Best gun for noobs (especially antis) at the range?

[alfred1222]

bolt action .22 FTW

[rspar]

For an adult in BLM I usually give them a 30 carbine and after a couple shots I say go ahead a click off a few quick ones. That always leaves them with a big grin especially the anti's.

[OHOD]

22LR

I'm not going to repeat what has already been stated and relevant.

But you know, nothing wrong with a SW 500 Mag. as a first outing taste test.

[a1c]

Start them with a .22 handgun. Then have them shoot a shotgun. Then a 9mm. Then an AR.

In one hour, you'll have converted a buddy from Brady supporter to gun enthusiast.

[Reductio]

First gun i shot was a lever-action 22lr, and I'd recommend it for just about anybody. It's simple, and not intimidating at all.

I will note that I wasn't handed the gun until the guy we with vaporized a brick with his Mauser... healthy fear of the weapon? check.

[edward]

I have no set list or 5 step process or anything like that. If someone is interested, I take them and let them shoot whatever they want. I just explain the rules first and watch them closely.

It is mandatory however, that before we leave, you will put 1 round through the 460 XVR. Haven't had anyone back down yet...

[Ford8N]

Bolt action, single shot 22LR FTW.

Edit Add:
Simple, non-confusing, low recoil, light weight, Single shot.
I always start nubies with it. YMMV

An old Remington 510 Targetmaster. Its a single shot and the safety goes on automatically everytime you work the bolt.

[Remus]

For the grown adults that I have introduced to the shooting sports I bring a semi-auto 22 pistol, a 20 gauge shotgun, a 22lr bolt action, and either the 223 or 30-06 bolt action.

I like to start them on the shotgun shooting trap as it is seemingly the most universally fun shooting sport. For paper/tin can shooting I offer the 22 bolt or pistol first, regardless of their decision I load only one bullet at a time until I am comfortable with the way they handle the firearm (I do this as well for the shotgun). Once they can handle their own with the 22 rifle I normally put them on the 223, finally I let them try the 30-06; it brings grins every time.

[canative]

I would start them with a .22 rifle or handgun. Not much felt recoil and not very loud. It won't scare them too much. If they liked it, and become efficient at it, then move on to a 9mm handgun or even an AR-15, just to show them there is nothing "evil" about it. Not very much recoil, but it is kinda loud.

[dr_communist]

well today i took my friend and his gf shooting. she was raised in hawaii by a bunch of hippies and was always told guns are bad. so i brought me
ruger 10\22
mini-14
sks
and mauser for me and my friend

handguns i brought phoenix hp-22
browning hp
ruger gp-100 with .38's

she listened well and was a good shot with the 10\22 and phoenix, the rest of the guns she didnt like because they kicked her to hard. overall i think i converted an anti, she also got a picture of herself holding my sks to send to her dad

[Ubermcoupe]

But you know, nothing wrong with a SW 500 Mag. as a first outing taste test.

LOL your evil, just get it on video for us!

[DaveFJ80]

Usually my GSG-1911 since it's a .22LR pistol (they see the 1911 and automatically associate it as handgun they see everywhere, especially being the centennial year so it's advertised quite a bit). Otherwise, I would use a .22LR revolver, but I don't have one.

For a long gun, something that looks like your "standard hunting rifle" since they're familiar with that look. Either a bolt-action rimfire rifle (which I don't have) or a 10/22 rifle (which I do have). If they are feeling more crazy and want something more exciting, then they can shoot my 15-22.

[17+1]

I recently took my wifes brother, who is less than half her age (her mother has had a 'few' marriages) to the range.

What more would a pre-teen boy want to shoot more than the gun he has in his video games: my 'M-16 looking' A2...he thought it would hurt him at first until he got going, then he was blasting away. Shot about 15 minute of angle but he had fun. I didn't even try to coach him until he settled down and started shooting the 22. He figured out Kentucky windage real quick...started holding over by himself since my zero didn't suit him. Hope to take him out and coach him more...get him started in smallbore and hopefully highpower one day.

Thankfully I reload LC pulled bullets for cheap or that would have been an expensive range trip...

[as_rocketman]

I've seen the correct answer many times in this thread already, so I'll just add some personal experience...

At Appleseed shoots, every month I get at least one student who has never used a firearm before. At this shoot we had six girls, ages 9 to 12, all new shooters. Without exception, after a good intensive safety talk and a little coaching, every single student has been able to keep up by lunchtime.

The loaner firearms we use (the "Liberty Training Rifles") are .22 self-loading rifles, almost all Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 795. Rifles are better than pistols for muzzle control. In my opinion the autoloader is slightly better than a single-shot but it depends on the person. With a single-shot, I've seen students occasionally get the idea that once they've taken their one shot, it's OK to point the rifle at you, at their own mouth, wherever... whereas with the auto's they spend more time shooting and less time waving it around.

For a new shooter, they also get the idea that shooting is fun with an autoloader. That brick of .22 LR tends to vanish quickly.

Also, the majority of fears and turn-offs I've seen have to do with the sound of shooting, not the recoil. You should spend as much time giving them quality, effective eye and ear protection as you do picking out which firearm to bring. If their ears hurt and their safety goggles are digging into their heads, they'll learn to hate shooting just as quick as if you started them on a .300 Mag.

The more people we get to the line, the better. Don't care what your politics are, shooting and our rights are for everyone.

[ZNiner]

10/22 and Browning Buckmark. They are easy to control and folks typically shoot them real well since they are not flinching or pulling due to anticipating recoil. Also very simple weapons to use. No real complicated manipulations required.

The folks always come home feeling like they did awesome because they actually did. A0 plus for me is that .22 ammo is dirt cheap so it's not cost prohibitive to bring folks along.