More camp fun.....

[Dave951]

It seems that kids never tire of shooting stuff other than paper targets. We decided to try another type recently- stuffed toys. For some reason, they get a good laugh from knocking the stuffings out of a stuffed toy. The targets were unicorns and a "hello kitty". Kitty got sent to the great litter box in the sky while the larger unicorn soaked up over 25 musket ball hits and yes, there was "stuffin carnage" on the backstop. They also blasted apples, taters, and a couple water bottles for good measure so fun was had all the way around! And yes, we dress somewhat period to add to the day and the kids seem to enjoy history taught in a completely different manner all the while knocking the stuffins out of kitty.

I'm demonstrating loading patch round ball. On the left target frame just over a kid's head, you can make out the unicorn and second target left of the unicorn is kitty.



Here Charlie, aka "Mr President", is demonstrating the use of buck n ball in an original 1842 Macon smoothbore. In the background in colonial high fashion is "Flintlock Bob" with his extra fancy spiffy hat.


Shot fired in honor of San Juan Hill! Bully for you Mr President!

 

[USMC6094]

I remember going to similar "living history " demos when I was a kid, it made the history I was taught at home all the more tangible.
I'm glad it's still being done the right way....

 

[Dave951]

I remember going to similar "living history " demos when I was a kid, it made the history I was taught at home all the more tangible.
I'm glad it's still being done the right way....

The thing we do is after the historic "demo" we start into shooting live fire with black powder rifles for the rest of the day.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm a firm believer that shooting should always be fun. ESPECIALLY for those new to it and just learning.

To this day, if I find myself getting bored, tired, or just not feeling the fun at the range, I'll pack up and leave. Forcing it would just make me dread going again and shooting is something I want to always look forward to.

Change up the targets, for sure!

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Kids (and adults, but kids especially) love both variety and reactive targets. This is limited only by imagination.

Spent shotgun shells picked up of the range and set up on logs are awesome.

Empty soda cans filled with water area an excellent reactive target.

The ding/gong of steel is cool.

Battleship targets for precision competition is fun.

Balloons filled with flour (not inflated) and hung from a 2x4 strut are fun.

I used to practice "cutting down" small trees and saplings in front of backstops, too.

For the sharpshooters, bring a deck of playing cards. The object is to shoot the suits on the cards. A 10 of spades thus has 10 target spades to shoot at in competition (12, if you count the two corner spades a bonus ones). Also, playing cards make cool, and smaller to care for, targets to post or show friends.

And a lot of these are easy to set up and clean up.