Well if my mistake wasn't clue enough, I'm just getting started with this whole Handi thing, though this morning I wasn't thinking real highly of them until I figured out my mistake. I'll no doubt be checking into the .44 mag Handi, as that was what I originally wanted, but after talking to the folks at the gun shop I decided to go with the .357 since my son's 7 and daughter is 9, both about the same size, and my son was complaining about the recoil of a .410 and had no interest in shooting the Ruger .44 mag I tested. I figured ultimately I'm doing this for them, even though the .44 appears to be the better gun for deer.
Mitch, you're right, obviously we didn't shoot it with the new stock. I ordered it on Monday, I think and it came on Friday. I had noticed the standard stock was a bit awkward for them to shoot, but they were both shooting 4-inch groups at 50 yards (kids with no shooting experience shooting off folding table with jacket for a rest) so didn't think much of it, until I learned on here how easy and inexpensive it was to swap the stock. In my excitement for the gun opener, I quickly swapped the stock, figured if anything this would help their form but really wouldn't change how the gun shoots. Dumb rookie mistake, I'm sure, but it seemed logical at the time.
Finally I really appreciate the comments about teaching the kids right, that's exactly what I'm trying to do, however I'm mostly learning right along side them. My dad didn't hunt, was an over-the-road truck driver, so I really had no exposure to hunting until high school when I went out with some buddies, then began going out with my future wife's family. We built a house in the country and have family land all around us, so I'm hoping to give them the opportunity to do this stuff that I didn't have. Both kids took the hunter's ed course in October and passed the test. Before the class as motivation to sit through 12 hours of "school" on the weekend, I told them if they passed the test I'd buy them something they could shoot this deer season. I'm really more of a bow-hunter, and don't know much about guns (obviously) - here in Indiana a shotgun and a .22 is pretty much all you need! Once I discovered the Handi-rifle and checked the reviews here and other places, I was sold. It's great to have an affordable gun that can be tweaked as much as this gun can, and a community like this where people like me can learn a lot. Frankly I find the local gun shops a bit intimidating, kind of like a fat guy going to the gym! Thanks again.
I'll be sure to post when either of the kids get their deer - came close tonight with my son, had a small 8 pointer with a doe 50 yards away, but had a small tree in our way, obscuring the shoulder. It was tempting to try to slip one in, but we held off for a better shot, which never came. Son forgave me this afternoon - said he'd rather have a dad that will do this stuff for him than a deer!
Andy
