One Rule We Forget When Teaching New Shooters

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kingpin008

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So, I realized something new today.

A friend had recently expressed some interest in learning to shoot, so I agreed to take her along with my fiancee the next time we go to the range.

This afternoon, she came over and I decided to give her a rundown of the four rules, as well as some basic gun-handling instruction.

I had my P22 laid out on the coffee table, with an empty mag inserted. The idea was that she was going to pick it up, drop the mag, rack the slide and show clear, and then hand it to me for inspection.

What happened was this: She picked it up, dropped the mag, attempted to rack the slide, and lost her grip on the pistol. The pistol fell, and as it did she attempted to catch it to keep it from hitting the table (probably worried about damaging my gun). I wasn't able to stop her, but I did yell "DON'T!", which just startled her. She wasn't able to catch it and it ended up hitting the ground with no damage, but that's not the point.

Folks, I know we all try our best to stress the Four Rules when we're teaching new shooters the ropes, but this incident really made me realize how important it should be to add one more:

NEVER TRY TO CATCH A DROPPED GUN. Period!

I knew this particular gun was unloaded, but what if this had happened at a range, with a round in the chamber? If those grasping fingers manage to get tangled up in the trigger guard the wrong way, bad things can happen.

I explained to my friend why I reacted the way I did, and that she had no way of knowing, and she thanked me for being so jumpy, lol. I also apologized to her for not thinking of mentioning it before, but in all fairness, I had just never even thought of bringing it up.

So there ya go, ladies and gents - the Four Rules are great, and everybody should know 'em, but let's not forget that what might be totally obvious to us, simply isn't to the ones who are still just learning.
 
NEVER TRY TO CATCH A DROPPED GUN. Period!
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Good point, though easier said than done for many people. My 642 slipped from my hands while cleaning (empty, of course), but out of instinct I grabbed at it, catching it before it hit the tile floor. Even though it was empty, I swore at myself that it was a mistake.

I saw a lady shoot herself in the foot once by grabbing a Ruger Mk II that was headed for the dirt.
 
Good one. I had a dialogue pop into my head for explaining this one thus:

"I know it's your first time shooting, so it's perfectly reasonable to get nervous. Furthermore, you'll be manipulating an unfamiliar object in unfamiliar ways. It's entirely possible that you'll drop the gun.

If this happens, don't sweat it; it's fairly common, especially with new pistol shooters.

One thing you shouldn't do, when the gun drops, is attempt to catch it. Murphy loves firearms, and if he says anything about it, when you catch the gun with your cat-like reflexes, you'll get tangled in the trigger, and it will be loaded and pointed in just the wrong direction when it goes off.

It's better just to let it fall. Modern firearms are not especially prone to going off when they hit the ground, so it's safest just to stand back, and if you can, endeavor not to be where the muzzle is pointing. Otherwise, wait for it to fall, and then pick it up."
 
Oh, I've made a grab or two before, and kicked myself for it afterwards. I think everyone has, or will, in their lifetime. Like you said, it's instinct.

Just when you're teaching someone who's never been around guns, or has no idea what to do around them, you want to make sure that they have as much info as possible on what you are and are not supposed to do. :)

From now on, I'm going to make sure that any new shooters I take to the range with me know beforehand that if it means one of my guns gets dinged up or scratched, it's worth it if it means that they stayed safe and didn't try to make a try for it.

Percy - Yea, something like that. Maybe something like "Your new to this, and that's ok. If any of these fall over, or get dropped, leave it be. Scratches build character, bullet wounds, not so much.
 
Percy wrote,
I had a dialogue pop into my head for explaining this one thus:

"I know it's your first time shooting, so it's perfectly reasonable to get nervous. Furthermore, you'll be manipulating an unfamiliar object in unfamiliar ways. It's entirely possible that you'll drop the gun.

If this happens, don't sweat it; it's fairly common, especially with new pistol shooters.

One thing you shouldn't do, when the gun drops, is attempt to catch it. Murphy loves firearms, and if he says anything about it, when you catch the gun with your cat-like reflexes, you'll get tangled in the trigger, and it will be loaded and pointed in just the wrong direction when it goes off.

It's better just to let it fall. Modern firearms are not especially prone to going off when they hit the ground, so it's safest just to stand back, and if you can, endeavor not to be where the muzzle is pointing. Otherwise, wait for it to fall, and then pick it up."
Click to expand...

That's good stuff.

This thread makes me think that, depending on the person, I might go farther and actually have that person practice NOT catching things that fall out of their hand (e.g., keys, pens, tennis balls, whatever). I might place the object in their hand and just have them drop the object, or I might knock the object out of their hand. The normal reaction would be to for the person to try to catch the object.

I've known the drop rule for awhile. However, unless that rule is in the forefront of my brain as the gun slips, instinct is liable to take over. I've tried to catch a falling gun at least once.

A beginner, on the other hand, is learning a whole bunch of things all at once, things that are second nature to us. Their brains are loaded, perhaps overloaded. They're not likely to remember the drop rule unless they practice beforehand. (How many times have you had to remind a beginner to keep their finger off the trigger?)
 
kingpin wrote,
I knew this particular gun was unloaded, but what if this had happened at a range, with a round in the chamber? If those grasping fingers manage to get tangled up in the trigger guard the wrong way, bad things can happen.
Click to expand...

It was loaded. ;)
 
I usually tell people that when you drop a gun, put your foot under it and let it hit your foot. You foot won't pull the trigger and it will keep it from hitting the deck and being damaged. Also, hitting your foot and not a hard surface like cement could prevent a cheap gun from firing when it hits.
 
If this happens, don't sweat it; it's fairly common, especially with new pistol shooters.
Click to expand...
Good stuff for sure, but I would be squirming on the inside. Blood pressure would go south too.

That's why we need "well worn shooters" for the new shooters. :)
 
Max, it took a few close calls before I broke myself of the instinct of grabbing for a knife I dropped. Everyone needs to remember to do a little "Moonwalking" to get out of a dropped knife's trajectory, too.

Thankfully, I've never dropped a firearm. Not even when I stupidly limpwristed (I think it might have been deliberate) a .50AE and the back of the slide paid my face a visit. I found out later that despite the the blood and pain, I had carefully put the pistol on safe and gently put it down. That's the beauty of training.

-Sans Authoritas
 
I guess I would also suggest to bring new shooters up with guns that they are mechanically able to operate. My daughter has shot SA & DA revolvers since she was 8 and is 18 now and still doesen't have the strength to competently operate the slide on a glock. I got my mom a Taurus 85 for the same reason. Both woman are fairly strong, my daughter has always played highschool sports and my mom is a hard core golfer.
Being able to fully operate a gun is the primary rule, if a person can't do that then safety will suffer.
 
Now I'm a bit embarrassed. I've been shooting for a long time, but just got really into it in the last few years. I've never heard the drop rule. I've only dropped one gun, my carry piece (i forget what I was doing) and it was loaded, and chambered, and I caught it. It makes sense, and now I know. Thanks guys.
 
I used to do a drill that broke most folks of the habit (only if they agreed to it and signed a statement). I'd hand them an unloaded weapon and told them to hold it very loose. I would stand behind them and smack their wrists from below. If they grabbed for the weapon, I'd smack them on the back of the head. I had one guy that it didn't work on, even after a week or so of this every day. The best he could do was to hold his hands with the palms up and try to break the fall of the weapon.
 
I've never dropped a gun, but I've dropped a few knives. With most things, I'll try for a catch, but knives, I've always just launched myself out of the way instinctively. I suspect I'd be very bad about trying not to catch a dropped gun. I'll try not to drop it.
 
I haven't dropped a gun yet, which is a good thing because I often catch things well before it registers in my brain that I've dropped anything.

Its like a mix of being really agile and really clumsy.
 
I've never dropped a side arm in a way that I could even think about much less try and catch it. I have dumped a couple out of a holster a time or two. Usually lands on a rock or other hard surface. My .44 got knocked off the night stand and my toe saved it from hitting the hardwood floor, bloody mess it made out of my toe.
 
I've dropped a carry piece once or twice. The first time I tried to catch it, and realized I could have killed myself.


The next time, I tried to catch it with my foot, like a soccer ball. It didn't work, but the bounce it took off my foot slowed it down greatly as to not even scuff the finish.
 
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