We did a modified version of this (plastic guns in toddlerhood had to be handled as if they were real; no flagging us, only shoot at what you're trying to 'kill'). Our baby gators were too close to Big Momma, who had been fed whole grocery store chickens by the previous owners of our farm (idiots), and frankly I had never even thought of catching baby gators by hand. However, DS did turn out to be a great self-taught wild hog hunter, carrying his AR-15, wandering all over our and nearby properties (with permission), occasionally crawling through tunnels in the brush with his pistol out (I didn't know about that ahead of time), and keeping us from having to buy pork for years. He's at college now, so we're back to our farm-raised beef and lamb.
AR-15s are utterly inappropriate for children. They lack the size, strength, and coordination to make use of them, and are liable to hurt themselves.
Instead, children should be issued crew-served weapons. Since these tend to be static, the children do not need to carry them. Further, they teach the virtues of cooperation.
This parallels very closely how I was raised and how I raised my daughters. Both are very accomplished hunters (rifle, handgun and archery).
As far as the AR-15 goes… I do have a 5.56 to round out the collection(5.56, 300BO, 6.5 Grendel and 458 SOCOM). The M1A and Hk91 are my “go do’s” for bad guys and same caliber in a bolt gin for hunting.
I find this entertaining, as it must be your upbringing..? Anyway, any weapon in the hands of a practiced expert is a deadly one. Yes, if one is "in the shit", one certainly wants the caliber upper hand but if you are a suburban home dweller that wishes to protect your Castle, then a 12 ga, a 9mm handgun, and a .556 rifle will do just fine.
I am an USAF veteran that would have loved to flown a Warthog and pulverize some range targets with 30mm... witnessed it from an OV-10 Bronco... mesmerizing!
I never had a Son to impart these teachings to.
My experience under my Step-dad, Dick... .22 short via 1890 Winchester (8 - 11 y.o) 16ga. Browning pump via1938 Browning Sweet16( 11 - up), 30-06 Springfield bolt action (13 - up). I do Love a .444 magnum lever action, when hunting in thick bush!
Rabbits, dove, quail, pheasant, deer, and hogs were harvested. Yummy good natural foods.
Many, many, years ago in the late 1980s, I had a friend who was from Beirut. He was (and I suppose still is) a Phalangist who had come to the US for some training. I asked him what he thought of the M-16, which the US was supplying to the Phalangists during the Lebanese Civil War (or so he said). He told me that every time his guys got a shipment of M16s, they'd immediately go out and engage some Muslims, kill them, and take their AKs. He said that the the biggest problem he had with it was that at the ranges he fought, by the time the bullet hit the target it had slowed down so much that it was like fighting with a .22. It might be great for jungle fighting, but not longer range stuff. He much preferred to fight with an AK.
However, there are two good reasons to own an AR.
First, I think it's actually a great weapon to introduce young adults (rather than children) to shooting. ARs are, more than anything else, fun to shoot. For an adult, they are as easy to handle as a .22, but they feel like a lot more. And they seem sexy to novices. I have an in-law who has been scared of guns forever, but in the past couple of years, he changed, and decided to try shooting.
He asked me to have his family come over and for me to introduce them to various weapons. He brought his two sons, who were right around 18-19 years old. They'd never fired a weapon before. Of all my firearms, they got the biggest kick out of firing my old AR. When they got out on their own, it was the first firearm both of the kids bought.
The second reason to own an AR is simple. It is, more than anything else, a poltiical statement. I own an AR platform because I can, and because it pisses anti-gun folk off. No more no less. The AR is not the best firearm for *anything,* but it's "OK" for a lot of stuff. It may not be a great gun for bringing down a deer, but I've done it a number of times without a problem. I put it in about the same league as my .30 cal M1 carbine (which I consider much more fun to shoot). But I don't care. I don't care if it's not as good as my .308 for game. I don't care if it's overkill for plinking. I bought an AR because it's a political statement saying "I don't need this gun, but I'm buying it because it's an explicit exercise of my rights, and it pisses you off."
Started exactly this way. BB/Pellet gun. Crosman—had to pump it—so no rapid fire. No shooting at animals. .22s and shotgun when supervised. Best friends Dad (retired USMC Col/Guadalcanal vet) set up a range with a BB trap in their walled courtyard, where he could supervise from his office window. Learned to clear and make safe any type of weapon. First .22 at 10, bolt action and the hand me down H&R 20 gauge from my uncles. Shot the .22 at NRA events—got up to 6th Sharpshooter bar (I think) by 12. Precision counts. Learning to stack 5 shots through mostly one hole is useful. But agree with you, when an adult “life begins at .30”
Well, my NV might go wacky from the recoil of anything above 5.56 so I guess that faux-M4 will stay handy in the bedroom for now. But, there is the AR-10 and a couple of FALS!
What do you recommend for a female in NY who knows NOTHING about guns but wants to learn? (I think having one is a good idea, just in case ...) The shooting range nearby requires you bring your own. And the recent laws will no doubt be a challenge.
AR-15.
7.62x51.
Michael.
Absolutely perfect.
Thanks Michael.
We did a modified version of this (plastic guns in toddlerhood had to be handled as if they were real; no flagging us, only shoot at what you're trying to 'kill'). Our baby gators were too close to Big Momma, who had been fed whole grocery store chickens by the previous owners of our farm (idiots), and frankly I had never even thought of catching baby gators by hand. However, DS did turn out to be a great self-taught wild hog hunter, carrying his AR-15, wandering all over our and nearby properties (with permission), occasionally crawling through tunnels in the brush with his pistol out (I didn't know about that ahead of time), and keeping us from having to buy pork for years. He's at college now, so we're back to our farm-raised beef and lamb.
AR-15s are utterly inappropriate for children. They lack the size, strength, and coordination to make use of them, and are liable to hurt themselves.
Instead, children should be issued crew-served weapons. Since these tend to be static, the children do not need to carry them. Further, they teach the virtues of cooperation.
That's why I love my M1-A
“We ain’t poor, revolutionary, or commies.” Well in Biden’s America it seems like I soon will be poor.
This parallels very closely how I was raised and how I raised my daughters. Both are very accomplished hunters (rifle, handgun and archery).
As far as the AR-15 goes… I do have a 5.56 to round out the collection(5.56, 300BO, 6.5 Grendel and 458 SOCOM). The M1A and Hk91 are my “go do’s” for bad guys and same caliber in a bolt gin for hunting.
Spot on article!!!
I find this entertaining, as it must be your upbringing..? Anyway, any weapon in the hands of a practiced expert is a deadly one. Yes, if one is "in the shit", one certainly wants the caliber upper hand but if you are a suburban home dweller that wishes to protect your Castle, then a 12 ga, a 9mm handgun, and a .556 rifle will do just fine.
I am an USAF veteran that would have loved to flown a Warthog and pulverize some range targets with 30mm... witnessed it from an OV-10 Bronco... mesmerizing!
I never had a Son to impart these teachings to.
My experience under my Step-dad, Dick... .22 short via 1890 Winchester (8 - 11 y.o) 16ga. Browning pump via1938 Browning Sweet16( 11 - up), 30-06 Springfield bolt action (13 - up). I do Love a .444 magnum lever action, when hunting in thick bush!
Rabbits, dove, quail, pheasant, deer, and hogs were harvested. Yummy good natural foods.
Blessings!
Love it. Awesome
Many, many, years ago in the late 1980s, I had a friend who was from Beirut. He was (and I suppose still is) a Phalangist who had come to the US for some training. I asked him what he thought of the M-16, which the US was supplying to the Phalangists during the Lebanese Civil War (or so he said). He told me that every time his guys got a shipment of M16s, they'd immediately go out and engage some Muslims, kill them, and take their AKs. He said that the the biggest problem he had with it was that at the ranges he fought, by the time the bullet hit the target it had slowed down so much that it was like fighting with a .22. It might be great for jungle fighting, but not longer range stuff. He much preferred to fight with an AK.
However, there are two good reasons to own an AR.
First, I think it's actually a great weapon to introduce young adults (rather than children) to shooting. ARs are, more than anything else, fun to shoot. For an adult, they are as easy to handle as a .22, but they feel like a lot more. And they seem sexy to novices. I have an in-law who has been scared of guns forever, but in the past couple of years, he changed, and decided to try shooting.
He asked me to have his family come over and for me to introduce them to various weapons. He brought his two sons, who were right around 18-19 years old. They'd never fired a weapon before. Of all my firearms, they got the biggest kick out of firing my old AR. When they got out on their own, it was the first firearm both of the kids bought.
The second reason to own an AR is simple. It is, more than anything else, a poltiical statement. I own an AR platform because I can, and because it pisses anti-gun folk off. No more no less. The AR is not the best firearm for *anything,* but it's "OK" for a lot of stuff. It may not be a great gun for bringing down a deer, but I've done it a number of times without a problem. I put it in about the same league as my .30 cal M1 carbine (which I consider much more fun to shoot). But I don't care. I don't care if it's not as good as my .308 for game. I don't care if it's overkill for plinking. I bought an AR because it's a political statement saying "I don't need this gun, but I'm buying it because it's an explicit exercise of my rights, and it pisses you off."
Wrong (sort of - I do like 300BO). Logistics - 5.56 is everywhere. And cheap.
Shot placement is everything.
Started exactly this way. BB/Pellet gun. Crosman—had to pump it—so no rapid fire. No shooting at animals. .22s and shotgun when supervised. Best friends Dad (retired USMC Col/Guadalcanal vet) set up a range with a BB trap in their walled courtyard, where he could supervise from his office window. Learned to clear and make safe any type of weapon. First .22 at 10, bolt action and the hand me down H&R 20 gauge from my uncles. Shot the .22 at NRA events—got up to 6th Sharpshooter bar (I think) by 12. Precision counts. Learning to stack 5 shots through mostly one hole is useful. But agree with you, when an adult “life begins at .30”
Well, my NV might go wacky from the recoil of anything above 5.56 so I guess that faux-M4 will stay handy in the bedroom for now. But, there is the AR-10 and a couple of FALS!
What do you recommend for a female in NY who knows NOTHING about guns but wants to learn? (I think having one is a good idea, just in case ...) The shooting range nearby requires you bring your own. And the recent laws will no doubt be a challenge.