Our young houseguest flew home today after a week of shooting. A city kid who had been to the range exactly twice in his life with .22s, before he got here last week, he left some pretty good scores behind. He was averaging three-quarters of a second to react to a start signal, raise his AR15, off-safe it, and score a hit at seven yards. Took him around one second to nail the target twice.  He was averaging a 95% score at 100 yards with the 5.56mm, did fine with the Beretta M9 pistol, and he just ate up the civilian versions of the M14 and the precision rifle.  It was a thing of joy to watch. He wanted to learn, and had no bad habits to burn out before he focused on building strong, repeatable technique.

I really enjoyed reading the commentary on my previous blog entries about his visit, and his familiarization with the guns he’ll be working with in the USMC.  I have no illusions about being able to train the lad better than the Marine Corps, but at least he won’t be flabbergasted by totally new technology and technique when he gets to Basic.  I agree in theory with those commentators who’d like to see some elements of the Swiss Model of citizen/soldier training incorporated in the USA, but I also agree with those who sadly say that the budget isn’t there to make it happen.  That’s why I think it’s important for us, the civilian friends and families of the next generation of fighting men and women, to give them the kind of head start that allowed Sergeant York and Colonel George and Audie Murphy and Carlos Hathcock to come back from war in one piece…and to leave so many enemy soldiers neutralized by the time their duty was done.

As I mentioned earlier, the little .22 Long Rifle Smith & Wesson M&P rifle, an AR15 clone with the exact same “manual of arms,” proved to be a great training tool.  It’s time to be thinking about “Christmas Presents for Shooter Folk,” something I touch on annually here.  The M&P .22 is available for under $500.

In my December 12, 2010 post here almost a year ago (archive function is at the right) I mentioned the Konus spotting scope as an excellent Christmas present. It has certainly served me well in the intervening year. The Konus was on the firing line the whole time the grandson was shooting at Appleseed last week, and is still an excellent buy. Ordering info is in that prior entry.

Konus spotting scope allows doting grandmother to tell when two of her grandson’s .22 slugs have gone through the same hole downrange at an Appleseed shoot.

 

Firing a SOCOM-16, spent 7.62mm NATO (.308 Winchester) case is jetting from ejection port (arrow) and dust is rising from powerful impact into backstop, but grandson still has muzzle on white silhouette downrange for the next shot.  “Da kid done good.”

1 COMMENT

  1. Mass, you said his performance on the range was a thing of joy to watch, but I can tell you it was a thing of joy to read, too. The training of our young warriors is a sacred obligation that too few see the need for or are capable of doing nowadays. Hats off to you and his grandmother for your loving and expert instruction for the young man.

  2. You’re a good man Mas. This young man should have a significant head start. Maybe the armed forces should make your training a prerequisite prior to basic!

  3. Mas, I wish I had you for a grandfather to learn the ropes of shooting….the RIGHT way. I have taken a few nephews and my son out to the range to enjoy the fine sport of shooting. I proudly exercise my 2nd amendment right and am teaching my son to do the same. Happy Holidays!

  6. Mas, your training has gone to the corp, my son, my daughter, my son-in-law and my grandson, I was able to pass on to them. My grandson had 2 days with me and one day with my twin Gar before boot camp. I followed my uncle into the corp and Sempi Fi

  7. Mas,
    if pride was a felony you would be locked up for life. This is a lucky young man and the Corps will be lucky (and glad) to have him.

  8. Good work, Mas. You’ve given the young man a great head start. And you really hit the nail on the head when you wrote there were no bad habits to burn.

  9. He’s going to have one heck of a start in the Marines, that’s for sure. Next step should be arming him with the all the good Marine jokes you know 😛

    On the topic of the AR-15, what are the proven loads Police are using nowadays? I hear mixed things about the M855…

  11. I think as gun owners and protectors of the 2nd Amendment our most important and sacred duty is teaching the next generation to shoot and respect firearms as well as having an inherit love for shooting, freedom, liberty and the 2nd Amendment. Hats off to you, sir, for taking up this challenge as I am sure you have already done countless times already.

  12. My new hobby is giving away rifles. So far, three Garands, one M1 carbine, and a Marlin guide gun (if the lad pulls his grades up by the end of the school year)