campergeek
Member
This last Saturday I took two friends from work out shooting. We'd been planning to go for some time, but could never get together on schedules. I'd been anxious to do this for some time because neither of these guys are shooters. One is from the Phillipines but has lived the last 15 yrs or so in Cambridge, MA, so he's not really used to the "gun culture" except as it's presented on T.V. The other is from India and has never touched a firearm in his life. This was a treat for both of them.
First we headed to the trap field. We started about 10:00 a.m. in a cool mist. First we covered the basic mechanics of the shotguns (Rem. 870 and Benelli Nova) and the four rules. Then we walked to the line and talked about technique for breaking clays. A little hesitant, the two of them asked me to demonstrate first. I only broke 3 for 5, but they said I made it look easy.
Then they each alternated shooting five and I coached them in form. My Phillipino friend had trouble relaxing enough to stop trying to aim at the bird, but his form did improve after 10 shots. My guns were a bit heavy for my Indian friend to handle comfortably, but he did break 4 birds. After we finished one box of shells (at a casual pace) they both had grins on their faces but the rain was coming down steadily so we moved to the covered line of the rifle range.
To give a full experience I had brought my Savage semi-auto .22 rifle, my Ruger GP-100, Winchester '94 30-30 and Remington 742 .30-06. We started with the .22 at 25 yards with open sights. Indian friend shot first, and after a few low shots he began working in toward center. Phillipino friend shot second, and although he didn't adjust his shots as well he was getting really tight groups where he WAS hitting. I told them that between the two of them they make an excellent marksman.
After they had both gained some experience with the .22 (and after we got tired of clearing my jammomatic Savage) we moved to the GP-100. Maybe not the best choice of handgun to start someone on, but it's all I've got. Plus, it's accurate and heavy enough that recoil isn't a real concern. My Indian friend shot first. After a few dry fires to get accustomed to the trigger, he let fly with .38 special at 15 yards and got a couple within the circles. I meant to have him shoot at 7 yards, but I had put the target on the wrong stand (metal) when the range requires the use of wood stands for 7 yards (these are new since the last time I'd been there). When my error was noticed, the RO was ready to call the line hot so only gave me time to move the stand - not get a new one and mount a new target. In any case, my friend was still happy.
After watching my first friend shoot, my Phillipino friend tried to decline. From the visual of the revolver jumping in the first shooter's hands, he thought it would have much more felt recoil than it does. To coax him, I mounted a target on the proper stand and set him up to shoot at 7 yards. He did fine and didn't seem shy of the gun after his first shot.
By this time we had been at the range about 3 hours (there was a lot of instruction time along with the actual shooting), and both of my friends, while still grinning, seemed ready to give it up for the day. After I had (for comparison purposes only) showed them a .22 cartridge next to a .30-06 cartridge, I think they were hesitant to shoot the larger caliber rifles. Some other time. Before we left I loaded the GP-100 with .357 Magnums and fired 6 shots. The revolver is pretty new to me and until this time I'd only fired .38 special. I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle it was to shoot with .357s. My friends wouldn't try it, and I didn't force them.
These guys drove together and met me at the range, and they told me later that as they were leaving they were high-fiving each other in the car. As if their smiles at the range weren't enough, they have both taken the time to come and tell me what a great time they had. In the paraphrased words of my Indian friend, this was an experience of a lifetime that he'll never forget (and he wants to repeat). Although shooting is always enjoyable, it's sometimes easy to take it for granted until you see the thrill in the eyes of someone experiencing it for the first time.
First we headed to the trap field. We started about 10:00 a.m. in a cool mist. First we covered the basic mechanics of the shotguns (Rem. 870 and Benelli Nova) and the four rules. Then we walked to the line and talked about technique for breaking clays. A little hesitant, the two of them asked me to demonstrate first. I only broke 3 for 5, but they said I made it look easy.
Then they each alternated shooting five and I coached them in form. My Phillipino friend had trouble relaxing enough to stop trying to aim at the bird, but his form did improve after 10 shots. My guns were a bit heavy for my Indian friend to handle comfortably, but he did break 4 birds. After we finished one box of shells (at a casual pace) they both had grins on their faces but the rain was coming down steadily so we moved to the covered line of the rifle range.To give a full experience I had brought my Savage semi-auto .22 rifle, my Ruger GP-100, Winchester '94 30-30 and Remington 742 .30-06. We started with the .22 at 25 yards with open sights. Indian friend shot first, and after a few low shots he began working in toward center. Phillipino friend shot second, and although he didn't adjust his shots as well he was getting really tight groups where he WAS hitting. I told them that between the two of them they make an excellent marksman.
After they had both gained some experience with the .22 (and after we got tired of clearing my jammomatic Savage) we moved to the GP-100. Maybe not the best choice of handgun to start someone on, but it's all I've got. Plus, it's accurate and heavy enough that recoil isn't a real concern. My Indian friend shot first. After a few dry fires to get accustomed to the trigger, he let fly with .38 special at 15 yards and got a couple within the circles. I meant to have him shoot at 7 yards, but I had put the target on the wrong stand (metal) when the range requires the use of wood stands for 7 yards (these are new since the last time I'd been there).
When my error was noticed, the RO was ready to call the line hot so only gave me time to move the stand - not get a new one and mount a new target. In any case, my friend was still happy.After watching my first friend shoot, my Phillipino friend tried to decline. From the visual of the revolver jumping in the first shooter's hands, he thought it would have much more felt recoil than it does. To coax him, I mounted a target on the proper stand and set him up to shoot at 7 yards. He did fine and didn't seem shy of the gun after his first shot.
By this time we had been at the range about 3 hours (there was a lot of instruction time along with the actual shooting), and both of my friends, while still grinning, seemed ready to give it up for the day. After I had (for comparison purposes only) showed them a .22 cartridge next to a .30-06 cartridge, I think they were hesitant to shoot the larger caliber rifles. Some other time. Before we left I loaded the GP-100 with .357 Magnums and fired 6 shots. The revolver is pretty new to me and until this time I'd only fired .38 special. I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle it was to shoot with .357s. My friends wouldn't try it, and I didn't force them.
These guys drove together and met me at the range, and they told me later that as they were leaving they were high-fiving each other in the car. As if their smiles at the range weren't enough, they have both taken the time to come and tell me what a great time they had. In the paraphrased words of my Indian friend, this was an experience of a lifetime that he'll never forget (and he wants to repeat). Although shooting is always enjoyable, it's sometimes easy to take it for granted until you see the thrill in the eyes of someone experiencing it for the first time.
