Typically Memorial Day is spent at the coast bathing a pent up saltwater addiction with sun and sand. Fore casted 30 mph winds and overbearing grass in the surf re-directed us to the ranch. Caleb turned 13 this month. So we turned this opportunity a day of dad / son time before 5 of his buddies came along to celebrate his birthday and hunt hogs (come back for later posts for that).
Despite the blowhard forecast - Thursday afternoon was a 95 degree pressure cooker in deep south Texas. No wind to speak of.
A particular habit the boy and I developed comes from my youth. Hours and hours farting around with an old friend - Lance Fox. As long as I can remember, if we read about it in a book or saw it on TV, we'd try it. Hand tossed dimes, quarters, marbles, with BB guns and .22's we did it. 50 - 75 yard shots with multi-pump pellet guns, crappy scopes and some serious hold off - you bet! Flying stuff with bow and arrows - no problem. There are saltwater issues. Kingfish, offshore, on medium action bass fishing gear and 12 pound line. Done! We never could stop blackfin tuna on 8 lb line though. Tons of stuff people say can't be done - can....you just gotta try it.
Caleb is a talented shot and kids think everything is possible. Passing on the "can do" philosophy is easy. Incoming clays with a pellet gun and .22 - he's done it. Hell on wheels with a shotgun, blowgun, and very solid at 25 yards shooting 9mm brass with my RWS. 500 yards with a .223 or 30.06, trust me, you don't want to be on the receiving end! So we're always pushing the limits because paper punching is boring. So we decided to cut a playing card in half with a .22 since we'd seen some guy do it on TV. A sawhorse, handy grooves - nice!
Your target awaits.
20 yards away - the cards view. Do notice he is not pointing at me....just for artistic effect.
Well, it took 4 shots.
First of all, you gun guys and gals will notice the rifle. It is a full sized Henry lever action .22 with a Truglo red dot sight on top. This rifle is super accurate, including a silky smooth action - solid as a vault. They ain't cheap, but nothing good is cheap, so don't skimp on your kids. This gun will be around when I am laying under the daisy roots.
Now it's time for the old man - 5 shots. Maybe we need to back it up! Gotta tell you, it is very satisfying to hit something that small.
My more fastidious readers will notice all the scratches. Well, yeah, uh, it slid off the roof of the ranch house and fell to the ground last November. It was a much safer situation than it sounds - while sounding completely stupid. Thus I am justifying the actions of a mismanaged situation.....on the upside we proved durability at a level you won't see on a comment or message board anywhere else!
Dad and son, easy times, relaxing a bit and pushing the limits of marksmanship. It is a great way to become a superb shot. If you can hit the edge of a card, everything else is easier.
Take a kid outdoors, teach them to participate in the ecosystem because apex predators rock.
Especially when they have cool toys.
Small Boy with Laugh Lines
A.D.D. is AWESOME
