I'll pass along anything I've learned over the years to "anybody" that wants to learn. I've had young kids maybe 12 to 14 show up at the range with their Grampa. With Grampa watching, I'll slip the kids behind one of my rigs and have them take a few shots. The "BIG" smiles are my reward. Grampa liked it too.
If I see someone that has a desire to learn, I'll do my best to help all I can. That's "my" reward!
Just trying to pass it around. ;D And a "ding" on a steel target at 430 yards will do it every time.
With that, folks are hooked!
Klong
Gold $$ Contributor
How many of you shot competitively during your teens? I did not and did not know any that did. I could not afford to do it until I was almost thirty years old. During the last 30 years I have seen many young people shoot while daddy was paying for it, but as soon a daddy didn't pay any more they were gone. A few have come back over the years, but not many.
Some of this has to do with the cost of getting started. When I started, it was with a 1903 A3 that cost me less than $200. They are not available at that price anymore.
I know that there are people coaching 4H and thanks to those of you that do. Some will come back to shooting if they enjoy it and it is not made illegal by that time.
I am currently coaching a young man and loaning him my equipment to get him started. He has some equipment on order so maybe he will stay in the sport and at least I will have someone to pull my target and compete with in the future.
Some of this has to do with the cost of getting started. When I started, it was with a 1903 A3 that cost me less than $200. They are not available at that price anymore.
I know that there are people coaching 4H and thanks to those of you that do. Some will come back to shooting if they enjoy it and it is not made illegal by that time.
I am currently coaching a young man and loaning him my equipment to get him started. He has some equipment on order so maybe he will stay in the sport and at least I will have someone to pull my target and compete with in the future.
You mentioned competition when you were young. When I was 12 I joined the Jr NRA,(do they still have that?) and they started out teaching you safety etc. And one thing I still remember to this day, is how to bore sight a rifle in short order, but we did shoot in some minor competition, I recall I came in second.
But after that I was hooked, we moved to the country and I shot my 22 all the time.
In the early 60s I went into the service (that or be drafted) and did vary well on there range. And when I got out in 65 thats when I started reloading, manly for my 30-06, and was shooting from 100 to 1000 yds, and was fairly good.
In 66 at 23 I went back to school, police science, and became a Deputy Sheriff. The higher ups all knew I shot big bore rifles allot, so they asked me to Carry my scoped 30-06 in the trunk when on duty, this was before they invented the name SWAT. But I never had to use it, except once on a big fish.
But I dont think many kids today get that chance, from 12 on, if they did it would stay with most for life, and there kids, and there kids. And thats what we need now. I wont live to see it all end, but you young guys might, so its mostly in your hands, not us old farts. So do your thing, and teach the kids all you know, it will be in there hands some day, and hopefully they will pass it down. And not let it die. It deserves more than a mention in the history books.
Mike.
But after that I was hooked, we moved to the country and I shot my 22 all the time.
In the early 60s I went into the service (that or be drafted) and did vary well on there range. And when I got out in 65 thats when I started reloading, manly for my 30-06, and was shooting from 100 to 1000 yds, and was fairly good.
In 66 at 23 I went back to school, police science, and became a Deputy Sheriff. The higher ups all knew I shot big bore rifles allot, so they asked me to Carry my scoped 30-06 in the trunk when on duty, this was before they invented the name SWAT. But I never had to use it, except once on a big fish.
But I dont think many kids today get that chance, from 12 on, if they did it would stay with most for life, and there kids, and there kids. And thats what we need now. I wont live to see it all end, but you young guys might, so its mostly in your hands, not us old farts. So do your thing, and teach the kids all you know, it will be in there hands some day, and hopefully they will pass it down. And not let it die. It deserves more than a mention in the history books.
Mike.
Mudcat
Gold $$ Contributor
There are youngsters shooting service rifle...within the HP/LR sport, thats the ONLY place the youngsters are coming out and trying the game, and even there its expensive and most parents dont even let them start because of the cost (talking about kids whose parents arent into HP already). OUr tiny little club has 1 full time jr shooting with us, we have several more interested but parents dont want to foot the bill only to find out jr doesnt like it and they think they are stuck with rifles, coats, etc. So, what we usually end up doing is having our few members donate or loan extra gear to the kids to get them out, then as they take up the sport...or not, they buy stuff as they can. We provide the ammo at a reduced cost (its minimal, but it enough to make sure we get brass returned, etc. And what we do collect goes right back into the jr ammo pot...so its a win-win. Wish we could give it away but 1,000+ rounds per kid minimum per year just isnt within the budget, besides, the subsidized price keeps things in "perspective", so to speak, and a few of us are also doing all the loading! and, honestly, there is probably more member money going in to cover expenses than match fees, donations, etc....but we got some good members...even if there are only a few of us in the club)
You can get them out, but within the HP/LR realms its going to be across the course and with a service rifle. Anything else, unless daddy is a competitor, aint gonna happen. At this rate, once the old farts die off, the sport will too. Thus, its why our club spends what little bit we raise every year doing one thing, and only one thing, and thats spending it on jrs. No new jrs = dead sport eventually.
And, the other benefit, even if the kid doesnt stick with HP, is that they become progun and believe AR15s are just another rifle, which they are, and that means thats one more kid out there talking positive about guns and that kid will soon be a voting adult.
Sorry, but too many clubs and too many competitors only care about themselves and what benefit they can get for them, not whats good for the sport. We see that here all the time. Until things change, consider shooting sports going the way of the dinosaur.
John
You can get them out, but within the HP/LR realms its going to be across the course and with a service rifle. Anything else, unless daddy is a competitor, aint gonna happen. At this rate, once the old farts die off, the sport will too. Thus, its why our club spends what little bit we raise every year doing one thing, and only one thing, and thats spending it on jrs. No new jrs = dead sport eventually.
And, the other benefit, even if the kid doesnt stick with HP, is that they become progun and believe AR15s are just another rifle, which they are, and that means thats one more kid out there talking positive about guns and that kid will soon be a voting adult.
Sorry, but too many clubs and too many competitors only care about themselves and what benefit they can get for them, not whats good for the sport. We see that here all the time. Until things change, consider shooting sports going the way of the dinosaur.
John
I see your point Bistem, including its legality or lack thereof.
But its missing the point, the lack of interest, other than in electronics, is in the kids (and I use the term Kid's loosely) hard drive now, the one on top of there shoulders.
Not all kids will like shooting, and some parents wont allow it, so we need to concentrate on the ones we can still win over, not the ones that are already lost, for whatever reason.
There our last chance to survive over the long hall.
Mike.
But its missing the point, the lack of interest, other than in electronics, is in the kids (and I use the term Kid's loosely) hard drive now, the one on top of there shoulders.
Not all kids will like shooting, and some parents wont allow it, so we need to concentrate on the ones we can still win over, not the ones that are already lost, for whatever reason.
There our last chance to survive over the long hall.
Mike.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
But Mike, that "jammer" would be sooo cool! ;D
Never knew what hit them. 8)
Never knew what hit them. 8)
You are right Mike. Some of them truely dont think they would like it and then some of them have been Taught that they wouldnt like it by (probably) their parents. My 15yr old son shoots with me very often but of course being a 15yr old kid, he wants to take his school friends (both male and girlfriends) to the range with us. I have drilled safety into his head from day 1 but I still always tell him that I have to hear approval from the friend's Mom or Dad or they cant go. I wont just take my son's word for it. I prefer to drive to the friend's house and chat face to face with their parents. Usually once you instill in the parents that it is at a range with all safety precautions followed, they will usually let their kids go. I also dont tend to do any shooting on the days that his friends are there. Just too hard for me to concentrate on shooting when I should be watching the kids full time.
The funniest thing was when his last girlfriend went and she had never shot anything over a .22LR and she smoked him on group size LOL. She wanted to go again and again. She even handled my AR chambered in 450 Bushmaster well and printed a 1.5" 3 shot group at 100yrds. On my .223 AR she was doing .75 to 1.0 inch groups. This girl could do well with practice....too bad the kid has a new girlfriend now.
The funniest thing was when his last girlfriend went and she had never shot anything over a .22LR and she smoked him on group size LOL. She wanted to go again and again. She even handled my AR chambered in 450 Bushmaster well and printed a 1.5" 3 shot group at 100yrds. On my .223 AR she was doing .75 to 1.0 inch groups. This girl could do well with practice....too bad the kid has a new girlfriend now.
Bistem, your right, it would be handy at times.
And your right-on with the kids, you may even talk a parent in to going. And If there younger than me, (and they must be to have kids not on Medicare), then we wont them.
And thats a great way to get kids interested, if there not already brain washed, and they try it, they most likely will like it. Whats not to like?
PS: Please dont let that girl near our club, we look bad enough as it is. lmao
Mike.
And your right-on with the kids, you may even talk a parent in to going. And If there younger than me, (and they must be to have kids not on Medicare), then we wont them.
And thats a great way to get kids interested, if there not already brain washed, and they try it, they most likely will like it. Whats not to like?
PS: Please dont let that girl near our club, we look bad enough as it is. lmao
Mike.
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