[BozemanMT]

You need to teach them the right way.

So, we were out at the sporting clays course yesterday (beautiful day BTW 75 degrees, no wind, sunny, amazing, probably snow tonight)

And it was busy, and there were a bunch fo large groups (some corporate thing) and at one station we caught this big group and they had a new guy going last. Now that's cool adn I'm all for bringing new people. So, he totally doesn't see the 2nd bird abotu 3 times so they go "oh, just take another shot." well, ok, we do that too, although not when people are waiting. So he loads one (he's borrowed someone's O/U) and he pulls the trigger. nothing happens because he has the switch wrong. Thsi goes on like 3 times. He finally gives up. he walks off the station, ACTION STILL CLOSED :what: although gun held up. Ok, not too happy here.

We shoot ours, skip a station, come back to where they are and he's going last still. He walks off the station ACTION STILL CLOSED. That's it. I say gently "umm, these guys have obviously not informed you but you need to keep it open when not on station"
he looks at me :confused:
"so everyone can tell it's not loaded!"
Oh, big lightbulb goes on and he opens it up.

I wasn't really upset at him, because how would he know? But all the people he was with had obviously shot before (one was very good) but no one bothered to tell him what to do or enforce the rules when they broke them. I think they let him and the rest of us down.

[Larry Ashcraft]

I agree Brian. We try to make sure any newbies with us learn the rules from US, so somebody else doesn't embarrass them.

Not that I am an experienced SC shooter by any means, but I DO know the safety rules.

[GRP]

As a long time clay target shooter I'm never shy to tell someone, new or not who violates safety rules. Even the old timers need to be reminded from time to time as we become complacent about gun handling.

[PJR]

As a long time clay target shooter I'm never shy to tell someone, new or not who violates safety rules. Even the old timers need to be reminded from time to time as we become complacent about gun handling
Absolutely right. With the advent of the warmer weather a lot more shooters are coming out joining us addicts who shoot year round. Safety procedures sometimes get forgotten and I won't hesitate to remind anyone. The first reminder is gentle, polite and respectful.

If I need to mention it again to the same person a little more "emphasis" is added.;)

[Dave McCracken]

Amen, the first time is gentle, polite and respectful.

I soured on one range when the macho RM told one new shooter to get his head out of you know where loudly in front of his friends. The violation was not putting a little yellow flag in the action of his open, unloaded bolt gun.

Wonder if he ever went back.

Also, we ALL need to keep each other stay safe. 24/7/365.....

[Croyance]

Regardless of the type of firearm, there should be somebody experienced, knowledgable, and responsible near new shooters at all times.
People make mistakes with new things because there is so much they must keep in mind. After a few times when the brain has had more time processing the stuff, it is better.

I stay near people who say they have learned safety, but I've never shot with previous. Only if somebody with good judgement will vouch for them would I think of doing otherwise.

[silicon wolverine]

When i worked and shot trap, everybody needed reminding once in a while. After you do it time after time after time you get in a groove and dont think about it. Sometime you just forget a step. The rangemaster shoudl have said something the first time the noob messed up. When i "pulled" it was my job to make sure all the shooters were safe and following the rules. BTW if you missed a bird by screwing up your gun handling you got one extra and if you screwed up again it was marked a miss.

SW

[BozemanMT]

You're right, those trap shooters can sometimes (rarely) be cantankerous. I shoot trap tuesday nights over at the Berthoud range and it's always pretty much teh same people
One time was squadded with this lady, she woudl shoot, then load on and close the action
ummm, no, loading is ok (not technically, but everyone does that), but closin the action, not acceptable
After the 1st station, I said, "umm, excuse me, could you please keep your action open, that's the rules"
She looked at me like I was crazy
After the 2nd station, I said "lady, keep your action open until it's your turn"
she looked at me like I was crazy
After the 3rd station, I walked off the field and went over to talk to the manager.

She got tossed.
it's not really that hard, it's just common sense. I really didn't understand that.

[IDriveB5]

I agree, the experienced shooters in this case had let everyone down. When i brought a newbie out to the trap feild a couple months ago, the SOP went as follows:
∙Prior to the trip, I explained gun safety, gun mount and how the rotation of the game worked.
∙On the way to the trap field I reinforced gun safety, gun mount.
∙At the trap field, I demonstrated safe gun handling. Then I took my noob buddy up to an empty, helped him with his mount, gave him a visual demonstration of how the game works, and again, reminded him of safe gun handlng.
After that we went and shot a round of trap. Everyone was safe and happy, especially the noob when he broke is first clay. Never seen that big of a smile from that guy. :D

[Dave McCracken]

I know that smile. A job perk for instructors....

[mswestfall]

My club has a sign in sheet for members and the general public each time they show up to shoot.

We also require that each new shooter (annually) read and sign a sheet of paper explaining:
Muzzle control
When and where to load
When and where to chamber
How many it is appropriate to load
Never walk between stations with a loaded firearm (chambered or not)
Always keep the action open unless on a station and it is your turn to shoot
Never chamber a round when the firearm is not pointed down range
Eye's and ears
Shot size
Who is in charge (the Range Officer has ultimate authority)
Then we issue a card (good for one year) saying that they went through this procedure.

I may have left off a couple of things.

We also encourage each member to politely enforce every safety rule.

We want to keep people safe. Our expectation/requirement is no accidents.

Does your local club have this? Would this many rules ruin your fun?