Advice for bringing a first time shooter to the range

I took my gf shooting for the first time a few months ago. I had only been shooting a fair amount a few months myself, but I had done a lot of shooting during that time. We did a lot of talking before we even got to the range (mainly about safety). Once we got there, I reinforced what we had talked about. I got out the pistol she intended to shoot and showed her how to operate it, how to align the sights, how to load it, and did a little dry fire practice. Once she was completely comfortable with it I let her load it and she took her first shot. We enjoyed shooting that day, but probably only because of the discussions before we went and the exercises we did before any ammo went near the pistol. She felt safe shooting with me due to the amount of prep and the level of safety precautions we took.

Take your buddy shooting. Do it! Do it only if you plan on having discussions about safety before you guys get to the range and then again before the firearm is loaded, though. Don't let egos get in the way and make safety the number one priority. If you do so, I imagine you guys will have a blast.
 
July 16, 2012, 11:38 PM #9
raimius
Senior Member


Join Date: January 27, 2008
Posts: 1,005 It depends on if you both follow the Four Rules without even thinking about them. If not, I'd recommend against it.

Learning to shoot is great fun, as is shooting with friends, but the risks associated with new shooters are increased exponentially when both the Safety Officer AND shooter are new.

If you do go together, I HIGHLY recommend only doing basic marksmanship fundamentals at a well-defined range. Don't get fancy and start doing speed reloads, malfunction drills, movement, multiple targets, etc. The more you are tempted to show off or practice the upper end of your skills, the more likely mistakes are to occur.

"Advanced" shooting is applying the basics at a higher level. Make sure your fundamentals (including safety) are rock solid, first.
Click to expand...

This was a good post.
I'd only add "leave your ego at home." You're not going to be a Jerry Michalak or Bob Munden, or even a cowboy shooting backwards 50 yards away while galloping on his horse in a B grade western.

PS- A little off topic, but start off with loads or calibers that won't give you a case of the flinches.
 
Firstly, if your range is anything like the ones around here then I wouldn't go alone unless you never leave your gun alone. Both ranges are miles away from a house. All it takes is one criminal to ruin your day. It happened before I was even born, but a man had let a stranger look at his gun. The guy shot the man with his own gun. The shot killed him and he stole his truck. Found him in Flordia. So you have to be careful about that and be careful.

I've only took complete new person to guns with me at the range, my girlfriend (now my wife). She had never shot a gun before and was a bit scared. I brought a Circuit Judge and a 24V. That way I had 4 different callibers for her to try 45C, .410, 30-30, and 20 gauge. She absolutely loved it. She'll shoot anything from a .22 to a 12 gauge. Just won't let her try a 10 gauge or a 45-70.

If I was you, I would do it. Just got to be safe. That's more important than anything else. I've seen very very many people ignorant of gun safey. The ranges here are outdoor and when you want to check your targets, you have to ask everyone to do so. Most will go out and join you to check theirs. Do not be the guy that starts walking out into the range. And do not be the guy who just yells he's going while walking onto the range. There's so many things wrong with doing that. Make sure the business end of the gun is facing down range at all times. If people are checking their targets, have your gun with you or have it unloaded. The big thing is, be smart, always think about you are doing, , be safe, and wear hearing protection. Just because you have a .22 doesn't mean someone won't come in with a handgun chambered in a rifle cartridge. Surprisingly alot of people don't think about that.
 
Bringing New Shooters to the Range

Before I take any new shooter to the Range I give them a Safety & Range Rules class at my house. I believe in this totally. I used to train Soldiers as a Sergeant in the Army on Range & Safety Procedures. I now am in the Federal Law Enforcement community & am still involved with firearms. I run them through my class then I take them to the range & walk them through the Range Rules again, proper Range Etiquette, run them through a monitored firing session. I've done this with young teenagers entering the Military & females interested in purchasing a firearm & have no experience with firearms at all.
 
Talk loudly, be insulting, make them not use ear protectors, use complex hard kicking guns, and laugh at their groups.

Do just the opposite of the above and you will have a good outing with them.

In reality, just get some nice .22 pistols and rifles and let them have some fun (but follow the 4 safety rules!!)

And then buy them some soft drinks after the shooting session.

Deaf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top