What a wonderful day

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exbrit49

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Nov 21, 2011
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Had a fantastic day today! Got a new neighbor and six months ago he saw me cleaning some firearms in my garage. He made the comment he had always wanted to shoot and had never found the time or anyone to get help get him started.
Fast Forward. We were talking last week and I asked if he was still interested in shooting and he said yes. So we arranged to go to the range today.
I took 5 handguns with us, starting with a .22 and all the way up to .45. Set him up with hearing/eye protection and gave him a simple firearm safety lesson. He was very attentive and I gave him a quick rundown of all the types of handguns we were going to be shooting. Got to say I was very impressed on how quickly he learned all the differences between the semi-autos, the revolvers single action and double action. I really was pleased when we started to use the different guns and he remembered how to safely load and handle every one of them.
Got him started with the .22 and he did very well except all groups were off to the left, I checked him out and although he is right handed he was left eye dominant, so I got him to shoot with the left eye only for a while and he started getting them in the black. Worked him through the 9mm, then the 38 Special, .357 mag and finally the 45 in Semi-Auto and the Blackhawk. He had fun and was handling all of the calibers pretty darn well.
Asked him which was his favorite and he was honest and said he liked all the pistols but liked the lesser recoil of the 9mm semi auto. So I let him shoot off another 50 rounds and he was grinning the whole time. He was by now starting to get consistent with the groups and I could tell he was very comfortable with the 9mm. He told me afterwards none of the guns had recoiled as bad as he thought they would. I think working up gradually through the calibers was probably the best thing I could have done. There was no flinching and I could tell the guy is going to be a great shooter.
Anyway it was finally time to call it a day and he asked me if I would go visit a gun store and help him decide what to get. I said we would go look, but he would have to decide what felt right in his hand. We looked at quite a few and he was drawn to the Rugers, (that’s what I had let him use in 9mm). He is going to look around for a week or so and then decide. I told him that it’s a pretty big investment, so take your time and find the one that feels good to you, Said I would go with him when he is ready to make the final decision.
Of course he had lots of questions about cost and ammo, permits etc. Answered all his questions honestly and he is very keen to get started. As we were driving back we talked about the fact that I reload for every firearm and caliber I own, he wanted to see it, so when we got back went over the very basics of reloading and he was really interested.
Guys I got to say, He was a great student and I tried not to come off as a ”know it all” and he was an excellent student, first time out.
I HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH FUN FOR YEARS!!!! How nice it was to see someone take to our hobby instantly. Seriously, it was a wonderful day for me too and I had as much fun as he did! He can’t wait to go to the range again!
 
inspiring

With all that is happening in this country/world,I get depressed.Thank you for posting this experience,you actually brightened my day.
 
The Good Stuff

There are a lot of different kinds of moments when we as humans experience what I like to call the good stuff. Like a whiskey that finishes smooth, or the kind of music that you cant help but dance to. This is the good stuff. Spreading joy through the safe and entertaining use of firearms, especially with a beginner, is a solid representation of the good stuff. I've taken dozens of newbies (mostly female) in my short tenure as a firearms enthusiast. The smiles, the excitement, and the experience is very rewarding.
 
I think your title was perfect! We, all of us, would enjoy a day like that. To see a new shooter as they finally got the chance to 'make the jump" from want to ...to, I'm in! And reloading to boot!? WOW! You did good.

Mark
 
Great job there.:cool: I find that it does not take much persuasion to get me to go to the range and shoot with a new shooter either. Never found one that was unhappy they participated after they decided to go and try.;)
 
Awesome!

I always say some of the most fun I've had is bringing new shooters to the range. I do something similar where I bring usually three or four guns to try, generally light to medium recoil. I go over the safety rules and assure them that I wouldn't give them anything 'with a lot of kick'. Always start off with a .22 and then depending on who it is go to a 9mm or maybe even AR15 if they seem like they'll be comfortable with it.

It's especially fun when someone tags along to our regular range trip and sees us all pulling our AR15's and AK47's and all the scary guns. I took a guy from England and his son to the range and he was just amazed, said you'd be in a world of hurt if you had this stuff back home. They had a lot of fun.

There's a meme that I've put on social media multiple times that basically says, 'I will take you out shooting, teach you the safety rules, let you try different guns and help you pick one out for yourself. I will do this all absolutely FREE of charge.'
 
Hey that's great. Congrats on helping a new shooter, on acquiring a good neighbor, and on making a new friend.

Helping a new shooter is very satisfying, and brings people together.
 
Well done exbrit.
It helps to be in a more "gun friendly" state like yours as opposed to Illinois.
The thing I'm curious about is, if your new neighbor is from Indiana as well or from out of state? If from elsewhere, that may be one of the reasons he is indulging his curiosity.
More power to him!
 
Good on you Exbrit!

it was finally time to call it a day and he asked me if I would go visit a gun store and help him decide what to get.

That says it all. Sounds like you've taken the right path in instruction, as evidenced by their not only acceptance, but eagerness to get involved in many aspects of the hobby.

Just want to say that the process is not over. Safety is an on-going thing, especially when a new enthusiast gets their own handgun. Keep the three main rules in the forefront of their mind and there will be many other firearm questions down the road. Push safety, at the range, with others, and in their own home when they want to "check out" their new firearm. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your/our hobby.
 
Yes, neighbor is a Hoosier

TO JTH Hunter. The neighbor is a native born Hoosier and has lived in Indiana all his life.
It surprising just how many people you meet that have never fired a gun and yet have always wanted to.
Got another buddy that wants me to take him to the range, Going to take him down next week. Its a good feeling to see someone enjoy it so much and its a great way to grow our Pro Gun numbers.
 
Taking completely new shooters to the range is a special kind of fun. It makes you think very analytically about things in shooting. It usually makes you think about why you enjoy shooting, and/or why you were first interested in it. It forges a real bond of trust.

And, as a great side effect, it humanizes recreational gun use for another person (often a voter).
 
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