Bought a Shotgun today.

[Larry Caldwell]

RobertBrown the targets next week will be empty aluminum cans. The idea is not so much shooting something as instilling a process to fire the little gun. See target, insert shell, close action, aim, pull back hammer, pull trigger. Weapon is only pointed at the target, the ground, or the sky, even if not loaded. If the target is not there then the process is reversed. Lower hammer, open action, remove shell. It is the way I was taught, the way all the young'uns in my family have been taught.

My dad also had me, and later his grandsons and sons in law, shoot into a pond next to the levee so we could see the bullet strike the levee. He was trying to teach us that a bullet can bounce a long way after striking something. Another process we go thru with the young is to have them shoot at a dusty hillside so they can get an idea of how far a bullet, or shot, can travel. To this day I cannot fire at a target until I imagine the direction the bullet could bounce if it ricochets or what the bullet could hit if I miss the target.

I have a great niece who used a single shot 243 to take deer from age 8 to until she was old enough to buy herself another rifle. The gun was only loaded after the deer was sighted. And she only had one shell. If she missed there was no second shot.

I intend to instruct in proper handling and safety. If she manages to hit a few cans that will be a plus.

RSKY

And keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

 

[teejk]

Your wife may be right....a waste of money! When my only child, a daughter was very young, I bought a really nice .410 single shot, with expectations of teaching her all about shooting. Maybe I even fantasied about having a future hunting buddy. Even bought a .22 bolt action with a scope. Took her to my range, and fired a few rounds. I think that's the last time either was fired. Guess she didn't share my "predator" gene, nor my interest in firearms. Now she's 20, and I love her dearly, but she absolutely has no interest in shooting, or refining her skills. So in my case, your wife was correct!
Guess I have two firearms for sale!

joindate

That's fine...I hope she learned enough about how they work and how to deal with them safely if she ever encounters one. If so your efforts were not wasted. Around here young women not raised around here beg for the opportunity to shoot a gun....and they are the fastest growing segment of gun purchasers. Your daughter may be back!

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I had an Interarms Mark 7 30-06 that would start shooting all over a target after a few shots were fired. It was a good hunting gun after a gunsmith told me what the problem was and how to fix it. The stock was touching the barrel and when it warmed up it would cause the barrel to move. He told me to sand inside the stock until I could pass a dollar bill between the barrel and stock without resistance. After that I could fire an easy 4 inch pattern from 100 yds.

That would be pretty good.... for a shotgun.