I got an email from my son last week saying that he wanted to come down today and spend some time at the range. He is in his early 40's and a very successful and very busy attorney. He just completed two back to back trials and was wanting to unwind a bit. This is the first time he has asked about shooting in 15 years or so.

When he graduated from law school in 95 he asked for a pistol and I gave him a Smith 9mm. Several years ago I gave him a Winchester Defender as handguns were illegal in the city he lived in at that time and the Smith came home with me. He can now legally possess both thankfully.

We spent about 4 hours on the range today and he shot both the Winchester and his Smith as well as several as my guns. He shot very well and it was a great afternoon.

He is on his way back to the city and I am so happy he came to visit. He called his girlfriend and she wants to come the next time and learn to shoot the Smith.

Even with the price of ammo, a day at the range is a bargain for stress relief. I bet the added advantage of spending the time with you made it even better for your son.

It's great the 2 of you were able to enjoy the time together. I know my sons & I enjoy doing the same together. But don't get to often enough.

My sons are 31 and 27 now. When they were little boys, I would pack a picnic lunch for us and head up to my rifle club with a couple of bricks of .22 and my target pistols and rifles. We spent many a nice summer day punching holes in paper and knocking over the chickens and pigs on the silhouette range.

My sons learned not only to handle firearms safely, but they learned patience, responsibility, discipline, hand-eye coordination, and the pleasure of having a shared interest with their old man.

Between our work schedules and personal lives, we haven't shot together in a number of years now, but they still talk about their days at the range with Dad...I'm glad they will have those memories as they grow older.

I'm happy for you, Max, that you got to spend some time together with your son, and I hope you get to go shooting with him again real soon. Thanks for sharing this with us...

Last Christmas I bought 2 of my grandchildren BB guns. My son and I have been taking them to my gun club to shoot them. They are 8 and 9 yrs old and have paid attention when I talked about safety. It has been a lot of fun.

That is great! I am just now teaching my son about firearms. I hope he shows a life-long interest in them.

Since I had range time with my father. I still remember those times with clarity. I still have his guns and when I hold, shoot and clean them, the memories are there like yesterday. I hope your son will also cherish his memories in the future!

That says it all. Congratulations on a well-spent day with your son.

My daughter calls me every now and then and says, "Daddy, I want to shoot." Recently she has learned the joys of shooting a lever action rifle, either in .357 or .45 Colt. A friend of ours has had her shooting an AR, and she says she wants one. I told her we can only afford the ammo she can run through one of the lever guns.

She has her own 442, and recently confiscated my Model 15-3.

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Georgia On My Mind

My sons were both in town back in August.
We went to the range and shot paper targets, and a bunch of
steel targets including a Texas Star and two plate racks.

It was in the time of the ammo panic so we shot reloaded .38s in snub
M15s and a short M66, mostly. My Marlin 39A got some time on the line too.

Shot the snubbies out to 50 yards. Fun and illuminating thing to do.

Don't know when the next time we can all get together will be.

Max, thanks for sharing your story.
I grew up in a collecting and shooting family. I have shot countless guns over the years with friends, family, and strangers. The times that I remember most are with my grandfather, father and sons. Shooting brings families together.
My most precious shooting memory was with my 10yr old son. We spent a beautiful day exploring the Bighorn Mountains above Sheridan Wyoming. We enjoyed a rather lengthy shooting session high on a ridge in the middle of nowhere. The next morning he died in a four wheeler accident. I don't blame the trip, the four wheeler, or any thing that led up to his death. I only cherish the memory of shooting with my son...
Never pass up a chance to shoot with any member of your family.

SWCA #1834

My best days are those when I get to shoot with my youngest son. Of my four kids, he is the only one that retained an avid interest in shooting. The other three were force-fed safety rules and gunhandling skills until they were weary of it, and while they still know how, they don't look forward to it like The Baby. He has his own pistols, his own AR-15, and a shotgun, most of which I gave him. He's not as good as he thinks he is, but then, neither am I. But we always have a good time, and come home relaxed and mellow. It's therapeutic for both of us.

Thanks for reminding us what really matters.

I am glad that you and your son had a good time.

My son has his eyes on my cz 22. because he can shoot the center out of a target at 25 yards. We go to the range a couple times a month. We either eat breakfast out or lunch, maybe a trip to the comic book store. Just a morning of big guy little guy fun.

The son learned well then went into law enforcement. He then went on to computer security. He was certified to do Glock service at onetime. I'm afraid he has surpassed my teachings now. Now I ask the dumb questions.he's a good kid and I'm very proud of him and his wife.

I guess I'm lucky. Both of my kids and grand kids live nearby. We shoot frequently. We bought the granddaughters (8&9) 22 rifles last Christmas and they shoot them pretty good. "Little Charlie" , named after yours truly, is only nine months old but his collection has already started. Max, I'm guessing your son is working somewhere near Chicago and doesn't get to shoot much because of their stupid laws. Tell him he needs to visit more often.

Good on you. Perfect age to start them. Stuff like that really gives the HuffPo crowd heartburn, too.

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Georgia On My Mind

awesome, not too many families like the ones above anymore

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

My son will be 40 next year. He loves to go to the range with me and I admit that it is a good feeling to have him with me an enjoying my passion.

My grandson (his son) is 17 and has been with us a couple of times. He's enthusiastic and has a good time. It's always a good family time.

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Real men love cats!