Take Someone Shooting This Weekend

[choprzrul]

This is a continuation of this thread: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=251109 Rather than resurrect that thread, I decided to start another one. Here is the main idea:

The second Saturday of each month will be "Take a friend shooting" weekend. We'll leave it open to help work around schedules, so Friday, Saturday, or Sunday will work. I am liking the idea of taking business associates to the range. $75 covers gun rental, range time, and ammo. 1/2 that if I take my own gun, ammo, and go to the outdoor range.

This coming weekend is the second one of the month. Try and find someone who doesn't shoot or hasn't done it in a long time. Let's spread good will throughout our communities and show everyone how much fun shooting can be.

[Sky_DiveR]

OOPS! I jumped the gun... does yesterday count?

[choprzrul]

OOPS! I jumped the gun... does yesterday count?

Close enough! The idea is to get new people out to the range.

[choprzrul]

Morning Bump

[choprzrul]

Noon Bump

[joelberg]

I took someone out for a combat shoot on saturday. Great time.

[choprzrul]

Thursday morning bump.

[rgs1975]

I'd love to but no one I know at work has expressed the slightest interest in firearms and the atmosphere is not one that I think is conducive to me going around talking it up to everyone.

[Nodda Duma]

Taking my wife shooting on Sat for Valentine's . 3rd time she's gone in her life!

[gorenut]

I've tried on a few occasions. I find guns in CA is something you have to let others express their interest to you. I don't know what it is.. I've had a few friends who were really excited at first to give it a try.. and then openly tell me that they're kind of afraid to give it a try and back out last minute. Guess the media is winning.

On a more positive/informative note.. what do you guys find is the best way to ease someone in for the first time? Now, I'm not talking about someone that might be eager to learn, but the nervous-never-fired-a-gun type. What I felt works the best is for the first time.. just emphasize muzzle discipline for them. I teach them how to hold a gun with my replica and once we get to the range, I load the gun for them and tell them its loaded + ready to rip. When they empty out the cylinder/magazine, I have them place it back and I make sure its unloaded for them. I've found that teaching some first-timers how to load, messing with the safeties, racking the slide, etc.. is overwhelming.

If/When they express enough interest to be serious about it and wanna give it a second try, thats when I teach them how do everything else.

[mrboma]

Will be down in Ventura this weekend doing just that. Finally had a life long buddy conceed that it's better to have one and not need it than not have one at all. Will start with the 9mm and then onto the 45ACP. If he likes the experience, I will let him have a few rounds through the 454.

This is one of the best idea's I've heard in a while. As ambassadors to the sport I think it is almost a duty to reach out to other and share our knowledge.

Regards,
Mike

[EdCo]

I'm taking to new people shooting this weekend. I'm trying to take a new person shooting at least once a month.

[Intimid8tor]

I was hoping to take the wife today as she has never shot any of the collection but that is not going to happen. I haven't been to the range in a long time so I am hoping to take myself to the range.

[choprzrul]

I try to carefully pay attention to people's conversations. Many times I hear that someone used to shoot a .22 when they were a kid. The last gentleman that I took to the range fits this profile. I think that many people have a certain amount of firearms history, but fear the stigma that has been attached to firearms. I try and carefully match the firearm they remember from their history with what we use at the range. The familiarity provides a certain level of comfort I believe. From there I will typically move to my 92fs with a .22 conversion installed. I will then give them the option to try out the 92fs with 9mm. I will always explain that they should expect more recoil from the 9mm, but it is entirely manageable. I will demonstrate with the 9mm to show them the kind of recoil that I experience shooting it.

I also like going to a range where the guest can look at a wide variety of rental guns under the glass. Letting them pick the gun really seems to help put them at ease.

"Have you ever shot a gun?" asked privately is a good way to break the ice and get the conversation started. People always seem to be amazed that an overweight nerdy computer consultant is a firearms enthusiast.

[choprzrul]

Evening bump