Skip to main content

Kids, .22s, and Tin Cans

Kids, .22s, and Tin Cans

Kids are strange and wonderful creatures that present adults with many challenges. I suppose the three basic challenges are keeping them safe, keeping them fed, and keeping them entertained. Kids are reckless eating machines with short attention spans. It is usually easy to get them interested in some activity: shooting for example. Keeping them interested can be a lot tougher.

Shooting at paper under the necessarily strict rules of most gun clubs and public ranges can get boring in a hurry, even for many adults. A great way to stoke kids' enthusiasm for the sport is to take them plinking. An accurate .22 handgun and a few tin cans will keep most youngsters entertained for hours and have them nagging to go again.

Ruger Single-Six with tin canThe most difficult aspect of putting together a tin can safari may be finding a safe place to shoot. Urban development and ever-sprawling suburbs have eaten up many of the places where casual shooting used to be commonplace. If you live in the West, there is plenty of public land and natural backstops where you can safely take the kids for an afternoon of shooting. In the East it may take more planning.

Perhaps you have relatives or friends who own a farm or other sizable acreage of open land. Maybe you do not know who owns a large tract of undeveloped land nearby but it might be worth finding out and asking permission to take your kids plinking there. With today's sue-happy society, they may understandably turn you down, but you won't know until you ask. It is surprising what most people will do to accommodate children.


It may be you have to drive some distance to find a suitable place. It is worth the effort. Make a day of it. Bring chairs and other items to make the outing more comfortable and, of course, plenty of food. Wherever you find to plink, do not shoot bottles or other things you cannot easily clean up when you finish.

The effort expended in taking your kids plinking will pay big dividends in the long run. Not only will you strengthen the bond between parent and child and make some memories, but you will also help strengthen your child's desire to shoot and get them through those fickle years when kids' tend to easily lose interest in all sorts of endeavors. Plinking will help keep them motivated.

Editor's Note: An article on a Ruger SP101 in .22 LR by Wayne VanZwoll  appeared in the August issue of Guns & Ammo magazine, which is currently on newsstand. This article was inadvertently run as Ruger is not producing an SP101 in .22 LR at this time, and this model is not currently available for sale.. Guns & Ammo prematurely released this story; Ruger hopes  to begin shipping this model by August 1, Ruger will make the official announcement.


Both Ruger and Guns & Ammo apologize for any confusion or inconvenience from the article being published.

Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Videos - News - Industry

Guns & Ammo Magazine: March 2023 Issue

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New Stocky's Rifle Stocks for 2023

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR)

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Suppressors

New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New for 2023: TaurusTX 22 Compact

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Optics

Acro Distance Challenge

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Guns & Ammo App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now