Introduced 2 newbies to shooting today

[dfaugh]

My son's girlfriend, as well as his best friends girlfriend.

First we went over the 4 rules...

Then we went over them again

Then I showed them how the various types of actions worked, and one even asked/learned the difference between a magazine and a clip...

We ended up taking out my .22 bolt, which they both started with, and did very well with, and then they tried the 9mm Hi-point carbine...Because my property is very overgrown we were shooting off hand at about 45-50 ft. and both were able to consistantly keep shots in a 6" circle, which I thought was quite good...

The "boys" also shot my 12 gauge and SKS, but we were all getting hot (90+ degrees), bug-bit and tired...So we reserved some ammo for another day...

I could tell they were a little hesitant/uncomfortable at first, but that passed quickly, and both settled right into it...

In short, not a bad way to celebrate the 4th!

 

[Standing Wolf]

First we went over the 4 rules...
Then we went over them again

Yep. Well done!

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I find that new shooters get more enthusiastic after they pass that initial "hump" of fear that have been engrained in their minds by hysterical parents and media.

The time before last when I went to the range with a friend, we brought a female newbie and she was deathly afraid of shooting. After going over rules and operations of the firearms, it was time to step up to the line.

Her pulling the trigger a few times without seeing "the streets running red with blood of the fallen" and seeing a nice clean hole punched into the 25-yard target was all that was needed to overcome that irrational phobia. By the time we were packing up, she wanted to "find more stuff to shoot", asked when was the next time we'd venture out and wanted to bring some stuff to shoot at other than paper targets.

Good job on familiarizing two more into the sport! Hope they look forward to next time

 

[nico]

Once they get past the initial fear and realize that guns aren't the magical killing machines the media portrays them to be, the vast majority of people like shooting.

In fact, the only person I know who has shot and didn't like it was my mom. But, that's more because she didn't really give it a chance than anything. The first gun she ever fired was my dad's 12ga shotgun and it knocked her on her butt, so I doubt she'll ever really enjoy shooting.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good for you! Introducing young ladies to firearms dispels any irrational fear, builds confidence and may help prepare them to take responsibility for defending themselves.

 

[El Tejon]

Way to do your part, dfaugh!