Planned on hitting the range for a quick session this morning. When he heard that, Lucas, my five year old, asked if he could come along. He's shot some colibri shells out of his chipmunk in the back yard but never a full powered round of .22.

I figured we'd give his 'big boy rifle' a try so I loaded up some light .38 special loads for his 1894 Marlin.

He had a great time and after a few .22's he wanted to try the Marlin. he needed some help holding it steady but he did a great job!!

Here he is pointing out his first shot, center mass!

And at the end of the day

We shot at some 45% scale IPSC steel plates and he hit them the majority of the time from 25 yards. I put a reciever sight on it last night and I think it helped out some.

Byron, I wanted you to know your old carbine went to a loving home. I also wanted to let you know you don't have the market completely cornered on cute redhead kids!!! I'm looking forward to the day when Lucas' younger brother can come out with us, also with his 1894 Marlin, the Cowboy, that came from you!

I know you're pretty proud of him too:) Mine are all grown and 16 months into bein' a grandpa. It's about time to start his gun collection I reckon.

Kid needs a OM Blackhawk or K frame as a companion gun...

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

In all seriousness...great pictures of a proud kid. I love it.

Matt

That's starting them out right.

--

I am honored to be able to share these three five seven Marlins with your family.

Looking back I probably should have not sold them to you so cheap...or maybe just given them to your boys instead....then you would really owe me!

Beautiful boy and a treasure for us mortals here on earth. Teach him "to ride, shoot straight and tell the truth".

The physical anthropologists tell us that in 50 years there will be no redheaded humans being born due to the nature of the recessive redhead gene. Just a damn shame.

"You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.

Can you hear and do you care and
Cant you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.

Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you."

CSNY

I love taking kids out to shoot. Real good looking boy there Doug.