Taking some newbies shooting

[hundreddollarman]

One of my resolutions for 2014 was to take someone who has never handled a firearm, let alone seen one in person, out shooting. I put it out on Facebook and I was immediately flooded with messages from friends asking me to take them the next time I go out to the range. So my next few range visits are going to be pretty interesting. I'm looking forward to educate and hopefully dispel some common misconceptions people tend to have about guns - and the people who own them.

Any tips on working with first-time shooters?

[ChuckDizzle]

Go slow slow slow. It is almost sensory overload for a first time shooter. Not only do they need to learn how the weapon functions, but how to handle it safely. Then on top of that they need to learn how to use it and have fun without being unsafe.

Just take it as slow as you can, keep it to one firearm, and pay attention to detail. Things that come naturally to experienced shooters are often overlooked with the new. Also helps if you can go to private land and show them what guns do to some produce or other reactive targets to demonstrate why it is so important to be safe (plus way more fun than punching holes in paper.)

[Off the Roster]

only load 1 round at a time to begin with.

[Catch]

Yes, go slow. No need to get into trajectory, polishing trigger components, and hand loads the first time out.

Front sight, keep eyes open, look through the shot.
Proper grip, make sure slide won't bite them.

[Deimos887]

Adding to everything Chuck said, Id go over all firearm safety procedure throughly before ever loadong the weapon, and be quite assertive about it, its serious after all. Keep an eye on them as they shoot and coach as necessary... whether shooting technique or safety.
Dont be a d*ck, just assertive... ya still want it to be fun afterall.

Ive never had any close calls with newbies over the years, often drilling firearms safety and answering questions long before even leaving to the range.

Good luck, its a thrill too (in a good way!)

[ChuckDizzle]

Adding to everything Chuck said, Id go over all firearm safety procedure throughly before ever loadong the weapon, and be quite assertive about it, its serious after all. Keep an eye on them as they shoot and coach as necessary... whether shooting technique or safety.
Dont be a d*ck, just assertive... ya still want it to be fun afterall.

Ive never had any close calls with newbies over the years, often drilling firearms safety and answering questions long before even leaving to the range.

Good luck, its a thrill too (in a good way!)

Great points, nothing wrong with dry firing and practicing loading and unloading with some snap-caps at home.

I also recommend keeping them around to clean the gun afterwards (cause that's part of being a shooter), nothing helps to understand the function of a firearm quite like taking it apart.

[JohnCCW]

My advice is to only take one noob at a time unless you have a gun savy buddy watching the other person. Making sure the loaded weapon is always pointed in a safe direction. That is the biggest mistake that noobs make.

[baih777]

My advice is to only take one noob at a time unless you have a gun savy buddy watching the other person. Making sure the loaded weapon is always pointed in a safe direction. That is the biggest mistake that noobs make.

this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
maybe two.

[TheExiled]

I always bring new shooters (very first timers) to my house and have them dry fire and practice picking up the sights. Now that I have the Laser Lyte trainer and reactive target, that will add another tool to teach people. I also always bring snap caps to the range with me to put into mags randomly.

And try to not show them up. Let them shoot paper at 21', but stick to the 100yd steel yourself so you dont discourage your guests

[sl0re10]

22lr; great to start with

(re: 22lr) semi auto pistols; DONT forget the slide moves back / you have to hold it right so you don't get hurt

Don't sweep me bro

set it down on the table that away when your done

[NorCalFocus]

I second the one round at a time, even in semi autos!

[ocabj]

I've taught friends, complete newbies, both male and female, how to shoot handguns and rifles.

I always discuss firearms safety first and foremost and safe gun handling before we even get to the range. I try to demonstrate all of this at home or what not. I prefer to do this outside of the range environment because safe gun handling is universal.

Then when arriving at the range, I discuss range safety and define safety parameters and protocols.

From there I teach all the fundamentals of shooting *before* any live fire. For pistols, for example, I'll go into the the basic function/operation of the gun, and then the grip. Then sight alignment and sight picture. Then trigger control and follow through, and sight acquisition.

When we start live fire, it's always on a big target (e.g. IPSC or IDPA target) at close range (e.g. 3 yards). An IPSC target at 3 yards sounds way too close, but the whole point is so they don't miss. You want them to *anywhere* on target. It's not positive reinforcement for any new shooter to miss on their first shots. Yes, to us, you can 'miss' on a IPSC target if you're aiming at the A zone and hit the very bottom of the C zone. But for a person that's never fired a gun before, hitting the C zone is great because they're on paper (and as far as they know, they hit the target), and have something to build upon. Establish a strong shooter confidence in that person. Always look for the strengths that they're demonstrating and emphasize that, while at the same time spotting their mistakes and subtly help fix them.

Ideally, I would just have a new shooter shoot on a large blank board with just a generic black center as an aiming point and no 'scoring' rings. You don't want to force a new shooter to shoot bulls eyes, 10-rings, etc. Keep it simple.

[catmman]

Let them have fun and make mistakes as long as the bullets go down range. Lots for them to learn. I suggest spending about 45 minutes talking to them before you shoot about some light basics. Make sure to have a picture on your phone of sight alignment/sight picture to show them exactly what they should be focusing on. Can't tell you how many people just don't get it until you show them a picture on it. I would also take a colored marker and mark off their rounds and don't shoot more than five rounds at a time. That way they get excited when they see the groups getting smaller and smaller as they settle down.

[catmman]

That is great that you are doing this. I always invite friends and the ammo/guns and range fees are on me the first time. I tell them that if they enjoy it and want to come back they are more than welcome to pay for their own stuff. Just trying to keep the sport going.

[bigbearbear]

Be sure you can handle the cost. To those interested in your offer, they're thinking this to themselves: Free Guns! Free Ammo! Free Targets! I'm going to do mag dumps all day long! Awwwwww......yeah!!!