Introducing others to shooting handguns

[eotp]

At Thanksgiving I was able to take my visiting sister, her husband, and 2 children in college to the local indoor shooting range. None of them had ever fired a handgun, and only one had ever even held a handgun previously. I brought 6 handguns to the range with us and let each of them shoot each fully loaded gun until it was empty. They initially fired my Browning Buck Mark and then followed this by shooting my Taurus Model 94 (both of these are .22LR). They then fired my Bersa Model 85 (.380), CZ 75B (9mm), Glock 22 (.40 S&W), and S&W Model 66 (only fired .38 Special in this). Of these, their overwhelming favorite was the CZ.

On the day after Christmas my oldest son (a senior in high school) finally came to the range with me. I think that the only reason that he came was because my visiting father-in-law (thus, my son's grandfather) was also going to the range with me. My oldest son hasn't been interested in guns previously for reasons that I don't fully understand, but I think it has something to do with his preoccupation with his school studies, girls, guitars, his band, planning & applying for college, school sports, etc. At any rate, on this trip to the range I brought 4 guns: the CZ 75B, my Glock 22, my Springfield Armory Custom 1911-A1 TRP, and my Sig Sauer P220. Again, the favorite of both my father-in-law and my son was the CZ. Their 2nd favorite was the Sig.

Everybody enjoyed these trips to the range and at least 4 of the 6 individuals above plan to continue to pursue shooting at ranges in the future. My son loved it (he was surprised) and can't wait to go again. That just may be the best thing that I got for Christmas.

 

[Griff]

Happy Holidays like that are special, huh? Good on ya.

Wife and I (DoD civilians, both prior military) are members of the local range (called the "Rod and Gun Club") and go on a pretty regular basis. When we can, we take a buddy from work. Most of these guys and gals are younger kids, first-term soldiers who love to sit in the barracks and play Shoot-Em-Up video games. For them, going to the range is what they do to qualify on a quarterly basis with their M16s, and therefore, a chore.

When we show them proper operation, care and feeding of the various revolvers and pistols that we rent, they're usually surprised that it's so different in real life from what Duke Nukem does. But, having been through basic tng, they remember the fundamentals and pretty soon are getting COM hits on silhouettes at 7-25M.

Sometimes they come back, and it’s a good feeling to have shared an opportunity. (Sometimes we take them to the local nekkid swimming pool, too, but that’s another story)

 

[80fl]

Right on eotp!!

It's great to acquaint new folks to the shooting sports.

As a kid, this was done in school. My how times change.