Shooting my "Son's" Parker

Jay Oliver · 09-28-2019, 12:50 PM

We had a good morning shooting sporting clays. My son is only 6 but he has fun pushing the trap buttons and we always collect lots of various empties.

And....he already has a Parker! When I saw this Trojan 20 a year and a half ago, when he was only 4, I had to get it for him. He already knows it's his and knows it shoots yellow shells. It does shoot a little too well. I may have to find another one when he is old enough to shoot it.

It's a nice early Trojan made in 1913 and choked IC/M with 28" barrels. Here is a thread with more pictures when I first got the gun: http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23790

Looking forward to many more father-son outings...

mobirdhunter · 09-28-2019, 02:18 PM

I'm sure many of us see your photo and read your account and we reminisce about our fathers taking us hunting and shooting. In my book, that young man is very, very lucky, and I hope he inherits a world that still values fathers taking sons shooting and hunting.

Thanks for posting! You uplifted my day.

Harry Collins · 09-29-2019, 11:24 AM

Jay,

You just brought back a flood of memories teaching the grandchildren to shoot. I can't hit anything with a .410 so I couldn't expect the boys too. Like you, I felt the 20 gauge was the best route to take. I loaded up 3/4 oz shells at modest velocity and it did the trick. Here is a picture of Will with his first dove and genuine smile for the camera. He's in college now.

Kindest, Harry

Bill Murphy · 09-29-2019, 04:21 PM

I started my son on skeet station 7 when he was 7 years old with a .410 Savage single. I told him that he could quit whenever he couldn't break five straight. That gave him an "out" if he was ready to quit. Every young shooter should have a .410 Parker to start with.

Harry Collins · 09-29-2019, 06:14 PM

Yes! Low house 7 is a great station to learn on. Before the rules changed in the early 70’s we all took our option on that station.

Jay Oliver · 09-29-2019, 07:57 PM

We had a good time and he is looking forward to going back. I should say that my daughter who is 2 years older, goes with me as well. She enjoys reloading too. She can can do it all on a MEC 600jr. When she was 6 we made a few boxes of black powder shells and I told her I didn't think many 6 year olds anywhere knew how to do that!

I am just following the great examples set by my father and grandfather. My father and I did a lot more saltwater fishing than shooting and hunting. Though we still went shooting and hunting(and still do). My Grandfather is the one that really got me into collecting guns and appreciating the American sxs. I have his 12 Gauge Fox Sterlingworth he bought new in 1928 for $32. He was shooting slugs through it and killing dear until he was 80.

I never want to wish for time to go any faster, but I am really looking forward to when my kids are old enough to get into this more. I told my daughter that 10 was the magic number for an age as that seems to be about right, at least at the sporting clays place close to my house.

Harry that is a great dove hunting picture. I can't wait to post something similar in a few years!

Harry Collins · 09-30-2019, 06:35 AM

Jay,

I too did a tremendous amount of salt water fishing with my father and am left with wonderful memories. My "little people" guns make the rounds amongst my friends with children or grandchildren of shooting age. A little single shot .22 Chipmunk and the Mossberg 20 gauge that I have set up as a single shot are both on loan at the moment. I always send a good supply of 3/4 oz loads with a promise of more when they need them.

Harry

Mills · 09-30-2019, 08:14 AM

That is great! Shooting with sons is special

mobirdhunter · 09-30-2019, 10:01 AM

Lucky kids, lucky dads!

Chris Robenalt · 10-23-2019, 10:08 PM

Jay, I had a daughter. I bought her a 410, bought her the camo clothes, took her to gunshows. Even bought us English Setters. She went bird hunting but wasn't really into it as I hoped she'd be. Years later she gave me a grandson who just loves to go hunting. I started him the way I started. I refurbished an original Red Ryder and gave it to him. He was shooting at everything that ran or flew! I've since got him a 410 and my old H&R 20. I don't get to see him as much as I'd like because of the distance between us. I do know he and his little brother will each get a Parker one day! He's already picked one out, not the prettiest, but it is one of my favorite English stocked VH20s.
Thank you for your post Jay.

Chris