So, my son had a get together tonight and I have 6 high school boys staying overnight. We all got to talking earlier about guns (hard not to do), and .. none of them have shot a gun before.
Tomorrow morning, most of them (all but one) are going to the range with me to learn how to shoot. Taking six handguns for the "pistol class", and a couple of long arms they should recognize from their video games. Should be enough to get them all hooked.
I was kind of shocked, living out here in the country, such a high percentage of kids haven't ever shot a gun before.
Be interesting, teaching a "class" - usually my first time range trips are one-on-one affairs. I don't expect to do any shooting myself tomorrow, I'll have my hands full being the designated RO.
I figure to go over it this way;
#1 teach them the golden rules of gun safety, make sure they know them through and through. (Also, since they're still technically 'kids', make sure that they understand if they find a gun somewhere, not to mess with it or handle it, but find an adult.)
#2 teach them how to check if a firearm is loaded, how to safely load and unload a firearm.
#3 go over range rules (long list, not typing them all here)
(also; basic range commands such as 'load and make ready', 'cease fire', and so on)
#4 teach them what to do if they have a malfunction
#5 live fire, controlled exercises (start with unloaded gun, call load and make ready, shooters ready, fire at will, cease fire, clear weapons, range cold & clear, check targets)
#6 live fire, basic points competition (10, 20 shot un-timed competitions at 7 yards and 25 yards on slow fire pistol target, for handguns; 10 shot at 50 and 100 yards on rifles. Maybe do a 200 yard and 300 yard competition if time permits)
#7 teach them how to clean the guns they shot. (Don't think I'm getting stuck doing THAT by myself, we're going to dirty up over a dozen tomorrow!!)
I'll be running a cold range, no handling of firearms period except during controlled fire exercises, no handling of loaded weapons except under direct supervision.
Anything you guys want to add, might not get it by the time I leave tomorrow morning, but I'll add it to the list for next time.
Tomorrow morning, most of them (all but one) are going to the range with me to learn how to shoot. Taking six handguns for the "pistol class", and a couple of long arms they should recognize from their video games. Should be enough to get them all hooked.
I was kind of shocked, living out here in the country, such a high percentage of kids haven't ever shot a gun before.
Be interesting, teaching a "class" - usually my first time range trips are one-on-one affairs. I don't expect to do any shooting myself tomorrow, I'll have my hands full being the designated RO.
I figure to go over it this way;
#1 teach them the golden rules of gun safety, make sure they know them through and through. (Also, since they're still technically 'kids', make sure that they understand if they find a gun somewhere, not to mess with it or handle it, but find an adult.)
#2 teach them how to check if a firearm is loaded, how to safely load and unload a firearm.
#3 go over range rules (long list, not typing them all here)
(also; basic range commands such as 'load and make ready', 'cease fire', and so on)
#4 teach them what to do if they have a malfunction
#5 live fire, controlled exercises (start with unloaded gun, call load and make ready, shooters ready, fire at will, cease fire, clear weapons, range cold & clear, check targets)
#6 live fire, basic points competition (10, 20 shot un-timed competitions at 7 yards and 25 yards on slow fire pistol target, for handguns; 10 shot at 50 and 100 yards on rifles. Maybe do a 200 yard and 300 yard competition if time permits)
#7 teach them how to clean the guns they shot. (Don't think I'm getting stuck doing THAT by myself, we're going to dirty up over a dozen tomorrow!!)
I'll be running a cold range, no handling of firearms period except during controlled fire exercises, no handling of loaded weapons except under direct supervision.
Anything you guys want to add, might not get it by the time I leave tomorrow morning, but I'll add it to the list for next time.