Yes at the range, a buddy of mine was showing his friend how to shoot. It was his second or third time out. He was using a springfield .45. When suddenly after a couple of rounds hitting way down and to the left, the shooter points the gun in the direction of his face and starts questioning the inaccuracy of the gun while still putting his finger on the trigger !!! I freaked out ! I started screaming not at the shooter but at my friend for not fully explaining the first three rules of gun safety.
nearly had a heart attack at the range !
- Thread starter chaho
- Start date
An old trick when showing a kid how to shoot a pistol is to stand right behind him and catch him the very first time he swings around with the arm. They will do this out of excitement even though they have been told.
Its a good thing if the shooter and instructor (if he didn't know) learned a leasson from you.
Its a good thing if the shooter and instructor (if he didn't know) learned a leasson from you.
I divided my shooters into two groups. The second squad, was instructed to draw batons and stand behind their opposite in the first squad. The first squad was instructed to pivot and shoot. The second squad was instructed to strike the member of the first squad with their baton if the first squad member practiced poor muzzle control. Afterwards, the squads traded places. Needless to say, no one was struck as every shooter on both squads were very mindful of muzzle control.
Jeff Thomas
New member
Some time ago, on TFL I presume, I was advised to load only one cartridge at a time for new shooters. Of course, I ignored that advice ... 
So, I took a close family member (remaining nameless so that my anatomy remains intact) shooting one day. Sig 228. Fully loaded magazine. Said family member received instruction, the four rules, more admonitions, etc. Fired their first shot, and were surprised and somewhat frightened by the noise and recoil. And, of course, turned towards me in the process ...
Worked out alright, and I gingerly took the gun from said family member's grasp. I started breathing again sometime on the ride home, as I recall.
Now, having said this, I still don't think I'd expect someone to do the same foolish thing the second or third time out. But, I will probably change my policy further in the future ...
Regards from AZ
So, I took a close family member (remaining nameless so that my anatomy remains intact) shooting one day. Sig 228. Fully loaded magazine. Said family member received instruction, the four rules, more admonitions, etc. Fired their first shot, and were surprised and somewhat frightened by the noise and recoil. And, of course, turned towards me in the process ...
Worked out alright, and I gingerly took the gun from said family member's grasp. I started breathing again sometime on the ride home, as I recall.
Now, having said this, I still don't think I'd expect someone to do the same foolish thing the second or third time out. But, I will probably change my policy further in the future ...
Regards from AZ
Don't laugh but I frequently wear my level 2 vest under my shirt when shooting at the local range and I always wear it when shooting at a new range where I do not know the typical experience of shooters. I have seen too many people who could not keep the pistol pointed down-range.
I've said this before, try R.Oing a few matches at Club level...
You'll find out there is a God because you'll be thanking him (on the way home) that you're still in one piece!
------------------
"The Gun from Down Under !"
http://www.para1911fanclub.w3.to/
E-mail hotshot_2000@hotmail.com
ICQ # 68806935
You'll find out there is a God because you'll be thanking him (on the way home) that you're still in one piece!
------------------
"The Gun from Down Under !"
http://www.para1911fanclub.w3.to/
E-mail hotshot_2000@hotmail.com
ICQ # 68806935
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
Jeff - your exactly right. If they have never fired a gun before... load 1 round at a time.
Herodotus's method is also very important for the reasons he explained...
Both of these play an important role in teach new shooters. This is a very touchy time for new shooters... The experience has to be safe, educational, and fun.
A simple mistake can alter the flavor of the exercise and the new shooter may be turned off of the sport.
Our goal as the Instructor is to make sure the new shooter get everything and more out of the time on the range.
And since every student is different, and absorb lessons differently, we have to adjust our methods.
Not an easy job - but its worth it.
Always remember - even with the tough students... What you teach may save these student's lives.
Herodotus's method is also very important for the reasons he explained...
Both of these play an important role in teach new shooters. This is a very touchy time for new shooters... The experience has to be safe, educational, and fun.
A simple mistake can alter the flavor of the exercise and the new shooter may be turned off of the sport.
Our goal as the Instructor is to make sure the new shooter get everything and more out of the time on the range.
And since every student is different, and absorb lessons differently, we have to adjust our methods.
Not an easy job - but its worth it.
Always remember - even with the tough students... What you teach may save these student's lives.
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
Oh - even if your not an instructor... anytime you take a new shooter out - You just became an instructor.
I recomend getting a couple NRA books... the shooting basics are all covered and all the rules are printed therein and easy to read and understand. They may also remind you of something important you could forget while at the range... Give it to the shooter for his or her own use.
How many have I given away???? Sheesh - ask me how many rounds I have ever fired! I dont know... lost track... but its an awful lot.
I recomend getting a couple NRA books... the shooting basics are all covered and all the rules are printed therein and easy to read and understand. They may also remind you of something important you could forget while at the range... Give it to the shooter for his or her own use.
How many have I given away???? Sheesh - ask me how many rounds I have ever fired! I dont know... lost track... but its an awful lot.
On my first time at the range I loaded my pistol one round at a time. Afraid that I might drop it after that first shot. Good thing there were other shooters who were very much willing to give pointers to a newbie.
When I took my kids to the range I also did the same thing. And I stood right beside them in case they do something "breathtaking".
Chaho, same thing happened to me. Shooter on my right had two (wheel) misfires. Checked the gun closely with the barrel pointed at me. His strong (right) hand press the trigger half-way while the weak one rotates the wheel.
Our eyes met and he actually smiled at me and said - something wrong with my gun, it won't shoot. Being a neophyte myself I can't give him any instruction. ( Who would want to yell at a guy with a gun pointed at you). Told him I'd get the RO for him, of course I'd give any reason just to be out of his line of fire.
It turned out that he was a new gunner with a new gun. The RO told him the rules of gun safety.
vega
When I took my kids to the range I also did the same thing. And I stood right beside them in case they do something "breathtaking".
Chaho, same thing happened to me. Shooter on my right had two (wheel) misfires. Checked the gun closely with the barrel pointed at me. His strong (right) hand press the trigger half-way while the weak one rotates the wheel.
Our eyes met and he actually smiled at me and said - something wrong with my gun, it won't shoot. Being a neophyte myself I can't give him any instruction. ( Who would want to yell at a guy with a gun pointed at you). Told him I'd get the RO for him, of course I'd give any reason just to be out of his line of fire.
It turned out that he was a new gunner with a new gun. The RO told him the rules of gun safety.
vega
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 4V50 Gary:
I divided my shooters into two groups. The second squad, was instructed to draw batons and stand behind their opposite in the first squad. The first squad was instructed to pivot and shoot. The second squad was instructed to strike the member of the first squad with their baton if the first squad member practiced poor muzzle control. Afterwards, the squads traded places. Needless to say, no one was struck as every shooter on both squads were very mindful of muzzle control. [/quote]
I like your approach. When I was a RO last year for a trailwalk [Charcoal burners] I went over the gun safty rules for the event and then listed the penalties. 1st offense buttstroke. 2nd offense bayonet 3rd THERE WILL BE NO THIRD OFFENSE!
They agreeded that that was a good policy
I was truly impressed with their gun handleing skills. They were in character and trying to spot duck decoys and etc that had been hidden along the trail. The group acted like they were on patrol in "hostile" territory, in keeping with the theme of the trail walk, but they never broke a single gun safty rule [I use Cooper's 4 rules].
------------------
There can be only one!
I divided my shooters into two groups. The second squad, was instructed to draw batons and stand behind their opposite in the first squad. The first squad was instructed to pivot and shoot. The second squad was instructed to strike the member of the first squad with their baton if the first squad member practiced poor muzzle control. Afterwards, the squads traded places. Needless to say, no one was struck as every shooter on both squads were very mindful of muzzle control. [/quote]
I like your approach. When I was a RO last year for a trailwalk [Charcoal burners] I went over the gun safty rules for the event and then listed the penalties. 1st offense buttstroke. 2nd offense bayonet 3rd THERE WILL BE NO THIRD OFFENSE!
They agreeded that that was a good policy
I was truly impressed with their gun handleing skills. They were in character and trying to spot duck decoys and etc that had been hidden along the trail. The group acted like they were on patrol in "hostile" territory, in keeping with the theme of the trail walk, but they never broke a single gun safty rule [I use Cooper's 4 rules].
------------------
There can be only one!
Sometimes newbies don't get the idea how powerful a gun is because all they see is a little bitty hole punched in the paper target.
I was teaching a friend how to shoot and he was breaking ALL the rules of safety.
I warned him that a stray bullet would have disasterous consequences, but he laughed it off.
(If anyone other than a friend, I would've called it a day and never shot with him again, but I decided to try one more thing.)
So, I filled up a 2 liter plastic pop bottle with water, added some food dye, placed the bottle five feet away on a stump, handed him the revolver, and told him to shoot the bottle.
BANG SPLASH!!!
He was covered head to toe in red water.
He never broke another safety rule.
(Oh, we were outdoors, both had safety glasses and ear muffs, both of us had on our ratty clothing.
I got splashed too, but it was worth it!
)
-Kframe
I was teaching a friend how to shoot and he was breaking ALL the rules of safety.
I warned him that a stray bullet would have disasterous consequences, but he laughed it off.
(If anyone other than a friend, I would've called it a day and never shot with him again, but I decided to try one more thing.)
So, I filled up a 2 liter plastic pop bottle with water, added some food dye, placed the bottle five feet away on a stump, handed him the revolver, and told him to shoot the bottle.
BANG SPLASH!!!
He was covered head to toe in red water.
He never broke another safety rule.
(Oh, we were outdoors, both had safety glasses and ear muffs, both of us had on our ratty clothing.
I got splashed too, but it was worth it!
)-Kframe
I always start newbies with a SA revolver.
------------------
Protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!
------------------
Protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms!
A couple years ago out here (Seattle area) we had a bad accident at a local range.
http://archives.seattletimes.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=bang&date=19970422
Pistol's recoil turns deadly
by Dee Norton
Seattle Times staff reporter
A 24-year-old Redmond man is dead after being accidentally shot by a woman at a shooting range at a Bellevue gun shop.
The man, whose identity hasn't been released, was killed last night when the 30-year-old Kirkland woman, a friend, couldn't control the recoil of a large-caliber revolver she was firing at the gun-shop range.
Bellevue Police said the woman fired two shots toward a target at Wade's Eastside Gun Shop, 13570 Bel-Red Road, about 8:45 p.m. The recoil from the second shot of the .44-caliber revolver sent the gun upward and to the side.
While in that position, the woman fired a third shot, which struck the neck of the Redmond man, who was standing behind to the left of the woman.
He died before reaching Overlake Hospital Medical Center, police said.
The woman had some experience firing rifles, but was not familiar with large handguns, police said. The shooting appeared to be accidental, police said.
==========
What the article doesn't get into is that it was a curch member taking out other church members to teach 'firearm safety' for an afternoon. The woman was firing a Colt Anaconda .44, with all chambers loaded. Apparently, she fired - the gun recoiled to 90 degrees - she starts to drop it - as it falls she grabs for it (over her shoulder) and squeezes a round off into the neck of the guy standing behind her (Michael Chumney, 24). The woman had little (or no) experience with handguns.
The 'one round in the gun for students' rule went on my 'never break under any circumstances' list after this one. It's my #5 in the list of 4.
- gabe (<shudder> )
http://archives.seattletimes.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=bang&date=19970422
Pistol's recoil turns deadly
by Dee Norton
Seattle Times staff reporter
A 24-year-old Redmond man is dead after being accidentally shot by a woman at a shooting range at a Bellevue gun shop.
The man, whose identity hasn't been released, was killed last night when the 30-year-old Kirkland woman, a friend, couldn't control the recoil of a large-caliber revolver she was firing at the gun-shop range.
Bellevue Police said the woman fired two shots toward a target at Wade's Eastside Gun Shop, 13570 Bel-Red Road, about 8:45 p.m. The recoil from the second shot of the .44-caliber revolver sent the gun upward and to the side.
While in that position, the woman fired a third shot, which struck the neck of the Redmond man, who was standing behind to the left of the woman.
He died before reaching Overlake Hospital Medical Center, police said.
The woman had some experience firing rifles, but was not familiar with large handguns, police said. The shooting appeared to be accidental, police said.
==========
What the article doesn't get into is that it was a curch member taking out other church members to teach 'firearm safety' for an afternoon. The woman was firing a Colt Anaconda .44, with all chambers loaded. Apparently, she fired - the gun recoiled to 90 degrees - she starts to drop it - as it falls she grabs for it (over her shoulder) and squeezes a round off into the neck of the guy standing behind her (Michael Chumney, 24). The woman had little (or no) experience with handguns.
The 'one round in the gun for students' rule went on my 'never break under any circumstances' list after this one. It's my #5 in the list of 4.
- gabe (<shudder> )
Gopher a 45
New member
Why on earth would you start out someone with NO pistol experience on a .44Mag?
[This message has been edited by Gopher a 45 (edited May 04, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Gopher a 45 (edited May 04, 2000).]
Will Beararms
New member
i shoot at what i call a command positive range. the rangemaster walks the line calling the shots and we, the shooters do not holster our weapons. they are left on the ground in the case or on a table during any cease fires.
for combat practice i have an old auto grave yard i am allowed to work in or, i shoot at the deer lease.
had this event you posted occured at our outdoor range, the rangemaster would have publicly humiliated this guy either causing him to quit shooting or learn-----either result would be fine with me. our rangemaster has come down on me but i am better for it.
------------------
"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
for combat practice i have an old auto grave yard i am allowed to work in or, i shoot at the deer lease.
had this event you posted occured at our outdoor range, the rangemaster would have publicly humiliated this guy either causing him to quit shooting or learn-----either result would be fine with me. our rangemaster has come down on me but i am better for it.
------------------
"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kframe:
So, I filled up a 2 liter plastic pop bottle with water, added some food dye, placed the bottle five feet away on a stump, handed him the revolver, and told him to shoot the bottle.
-Kframe[/quote]
Sounds like the first gun safety lessons at my old Boy Scout camp. The hike to the range consisted of a discussion of, all things, the composition of the human body.
By the time we reached the range, the consensus was that the human body was 95% water, with some gooey stuff inside and a thin membrane holding it all in.
Then, the counselor reached behind a counter, and pulled out a cooler with a gallon milk jug filled with red jello. “Like this?” he asked.
He had a kid run the jug to the 25-yard line, got us all lined up, unlocked a 22 LR and hit the jug with a single shot. The affect was predictable.
Three kids lost their lunches, but NONE of us broke any gun safety rules for the week we were there.
Marty
So, I filled up a 2 liter plastic pop bottle with water, added some food dye, placed the bottle five feet away on a stump, handed him the revolver, and told him to shoot the bottle.
-Kframe[/quote]
Sounds like the first gun safety lessons at my old Boy Scout camp. The hike to the range consisted of a discussion of, all things, the composition of the human body.
By the time we reached the range, the consensus was that the human body was 95% water, with some gooey stuff inside and a thin membrane holding it all in.
Then, the counselor reached behind a counter, and pulled out a cooler with a gallon milk jug filled with red jello. “Like this?” he asked.
He had a kid run the jug to the 25-yard line, got us all lined up, unlocked a 22 LR and hit the jug with a single shot. The affect was predictable.
Three kids lost their lunches, but NONE of us broke any gun safety rules for the week we were there.
Marty