WA State Noobie

[DeanH]

Hi, I live just about an hour away from PeEll and actually have been looking to relocate there. Anyhow, my wife and I have decided to get my two youngest boys into shooting sports and I feel that shooting Silhouette is the best choice for them. The fact that we live fairly close to PeEll is a factor in that decision. Right now I shoot competitive pistol in Longview shooting bowing pins and feel that competitive shooting is a great way for my boys to build kills and self esteem. This is also going to be great way for me to spend bonding time with my boys.

I know that there is a match tomorrow in PeEll but I have prior engagements that will not allow me to attend this match.

what I would like to know is the following:

#1 What is a good SB rifle to start my boys on. 12 1/2 years old and 9 years old? I am willing to purchase a rifle for each because there is a size difference between the two.
#2 Where can I find the rules and regulations for matches and equipment requirements?
#3 Is there anyone in my the local area who is willing to take me under their wing and help me get started?

[Innocent]

DeanH, First welcome to the addiction!
While I live almnost as far away in the upper 48 as you can get I can assure that there are several in the PeEll club as well as others in WA that will be more than willing to help with juniors. As for rifles, I suggest you take the boys out to a few local matches, silhouette shooters will let you try theirs, you did not mention one important fact, age and size does matter but more important is eye dominance and dominate hand. If there is a strong eye dominace, goes with that first for how to shoot a rifle.

On this site is several links to the rules and history of the sport, probably the most comprehensive is link put togher by AZ Shooter ( Jerry Webster).

Now to get your wife involved as well!!! This is very much a family sport and a lot of fun. Jason (McCurry) who posts on this page, has several daughters he is just starting out, as well as the Webmaster (Mike) who has two boys shooting now and the 3rd in the wings, Byron has helped witha lot of juniors and ofcourse two of my favortie buddies Dennis M, and Pete (Loren Peters). Look forward to meeting you at next years CBC in PeEll.

Mary

[DeanH]

This is very much going to be the whole family shooting. I am going to pick another gun for myself, but I talked with the wife today and she is going to run with her 10/22 for now. The boys are 12 1/2 and 9 as mentioned in question #1. They have semi autos right now but want to pick up bolts for this.

So how does the match work? Is it a number of shots you are allowed or is there a time limit? How far out are the targets?

[Trent]

On this site is several links to the rules and history of the sport, probably the most comprehensive is link put together by AZ Shooter ( Jerry Webster).

Mary

Mary meant to post the link to Jerry's website. He is AZrifle here on this website. Jerry's website is a great source of information, like Mary said. You'll enjoy checking it out.

http://members.cox.net/riflesilhouette/

[DeanH]

thank you for the help to both responders.

[mordecai]

Most of the local matches are $5 person and you can usually shoot 1 or 2 matches if you like.

The town of Littlerock has the Capital City Gun Club that hosts indoor rimfire matches for the local high-school(s)... I don't know the specifics, but they offer leagues for kids and adults alike.

The age of 11-13 is about as early as you can get the little shooters to shoot while they can hold their rifle steady, but they are always welcome to shoot off the bench or a hybrid of this to encourage the sport.

[Innocent]

Mike...while I agree with you about starting them from the bench, age of holding a rifle steady is dependent on the child and the rifle. I have seen Coates and Adam go head to head for sub junior national champ at the age of 9, then there is Blake from Montana who is just 9, now. Getting a rifle that fits the child, and having some good coaching, makes a difference. I will admit that the intensity of stress on the parent (or in Adams case grandparent) did not help their shooting a lot, but hey I had fun and Coates has in matches shot standing since he was six.
Those are silhouette examples, I have seen and coached many under the age of 10 in position shooting as well, much of it has to do with the maturity of the child and commitment from the parents to encourage, and provide the needed equipment.
One of my best sub juniors in the 70's was a kid we called Half Pint, because of his size, but at 7 he was determined to beat his older and much bigger brother who was 12, took less than 3 months to have HP winning.

Mary

[RickNW]

I think I might be able to help, there are several Jr Shooting clubs around your area, I went through the 3 Position with the Juniors- at a senior age- they are great! The biggest thing is age and experience. There is a begineers Junior group that shoots indoor Air Rifles at the Elks Club in Centrailia, smaller kids and less experience; but learning the positions. A junior that shoots Air Rifle Field Taraget with the adults was shooting with them; but school and parents to shuttle her were a problem.

Starting out in MS might be tough, verses 3P/Olympic shooting might be a good avenue- they will be great shooters and can shoot any disclipline after that. Not as high of expectations, they hit the paper, start supported, learn Prone, kneeling and offhand one step at a time. All our local Champs have shot 3 or 4 Position, and they are still great Position shooters still. We have indoor evening shooting leagues at Capital City Indoors 4P in Winter and currently indoor, 50 ft Silhouette at reduced paper targets.

The next step would be one of the clubs around Olympia; however during the outdoor months they shoot at Tacoma Rifle and Revolver every Tuesday and Thursday. I know they were full or clsoe to what would be a full group. John Crossman runs the Junior groups, has 3 or 4 teams that train together and compete Nationaly and Internationaly. They have rifles for loaners, again depending on age and size.

For Smallbore we have: 1st Sat Practice Match at Tacoma Sportsman, 2nd Sun MS at Tacoma, 3rd Sat Air MS at Tacoma Rifle and Revolver, 3rd Sun MS at Capital City Rifle and Revolver and 4th Sunday MS at Pe Ell. The Pe Ell range is cool and well run; but thinking the Tacoma Sportsman 1st Sat would be a great place to start, I did and a few friends that I have tried it too. There are usually a couple other Juniors starting out standing and using a rest to help support the rifles- young kids! Another thing that might get the kids interested is resetting the targets, we have a tip jar and they walk out making some cash too.

I'm new to MS, still learning and having fun, just show up, again I'd suggest the Tacoma Sportsman- more kids and parents with same issues.

Rick

[Innocent]

Rick,
While I agree with you that starting in MS is tough, most match directors are willing to let young new shooters start from the bench (not for record ofcourse) and MS has the distinct advantage over 3 or 4P in that the targets are reactive, something everyone likes. So from the point of view in keeping the kids active and interested MS has position/prone shooting beat, no questions. Also in the many years shooting both, the 3P that I have seen recently is geared so much to olympic shooting, and not towards the 'fun' matches we had in the 60's and 70's. MS is always challenging, very family oriented, even those that don't like to compete can become valuable spotters etc. and overall much stronger in the self discipline factors than prone and position. Also, I have seen several juniors move from MS to collegiate position very easily, as they already have many of the more difficult training requirements down.

Mary