Kids Shooting Course Advice

[padreweis]

Dear Len and other LR wizzards,
I am currently putting together a non-profit rifle shooting camp for kids 11-17 in eastern South Dakota. The kids will use the rifle they intent hunt with next fall and will be engaging targets out to 400 yards.
Though I am a retired US Special Forces Sniper and have a great deal of experience training soldiers to shoot the enemy I have not taught kids other than my own. Shooting two legged critters is much different than shooting four legged ones. Would you or do you know of one of your members that would be willing to do a "sanity check" on my course content and provide advice?
Thanks In Advance,
Pete

 

[Buffalobob]

A few of the current instructors at the Special Forces sniper school are moderators on another forum that I am a member of:

Professional Soldiers ®

You should ask the same question there.

 

[Oliveralan]

I'd be very interested to look it over. I'm 17 and fairly experienced hunter and active competitive LR shooter. I also have a 14yr old brother I could show it to. He had a little shootin experience not much. Could be beneficial to have some kids perspective on it. I think this is a great idea.

Send me a pm if you'd like me to look at it.

 

[padreweis]

Thanks Oliver, I just might do that. I am fairly close to several of the kids I will be teaching and have gotten some feed back from them already.

Buffalo Bob, I have already sent to a some of my buddies down at SOTIC and recieved the feedback I expected to get. I am really trying to get a non-military / hunting perspective on this.

Thanks Guys!

 

[Buffalobob]

Buffalo Bob, I have already sent to a some of my buddies down at SOTIC and recieved the feedback I expected to get. I am really trying to get a non-military / hunting perspective on this.

That forum is definitely a pain in the butt. It is paid for by an active duty SF and has several active duty moderators. They make you fill in your profile and then vette you to ensure that you actually are what you claim to be. Getting vetted was easy for me being as Jack Moroney was my B- team CO. Lots of people don't want to or can't prove what they say they are. That forum also has a couple of guys who spend a lot of time chasing down people who violate the Stolen Valor Act.

Funny thing happened one day last year out at the Green Ridge rifle range in Western Maryland.

Seal Team 5 - Professional Soldiers ®

 

[padreweis]

That forum is definitely a pain in the butt. It is paid for by an active duty SF and has several active duty moderators. They make you fill in your profile and then vette you to ensure that you actually are what you claim to be. Getting vetted was easy for me being as Jack Moroney was my B- team CO. Lots of people don't want to or can't prove what they say they are. That forum also has a couple of guys who spend a lot of time chasing down people who violate the Stolen Valor Act.

Funny thing happened one day last year out at the Green Ridge rifle range in Western Maryland.

Seal Team 5 - Professional Soldiers ®

Yeah Bob, you run into posers all the time. I reckon we should just be flattered.

Pete

 

[SBruce]

I used to be a junior firearms instructor in the 4-H program. I was about 15 myself at the time and was teaching younger kids <12 to shoot 22 rimfire at 50 to 100 yds. They seemed to relate better to another "kid" then they did adults, which was part of the reason I got picked. I had been shooting for about 9 years and loading my own centerfire rifle ammo for about 3 years, guess I had more experience then some of the adults did, which is the other reason they picked me.

Long story short, I now have my own grandkids and still shoot every chance I get. I've competed in alot of different shooting sports over the years, from archery to 300 yd benchrest, coyote hunting competions to cowboy mounted shooting. I've also been a hunting guide for Wyoming deer and antelope for about 30 yrs off and on (yes, I know it says 18 in my introduction to this site, typo....was supposed to say 28 but I can no longer go back and edit it...sorry)

I would take a look at your program if you'd like.

Kids and women are the ones we really need interested in our sport. I'd be glad to help.

 

[padreweis]

I used to be a junior firearms instructor in the 4-H program. I was about 15 myself at the time and was teaching younger kids <12 to shoot 22 rimfire at 50 to 100 yds. They seemed to relate better to another "kid" then they did adults, which was part of the reason I got picked. I had been shooting for about 9 years and loading my own centerfire rifle ammo for about 3 years, guess I had more experience then some of the adults did, which is the other reason they picked me.

Long story short, I now have my own grandkids and still shoot every chance I get. I've competed in alot of different shooting sports over the years, from archery to 300 yd benchrest, coyote hunting competions to cowboy mounted shooting. I've also been a hunting guide for Wyoming deer and antelope for about 30 yrs off and on (yes, I know it says 18 in my introduction to this site, typo....was supposed to say 28 but I can no longer go back and edit it...sorry)

I would take a look at your program if you'd like.

Kids and women are the ones we really need interested in our sport. I'd be glad to help.

Thanks for all your help and comments Shane! Certaainlly help me see I am am on the right track and provided some new/fresh ideas.

Thanks!
Pete

 

[padreweis]

Update! After many hours of emails and phone calls this shooting camp has shaped up quite nicely. Thanks to some VERY gracious sponsors the range facility, target materials, bipods, ammo, cleaning supplies and sack lunches have all been DONATED!!!! This is a awesome country we live in.... it shows me once again why I spent 25 years defending it.

I think I am actually more excited than the boys are about this. I just hope the weather plays nice with us in the begining of june.

gun)

 

[SBruce]

Glad to hear it's all coming together nicely!

It's a great thing you're doing. I hope the weather is good for ya too.

 

[RDM416]

padreweis,

I have been working with our local 4-H shooting sports group for a while and will be going tomorrow for two days of additional training to become a rifle coach.

The 4-H training is heavy on "how to work with kids" and "safety" and light on shooting techniques. With your background I am sure you can handle the shooting techniques and safety just fine. I would be happy to look over your curriculum to see if there are any suggestions I can provide based on the 4-H program.

Thank you for doing this for the kids and thank you for your service to our country!! I would drive out to SD with my kids (11 & 13) but they have 4-H shooting competition week in early June, then church camp for a week beginning the day 4-H is over.

 

[Broz]

I am a certified NRA trainer in shotgun, rifle and pistol. Also a certified range office through NRA. I have done some hunter safety with kids and also some Boy Scout range officer work.

If there is anything I can do to help you please let me know.

Jeff

e-mail jdd2909 at MT.net

 

[padreweis]

Well Boys the Clark Youth Shooting Camp is now in the record books!! The kids and I had a total blast!!! Thanks all of those of you folks that lent advise. All the kid where able to obtain good groups out to 300 yards to include my one 30-30 lever gun that was able to bang away at a 10 inch gong at that range. My older boys were all shooting solid out to 400 yards.

We had decent weather but the wind was a quite interesting. The last day was the only day that we had wind BELOW 15 MPH..... it made for great training!

Thanks abian guys for all your help.

Pete

 

[SBruce]

Glad to hear it went well and that you didn't get rained out.