I shoot with my 11 1/2 year-old grandson on a fairly regular basis. We shoot 22LR a lot--shooting target games, and plinking. We also shoot the .243 quite a bit along with the 30-30 a little and some cowboy action 30-06. He's been telling me he wants to learn to shoot 300 yards like I do and he added that he doubted he could even hit the paper at 300 yards.

I've been teaching him about gun safety (every time we shoot), breathing, how to aim through the scope, how to squeeze the trigger and etc.

This past week, before the blizzard hit, there was a pretty nice day with just a little wind. We set the target up at 300 yards according to my laser range finder. I showed him where I thought he needed to aim and we went back to the bench.

I had him set up the rest so that everything felt good to him and briefly went over items pertaining to making the shot. I assured him the gun and ammo would do their part if he'd do his. I had him shoot three times and then we drove the four-wheeler down to check the target (I can't see the bullet holes with my spotting scope at that distance.) On the way down, he said that he probably hadn't even hit the paper. I told him that it looked like he made good shots--very steady and no flinching.

When we got there and saw where he hit, we were both very excited. (I don't know where the other shot went, but those two, I felt, were very good for his first try at that distance.)



I hope that his love of shooting and hunting will keep him out of some of the trouble plaguing so many of our youth these days.

I should probably have placed this in the bench rest and target shooting forum. I don't know how to move it, though.

That is wonderful Red. Nothing wrong with that target for first try at all. Keep him after it practice is what makes it come natural I am sure you know that. I have a feeling I will be teaching my buddy's 10 year old son about shooting the over 100 yard targets. He takes him shooting often and he has killed two deer and many ground hogs so far. But my buddy always tells his son he needs to talk to me about the longer stuff.

Awesome work, Grampa

Just another day shooting?...Hardly......

Are you sure the third shot didn't go through one of the other holes?

Wow, Nice shooting, Looks like the boy had a good teacher! Keep it up, Future Palma shooter????

With a little practice and some more confidence he will be dropping them in the bull in no time.

I have been hunting and shooting with my oldest grandson since he was about 3 1/2. He had it in his mind he wanted to get in on he hog action. I worked up some reduced loads based on Hodgdons recipe and away we went. With the little Ruger Compact in .308 and the 125 and 130gr bulets he was hitting bulls at 100 in no time, but I never let him shoot beyond 50 at the hogs until he blasted a yote off it's feet at 158 laserd. After that he stretched his range out to 200 then 250 but we still keep his shooting to 100 or less for deer or hogs.

I commend you for your actions, and I hope like you that the things we teach them will keep the fire burning for more instead of wanting some of the other distractions which are seemingly dragging down the youth of today.