Encouragement

Father-Son Adventures: Strengthening Bonds at the Shooting Range

Reading "Davy Crockett: Ever Westward" inspired my son to want a .22 rifle. Together, we explored gun safety, shooting, at the gun range, creating lasting memories.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children's of one youth.
Psalms 127:4

As I read the last page of the Davy Crockett: Ever Westward (Heroes of History) paperback with my six-year-old son, he looked at me and said, "Dad, I want to be like Davy Crockett" and shoot animals to feed the family."

I was proud that he wanted to be like Davy Crockett, but I had a small problem. I did not have a .22 rifle for him to shoot and practice with. So I told him to be patient, and we would see what I could do to remedy this situation.

Seven-year-old Davy Crockett is hunting in the forest of Tennessee.

His American Heritage

Now that my son was of age, I had to step it up as a father and do the right thing by purchasing a .22 rifle to teach him the ways of traditional Americans early.

I grew up in Europe and, later, as a teenager in Canada. I never grew up in a home where my family was into guns. My stepdad owned a couple of hunting rifles, but he never taught us.

Later, when I immigrated to America to marry my wife and live in Montana, I tried to become more familiar with guns, primarily by buying a hunting rifle.

Post-COVID, I became serious about educating myself and sought to understand the role of the Second Amendment in my everyday life as a newly minted U.S. citizen.

How to Pick a .22 Rifle

Asking anyone for recommendations on what .22 rifle I should buy opened up a floodgate of suggestions on what I should purchase. However, some wise counsel that stuck with me was the following:

Purchase a rifle that he can grow into. Kids grow very fast, so think ahead.
Buy a bolt-action so he learns the fundamentals of firing a rifle.
Find a rifle with iron sights, and he can learn the traditional way of shooting.
Purchase a budget scope for him to practice with.
And if you feel very rich, buy a silencer (.22 rounds can cause severe hearing damage) 🤌💰

His First .22 Rifle

After I had completed my research and talked to folks, I decided to buy the CZ 457 American Synthetic Suppressor. I will be honest: I am not the type of guy who will spend 100 hours researching what to buy.

I don't have that kind of time, plus manufacturing standards are pretty good across the gun industry (mainly), and I think it comes down to whether you like the look or feel of a rifle when you hold it in your hands.

CZ 457 American Synthetic Suppressor-Ready (Source)

Accessories

No rifle is complete without the accessories that will cost you an arm and a leg. So, I forged ahead and kept telling myself I was doing the right thing.

Scope Base

I was recommended to look at the Area 419 website, where I bought the scope base. ($100)

Scope

I researched budget scopes, and after reviewing several, I settled on the $122 Athlon Neos riflescope.

Scope Rings

So many suppliers are selling these, but I picked one from Amazon and called it a day. ($9)

Gun Range Preparation

I bought my son an ammo crate to keep him organized and then asked him to store all his gun-related gear in it. We reviewed all his items and discussed why they were placed in the crate for safekeeping.

We discussed why we might need a tourniquet, gauze, and clotting in an emergency. He talked about wearing hearing protection and why he carried a tool in case his rifle needed to be adjusted. He loves it and is very proud of his collection of items to take to the gun range.

Here is the link to the ammo crate ($21).

I'm teaching him how to be organized at a young age.

At the Gun Range

This was his first shoot, and I wanted him to enjoy the experience. We talked about gun safety, the rules of the gun range, why there were rules, and why we had to follow them.

Loading Magazines

He found all the little things we take for granted interesting. For example, how do you load a magazine? What does a round look like up close? How many rounds can you fit in a magazine?

He found everything fascinating and enjoyed completing all the little tasks of shooting a rifle.

Shooting Targets

As you can tell from the pictures, he had a great time. All the times he had read about shooting in his chapter and picture books came alive during our time on the gun range.

Halfway through the shoot, he looked up after emptying his magazine and asked when he could shoot an animal. I love that attitude!

I encourage all men to teach their children about guns at an early age. We must return to the old traditions and ensure our kids are proficient with firearms.

It was very quiet on the gun range that day.

He loves shooting. He kept reloading his magazine.

Conclusion

What a privilege to take my son out on the range. We were making memories together, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I take my parenting duties very seriously; I know you do, too.

Psalm 127:4 is a great verse that speaks to me as I raise my son. My son must have all the advantages and skills that I wasn't taught at an early age. I need to spend this time with him and ensure he is ready for this new world that will be more violent, unpredictable, and challenging in ways I can't imagine.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children's of one youth.
Psalms 127:4

Brothers, I want to encourage you to spend the money to get your boys a rifle. Then, spend that time with them to teach them how to handle a firearm responsibly. Lastly, we have to teach them from a young age that violence, when applied judicially, is necessary.

Guns are tools, but necessary tools and tools that they have a constitutional right to. This has to be imparted to them at a young age. My boy is six, and we still have a long way to go. Again, I encourage you to start now and train them while they are young.

Stay well, brothers, until next time.

~ FA