Keeping kids interested at the range

[Sourdough]

I hear many people say they just can't keep their kids interested in shooting at the range.  Let's face it punching paper is not very exciting.  Get a box of skeet targets, take them to the range next time with the kid.  The fact that the clay target explodes when hit gets them more excited than punching a small hole in paper.

When Sky was about 12 or 13, I took him and his buddy to the range one day.  I had a box of clay targets along to use in testing a shotgun I had just bought.  The boys found the box in the back of the truck and took some out and stood them up against a box at 50 yards.  Next thing I knew they were taking a whole stack out to 75 yards.  Then to 100 yards.  At 150 yards they decided the .22RF was not enough gun.  By the time I was ready to test the shotgun all the clay targets had been shot.  Next time at the range they took a box of clay targets and .223s.  Soon they were shooting and breaking clay targets on the bank at the back of the range which is 337 yards.  It was no problem to get them to move up to hunting rifles (30-06 with breaks) just before hunting season and continue to shoot at 337 Yards.  In fact both boys sighted their guns in for 300 yards.

When they can hit a 4" clay target every shot at 300 yards, taking a Caribou or Moose at that range is easy.  Or in your cases a Whitetail.  One of the major differences between kids and adults, is that kids have never been told they cannot shoot at those ranges.  They have the mental clarity, and physical reflexes to do that.  And given the opportunity, and it's made fun so they can focus, they will do it.  It's childs play to them.

[Heavy C]

The range we use is pretty restrictive.  So when I taught my daughter and my nephew I used shoot-n-c targets.  They could at least see how good they were doing.  They liked it and stuck with it.

[Skunk]

Agreed, kids like immediate feedback when shooting. All of the above are good suggestions to help keep the little one's interest. I also blow up a few balloons and tack them up with short strings so they move around when the wind hits them. My daughter enjoys shooting at the slightly moving targets.

[Yankee1]

Once a year we have kids come to our range and introduce them to shooting with air rifles.
I made about 6 rabbit targets that have a 3/4" hole in them that you must hit. When its hit the whole target falls over.
There is a steel washer around the hole to stop it from getting eat up.  The kids love it because they see results immediately when they hit the hole. These targets are reset by pulling a string so they are easy to use. We let them shoot our rifles which are very fancy rifles used for bench rest competition.
                                   Yankee1

[greg916]

Try Neeco candy wafers. They make great reactive targets.

[billy_56081]

Tannerite will keep them interested.

[victorcharlie]

The next door neighbor kid and her dad have went with me the last couple of trips.

She's 11 and can't wait for the next trip.  She's gotten to be quite a good shot by the way.

It's a pleasure to see youth with such enthusiasm and I love to watch her shoot.

[Questor]

Amen, Sourdough. You got it exactly right. I like the clay targets, and also the cheapest full cans of soda pop. You can get a dozen of them for a couple of bucks or less and when a .22 hollow point hits them, the feedback is very satisfying. First time I took each of my kids out shooting I also used the cans as a handy gun safety lesson. The kids would get a good solid hit on the can, and that would burst it and split it wide open. When we went to collect the cans, I'd put one of the cans up next to my arm to show the kid, and I'd ask them to imagine what a bullet would do to a person if it hit them. It has a good effect. It's a low pressure technique. We never had any problems with muzzle control.

[a4beltfed2000]

Clay pigeons are great for kids to shoot at and are biodegradable,although will kill cattle ( that is what I heard) I have found that some ranges will let you use them if you clean up after yourself. I made a small notched stand to place them on edge and the pieces fall into a bin. I made mine from pine and plywood that way missing and damaging it wasnt a big deal and kept the bullet going in a safe direction....

another one that I found that works very well is ballons on a wood board, you can hold them on with tacks and tell them which color to pop, you can vary the ballon sizes. cheap targets, easy clean up, light weight, you can use a air compressor to fill em up

by the way helium ballons floating up in the air are a good way to get them started on shooting targets with a shotgun....

[gypsyman]

Steel swingers, and plastic bottles filled with water. gypsyman

[Old Fart]

Here's some pic's of something I put together for the grandkids.
I can put clay pigeons and candy waffers on it.






Here's the latest evolution of that target rack. Golf anyone?


They g'kids love coming out and shooting both setups.
But they really seem to enjoy sending a golf ball up in the air.....

[T/Chmr]

Clay pigeons are great for kids to shoot at and are biodegradable,although will kill cattle ( that is what I heard) I have found that some ranges will let you use them if you clean up after yourself. I made a small notched stand to place them on edge and the pieces fall into a bin. I made mine from pine and plywood that way missing and damaging it wasnt a big deal and kept the bullet going in a safe direction....

another one that I found that works very well is ballons on a wood board, you can hold them on with tacks and tell them which color to pop, you can vary the ballon sizes. cheap targets, easy clean up, light weight, you can use a air compressor to fill em up

by the way helium ballons floating up in the air are a good way to get them started on shooting targets with a shotgun....

Clay birds will kill swine...no problems with cattle.  I sure like that table Old fart, I've got some scrap around the house, gonna have to build one of those for my 8y/o daughter.

[Old Fart]

" I sure like that table Old fart, I've got some scrap around the house, gonna have to build one of those for my 8y/o daughter."

I just used some scrap lumber one saturday.
My grandson helped me slap it together.
Took my circular saw and cut the grooves.
A couple weeks later we drilled the holes in it for the golf tee.
The golf balls have been a favorite with everyone.
Something about instant gratification when the ball flies up in the air.

[Skunk]

" I sure like that table Old fart...

Big +1 on the table Old Fart. Very clever little set-up. That's exactly what's needed for my daughter...and me, except the daughter would probably hit the clay pigeons and candy wafers, where I'd probably shoot the table apart.

[Old Fart]

"Big +1 on the table Old Fart. Very clever little set-up. That's exactly what's needed for my daughter...and me, except the daughter would probably hit the clay pigeons and candy wafers, where I'd probably shoot the table apart. "


It's had plenty of rounds put through it so far.

Nice thing is you're only another piece of scrap wood away from having it back in action.