Stelfer 5 Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Hello fellow shooters/hunters, I have just recently found a passion for air rifle target shooting after an absence of some 30 years or so. I started plinking in my back garden as a boy. Sadly motor bikes, smoking, drinking and girls took over my life and I didn't follow on shooting. I always had an underlying love of shooting and was a decent shot with what ever i picked up. Well I am now 45 years young and have a couple of lovely kids and an understanding wife. I was offered a lone of a SMK38 mark 2 some 2 months ago with a view to shooting with my 9 year old son. Immediately I realised the gun was way to heavy for my son to handle. So rather than put him off shooting altogether, I put a scope on it and got myself some range time at the excellent facilities provided by "The Ranges" in devises, formally a 45 metre centrefire pistol range built in a old Railway tunnel. The staff there are very knowledgeable and accommodating of novices. It wasn't long before I was totally hooked. I have been shooting 2-3 times a week at a "The Ranges" and the outdoor range currently built at Barbery shooting school. I soon found that my shooting accuracy was being seriously compromised by the SMK, although I was getting some good grouping, the gun just wasn't consistent enough for me. So I ended up buying a excellent HW77 after reading an inspiring post on this site about shooting techniques. I love this gun and I'm consistently hitting good scores on the range. I chopped in the SMK38 for a very lightweight SMK underpowered at 9lb/ft break barrel for my son. He is going to open it on Xmas morning and he will freak out. I'm really looking forward to shooting with my son and teaching him shooting is a challenging exacting skill and not just a pass time on a computer game. As far as actual hunting is concerned I am currently sorting out some permission to shoot on a friends land. It wont be for a couple of months but I cant wait to get out there and use the HW77 for what it was designed for. Still got to convince the wife that my son can come out and shoot wildlife with me. She is happy with him target shooting but not so convinced he should shoot animals. Its a work in process and hopefully by the summer if he takes to it we should be bagging some bunnies etc together. Anyway, this short hello has somehow turned into a life story. Therefore I'll stop here and let everyone know how it goes with the Xmas present and father son shooting in the new year. I'm looking forward to gleaning lots of tips from the members here as our need for help is bound to be extensive and there seems to be a wealth of experience on show here. I want to make it as much fun for my son as it is for me, so any tips on nurturing a young shooter without turning him off it with giving him to much to soon will be much appreciated. I have a scope for his rifle but I was thinking, I'll get him shooting with open sights at tin cans in the back garden before pushing him to far to quick. If anyone has any opinions on this I would love to hear them. ATB Steve. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The one 8,512 Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Hello and welcome mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
walshie 2,804 Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Great first post. Welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
compoundarcher 35 Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 hi welcome to the knowledge forum... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j j m 6,563 Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 welcome bud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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