Need Help with a Newbie

[starshooter231]

First thank you all in advance for your help.

My buddy and I will be taking a friends to the range tommorrow. This will be her first time shooting a gun (other than a BB gun). We will be bringing 3 or 4 handguns with us.

1) XD9sc with over 300 rnds
2) Taurus PT1911 with over 300rnds
3) Charles Daly 1911 with ??? rnds
4) Rossi snub nose 38spl/357 with about 200rnds

As stated above she has never fired a handgun. We have already planned on going over the Golden Rules and basic operation of each firearm.

The range we will be using only allows paper targets. What can or should we do to make sure she has a good time.

Is there anything that I have missed? We have a really good opportunity to make her into a gun nut Any help or suggestions you guys/gals could offer would be great.


Thanks,
starshooter231

 

[jakk280rem]

if at all posible, bring along a .22.

 

[Treo]

DW & I just did this, this weekend W/ some friends.

1. Definetely hit the 4 rules before we even left their house.

2. Started W/ lower calibers worked up to the .45

3. Ignored in correct stances, failures to take up a good sight picture, just let them plink.

4. Only safety rule that I saw broken was a tendency for the guy to put his finger on the trigger of a cocked pistol before taking up the sight picture this was corrected very gentley I.E. "I notice you do have one bad habit there chuck..."

5. We let them set the pace.

It worked out real well the wife (his not mine) insisted that she MUST have a CHP by the end of the day.

 

[SASS#23149]

set the targets up close so feedback is positive at the beginning.Setting up 25 yard targets for a newbie is goona make them lose interest and doubt their abilities real quick.
stick a big Shoot-n.C up there,and let them light it up .

 

[starshooter231]

Thanks for the tips guys. Unfortunately 38spl, 9mm, and 45acp are the only things we have available to us without going to a "better" range. The nice thing about the range we will be using is that it is private so not really any yahoos and it is outdoors so we can shoot as close as we feel like. Generally when I go I am the only one there so I am not too conserned about others on the range.

 

[BothellBob]

Since she is a true tyro, how about a 22 bolt action single shot rifle? Handguns are great fun, but they are not the best choice for introduction and teaching. No buddy can lend you a 22 pistol? And remember to start out on a rest with "load one, shoot one".
-BothellBob

 

[CountGlockula]

Good shooting technique for women:

 

[Werewolf]

Go someplace you can shoot baloons. New shooters love 'em. Instant gratification when they hit 'em. Blow 'em up really big to start and with in an hour or so you can be down to baloons 3 or 4 inches across. The new shooter'll hit those too. Keeps 'em comin' back.

 

[hso]

Cookies taped to cardboard are fun (and biodegradable).

The advice to include a .22 is something you should try very hard to heed. Beg or borrow one if you can.

Get light target loads for the .38, 9mm and .45.

You only need one 1911.

Start close enough so that they can't miss. Positive feedback is important in new shooters. If they don't make hits, they won't have fun. If they don't have fun, they won't want to come back. If they don't want to come back, they may think that no one should have the guns to do this.

 

[TX1911fan]

If those are the only 4 choices you have for handguns, then I'd start them out with the XD9. A snub nose with 38s may have similar recoil, but it is harder to hold, and a double action trigger probably too stiff. The XD 9 will be a better gun to learn on. I've found that many smaller, more petite women do not like the .45 but larger women can handle it, and some really prefer it. Just go slow and let them give you feedback. Don't get impatient, don't make them feel stupid. Start with one round only in the autos so they don't have any accidents. Show them a good two hand hold, but otherwise don't be too worried about stance. Think about having them double up on ear protection (plugs and muffs) so the noise doesn't cause a flinch.

Have fun!

 

[Bill2e]

Start with the 9mm & 38. Let her build up to the 45.

ALSO BUY the ORANGE PEEL type targets that show where the bulletts hit. My wife really liked seeing her results right away.

 

[ColinthePilot]

Go buy a .22!!!!! For $100-150 you can get a little .22 Bolt Action rifle, or a 10/22 for about $200. The last girl I took to the range loved my Stevens 300 .22LR and absolutely hated my PT111 MilPro. She is not petite, but I wouldn't [dare] call her large either.
The shoot-n-see targets are a must if your range only allows paper. cookies, crackers, ketchup packets, balloons are all good ideas too.

 

[elrod]

By all means, get a .22. A good used bolt in a pawn shop should be less that $100. Anyway, if you don't have one, you need one!

 

[kirkcdl]

Buy a bag of potatoes,set them close.They literally explode when hit,it adds to the excitement.

Oh,and to add to the crowd,bring a 22 rifle,even if you have to go to a pawn shop and buy one....

 

[DigitalWarrior]

Important Lesson I Learned Hard!

When showing a new shooter how to fire a semi-automatic, the first couple of times:

PLACE ONLY ONE ROUND IN THE MAGAZINE

When the sudden loud noise happens, they can drop it, or throw it down the range, or something else truly mindboggling and it will be OK because the slide is in lockback...