{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Bergara USA","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.bergara.online\/us","title":"Tips for Shooting with Youth - Bergara USA","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"VnZFzquERp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bergara.online\/us\/blog\/tips-for-shooting-with-youth\/\">Tips for Shooting with Youth<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bergara.online\/us\/blog\/tips-for-shooting-with-youth\/embed\/#?secret=VnZFzquERp\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Tips for Shooting with Youth&#8221; &#8212; Bergara USA\" data-secret=\"VnZFzquERp\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.bergara.online\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/05\/Shooting-with-Youth-4.jpg","thumbnail_width":640,"thumbnail_height":428,"description":"Written by Nick Fowler &#8211; Bergara Pro Staff Here are some tips\/tactics\/ideas\/strategies to help make a trip to the shooting range a positive one for youth and beginning shooters. The following is information I have garnered from my many years of shooting, as well as my years teaching thousands of elementary age kids in physical education and health classes. I have personally helped teach and have spent many hours at the shooting range with dozens of shooters with a variety of skill levels from ages 3 to 68. I am in no way claiming to know it all&#8211;I am simply interested in sharing my experience in the hopes of making it easier for someone to discover the enjoyment that can come from shooting. Gun safety: The importance of proper gun safety cannot be over-stressed. Youth need to be very aware of the real dangers guns\u00a0present. They need to realize that range time is a serious matter and messing around will not be tolerated. &nbsp; Positive experience, set them up to succeed:\u00a0 Gun fit will play a vital role in a young shooter\u2019s success.\u00a0Youth models or\u00a0models with\u00a0spacers ensure the best fit possible for young shooters.\u00a0Almost all standard rifles will be far too long. Choose a gun with quality optics. I chose to start my own children out with a scope, as I do not own an open sight rifle. I will also be equipping any guns for my kids with some type of optic (scope\/red dot\/reflex sight). Try to find a scope with generous eye\u00a0relief, as young shooters are often too\u00a0small even for guns designed specifically for youth. Start with large, easy to hit targets at close range. Build on their success by decreasing target size and\u00a0increasing target distance.\u00a0However, do not rush this step. Keep them at a point where hitting the target and being successful occurs very frequently. Use quality shooting rests\/support systems. This can be achieved in various ways.\u00a0\u00a0Front and rear sandbags, tripods, bipods\u2026 these will make a world of difference.\u00a0\u00a0If planning to have a youth shooting in a prone position (which is the easiest and most stable) bring a blanket or some type of shooting pad on which they may lie down. It is so much\u00a0easier to focus on the act of shooting when one is comfortable. Hearing protection is an\u00a0absolute must! \u201cExposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently\u00a0damage hearing. Almost all\u00a0firearms\u00a0create noise that is over the 140-dB level. &#8230; People who do not wear\u00a0hearing\u00a0protection while\u00a0shooting\u00a0can suffer a severe\u00a0hearing loss\u00a0with as little as one\u00a0shot, if the conditions are right.\u201d (Recreational Firearm Noise Exposure \u2013 ASHA) Spend a little extra money and get the electronic ear muffs, so shooters are able to hear and can communicate without yelling.\u00a0It is simply safer and more comfortable to be able to communicate using one\u2019s regular spoken voice at a normal volume. Using a gun with a\u00a0suppressor is another important factor that allows for a better shooting experience for all. I truly feel it is the\u00a0best\u00a0piece of\u00a0equipment one can add, it will not only improve their own shooting experience, but also that of others nearby. Reducing the noise, blast, concussion and recoil is a sure-fire way to\u00a0improve shooting ability as well as shooting enjoyment. Fun: Most shooters agree that it is much more fun to shoot a\u00a0target that reacts,\u00a0rather\u00a0than just\u00a0punching holes in paper. There are so many great targets and types\u2014like stickers or posters that\u00a0dramatically change color\u00a0when a bullet tears through them; lifelike, full-size animal targets; and even fictional characters zombies, werewolves, and monsters. Spinning\u00a0metal targets are great, as they appeal to both senses of sight and sound.\u00a0\u00a0It is so\u00a0satisfying to see the target spin\/move and hear the tink of a successful hit. Still, one of my\u00a0all-time favorite targets is simply a gallon jug filled with water.\u00a0\u00a0Adding food coloring is also fun.\u00a0 Having a variety of\u00a0food colored jugs is helpful to ensure that you and your young shooter are referencing the same jug.\u00a0Seeing the\u00a0explosion of a gallon jug and hearing the audible thwap are a great reward for a well-placed shot to shooters young and old. If you are at a shooting range or just a popular shooting spot in\u00a0the desert, you can almost always find\u00a0various &#8220;targets&#8221; lying around.\u00a0\u00a0Turning a few minutes of\u00a0your range time into a\u00a0scavenger hunt for youth to find their \u201cown\u201d targets can\u00a0greatly add to their enjoyment and\u00a0excitement. \u00a0Pieces of clay pigeons, spent shotgun shells, aluminum cans, golf balls, toys, etc., are just a few examples of items that can be \u201cfair game\u201d as targets. But it is important to remember a very critical part of\u00a0teaching shooting\u00a0which is the ethics involved in outdoor shooting. There is one cardinal rule&#8211;Leave it\u00a0better than you found it. All your own plastic jugs and targets, plus other targets and trash that may have been left behind need to be picked up and disposed of\u00a0properly. Teaching youth to care about the environment, setting a good example yourself, and following this rule consistently will have a positive impact on the young shooter and will help to insure a more pleasant experience for all shooters. &nbsp; Don&#8217;t\u00a0try to\u00a0accomplish\u00a0too much: Don\u2019t turn early trips to the range into\u00a0a marathon session. Make the trip about the youth doing the shooting&#8211;not you focusing on your new rifle and confirming your MOA out to extended yardage. Save that range trip for another day. I am not\u00a0saying to leave your gun(s) at home. It is actually good to have a gun(s) of your own to shoot\u00a0during a break\/rest time for the youth shooter.\u00a0\u00a0It can also be very beneficial for youth to watch you go through the motions of proper shooting technique. Never force a young shooter to keep on shooting.\u00a0\u00a0When they lose focus, and they are no longer having fun, it\u2019s time to go home. &nbsp; Celebrate small victories: Positive reinforcement for a well-placed shot, such as high-fives, hugs,\u00a0and some good ol\u2019 hooting and\u00a0hollering will go a long way in encouraging youth to want another trip to the range. Bring targets home and let youth show others their targets. Display"}