BSA rimfire musings

[uscscjohn]

I am proud to be part of Boy Scout Troop 713 chartered by American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach. Our Troop offers the only "self contained" rifle merit badge course in the South Bay. Scouts "earn" the rifle merit badge at summer camp all the time after shooting 40 rounds of 22 lr ... and learn nothing. Our course is 20.5 hours (7:00 am - 6:00 pm Sat; 5:30 - 4:00 pm Sun.) Our scouts learn to shoot under the watchful eye of a recently retired Green Beret Marksman. They receive training folks couldn't pay for. They can SHOOT or they do not pass.

Rich Manhattan Beach parents don't like guns. When their kids gain a knowledge of guns they don't have, a STRICT safety protocol they don't have, and a level of knowledge and skill they don't have from the "evil" NRA, eyes open. I LOVE that!

Why are we the only Troop with a self-contained BSA merit badge program in the South Bay? It ain't easy! Look at Gun Laws in CA! We can't borrow guns. Scouts can only shoot guns owned by the people there to watch them shoot. Scouts can only shoot bolt or single shot action 22 lr rifles. How many Troops have Certified NRA Instructors who PERSONALLY OWN enough bolt action 22s to work with a group of scouts?

WE DO!

At 7:00 am tomorrow, 6 Scouts will start classroom training. When the Angeles range opens on Sunday our Scouts will be shooting the eyes out of targets with Anshutz, CZ, Kimber of Oregon, Ruger and Sako 22 rifles. I love this!

My fellow instructor and I personally sprung for these rifles. Don't pity me! When I pulled a Sako Finnfire II, a Kimber of Oregon 82, a CZ 455 an Anchutz and a Ruger American all with high-end optics out of the safe tonight I thought "wow, I love inspiring future shooters but these are FINE rifles!!!"

[50BMGBOB]

Congrads on the program. I also work with troops. I bought 5 matching rifles to work with scouts. My brother later did the same but 5 of a different brand. If we get together we have about 15 rifles we can use. Youth are the future of our rights.

[uscscjohn]

Amen!

Congrads on the program. I also work with troops. I bought 5 matching rifles to work with scouts. My brother later did the same but 5 of a different brand. If we get together we have about 15 rifles we can use. Youth are the future of our rights.

EXACTLY!

What people don't understand is that EVERYONE is exposed to guns. The untrained are exposed through movies, video games and tv shows that continually teach deadly wreckless behavior. The trained show respect and understand safety rules.

[foxtrotuniformlima]

My troop has done the same thing for the last 10 years. Recently we have run into a snag with our charter org but I think we can work through it.


There is nothing better than convincing a nervous mother that their little boy will be just fine.

[as_rocketman]

Cool stuff.

I've hosted Scouts at Appleseed, mostly Venturing crews -- your by-laws aren't entire compatible with what we do otherwise. Very worthwhile to get the youngsters on the line, under control, and really learn something.

[50BMGBOB]

Yes, scouting rules vary with the age of the boys. We did a High Adventure trip with a group of Explorer Scouts to Wyoming with a lay over in Idaho at one of the leaders sister's farm where the boys got to shoot taninite and even a full auto AR15 thanks to a local deputy.

[870classic]

Congratulations and keep up the good work.

I am really glad to hear that other troops have taken the initiative to start their own shooting program. Our troop in Costa Mesa has been hosting a similar program at a local range for the last seven years. It hasn't been easy. We invite local troops to the shooting day and the parents have been providing the firearms for the last few years. Like you, I too have been purchasing 22 bolt action rifles (Mainly Anschutz and Remington 5 series rifles) in which the boys can learn to shoot properly with the basic marksmanship skills we all grew up with in scouts. The program works with parent involvement. I commend you for the 20+ hour program and the dedication of the parents involvement in the program. I hope that you would make your program plan and syllabus available to other troops in which to provide a guide for all within scouts.

I have a concern about about the latest set of laws (Prop 63) and how they will effect the Scouting shooting programs; specifically the use of ammunition at the range by the boys. Does anyone have insight in this matter?

Your In Scouting.
CM.

[as_rocketman]

I have a concern about about the latest set of laws (Prop 63) and how they will effect the Scouting shooting programs; specifically the use of ammunition at the range by the boys. Does anyone have insight in this matter?

CRPA has an hour-long discussion of the subject here: http://crpa.org/webinars/

[Gauss]

Troop 235 made 14 shotgun and 16 rifle merit badges this year.

[uscscjohn]

Great news!

Troop 235 made 14 shotgun and 16 rifle merit badges this year.

That's great. I hope you held the Scouts to high standards. Two of the Scouts in our class had earned the badge at summer camp already but did not know real shooting skills.

[Gauss]

I think we did it right.

We did all the classroom stuff over a couple of nights during the week. Friday afternoon we send a couple of Dads out to fill the campsite and set up a 5 slot rifle range from supported prone and and shotgun range with an electric thrower. The troop rolled in by 7:00 AM Saturday and set up camp. Safety brief and first rounds downrange by 9:30 finished up shooting around lunch time Sunday.

Also had a pair of shotgun reloading setups, everybody loaded at least a couple of rounds. Every scout that tried got their rifle merit badge (5 three shot groups covered by a quarter), some needed scoped rifles. A few of the physically smaller scouts missed out on shotgun, we'll try again next year for them - 12 of 25 clays two times. Best scout did 24 in a row with 50 of 54 total!

Couple of pics of my son attached.

[Pally]

Wow! Really great to hear the BSA is alive and well in the shooting sports.
Kudos to all who are committed to teaching/training these youngsters.