What a pleasure to support young shooters

[BonnieB]

Folks,

Yesterday, I sold a rather nice 12 GA shotgun to a family, whose 11 year old daughter is a competitive trap and skeet shooter.

The gun was a beautiful Weatherby, but it had been languishing in the back of the closet for a year. Time to pass it on.

So I posted it here on Calguns. It took a while to sell, because the length of pull had been shortened for me. But a loving Dad bought it in his own name, for his little daughter to grow into. It was the coolest thing to watch her eyes dance when I opened the box! I was forced to remind her that the Olympics was coming and the American Women have been kicking butt at the Olympics! Eyes danced again.

[BonnieB]

Here's a PM I got, from another Calgunner, who also supports young shooters. (He remains anonymous here, because he PM'd me and did not post).

That was very nice, you are helping to perpetuate a diminishing sport. God Bless You! I donate .22's to the young Dad's at work for the same satisfaction that you identified in your post. I try to get everyone to join NRA also...Eddie Eagle program, youth programs.

We no longer have shooting clubs in the schools, scouting has been denigrated and the family structure and culture is moving away from "traditions"

It mandates that the Moms, daughters, sisters, cousins and aunts all participate in carrying on the sport through the kids.

I have 9 grandkids and have been able to develop good safe firearm practices with them. My girls are better shot's than the boy's-more focused-. This has resulted in a collection of pink guns and gear for them, daisy bb gun,10/22, Ar15, glasses ...etc.

Your attitude epitomizes what is good about shooting sports and Calguns

Take Care...thx again

[BonnieB]

The Boy Scouts still have firearms badges, and the NRA has BSA rifle clinics. But the Girl Scouts have apparently dropped all firearms badges. They used to have them, riflery, I think. Why were they dropped?

According to the NRA, Girl Scouts are welcome at the BSA NRA clinics, but they have to fill out a special form.... It's always something. Regardless, send your girls if you can.

[readysetgo]

Speaking of scouts...

Paging dannytheman! He was showing me some great pictures of a special shoot they put together for some Girl Scouts.

I'll see if I can get him to post some.

[Jules]

Good for you, Bonnie!

I'm the one who taught my son to hunt and shoot, not his father, although my husband taught us both to trapshoot. Currently, I shoot on three different teams with my son's best friend, as my own son discovered girls. I sponsored and my husband coached a junior team for five years before they scattered to the winds, and I tell you, that was as much or more fun than shooting for myself.

4H still has shooting sports around here, and we have a very good instructor who's very patient with starting the kids. The local FFA kids are welcome to keep participating as they ease into that instead of 4H.

[CSACANNONEER]

Bonnie,

How dare you help a little 11 year old woman/female/girl acquire a 12g. Haven't you read about all the grown men here who complain that their 12g bruises them after firing a few rounds? According to what I read in the shotgun forum, there's no way an 11 year old could shoot a 12g and remain on her feet!

Other than that, GREAT JOB! You helped a young shooter by providing her with a firearm that fits her properly (or, in this case, will fit her very soon) and allow her to accel at her chosen sport. I hope she stays in touch with you and, within the next couple years tells you about how she is outshooting all those old geezers who hang around the trap clubs.

[movie zombie]

Jules, you don't look old enough to have a son old enough to be interested in girls!

CSA, you crack me up!

[Jules]

And it's my younger son, at that. I guess my photo might be a bit out of date.

CSA, you're right on with that. I laugh when I hear that complaining. Most of the little girls I shoot with who start on 20 gauge want to switch within the first year. It's all about gun fit and technique. I shot a month ago with an 8-year-old boy, 500 rounds in a weekend. He was shooting basically the same gun I shoot. By the end of it, you could barely hear him call "pull," but he was still hitting them.

[BonnieB]

If you hold the dang shotgun right, you shouldn't get bruised. I never did, even when I was just starting out. The worst I ever got was a 'rub' spot in the hollow of my shoulder. If you're getting bruised and you haven't been shooting for four hours straight, you need lessons.

I'm loving it, that parents are taking their kids out to shoot. How about taking the nieces, BFF's, etc. ? The more women on the ranges, the better. I know one Dad, who brings his little daughter every weekend to Sacramento Valley Shooting Center, to shoot .22. And she's getting into a Youth Shotgun league soon. ( This is a different family than the one I sold my shotgun to). But I know them by name and always chat with them. He's so dang proud of his little daughter it brings tears to my eyes....

[savannah]

I have two young girl shooters in my family. One is 12 and one is 14. I have a coach for them and they want to join the trap club at their high school. Many high schools still have shooting clubs. Woodcreek, Del Oro and Lincoln High School all have shooting clubs at the school.

[Jules]

Savannah, check out CYSSA too. Some high schools participate and some clubs. Los Banos had a huge team around here, that the two juniors I shoot with also belong too. I know Lincoln and Del Oro shoot in that league too, and there are kids younger than high school age.

Bonnie, the two younger girls in my family aren't interested in shooting, but we've got them scoring at practice now. At least it gets their feet wet and they like the pay check. If you happen to find more short stocked trap guns in your closet, give me a holler. I always know people looking for those!

[BonnieB]

Jules, unfortunately, the Weatherby sale fell out, so it's back on the lists, if you're interested.

Here's a link:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=16079751#post16079751

[movie zombie]

that is a SEXY shotgun, BonnieB!

[Jules]

Bonnie, that is a nice looking shotgun. How old is it, and how well does it cycle? We've run into some problems with the cheapo SA-08 models not cycling in doubles, but people speak pretty highly of the higher end models. I'll ask around, that's for sure. Is it ok if I put a link to your ad on our league's Facebook page?

[BonnieB]

Nothing but the (moderately priced) best, for me. And I do like wood furniture in long guns....

It's practically brand new, not more than 10 rounds (boxes of 25) through it. I'd recommend it to anyone.

We should take this conversation to the actual posting or to PM, because we're not supposed to sell in the non-selling forums.