How do you know when your not a newb?

[Potatohead]

i figured everyone could have a good time with this one...feel free to laugh at my expense...how does one know when theyve crossed the line from "newb" to rookie (or whatever the stages of development are)...i do think i can not accidentally shoot myself now..is that enough? Been shootin 3 months, 3 range trips... feel free to share any newb storys.....someone i know tried to insert ammo into the clip backwards...i swear it was just someone i know

 

[OptimusPrime]

As soon as you regret buying or selling something.

 

[JohnBT]

Or when you sell something and later buy it back.

Or when you reassemble your first 1911 and take out 2 overhead 4' bulbs with the recoil spring plug.

There are lots of different ways.

 

[larryh1108]

When you call it a magazine instead of a clip. That means you've graduated to firearms 102

 

[mljdeckard]

If it means you have learned all you need to know and you can stop training.......never.

 

[Lex Luthier]

I was taught that we should always be "in the middle". That means to me that I should always have a mentor while being a mentor. Approaching all our life interests this way helps us remain not only a teacher, but teachable.

 

[Potatohead]

Ahhh...wise you are Lex

 

[Potatohead]

i havent done anything to stupid....well i do know someone who caused about 6 people to duck at the range when they turned around and swept the line with the barrel of the gun after shooting at the targets...it was my sister...yea

 

[USAF_Vet]

When you can identify the differences between a barrel shroud and the shoulder thing that goes up, you are no longer a newb.

 

[Potatohead]

what the heck is that LOL (but really)

 

[bikerdoc]

When you start answering more questions than you ask.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

When you cease to believe stool-sitting gun shop BS stories....but are somehow kind enough to listen and nod if it's a store you like to shop and hang out in.

 

[USAF_Vet]

what the heck is that LOL (but really)

Ask Representative McCarthy
http://youtu.be/ospNRk2uM3U

 

[EddieG54]

When you stop telling your gun buddies at double barrel shotgun is all you need for home defense.

 

[Lantern]

Hmmmm... newb story. I got the one that FORCED a lifelong respect for guns and treating them as if they are always loaded....annnnd to keep my finger off the trigger annnnd to keep the end pointed in a safe direction.

I was about 12 and squirrel hunting with a 22/410 over under. I had a few squirrels and there was lull in the action. So I started the sit down stand up game of fidgeting. Got tired of holding the gun and rested it on its butt while I was resting MY butt while holding it near the "middle". Decided to stand back up and used the gun for extra leverage and BOOM! Fat hand squeezing around the trigger guard pulled the trigger down. Muzzle was right beside my head. Nobody was hurt except my pride. It was dead as a doornail.

Since that day I've been called out for being "too cautious". I LIKE being called out for it. Tells me I haven't forgotten what can happen.

 

[CarolinaChuck]

Interesting question, I grew up around them so I don't really remember feeling like that. I still learn and forget things, relearn and retrain, if that is what you want to call it. I would say it is a life long learning experience.

I will say I had friend whom I grew up with that shot himself with a sidearm that was not working properly. I remember taking a hunters safety course as a teen where one point was made not to use a firearm that wasn't working properly. My friend was the older brother of the kid I took the course with, so we both knew better.

My point is, don't learn lessons the hard way while on your trip to old age. It was hard to make the call to his father, a man I grew up respecting, that I brought his son to the hospital because we were stupid. In the end only my friends' pride was hurt. Funny thing was, the father knew me and could read the tone in my voice concerning the matter and knew eveything was well in hand; the only question the man asked me was, "was he quick drawing?"

CarolinaChuck

 

[c4v3man]

someone i know tried to insert ammo into the clip backwards

It's ok if you have a HK... They're so reliable it doesn't matter!

 

[Potatohead]

When you start answering more questions than you ask.

Thats a good one there doc. Since ive joined this forum ive asked about 8 and answered ZERO. Guess i havent crossed the threshold yet!

 

[Potatohead]

Ask Representative McCarthy

Hilarious..sad too

 

[Texan Scott]

When the only glaringly obvious mistakes in your posts are usually the misuse of "your" and "you're"...

And you can shrug it off when people point this out.

 

[bigfatdave]

When you know the magazine/clip difference.
When you know your/you're. (also there/their/they're)
When you've seen most of the questions. (congratulations on a new question, actually)

Snark aside,

When you start answering more questions than you ask.

is a pretty good answer.

"When you know the internal workings of most of your guns well enough to troubleshoot them"
Might be part of the answer

Uttering the phrase "oh crap, I need a bigger gun container"

 

[c4v3man]

Go observe an IDPA/IPSC/USPSA competition, then compete at the next one. If you make it through a match without any safety critiquing from the RO, then you're not a newb. You'll be a grinning novice who can't wait to come back.

 

[Potatohead]

When you know the internal workings of most of your guns well enough to troubleshoot them

yikes!! i'm a long way from there!

 

[Akita1]

When you're helping others at the range, if not for benevolence...for your own safety!

 

[Potatohead]

When you know the magazine/clip difference

There's a difference? LOL (but really, whats the difference)
Also: did i get my "there's" right? Just making sure im moving in the right direction