Got 4 new friends to go shootin with

[WALKERs210]

Met a man at a car dealership and while havinig a discussion the subject of fireing rifles came up. Along with looking for young men to cut and trimm around the house and drive way. All for of the 16yr old kids were on board for this one of the kids said he needed 7.63x54r so he can shoot his mossie. At the same time the other boys showed intrest. Looks like Sat we we will b picking up these kids and spending a day with them Only thing that had me concered was all 4 of the kid were quite, coucourte and said yes and no Sir to me, he was short 7.76x56r so I gave him a about 25 shells and the three others were listing the rifle they was going to shoot. It's been 25 yrs sicense I chaparoned this many kids hope I;m bu to it. Between my rirles, sushotguns and pistols think we will be there all day Any thining I I need to remember about these kids

 

[Tobias1900]

You are much more trusting of strangers than I am.

 

[cammogunner]

just have a good time they seem to like you or they wouldnt go to the rang with you imo your doing good bringin young bood in the sport

 

[larryh1108]

Just asking.....

Would it be smart to ask permission from the parents, since they are only 16?

Just wondering what the concensus here is....

I would want to know if my 16 year old was driving off with a stranger and a car load of guns and ammo.

 

[Wil Terry]

NO PERSON---NONE!!!---goes shooting with me until I have known them at least five years, and I will know EXACTLY what I am dealing with then.

 

[Drail]

Be very careful. Only have one gun in operation at a time. You cannot watch that many hands at one time. And "newbies" will always do things you cannot even imagine with guns. What you are attempting to do is a very good thing though.

 

[tekarra]

It should be a good experience, let us know how it went.

 

[Havok7416]

NO PERSON---NONE!!!---goes shooting with me until I have known them at least five years, and I will know EXACTLY what I am dealing with then.

That seems just a BIT severe, but you are entitled to do as you like.

As for shooting with minors, I always make sure their parents are at least informed if not present themselves.

 

[medalguy]

Yep I'd speak with their parents before going, and have at least one other adult you know go along, if only for security. Have fun.

 

[MedWheeler]

NO PERSON---NONE!!!---goes shooting with me until I have known them at least five years, and I will know EXACTLY what I am dealing with then.

Stiff, and maybe a little bordering on extreme. Are you really saying you cannot get to know someone in less than five years? How did you come to that magic number?

I get that you'd want to know someone before going to the range. I just don't get the idea of such firm and inflexible lines.

On the flip side, the people agreeing to accompany the OP are also about to embark on an armed outing with someone they do not know.

(And it appears the father of the four is the one the OP was talking to; he may already be aware.)

 

[Ignition Override]

Even a couple of experienced (35-40 yr.-old) gun guys at the local private club knew nothing about the correct ammo for .303 Enfields or 8mm Yugo Mausers.

They began to reach for the wrong ammo, As I made the mistake of having three different surplus rifles within reach.
Keep in mind that most private club members at that age are very experienced -and very safe- with specific varieties of guns, but quite often very little, if any exposure to classic battle rifles.

And not even (a single) young recent US combat veterans with whom I've spoken with has ever tried out an M-1 Garand. Seems a little ironic.
I would not take more than one person at a time shooting an unfamiliar gun, Especially people in high school, who can be impulsive and trying to attract each others' attention.

 

[Ed Ames]

Met a man at a car dealership and while havinig a discussion the subject of fireing rifles came up. ... Looks like Sat we we will be picking up these kids and spending a day with them.

-- Southerner

NO PERSON---NONE!!!---goes shooting with me until I have known them at least five years, and I will know EXACTLY what I am dealing with then.

-- Northerner

Sorry, I just had to laugh, because it is so stereotypical.

I don't have any particular minimums. After all, I am willing to use public shooting ranges where nobody knows anyone.

I like to keep thinks very simple when shooting with others. I try to bring guns where it is not possible to make mistakes (e.g. if more than one, all in the same caliber or so different that you cannot put the ammo from one in another). Or at least not simple mistakes.

 

[shooter1]

Don't think Wil is being unreasonable. I'm retired LE. I feel I have a pretty good insight into human nature and behavior. I have to get to know anyone I plan to arm before I'd even consider it. For sure, I'd get the parents permission first for sure, likely written, along with a waiver of liability. I'd also have at least one other trusted adult along as well. Certainly not one I just met. I love to introduce new shooters to the sport, but there are better ways. FWIW, I'm a southerner.
str1

 

[H. Floyt]

I don't think I'd have a gun except a stranger was willing to bring me shooting. A coworker mentioned that a friend invited him to go shooting but he didn't own guns or want to go. I said I didn't either but I would like to try shooting. Before I could say anything else my coworker called his friend and asked if I could go instead of him.

It was fun. It was at a public outdoor range with a lot of other people and a safety video before anyone could shoot for the first time though.

 

[Al Thompson]

Welcome to THR H. Floyt!

I don't see taking folks to the range as anything based on regional differences.

I take folks all the time, but we do a safety brief and exercise (with a blue gun) prior to going loud.

 

[Ed Ames]

I don't see taking folks to the range as anything based on regional differences.

I don't either, per se, but as a northerner (kinda) living in the south (kinda), I see a huge regional difference in how likely the scenario in the original post is. Southerners routinely involve what I would consider strangers in their lives in ways that would make the skin of most northerners crawl. I don't say that's good or bad, but it definitely is.

I am far closer to Wil than the OP by the way. I don't know you, because I don't know you I have no reason to trust you, why would I go shooting with you? I don't have a five year rule but I'd rather know you for a bit longer than the time standing in line at a parts counter.

 

[John828]

Definitely with you on the safety briefing, Al. I am taking a new gal in the office shooting in a few weeks, but I told her before we go, we are going to sit down for a bit and talk about some rules. Also give her a chance to handle a gun prior to going to the range, practice loading/unloading, and learn the parts.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I did a search on "7.76x56r" and believe it or not, only one result came up on Google and it was this thread!

OP, I could barely understand what you were trying to say, but good luck with that! It's always nice to have new friends to shoot with. Just be careful out there.

 

[nathan]

Just imagine being in a public range. Theres different levels of gun experience amongst those many shooters. Be very careful...

 

[Al Thompson]

Nathan, good point. We have a couple of local indoor ranges that let ladies shoot for free on Wednesdays. I've tried doing some coaching there and it's been pretty much a bust. Too many distractions, too much noise, too little time to work on the basics.

I vastly prefer to go to my outdoor range.

For those folks doing some coaching, couple of things. One, a suitable prop for the new folks helps us work through firearms manipulation and still be safe. As Kathy Jackson (www.corneredcat.com) pointed out, with various "blue" guns being available, there is no excuse for using a live firearm for manipulation drills, at first. Second, if they are with me for a tune-up or an introduction, there is only one person shooting at a time, at least at first. IMHO, the proper place for the "coach" is the same place as an RSO - off set and about a half pace behind the shooter.

 

[John828]

I let them use a real gun. I see a use for blue guns in self-defense training where a weapon is pointed at someone.

 

[Al Thompson]

John, a fair amount of folks I coach are complete beginners, so the blue gun gets rid of "some" of the stress for them and permits me to dial them through the 4 rules, one rule at a time. As a for instance, I can drill down on finger placement till that rule is understood without having to worry about muzzle control. Then we work on the next rule while applying the previous one(s).

I'm unwilling to do that with a live firearm.

I find teaching the Four Rules in a series works, though we have to apply the rules in parallel.

 

[bikerdoc]

I can only echo what Mr Thompson said.
I start with the 4 rules like he does.
Then I explain sight picture and front site, squeeze (even pull), surprise.

4 to one is too high, I prefer 1:1 so bring a trusted friend and only one on the line at a time.

 

[buck460XVR]

Don't think Wil is being unreasonable. I'm retired LE. I feel I have a pretty good insight into human nature and behavior. I have to get to know anyone I plan to arm before I'd even consider it. For sure, I'd get the parents permission first for sure, likely written, along with a waiver of liability. I'd also have at least one other trusted adult along as well. Certainly not one I just met. I love to introduce new shooters to the sport, but there are better ways. FWIW, I'm a southerner.
str1

I help teach the local hunter/shooting safety classes. Still, I would be very hesitant to take 4, 16 year olds, that I did not know, to a range by myself, without knowing what they know about gun safety basics and having permission from their parents. I certainly wouldn't have given 25 rounds of rifle ammo to someone that was underage to buy them.

 

[JRH6856]

When trying to help people by taking them shooting, especially strangers, just keep Chris Kyle in mind.