How do you go about teaching a total newb?

[Roundeyesamurai]

First, for the sight picture, take a piece of cardboard about 6" x 12" and cut it out in the shape of a rear sight with the front sight post in the middle, properly aligned. You can hold this up in front of the target and SHOW the student what the sights should look like when they're doing it right, instead of trying to explain it to them.

Second, when shooting pistols of 9mm or larger (everything but .22), I like to have them take the first 5 shots or so without even trying to aim. Just point the gun in the direction of the berm and squeeze the trigger, concentrate on what the gun feels like, so that they aren't scared of the recoil. It really seems to help with the flinching once they realize it's not going to hurt them.

These are very good points.

 

[rugerman]

With my kids and a few other folks that I've taught or helped teach how to shoot I started with gun safety then got them used to the gun that we were shooting (rifles are easier to start with than handguns) then I started them out with fun targets cans filled with water and stingers or other rounds that make the target explode. For shotguns I first use a frisbe then hand thrown clay targets before I move up to a mechanical trap. Take it slow have fun and they'll stick with it. rugerman

 

[IllHunter]

My meager experiences

teaching others has included my kids and my present SO. Of course we went with safety first and which end the bullet come out. The kids got the 10/22 in single shot mode to start and the 22 wheel guns then up in caliber. When I introduced the SO, I didn't have the 22's available and started with a .38 load in a 6" SS .357 revolver. The weight helped with recoil and she liked it enough to want to shoot the 9mm Glock 17 and the .357 load. That was her handgun experience. When we had a chance to shoot rifles, she almost melted the barrel of the 10/22 as she truly enjoyed the self resetting targets and I agree that cans and waterballoons and watermelons make for more fun than holes in paper. However, we don't get out of the city as much as I'd like and the range hates the watermelon all over the place.