Newbies at the range

[Lupinus]

Since we see a lot of newbie boneheads at the range threads, ya know the kind. "Some guy had his girlfriend at the range wasn't watching her and she SWEPT THE ENTIRE FIREING LINE WITH THE MUZZLE, then when he finally noticed he just said sorry and joked about it!" or "Some idiot at the range today spit hot brass all over me! " and "These gangsta lookin dudes were at the range today shooting gangsta style, ya know what I mean. Gun sideways, thrusting it forward, and platinum teeth glinting so bad it was throwing off my accuracy." Ok enough, yall get the point.

In light of that I figured a report on the range trip I just returned home from would be a nice change to the different side of range newbie reporting.
While at the range today firing off the 550 round bulk pack of 22 and some .32 that have been calling to me for a few weeks from the drawer I had two rounds of newbie's in the position next to me. First was a guy and either a younger friend or brother. Not sure what he was shooting, but the older friend/brother was keeping a close eye on him, instructing him very well, and the one time the guy got the gun in the wrong direction was quickly corrected. Was nice seeing someone instructing a new shooter well and keeping a close eye on them. Second was a man and his son, guessing 12 or 13 shooting a Berreta 9mm from the looks of it. While giving my shoulder (yeah I know its only 22 but I had put like three hundred rounds through it and have a bad shoulder as it is lol) I stopped backed up from the line and watched a bit. The kid was smiling so he was enjoying himself it seemed but he was flinching...BAD, half his rounds weren't even hitting the target at around seven yards. Asked the dad and it was the boys first time shooting period so I offered to let the kid shoot my AR7 so he could get a feel without the recoil. Kid put about 50 rounds down range and then went back to the Berreta, still flinched a but not nearly as bad , and as with the first group dad was keeping a good eye on him and instructing him well, bout the only thing I picked up on and offered advice for was trigger control, as soon as hands were on the gun the kids fingers was right on the trigger, but still all in all he was doing good.

Good day at the range putting about 600 rounds total down range and good newbie instruction all around for a change. And helping out new young shooters is always a great thing too.

 

[Byron Quick]

One thing I've noticed is the people not bringing eye and ear protection to the range. I've gotten so I bring extras and loan them out as needed.

As far as muzzle control goes, I avoid my local ranges just before openining day of deer season. Had this guy with a rifle over his shoulder with the muzzle pointed at me. I moved. He moved so it covered me again. I moved. He moved. Ditto. It was a song and dance. I was about to get irate. So I told him about muzzle control. He apologized.

But newbies? We all need to teach them and help them.

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

Its good to hear some positive stories about newbies at ranges. I always have felt that quite a few people don't get nearly as interested in firearms as they would like to because they're afraid of making a mistake or getting ragged on by impatient insrtuctors who expect to much out of a young kid. Lending a helpful hand always helps.

 

[pete f]

I happened to take a new shooter to the range yesterday, did not take pics but should have A delightful young lady from my old place of business has decided that she needs a practice partner for shooting to keep all you bums from interupting her shooting.... This was not her first time shooting but her second indoors and after been hunting for years she knows which to keep pointed down range.

I will say her happy dance at a particulaly good group was enough to have me thinking D>O>M thoughts. as in dirty old man. However it was nice to take her to a decent place, have a really fun time, and get a kiss on the cheek for it.

Much better than the last, I took a customer who had decided he wanted to get a carry permit and then once we get there transforms from newbie to know it all before my eyes. That took me casing up all the firearms before he understood that turning around with a loaded firearm in front of him meant that I was done teaching. Finally in the parking lot he understood that I took it serious enough to lose his business rather than a) get shot by him because of bad finger and muzzle discipline. b) have a by stander get shot by him because of bad finger and muzzle discipline. C) have his family get shot by him because of bad finger and muzzle discipline. I just started in on him that it was not a game.

PS my Wife said i can take her shooting again, she is only a couple years older than Lindsey (my daughter) Yes dear thanks for remembering that....

My wife shoots better than I do, so I will not cheat.

 

[Lindenberger]

D.O.M.

. . . and get a kiss on the cheek for it.

Speakin' of DOM thoughts--which of the four cheeks did you get a kiss on?

 

[SASS#23149]

another 'good day at the range' report

No,not my shooting,but the shooters around me.
Had quite a few youngsters there and their dads were doing a great job of watching and controlling them.Good job,Dads!
One family next to me had a shiny new ar-type rifle and even the 12 year old was having a lot of fun shooting it.Dad was real attentive and made sure his son had put the saftety on before getting up from the bench to let sis shoot.
A well run range is a pleasure to shoot at.

 

[1stduc]

I've lurked for a few days and i felt the need to respond now, I often go shootiung with a freind and his son (son is 8 yrs old) we've been trying to teach his son 1 how to be safe and 2 how to shoot. I'm glad there are others out there trying to do the same thing by the way the boy has put about 15 rounds into about 2 inches at 50 yrds with a full size AR with some support iron sights, but the last time we went to a public range two guys showed up with long action hunting rifles with no firearms safety whatsoever one actually had an AD into the air, another shooter said something but we left just my most recent experience.

 

[WillBrayJr]

A few years ago I was at a range in Mongo Indiana. A guy and his son arrived and I didn't think anything of it at first. The kid sat down at a waiting table with a 22lr Remington boltgun and a box of CCI Stingers and loaded the magazine. Here comes the dangerous part. The kid then inserted the magazine and chambered a round then precided to wave the gun around with the safety off and his finger on the trigger and his father didn't seem to care. BANG, the gun fires and the slug damned near struck my face. Me being me, I quickly snatched the gun from the kid then wen't over to the father and whacked him in the head for allowing that to happen and finally I smashed the gun to pieces. I wen't and got the DNR officer and both of them were hauled away.

 

[rust collector]

I had to wait awhile to shoot at our little 100 yd range Saturday, but the wait was enjoyable as I watched a couple high-school aged boys who had just gotten their CMP M1s in the mail get orientation from a couple old high-power shooters. They started down at the 25 yd line to get the rack-grade guns on the paper, then came back to the 100 yd mark to follow up.

Their dad wasn't a shooter and told me they got the guns for reenactment and historical purposes. Fortunately for the boys, dad's brother in law was one of the competitive shooters of our local club, and the boys were drilled on safety and the dreaded M1 thumb. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and doing a good job. When they were done we dialed in the #4 mk 1 with the new adjustable sight, and tweaked a sporting 30-06 a bit.

It was a great day on the range, especially since it was 57 or so and last year we were below zero at this time of year.

 

[f4t9r]

we were all new to the range at some point.
Most of us turned out ok (I think)

Most ranges I go to have a officer watching people like a Hawk !!!!

 

[Tequila_Sauer]

I was at a range last weekend and they were renting out guns to a father and his two sons, both looked to be 14 or so and were dressed in the latest gangsta designs. It was their first time firing. The range had very specific rules for the young, new renters. Controlled fire, no rapid shooting. Fire with both hands, etc.

While we're waiting for a lane to open up, he's watching them repeatedly break the rules he set. He goes in and warns them and let's them know the rules again and that one more violation and he'll toss them. He comes back, notices it again, and waits to see if they do it again. Sure enough, more one handed firing. Range owner curses under his breath, hops the counter, and goes into the range to eject them.

The father, typically, comes out complaining that he's now go a half box of .38s left and he has no way of shooting them.



I don't understand the logic of the father in this. Even if you don't agree with the range owner's rules, it's his range and you're using his property (land and firearm). How do you complain after your kids repeatedly violate his rules and fail to heed his warnings that they'll be tossed if they continue these practices?

 

[pete f]

Most of the time, I shoot with a guy my age who is a bigger gun nut than i am, However, the last two times i have gone I have taken this nice young woman. The woman likes to shoot, she owns a 686 and p 99 walther and she rocks with the p99. She has been frustrated when she was gone tothe range with all the unsolicited "assistance" she has received. Why is so many men are completely clueless when they get around an attracive woman who can shoot. When your target looks more like buck shot patterns at 80 yards and you are shooting at 7 yards, and hers are fist sized groups at 25 yards, why do you insist in thinking you can teach ehr anything. I walked out to the lobby of the range to get a bag to put the used brass into, and by the time i was back, two guys were trying to teach her how to shoot.

I realize no one here would be so rude, but geees people, think before you speak and act at the range. A range is not the singles bar, every single girl does not want your help. she does not need a "lesson" where you wrap your self around her and "show her" what she id doing wrong.

I felt for her today, i am a MCP and i know that, but guys unless you can really shoot, don;t spew in front of her.

Sorry rant over.......

 

[BamBam-31]

One thing I've noticed is the people not bringing eye and ear protection to the range. I've gotten so I bring extras and loan them out as needed.

Me, too. Til one day, I lent my spare pair of Howard Leightning 31db muffs to this poor old lady sitting on the bench with nothing but her fingers in her ears. (I guess her son dragged her to the range and neglected to provide her with gear.) Well, no good deed goes unpunished, right? So the old lady up and leaves with my muffs (thirty freakin' dollars, man!).

I'm gonna find you, lady....