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