Introducing my co-workers to shooting

[shda5582]

Isn't an advice thread, this is more a tally thread


Recently I've been trying to get my co-workers interested in going shooting with me. Mostly because I hate going by myself, and I figure as a gun owner, we should do an outreach to people to demonstrate that guns aren't scary, and going target shooting can actually be fun and a good stress reliever.

Of course, my ultimate goal would be to get them so interested that they wind up purchasing a firearm and get interested enough to help defend our 2a rights. One step at a time, right?

Anyways....I'm going to keep a running tally in the OP here of the # of people taken out, and people that have purchased firearms as a result of me. Hopefully this will inspire more of us to reach out to friends, family, co-workers and help dispel the negative assocations/thoughts that they might have gotten in regards to firearms.

• Taken: 3 (1 new, 2 already have)
• Bought: 1 (my boss, bought 2 AR15's and a PX4 pistol and is now getting into the politics side of things when he saw how stupid the laws are)

[Socalman]

Great activity and something we should all be doing!

One thing I might suggest is that when you take someone for their first time, you consider having a .22. Let them start on the "pop-gun" and get the basics of grip and stance without anyone thinking about recoil. If they are ok, then move up to larger calibers. Imagine someone who has never shot and the first thing they shoot is a .40 or full house .357 or 3" buckshot 12 gauge. That introduction might turn them off forever. I was introduced to shooting at a very young age, I am not sure the exact time, with a single shot, bolt action .22. When I was the ripe age of 7, I was allowed to try a .45. That was not good for me. I just would not even consider shooting a .45 for decades because I knew that it had a kick second only to an atomic bomb.

[Socalman]

Great activity and something we should all be doing!

One thing I might suggest is that when you take someone for their first time, you consider having a .22. Let them start on the "pop-gun" and get the basics of grip and stance without anyone thinking about recoil. If they are ok, then move up to larger calibers. Imagine someone who has never shot and the first thing they shoot is a .40 or full house .357 or 3" buckshot 12 gauge. That introduction might turn them off forever. I was introduced to shooting at a very young age, I am not sure the exact time, with a single shot, bolt action .22. When I was the ripe age of 7, I was allowed to try a .45. That was not good for me. I just would not even consider shooting a .45 for decades because I knew that it had a kick second only to an atomic bomb.

[Socalman]

Great activity and something we should all be doing!

One thing I might suggest is that when you take someone for their first time, you consider having a .22. Let them start on the "pop-gun" and get the basics of grip and stance without anyone thinking about recoil. If they are ok, then move up to larger calibers. Imagine someone who has never shot and the first thing they shoot is a .40 or full house .357 or 3" buckshot 12 gauge. That introduction might turn them off forever. I was introduced to shooting at a very young age, I am not sure the exact time, with a single shot, bolt action .22. When I was the ripe age of 7, I was allowed to try a .45. That was not good for me. I just would not even consider shooting a .45 for decades because I knew that it had a kick second only to an atomic bomb. That psychological imprint left a long time scar.

[Epaphroditus]

Not to be a wet blanket ... I've found several co-workers to be felons/prohibited so be careful and clear as to prohibitions before running off to have some fun.

[shda5582]

Unfortunately all I have in pistol is .40, so I'm pretty much throwing them in the deep end to see if they swim. Would like to have done a .22, but I just don't own one, and my other half won't let me purchase one.

Plus if that's the only reason to buy one is to teach others....I don't see much reason for an investment such as that.

[speedrrracer]

Been doing this for a while. At my current company, I took another engineer, then another, until finally the entire engineering dept (complete with CTO) was taking afternoons off to go shooting.

Then a guy from sales joined in, then another, then some guy from tech support, and now it has a life of it's own. We're now too big a group to go all at once -- we'd need a big chunk of most of the indoor ranges here in San Diego.

My experience has been that a great many people in urban areas have an interest in at least trying shooting. Make their introduction a good one, and the sky's the limit.

[shda5582]

Not to be a wet blanket ... I've found several co-workers to be felons/prohibited so be careful and clear as to prohibitions before running off to have some fun.

Yea, same here. I've always asked each person thus far and will continue to be doing so.

edit: Forgot to mention, taking another 2 out this Friday that have never shot, and someone else next Friday as well.