Daughters first rifle (Ruger 10/22)

[josh250]

I just wanted to share a bit of my excitement. My daughter's 9th birthday is approaching and we are off to the range for the first time as a family, later this month.

My father and I were at Turner's and he asked me which rifle i was going to buy my daughter. I pointed at the 10/22 behind the counter and he asked if he could purchase it for her. I really wanted to be the first to buy her a rifle, but could not deny my pops the opportunity to purchase a rifle for his first granddaughter. After all, he is the person who passed on the firearm tradition to my brother and I at a very young age, even with great opposition from my mother.

I went to pick up the rifle, this weekend but was afraid of having to drive from store to store looking for .22lr. I spoke to the salesman (great customer service btw) and asked him if they had any .22 lr in stock. He said he might just have one more box in the back. He comes out with a Value Pack and im stoked! I paid about 35 bux for the box, saved time and fuel expenses.

I can honestly say i have never been more excited after a firearm purchase. This is a modest .22 but the sentimental value behind it is just off the charts for me. I cant wait to see her expression when she opens her gift at the range. We have already practiced firearm safety, and range rules at home with her Red Ryder, and cant wait to see her practice them at the range.

Any suggestions for a fun day at the range? Special targets? Target distances? Drills? Anything that will make it fun for her. If all goes well I will be looking at a 870 youth for Christmas!

[russt]

25 yards is perfect. Reactive targets are fun if your range allows them. As for drills. Loading and unloading and checking to make sure chamber is clear. Most important is have fun and enjoy!

[josh250]

25 yards is perfect. Reactive targets are fun if your range allows them. As for drills. Loading and unloading and checking to make sure chamber is clear. Most important is have fun and enjoy!

Thanks Russt! I'll look into the rules on reactive targets at my range. Everything else sounds like a go!

[russt]

Man I'm excited for you. I can't wait to take my daughter out(she's 4) maybe in a couple years.

[rm1911]

Turners has a good selection of metal targets. The triangle flippy things are very cool. They have a spring loaded pop up thing. And then the rubberized rolly targets are very cool. Keep my boys busy for a while. Punching paper is kinda boring especially for a kid. There are also hanging metal targets. Thighs that make noise when hit. All good stuff.

[josh250]

Man I'm excited for you. I can't wait to take my daughter out(she's 4) maybe in a couple years.

Thanks bud, hopefully we are still on in a few years and we can read each others "father/daughter" range stories

Turners has a good selection of metal targets. The triangle flippy things are very cool. They have a spring loaded pop up thing. And then the rubberized rolly targets are very cool. Keep my boys busy for a while. Punching paper is kinda boring especially for a kid. There are also hanging metal targets. Thighs that make noise when hit. All good stuff.

I really wish my range allowed metal targets because all of those targets seem like a lot of fun. I do like the "rubberized rolly targets" idea. Do you think they are appropriate for a public range? I just wouldn't want them to roll over to a neighbors lane. Unfortunately i couldn't book a private range, i was too late.

[GoodahSP]

Yeh kids love to hear the ping on steel. My son wants to shoot cans like he did using air soft but I told him its not allowed on the range. Indoors he can get by with Shoot and C's or a tennis ball on a string. Also sometimes he loses interest quick when the first few shots don't hit their mark. Unless you already have a scope zeroed in, maybe start her up at closer targets rather than 25 yards right away.

Sometimes there are days when my boy gets sensitive to loud calibers and looses the mood to shoot. Ear pro I suggest doubling up earplugs and muffs.

Have fun, and be safe.

Location OP? Maybe others can point you to a range where they have steel chickens, pigs, etc set up at different distances.

[NoNOS67]

What part of so cal are you in?

[XVIga_Rob]

Just follow the KISS formula and have fun!

As for reactive targets, baloons work great!

[josh250]

Yeh kids love to hear the ping on steel. My son wants to shoot cans like he did using air soft but I told him its not allowed on the range. Indoors he can get by with Shoot and C's or a tennis ball on a string. Also sometimes he loses interest quick when the first few shots don't hit their mark. Unless you already have a scope zeroed in, maybe start her up at closer targets rather than 25 yards right away.

Sometimes there are days when my boy gets sensitive to loud calibers and looses the mood to shoot. Ear pro I suggest doubling up earplugs and muffs.

Have fun, and be safe.

Location OP? Maybe others can point you to a range where they have steel chickens, pigs, etc set up at different distances.

Tennis Balls on a string sound like an awesome idea. Im not going scoped for her yet, so yea 25 yards and under seems like the way to go. Thanks for the heads up on the ear protection, doubling up for those young eardrums seems like a wise choice.

What part of so cal are you in?

L.A. area so Burro is the closet range for us.

Just follow the KISS formula and have fun!

As for reactive targets, baloons work great!

You're right, "KISS" is a proven approach. Another great idea with balloons, thanks.

[Spyguy]

Congratulations. I also just bought a 10/22 for my 7yo daughter:



The photo doesn't do the stock justice; the color appears lighter than it is in real life. In person, it's a deeper, richer color with more contrast between the laminated wood grain lines. It will match perfectly alongside my black/grey laminated wood 10/22 (which I bought ~25 years ago) when I take my daughter to the range.

[Spyguy]

Btw, I would suggest "Shoot-n-See" type targets.

[desertexplore]

Sweet story.

[Daisy'sDad]

Shooting at orange clays is a blast also, if allowed.

[druddick]

That is so great to hear. I have enjoyed shooting with my daughter the last three years. She has claimed the 10/22 as hers now. I might have to pick up another one for me.