Rifle Shooting

[JazerNorth]

I took two boys to the range yesterday for their first time to shoot any gun. Before we went to the range, they had to know Requirement 1 & some of 2. I did that for safety reasons. The range master was very helpful and also went over more safety rules. Both boys were very apprehensive about going. One had to be forced out of the house by his mother to come shoot.

After the first round of 5, both didn't want to quit shooting. They had lots of fun and want to go again. Each learned from the range master how to adjust the sights. They both did quite well, since the range had 2 guns there that were sighted in perfectly for 50 feet.

It was the most fun for me as an adult to go shooting.

Enjoy.

JazerNorth

[ASM-142]

... Both boys were very apprehensive about going. One had to be forced out of the house by his mother to come shoot.
...

No matter how much fun the boys ending up having they should not of been forced to do this.

[JazerNorth]

Maybe forced was the wrong word for the technical types who read this board. He wasn't tied up or beaten or dragged, but rather his mom had to do some heavy talking to get him to go. He came by his own free will and had every right to decide not to do it. No one physically made him do it, but he chose to do it on his own. He did it because his mom and I convinced him that he needed to try it out before he could decide that he didn't like it. So forced physically, no, but forced by some good heavy convincing, yeah.

Technical.

JazerNorth

[ThunderingWind]

I would like to see a more indepth rifle shooting merit badge. Something along the lines of the International Bench Shooting series. 50 feet is fine for the younger boys. But let us see what they can do later in life with a .270 at 1000 yards. Or what ever caliber they coose from the approved list. I prefer my Sharps 45/90 (Quigley gun)

Or at least change the Venture rifle shooting requirements to be a little more stringent.

This is just MY opinion.

[deweylure]

Its great to see anyone take the time introducing youg people to the shooting sports.
Congrats on making sure they knew range and gun safety.

I think some requirements for shooting are weak. At the summer camp we go to the range is set up with a 32 inch face at 10 yds. Most indoor rounds are at 20yds on an approx 10 inch target. This is for archery

For now a 22 and a muzzle loader rifle is for scouts. Most camps do not have the area set up for larger bore rifles. cost of the rifle and ammo goes up. The 50 foot is a sanctioned round . The MB gives a good start to shooting the boys can move on up to longer distances at safe ranges.

Living near chicago we have only 2 -50 ft ranges nearby. The only outdoor range near us closed because of pressure . The mayor of chicago closed the skeet and trasp range many years ago. I am grateful I can shoot 5 0 ft.

Just thoughtI would share my view safe shooting


Dewey

[lambeausam]

Dewey - there's a nice range in Naperville.

Sam

[deweylure]

Can you give me the name o0f the range in Naperville? Thanks for the info.

Dewey

[ThunderingWind]

For now a 22 and a muzzle loader rifle is for scouts. Most camps do not have the area set up for larger bore rifles. cost of the rifle and ammo goes up. The 50 foot is a sanctioned round . The MB gives a good start to shooting the boys can move on up to longer distances at safe ranges.

I fully understand the limies space for long ranges and the increased cost.

I just think there should be a few Merit Badges that have a Level II version for the Scouts when they are older. Rifle shooting is one good example. A quarter sized shot group at 50 feet is good to start. Now let us see what they youth can do when when they have to adjust the aim point for longer distances, wind and tighter groups.

Just an opinion and I am Sempre Gumby (Always Flexable).

[RedFox]

I would not have a problem with seeing a more advanced Merit Badge in Rifle Shooting for older scouts - I would also like to see something for Muzzleloading (expanding from the existing requirements for Muzzle Loading on the Rifle Shooting Merit Badge)

However, I do not think that Rifle Shooting should be made a whole lot tougher. Not every boy has an easy time with this badge, particularly for the shot groups. The requirements (at least in my opinion) are written so it is passable for a beginner with Rifles, but encourages a more experienced scout to use their skill as well.

[gwd-scouter]

We take a group of Scouts for a one-day outing to the Elberton County Gun Club in Georgia and work on both Rifle and Shotgun shooting. The owners of the Club have a keen interest in seeing folks learn to shoot properly and have been excellent in covering all the safety requirements. We arrive, Scouts are taught safety, hunting regulations in our State, how to clean a rifle/shotgun. Then out to the range. Boys always have an easier time finishing the grouping requirements for the rifle, but have the most fun with the shotgun shooting, even though few of them are able to shoot the required number of skeet the first time. Must admit, I had never shot any type of gun before I became SM and took the guys on this trip for the first time. Not at all interested in hunting, but the skeet shooting was a "blast."

The boys usually put this event on the calendar every year. We do have a couple of Scouts that have a fundamental objection to guns so they don't go on these trips.

Edited to add: Every few years our District puts on a shooteree at the Upper Savannah Shooting Association. This is a very well attended camporee with several shotgun shooting stations set up and run by members of the Association.