Did you turn them on or turn them off?

[Thefeeder]

A lot of people have taking first timers, girlfriends and kids to the range to intoduce them to the shooting sports. Thats a good thing and more people should do the same.

Recently I meet a nice lady that the BF took to the range.....she said that she was turned off from the experience. In talking she reveled that it was her first time shooting a gun and she shot a 357 mag and she does not want to do it again.

So here is the question....have you ever turned someone off to shooting because of one reason or another.

[81turbota]

Off? No. Some have been fairly indifferent but it's usually been a positive experience. My first date with my GF was at the shooting range.

[Garv]

Had several repeats requests to go, but no turnoffs that I have been told.

Then again, I start them off with a .22, not a .357.

[SkyHawk]

357 is the worst thing you could put in the hand of a first timer. Especially if it is a snub

I took my daughter for the first time a few months back. It was a Friday, mid-day, not a holiday, and I thought we'd have a pretty quiet range. Turns out it was packed. Every lane jammed up. We were on the pistol range shooting her Savage Rascal bolt .22. But it was loud on the range, lots of guns and the rifle range isn't that far down from the pistol lanes.

It is an outdoor range but has a metal rain cover overhead, so it can get loud. So she was turned off from all the noise. I was bummed. I should have had her put in earplugs then put her muffs over those. But she was just running muffs. Lesson learned

[81turbota]

I should add that I've seen people try to intimidate new shooters by having them try inappropriate guns. Either for their own enjoyment or to put down the other person for some reason.

I see it fairly often at the range and always shake my head...some douchebag giving a novice a magnum pistol, 12 gauge shotgun or the like.

I did a shoot in BLM a while ago, some guy was begging me to let his 100lb girlfriend shoot my .50 DE. She was not enthused...I politely declined. I had a feeling he just wanted to see her struggle with it.

[CouchOperator]

A lot of people have taking first timers, girlfriends and kids to the range to intoduce them to the shooting sports. Thats a good thing and more people should do the same.

Recently I meet a nice lady that the BF took to the range.....she said that she was turned off from the experience. In talking she reveled that it was her first time shooting a gun and she shot a 357 mag and she does not want to do it again.

So here is the question....have you ever turned someone off to shooting because of one reason or another.

Whoever did that is unbelievably stupid. If she doesnt have pointy elbows, send her my number and she can blast away on the wilson.

[Sousuke]

A lot of people have taking first timers, girlfriends and kids to the range to intoduce them to the shooting sports. Thats a good thing and more people should do the same.

Recently I meet a nice lady that the BF took to the range.....she said that she was turned off from the experience. In talking she reveled that it was her first time shooting a gun and she shot a 357 mag and she does not want to do it again.

So here is the question....have you ever turned someone off to shooting because of one reason or another.

No, for the first time I have a revolver in 38sw and a .22lr

[DocMcStuffins]

My 9 y.o. daughter said to me "I think I found a new hobby!" when I had her and the family out on the metal target .22 range using a .22 bolt-action single-shot Cricket with scope.

Wifey loved the .22 and Sig MPX... not so much the P320 or SCAR 17

Made the 2 y.o. cry after shooting the NAA .22 (shame on me, shoulda known better) but he loved the Cricket!

[deckhandmike]

I was given a try with a 30-06 as an 8 year old and it put me on my ***. I learned not to play with guns. So when I teach others I'm sensitive to being overwhelmed.

[K1LLROI]

Long stories short, I always turn on new shooters.

[SonofWWIIDI]

I too have had a few come away indifferent. But I would say that least 80% of the noobs I have introduced have liked it and have gone multiply times. About 1/2 of those now own guns themselves.

But yeah, I start small and work up to the big stuff. .22 for first timers, if they like it, up to .38 or 9...

[CGT80]

Most people I invite to the range never take me up on the offer. One of them bought an XD 40 for protection at home in the local mountains where he and his family live and he has never shot the thing. I am a member at a private range, have all the targets, and the range is between home and work for him, but no go. He was kind enough give me the keys and let me use his boat when I was vacationing where he lives and he took me out in the boat the next year, but he hasn't found time or maybe the desire to hit the range.

The few people I did introduce to the sport seemed to do fine. One was my brother's, now ex girlfriend and lets just say it is good she is an ex. She wasn't really into anything he likes to do. The others had a good time and one continued to go to the range with me, until I had enough of her not wanting to help out or buy ammo. She was a roommate, not by my choice and I tried to make the best of the situation.

I have a Smith 460 Magnum for new shooters........no, really.

The 10/22 is the first gun to use and with a scope and single round in the mag. The scope comes off easy to teach them to use iron sights, while still using a shooting bag. The MkIII Hunter 6 7/8" is next, with iron sights and a shooting bag. 38 spl light loads or XD 9mm is next and then XD 40 with light loads. The 30-30 and 30-06 with light plinking loads is great and I have warmer loads for the 30-06 if they want to try. Full power loads get held back, unless they are really good at handling the noise and recoil of the mid loads. And, to show a new shooter that there are many possibilities when you load your own or pick the right ammo, the 460 comes out with 45 colt target loads. I will shoot it first and then let them shoot it from a bag. They get a funny grin when it goes pop. If they are up for it, I will get out the light, medium, and full power 460 ammo. The women don't go for the full power and many guys will decline as well. The 44 mag level load is pretty easy to shoot in that big revolver and guys who shoot but are new to magnums will often enjoy the thrill since it isn't too punishing for the shooter. The AR 9mm is pretty new, but a great gun for a new shooter and the 5.56 is fine if they are ok with the noise.

I think I could do a good job introducing new shooters, but most people talk the talk and never walk the walk when invited. The thing that might not be appreciated as well by new shooters is that I am a stickler for safety, even with friends who shoot. I warn new shooters that it is a lot to take in at first, but let them know I will take a more hands off approach once they can work the firearm safely without putting idiot scratches on it and I know I don't have to watch them like a hawk. Safety comes before fun when playing with deadly tools.

People who give too much gun to a new shooter are idiots. My goal for a first outing is to give the new person a taste of the different options for firearms, targets, and loads in a way that hopefully opens their mind to the fact that there are many ways to enjoy the sport. Of course I tell them about the different competitions they could watch or participate in and let them know about different options for target shooting and plinking. Most new people view the shooting world through a little peep hole and have no idea how big the sport and industry really is.

[mikeyr]

I was at the range 2 months ago and some guy was being a total asshat to his gf for who it was her first time shooting, they were shooting a freaking 1911 in 45 and she was having a hard time hitting the target and he would give her a bad time for missing. Pretty sure the girl was near tears until my wife took her aside and let her shoot her .380, then my S&W Model 66 but with powder puff .38spl loads.

I didn't say anything because the guy would have made a scene with me, but wife took care of the situation. If it had not been for my wife, I bet that girl would never have shot a gun again.

[ExpendableYouth]

I've introduced five people to shooting, and they have all loved it. Even the ones who hated firearms and felt that people shouldn't be allowed to own them ended changing their minds after they put a few rounds down range. I think when they learn about the safety and skill involved in the sport it demystifies it for them. I generally start them off with .22's and end on the Python I think they would enjoy it. My current girlfriend hated revolvers until she fired the Python, and now I have to pry it out of her hands.

[sonofeugene]

Took my wife to LAR&G with a bunch of siblings. Her first time was a few rounds with my father's old Spanish Izarra in .32acp. Later I asked if she'd like to try my .308. I was careful to make sure she didn't get her eye too close to the scope and that the stock was pulled firmly into her shoulder. That first shot was a huge surprise, as you can imagine, but she was up for a second round. That was it. She still really doesn't like guns but understands things a bit better.