My grandson at 14 was almost wetting himself about shooting a shotgun for the first time. In June I took him along on a Boy Scout weekend camp out for 22 and trap shooting. I was running the 22 range where he shot once, and I never saw him again until lunch time. Seems that all sorts of scout family's came out for the shoot, and one of them just happened to be a little 14yo "hottie" that could have passed as an 18yo. Even after lunch he never came back to the 22 range. I took a couple of breaks and wandered over to see him bust a few clays. On the way home I asked him if he was still scared of shooting a shotgun. I also asked how many rounds he had shot. He had no idea. I asked how many boxes he thought he had shot. He told me probably 5-6 boxes of 12ga, 2 boxes of 20ga, a few rounds of 16ga and 1-2 boxes of 410. Pretty sure his shoulder was purple and raw for a few days afterwards. :P That night when I was telling his folks about the day, while turning red he finally admitted that "dad that girl was a hottie and I can shoot 22 anytime." :oops:
I recently took him to public night at the club where we shot 3 rounds. The place was packed and we wondered what was going on. Turns out that the HS finals were 3 days out, and 5 different schools shoot at the same club. They were all trying to get in last minute practice. We ended up shooting with 3 young men that were in a 4 way tie with another guy for the best HS trap shooters in the state. These guys each averaged 24.5 per round for the season. Great bunch of respectful young men!!! :)
Between rounds they questioned why I was letting them get out so far before busting them. I was coming up from the hip and not shouldering the gun before calling for a bird. I asked if they had ever actually been bird hunting. Sadly none of the 3 has ever been bird hunting. :( I told them about not walking wheat stumble or corn or milo fields with a gun shouldered. I also told them that with a flushing dog like a lab you really never get short shots, plus you have to ID them before pulling the trigger.
After the next round one of them asked me "sir just hold old is that 870". I told them I bought it new in about 78 or 79 as one of my first firearms purchases. They remarked that judging by the visible wear on the slide that it must be smooth as glass. I offered to swap with them for the next round, but they all declined because they wanted the practice with their competition guns, one of which was a newer Wingmaster. They told me all about how other kids in the HS think they are gods, but unfortunately the principal is leaning the wrong direction. :x One boy told me how he got in trouble because "high school shooter" had been mentioned in a cafeteria conversation. One kids mom showed up to drive him home, and she gave more details on the A-hole principal. Turns out this principal had tried to withhold their letters, saying it was not a "proper HS sport". I guess when multiple parents lined up outside his office door to tear into him, he caved to pressure and gave out the letters, but still would not allow them to be acknowledged at the end of the year sports banquet. :evil:
Needless to say these young men were all extremely supportive and encouraging to my grandson about getting on the HS team. I believe he is more excited for school to start so he can start shooting regularly, than he is about actual classes starting. :lol: I guess between a "hottie" and some guys just 2-4 years older than him, there is enough peer pressure that he won't be needing the depends as much as a shoulder pad. :wink:
