Kids and a .22 dueling tree

[kilopaparomeo]

Purchased one of these last week

http://www.actiontargetbeta.com/store/featured-products/at-rimfire-sport-dueling-tree.html



I researched these and the "cheap" ones had a lot of bad reviews that they fell apart after several hundred rounds.  

I dragged a mess of kids (9, 11, 13) and .22 pistols / rifles out on Friday night and we shot and shot and shot.  The kids liked the challenge...they shot against each other (sudden elimination and based on #of shots) then we shot teams (they took turns being with me) then all 3 teamed up and shot against me.  In about 90 minutes, we went through a 550 round Federal value pack.  They were absolutely delighted and were really disappointed when we were out of ammo.

In that short session I think they learned a lot...1) shooting fast doesn't compensate for missing the target, 2) long guns are a lot easier to hit with than handguns, 3) don't discount the man with a lever gun...he can often keep up with a tricked out seni-auto, 4) you might be able to hit every shot in practice but when it's man-against-man, somehow those hits turn into misses.

After shooting, we made our traditional stop at the convenience store to buy a pop (for the last 10 years, I have never failed to stop and get a pop after shooting) and then we met my wife and went out for Thai food.

I wish I would have taken picutres but we were having too much fun.  Best $120 I've spent in a long time.

[MikeBjerum]

Sounds like a great time!

A lot of lessons learned there, and after the safety and fun spent outside with friends rather than in front of a video game the best two shooting lessons some never learn were 1.  You don't need a fancy gun to do well, and 2.  You can't shoot fast enough to make up for a miss.

Actually everything you did was a great lesson for everyone!

I'm sure that tree will provide many more good days to come!  After all, where can a man and three kids have an hour and a half of fun for the small cost of a carton of .22's and some pops?

[1Buckshot]

I bought a dueling tree for our pistol range a few years ago and it the most shot AT target we have on that range. After a bunch of prodding I ordered one for the 22 range last week. Looks like it will be here in time for the spring whether. IF it ever gets here.

[crusader rabbit]

It's a really great thing when life lessons are so much fun--and even neater when the expense is so low.  And you getting everybody a pop at the end of the day brought back a lot of memories for me.

Quite possibly the most shooting fun times I ever had were when my Uncle Jack took me out into the California desert and taught me how to shoot his .22 bolt action--and bought us both a pop when the ammo ran out.  Shooting cans and bottles is thirsty work.  A dueling tree would have been a very welcome addition.

Uncle Jack is long gone now, but he left me with wonderful memories and pretty fair shooting skills.  He also left me that old rifle and it's in my safe right now.  I'm waiting for the day I can take my young grandsons out and pass those lessons on to them with the very same gun. 

Cherish those memories.  I'm certain the kids will.  And thanks for sharing the experience.

[bryand71]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlvBg4qbMqU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMeW3BcNmxI


A couple of videos Nutnfancy made about Action Targets that might be interesting to some of you. Good stuff, wish I had the green for some steel targets! 

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