"Outdoor Range" time with my son

[MattO]

We couldn't go Turkey hunting this AM because of the current recall on my Winchester SXP. Momma said we aren't using it until Winchester approves that our gun isn't affected. So my son wanted to shoot his guns. So we hit the "Outdoor Range" AKA Papa's driveway. He was able to shoot 36 shorts through his "Cowboy gun" and hit many clays we had set up. And a huge smile when he hit a 2 liter bottle I had refilled with water and he made it fountain out! His hands got tired, so we gave him a rest, because he still hasn't been able to shoot his Mossberg 715T he got for his birthday in Feb. and he wanted to shoot it. The rest time was worth the wait. OMG if you could have seen the smile on his face when he fired the final 10 as fast as his little weak fingers could pull that trigger. Well worth all the money in the world to me.

Just sharing a few photos for you guys, because while it may not seem like much to the rest of the world, times like these for us are priceless. Thanks for looking.

Matt

IMG_1714 by MattOphotog, on Flickr

IMG_1720 by MattOphotog, on Flickr

IMG_1757 by MattOphotog, on Flickr

 

[krallstar]

Nice range

 

[6518John]

. . . And a huge smile when he hit a 2 liter bottle I had refilled with water and he made it fountain out! OMG if you could have seen the smile on his face when he fired the final 10 as fast as his little weak fingers could pull that trigger. Well worth all the money in the world to me.

Just sharing a few photos for you guys, because while it may not seem like much to the rest of the world, times like these for us are priceless. Thanks for looking. Matt

I guess I qualify in a small part as "the rest of the world" and this sure seems like a great deal and accomplishment to me! Put a smile on my face too! God bless you both.

And I somethimes think I have troubles and have "overcome" in life. Seeing this makes me realize what a fool I am.

 

[soFlaNative]

Glad I'm not the rest of the world, share away !
Enjoying the look of focused pleasure on the young man and I'm digging the OTR rig set up.

 

[rwsmith]

Top notch..

Now that has REAL value. I know ya'll have been threatening (trying?) to get out there and do some shooting. You did me a favor. I feel good just reading it and seeing the pictures.

 

[MattO]

Thanks guys. If you think it's a challenge hitting the target looking down the sights, you should try it from the angle I was standing. I've gotten pretty good at getting him close and making adjustments right/left up/down so we can get him hitting things.

His arms and hands are so weak from his disease, it literally takes all he has to pull the trigger. I support the weight on the Mossberg, and on the .22 SA we use the rifle rest to support the barrel and with shorts the gun is actually heavy enough he can control the back. We tilt his chair up and down to raise or lower his aim, and I help move the back of the gun left/right to try and put him on target. It's work, but it's worth it when he lights up and knocks down a clay target or a water bottle.

My dad uses his router and cuts a groove in the board wide enough to put the shooting clays in and stand them up. We line them up fairly close to each other to make hitting them easier on us.

It's a lot of fun to spend time with him doing this.

And just to keep it S&W you can see my EDC gun about 4 oclock on my right side. It's my M&P .40c.


Matt

 

[S&W ucla]

Looks like fun! You are right, those times are priceless! Good shooting!

 

[3dots]

Just sharing a few photos for you guys, because while it may not seem like much to the rest of the world, times like these for us are priceless. Thanks for looking.

This means a lot more to many than you might think, Matt. Not just because you have a special needs kid, it's taking the time with ANY kid to get outside and do stuff. Activities in the fresh air and sunshine make memories.

 

[JJEH]

Awesome.... simply awesome!

 

[kraynky]

Glad you took the time to share the photos with us. Looks like he was on top of the world there on the range. I think I'll borrow "Dad's" idea to stand up some pigeons for my wife to shoot. She gets bored just punching holes in paper.

Love to see his smiling face, share all the photos you want, they make me smile too.

 

[targetchief]

That's just fantastic. Glad you guys got in some range time. Hope there is a lot more to come. Keep us posted.

 

[MattO]

Thank you all very much. The time we have with him is very special. When he was diagnosed at age 4 we were told he might live to his late teens. He's been going strong and turned 18 in Feb. We were told in Early March that his heart is beginning to be affected by his disease, and is beginning to have trouble pumping enough blood for his body. We are hoping new medicine he is on will slow his decline, and give us many more trips to the woods to hunt, and to the range, indoor or outdoor.

Matt

 

[3dots]

Prayers sent for new cures and many more years of fun in the sun...

 

[Bugkiller99]

Matt, can you repost those pictures? Every time I look at them my screen gets blurry.

Thanks so much.

 

[M29since14]

Matt, you have my admiration. God bless you are your family - and may those "new cures" come.

 

[Aticus]

Mat you made my day! Thanks!

 

[Abbynormal]

Outstanding!