Talks and documents for Beginners Before Range Visits

[Sam]

Before I take beginners to the range I usually have a safety/operation talk before. I go over the four safety rules and the operation of the guns I'll be taking. I'll be giving a similar talk to members of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus in the future and I think making some sort of book would be beneficial as I don't believe many actually have any firearms experience. Rather than writing everything out I've decided to put together resources in a book.

So far I've decided to use:

the handgun safety certificate study guide (http://www.ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/hscsg.pdf)

Gun Facts Document (http://www.gunfacts.info/)

Fables (http://www.nraila.org/media/misc/fables.pdf)

AW Flowchart

Specific pages of CA Law Booklet that I carry around to the range which includes transportation and AW sections.

I'll also include a CCW application, a copy of a CCW, the CCW map. I think I really need something that synthesizes CA law and in particular CCW CA law and maybe an introduction on the operation of long arms. Any ideas? Anything I should add or take out? I don't know if I'm going overboard with such a collection of stuff for a safety/intro to firearms talk but I think it's a good idea. This book is in addition to the actual talk I'll be holding with the group.

thanks,
Sam

[Vinz]

Good job.

I suggest putting a section in there for "knowing your legal rights as a gun owner".


Vinz

[Sam]

Good job.

I suggest putting a section in there for "knowing your legal rights as a gun owner".


Vinz

Yeah I was thinking I needed something like that but was hoping for an already created document that would cover this as I'm not yet a lawyer and didn't want to misinform.

[kato4moto]

After recently assisting at an NSSF program called First Shots (or something like that) to introduce newbies to the sport, I'd add the following to your list:

The steps one must go through to actually purchase a firearm and then getting it home or to the range once you've taken possession.

[glock_this]

sheeeit... by the time this is done, your going to have people reading a phone books worth of... good luck with that

[Spiggy]

I teach handling safety with an airsoft gun. It's becoming more and more common that our professional users are also tailoring their safety training courses with our guns.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

Before I take beginners to the range I usually have a safety/operation talk before. I go over the four safety rules and the operation of the guns I'll be taking. I'll be giving a similar talk to members of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus in the future and I think making some sort of book would be beneficial as I don't believe many actually have any firearms experience. Rather than writing everything out I've decided to put together resources in a book.

So far I've decided to use:

the handgun safety certificate study guide (http://www.ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/hscsg.pdf)

Gun Facts Document (http://www.gunfacts.info/)

Fables (http://www.nraila.org/media/misc/fables.pdf)

AW Flowchart

Specific pages of CA Law Booklet that I carry around to the range which includes transportation and AW sections.

I'll also include a CCW application, a copy of a CCW, the CCW map. I think I really need something that synthesizes CA law and in particular CCW CA law and maybe an introduction on the operation of long arms. Any ideas? Anything I should add or take out? I don't know if I'm going overboard with such a collection of stuff for a safety/intro to firearms talk but I think it's a good idea. This book is in addition to the actual talk I'll be holding with the group.

thanks,
Sam

I do the exact same thing with new shooters.

I also have my wife do a complete handgun safety drill every 6 months because she just about refuses to go to the range and practice, so our compromise is that she does the safe handling demo so I at least know she can pick up a gun and make it safe or operational, depending upon her circumstances.

[Black Majik]

Excellent.

I keep it very light hearted for their first range trip. A lunch or dinner before the range session to go over the safety rules and tips, then an overview of the firearms before shooting.

Overwhelming them with too much information might turn them off for future sessions. I get into all that on the next range trip.

[ianS]

I agree with Richard. Try not to overwhelm them with info first time round. Stick with the basic safety rules and maybe basic shooting fundamentals if you think they're willing to pay attention. Going shooting the first time can be exciting and a nervous time for most beginners so too much info and they'll zone out. Just make sure they stay safe, relaxed, and just let them have fun the first time round.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

I agree with Richard. Try not to overwhelm them with info first time round. Stick with the basic safety rules and maybe basic shooting fundamentals if you think they're willing to pay attention. Going shooting the first time can be exciting and a nervous time for most beginners so too much info and they'll zone out. Just make sure they stay safe, relaxed, and just let them have fun the first time round.

If I am shooting with complete newbies (people that only know what they know about guns from watching TV/Movies) I verbally run through the basic operations of a semi auto and revolver for them outside, because it is too loud and dangerous to try to describe how they work in enough detail to make it safe while in the range.

[Lancear15]

I do the exact same thing with new shooters.

I also have my wife do a complete handgun safety drill every 6 months because she just about refuses to go to the range and practice, so our compromise is that she does the safe handling demo so I at least know she can pick up a gun and make it safe or operational, depending upon her circumstances.

I really need to do that with my wife! I've only got her to shoot once and she refused to do anything but pull the trigger. Maybe I should bribe her

[ianS]

If I am shooting with complete newbies (people that only know what they know about guns from watching TV/Movies) I verbally run through the basic operations of a semi auto and revolver for them outside, because it is too loud and dangerous to try to describe how they work in enough detail to make it safe while in the range.

Yes, good point.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

I really need to do that with my wife! I've only got her to shoot once and she refused to do anything but pull the trigger. Maybe I should bribe her

I just told mine I would stop bugging her about going to the range if she gave in to my small request. She did.

Funny thing is, when we go camping in the wilderness, she is the first one to pick up my Win 94.

[Sam]

I don't intend to even touch most of the stuff I want to throw in there, I wanted to make something so people could read it at their leisure if they wanted to. I only intend to go over safety and how the guns work. I really enjoy teaching beginners how to shoot, there is something priceless about the smile on their face after their first shot.