CLUTCHfan
Member
Merry Christmas everyone!
Guess I'll give a little background before I ask my actual questions. My nieces have taken their hunters safety courses, and have been out with myself or my father a couple times. They are 13 and 14. I've had them shooting bb guns occasionally over the last few years. The older girl got her first turkey this fall. The younger girl missed hers. They had previously been on a squirrel hunt that didn't go particularly well, and even though they were only shooting 28ga guns, I think the squirrel hunt very nearly turned the younger girl off to hunting all together because of the recoil of the shotgun. Part of this was due to the gun not fitting her well, which we have fixed. It still made her very recoil sensitive. The older girl came w me on her first deer hunt this year, and she is okay w the 20ga shooting slugs (shotgun only in my county). As an incentive to get them/keep them interested in hunting, I decided that it was time, and that they were old enough and responsible enough to have their own gun. For Christmas I bought them each a marlin 795 .22. After some hesitation, they were both having a great time with them this afternoon, and the younger girl said she REALLY liked her new gun, and mentioned how little it "pushed back". My plan is to get them comfortable and competent w the .22s (shooting before or after Sunday dinner every week), and then re-acquaint the younger girl to hunting by going after woodchucks in the spring. I figure this is the best way, because the weather is nice, it's easy hunting, and she'll get to use her new gun. After I get them comfortable with iron sights, I will be putting a scope on each gun and then get them comfortable with that.
So now for my questions.
- Does everyone think this is the right way to go about this? Any suggestions that may be different, or that may work better, or on something I should change?
- Planning on getting them 6x fixed power scopes for the .22s. Would 3x9 variables be a better choice? Would 4x? Typically we can shoot woodchucks between 50-100yds at the spot I'll be taking them to. At some point I'll be taking them for squirrels as well. Was looking at nikko sterling scopes earlier today because they are in my price range for the immediate future, and have mildot reticles.
- Anyone have any other advice?
Appreciate any and all responses.
Guess I'll give a little background before I ask my actual questions. My nieces have taken their hunters safety courses, and have been out with myself or my father a couple times. They are 13 and 14. I've had them shooting bb guns occasionally over the last few years. The older girl got her first turkey this fall. The younger girl missed hers. They had previously been on a squirrel hunt that didn't go particularly well, and even though they were only shooting 28ga guns, I think the squirrel hunt very nearly turned the younger girl off to hunting all together because of the recoil of the shotgun. Part of this was due to the gun not fitting her well, which we have fixed. It still made her very recoil sensitive. The older girl came w me on her first deer hunt this year, and she is okay w the 20ga shooting slugs (shotgun only in my county). As an incentive to get them/keep them interested in hunting, I decided that it was time, and that they were old enough and responsible enough to have their own gun. For Christmas I bought them each a marlin 795 .22. After some hesitation, they were both having a great time with them this afternoon, and the younger girl said she REALLY liked her new gun, and mentioned how little it "pushed back". My plan is to get them comfortable and competent w the .22s (shooting before or after Sunday dinner every week), and then re-acquaint the younger girl to hunting by going after woodchucks in the spring. I figure this is the best way, because the weather is nice, it's easy hunting, and she'll get to use her new gun. After I get them comfortable with iron sights, I will be putting a scope on each gun and then get them comfortable with that.
So now for my questions.
- Does everyone think this is the right way to go about this? Any suggestions that may be different, or that may work better, or on something I should change?
- Planning on getting them 6x fixed power scopes for the .22s. Would 3x9 variables be a better choice? Would 4x? Typically we can shoot woodchucks between 50-100yds at the spot I'll be taking them to. At some point I'll be taking them for squirrels as well. Was looking at nikko sterling scopes earlier today because they are in my price range for the immediate future, and have mildot reticles.
- Anyone have any other advice?
Appreciate any and all responses.