Mr. Baker was at my side the first time I fired a gun. He took several of us to a gravel bluff along Rt. 29 at the base of the big hill between Creve Coeur and E. Peoria. Over and over he explained the importance of gun safety, to keep the gun pointed away, the safety on, and to keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
(I must admit that I am not as safety conscious as I should be.)
He told everyone but the shooter to sit on the ground behind him while he knelt alongside the prone shooter. He showed each of us how to load the single shot bolt action .22 caliber rifle. There was no scope and I don’t recall what we used as a target or if there was a target.
The bullets were nose down in a block of wood with small holes drilled partially through. We only got to fire a few shoots into the bluff, probably three to five shots each. Each spent casing was collected and placed back into the block before loading another single round.
We had to make sure the bolt was open and the breech was empty before handing it back to him and then getting up off the ground.
It was one of the most exciting things I had done in #Scouting up to that time. I’m sure my Mom probably never knew anything about it and I know she would not have approved. I don’t know if Dad knew either and I don’t recall discussing it with him.
I can’t imagine young boys doing it at that age today.
MjL 28 Apr 2024, 4:19 a.m.
Michael, You’ve brought back another memory I’d completely forgotten! This was the first time I shot a gun, also. I was nervous! However, as you’ve noted, Mr. Baker provided a structured, safe experience, which was reassuring. There’s only one thing I “remember” different, now that you’ve reminded me of this. I thought the location of the gravel bluff was just off Route 29, on the east side of the highway before entering Creve Coeur from Marquette Heights - about where I-474 presently crosses Route 29. I could be wrong. It scares me how much I’ve forgotten, and impresses me how much you remember - and with so much detail! Jeff #Scouting
Jeff Teel 28 Apr 2024, 3:17 p.m.
Hi Jeff! Good to see you on the Blog! You may be right about the location. I’m not sure of anything but the high flat faced bluff we shot into. Since it was almost sixty years ago it is hard to be certain about it.
The crazy things are the details I remember. This memory surfaced because I remembered small bullets in a wooden block and it went from there. I’m not sure, but I think the same method was used at the Wilderness Camp gun range I went to later. You were probably there at the same time too? #Scouting
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