teaching a newbie to shoot
So I think that this weekend I will be teaching a student/friend of mine how to shoot. One day we were randomly talking about various stuff and she confessed that she is scared of guns but would like me to teach her to shoot. Barring any unforseen circumstances we are going to the range this Sunday.
Would you care to offer me any advice about teaching a nervous newbie how to shoot a handgun? (I do have a good .22 to start her out on, as well as some more substantial calibers)
Would you care to offer me any advice about teaching a nervous newbie how to shoot a handgun? (I do have a good .22 to start her out on, as well as some more substantial calibers)
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Definitely on the right track by starting her out with a .22. I would suggest not to start with the larger calibers until she says she is ready, don't force them upon her. Other then that just tell her to relax when she is shooting, take a deep breath before she is ready to fire, and gently squeeze the trigger. Three very simple steps that should greatly improve a persons shooting. Also, before even firing a round make sure that you talk to her about safety when using a firearm. 1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded 2. Always put the muzzle in a safe direction 3. Know your target and beyond. Other then that good luck to you both and have fun[;)] Hopefully she will realize that when handled with proper care and safety firearms are very safe and fun to shoot.
Jon0 -
Do not start her with a .22. I start diminutive women/girls with a .45ACP 1911. I never say anything about recoil. Once the bugs and basics are worked out on it, they will be able to shoot anything, well.
I've had many females and males taught this way. It works for them.
Doug0 -
You guys are talking about guns right? Don 0 -
Guns ???
I knew I could count on you !!
Doug0 -
Start with the several rules of basic gun safety.
Then go over the function and design of the guns she will (and will not) be shooting that day. Explain the function and design of the cartridges and the various bullet styles. By the time she's shooting, she should have been handling the guns for a good 45 minutes. Get her to dry-fire a bit before giving her live ammo. This is a good opportunity to coach her on safe handling.
Start her on a revolver if that's an option. Emphasize the importance of keeping your hand out of the breech if it's a revolver, or out of the path of the slide if it's a semi. Sounds dumb, but I saw a friend of mine let his wife tattoo her left hand with powder residue because she was supporting the revolver right under the breech.
See to it that she has contour style earplugs and add muffs to the mix to make things really quiet for her.
Bring targets that are fun to shoot. Shaving cream, cans of carbonated beverage, golf balls, that sort of thing.
Good luck. Have fun. Report back.0 -
It also might not hurt to give her a chance to handle one of more of the guns she will be shooting before she gets to the range, unloaded of course. This way she can get used to handling them, pointing them in a safe direction and so on. Newbies have a tendancy to do stupid things without thinking because they just don't know. Better to get this out of the way away from the range where there is live ammo and other people to make nervous. 0 -
One thing to watch is how she stands. I have found several new shooters that will lean back to get the gun alinged with the eye, it never occurs to them to lift the arms. This tipped back stance makes shooting very difficult and shortly the back will hurt. Show her a good stance and practice it for a bit before she even has the gun, that way she will have less to think about at one time.
I think my daughter is the worlds worste at tipping back instead of lifting the gun up, just drives me nuts.0 -
quote:Originally posted by spurgemastur
Start with the several rules of basic gun safety.
Then go over the function and design of the guns she will (and will not) be shooting that day. Explain the function and design of the cartridges and the various bullet styles. By the time she's shooting, she should have been handling the guns for a good 45 minutes. Get her to dry-fire a bit before giving her live ammo. This is a good opportunity to coach her on safe handling.
Start her on a revolver if that's an option. Emphasize the importance of keeping your hand out of the breech if it's a revolver, or out of the path of the slide if it's a semi. Sounds dumb, but I saw a friend of mine let his wife tattoo her left hand with powder residue because she was supporting the revolver right under the breech.
See to it that she has contour style earplugs and add muffs to the mix to make things really quiet for her.
Bring targets that are fun to shoot. Shaving cream, cans of carbonated beverage, golf balls, that sort of thing.
Good luck. Have fun. Report back.
I agree 100%, and I can't stress enough to bring the "fun to shoot" targets. Shooting at paper can be very boring if you're not a good shot and can't hit paper. But, if you can hit a can of something volitile and make it explode, it becomes more like a game.
Work on paper later. Make it fun and less scary for now.0 -
1. Show her the correct firing position (seated two handed off sand bags, Weaver, Isosceles, etc, etc)
(( and remember: The weak hand finger go OVER the strong hand fingers and the weak hand thumb goes OVER the strong thumb)
2. have her practice the position WITHOUT a firearm
3. Have her practice with an UNLOADED firearm (and correct her position)
4. Shoot with a loaded firearm.
22 is a good choice. I also suggest only 5 rounds if semi-auto.
8 1/2 x 11 blank paper makes a GREAT target - nothing to score and the human eye will sight to the center of the paper.
Have fun, and good luck.
PS - you primary job is to watch her and keep her safe0 -
show here the basics, and most important safety, stand back, and let her shoot without criticizing as much as possible, if at all possible do as little shooting yourself, most new shooters are more intimidated by better shooters than they are the gun itself, while it may appear the opposite it is not, i have been congratulated by several new shooters with this easy method on how it made them relaxed and they where able to absorb more mentally about the firearm, and made it more enjoyable, remember first impressions work in multiple situations
and every time most shooters when allowed to shoot several guns of various calibers will always favor the .22 when the day is done0 -
Didn't we ALL start with a .22 or a BB gun! And for what it's worth, I'd suggest starting with a .22 rifle and then when she feels pretty comfortable with that, I'd go to a .22 pistol. 0 -
The myth of the .45s recoil lives on.
Doug0 -
...don't make it hard or complicated at first. The .22LR is a good first weapon and keep it relatively close, say 15-20 feet. Build skill and confidence, but make it fun! Try white paper plates on cardboard so she can see her accomplishments before going to bullseye targets. Stress safety at every point; finger off the trigger until on target, all guns are loaded until proven otherwise, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and don't forget respect for the weapon and others around her.
Ears and eye protection.
Puching holes is fun with a friend.
Moose0
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