Offering advice at the range?

[Zaydok Allen]

Not a bad idea. Couple times I'd have been glad to have some. Public ranges suck.

depending on where i am and who I'm training i do. I was asked by a female friend who has never touched a firearm in over 30yrs for help and when i do help her i will have my body armor on.

I suppose. I mostly shoot alone in the woods so I seldom worry about anyone's safe actions but my own. So it seemed a little much to me. But yeah I guess it's not a bad idea if you don't have bullet resistant stalls on either side.

 

[Riomouse911]

Went to the indoor range today. I had a couple of .22 rifles, two snub .38s and a Glock 17L along with my own targets in the rifle case. I was on paper and chugging along in my own little world, so no one seemed to pay me much attention.

The guy one to my left was shooting his 9mm handgun at 7 yards ok and keeping his shots in a 6” circle, nothing spectacular. I guess the guy and girl to his left were all over the place, as the guy next to me started up a conversation and started giving them all sorts of advice. Most of his tips were predicated with “I learned at Front Sight” yadda yadda, so he apparently went somewhere and learned a bit.

It was apparent the beginners had zero training and little handgun shooting experience, as the guy did seem a bit appreciative of what he was told. As I was leaving I overheard him say to the other dude he was shooting better and thanks for the tips.

I guess sometimes it works out when folks give advice, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Stay safe!

 

[OneFreeTexan]

The range I shoot at, the guy who runs it is always correcting me, telling me what I’m doing wrong,,,how to do this to improve. Makes sure I police the range when done shooting, Leave it cleaner than when you arrived. Carping all the time...Geeze,,,what a b8tt!!

Hey, wait a minute, I shoot at my own range..... and it was worth every single cent to buy the land and improve it....

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I've never been hesitant to offer advice, and I've never had anyone get upset about it. But I've always been cautious about who I offer advice to and about how I do it. I don't just walk up and say "hey, you're doing that all wrong." If someone did that to me I would just completely ignore them. Instead, I try to start up a friendly conversation, maybe ask how they like their firearm. Often times I see someone who is obviously shooting a rifle that's new to them and having trouble getting it on paper. In that situation they'll usually tell me that they just bought it and I offer to help them out with my spotting g scope. No one has ever turned down that offer. Sometimes it's a quick 2 minutes to get them on paper and they have a great time after that. I've had the chance to shoot some pretty awesome firearms just by being social at the range. I never turn down those chances either (I never ask, they offer), and I always offer to pay for the ammo that they're generous to let me use.

 

[Axis II]

I suppose. I mostly shoot alone in the woods so I seldom worry about anyone's safe actions but my own. So it seemed a little much to me. But yeah I guess it's not a bad idea if you don't have bullet resistant stalls on either side.

I had to do my state requalification today and we get everyone from Police officers, federal protection officers to the security guard that sits in a booth to people who take the course for the heck of it.

Each year there is always at least one who you wonder about but today they asked a woman if she was shooting an automatic or revolver? She replied oh I don't know! They said what type of gun is it? She replied a Ruger. Instructor asked what model and she says 9 M M. She left the room and someone commented how she made it to a requalification class and didn't know the difference and he said he has seen someone attempt to put the bullet down the muzzle of the handgun before in a basic class. They had no clue the magazine came out and was to be loaded.

I brought mine just incase but I always get stuck with the LEO'S and federal protective guys so I felt I didn't need it. Two people were disqualified because they couldn't hit a man target at 25-50ft. I was so glad Mrs. Ruger wasn't in my range group.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I had to do my state requalification today and we get everyone from Police officers, federal protection officers to the security guard that sits in a booth to people who take the course for the heck of it.

Each year there is always at least one who you wonder about but today they asked a woman if she was shooting an automatic or revolver? She replied oh I don't know! They said what type of gun is it? She replied a Ruger. Instructor asked what model and she says 9 M M. She left the room and someone commented how she made it to a requalification class and didn't know the difference and he said he has seen someone attempt to put the bullet down the muzzle of the handgun before in a basic class. They had no clue the magazine came out and was to be loaded.

I brought mine just incase but I always get stuck with the LEO'S and federal protective guys so I felt I didn't need it. Two people were disqualified because they couldn't hit a man target at 25-50ft. I was so glad Mrs. Ruger wasn't in my range group.

Scarry

 

[1911 guy]

I offer advice under a couple conditions.
1) they seem to be generally clueless
2) They seem to be actually trying, not just goofing off
3) they accept the offer of advice or coaching after a little chit-chat.

I'm not going to horn in on someone who seems to have an idea what they're doing. Somebody just goofing off is not going to put any effort in, so why bother. If they're not amiable after a minute of small talk, they're likely not going to be comfortable with or receptive to coaching. I'm more than willing to help someone who wants help. But if they don't want or need help I have my own shooting to do.

ETA: Something I've found that breaks the ice and diffuses the attitude some people have is the simple statement that nobody is born knowing this stuff. We all learned from someone. I'm just passing on technique and information I've learned from others along the way.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

My pants aren't black, and they have fewer than 10 zippers, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to advise anyone. Also, I don't wear camo to the range in order to help me sneak up on targets, and I don't have any patches.

I have had strangers stand behind me and watch me shoot pistols because I was in like the 98th percentile at my range. I believe this gave some people the idea that I could teach them. I am reluctant to give anyone else advice beyond the basics. I don't think most people realize that shooting one type of firearm well is not the same thing as being a shooting expert or an instructor.

The best shooter I saw at that range was a very old guy who shot with one hand, with his arm straight out. If memory serves, his gun was some kind of Smith & Wesson in a caliber that started with .38. I don't know if such a caliber exists, but that's how I remember it. It was a little semiauto with a barrel maybe 4" long. He shot at 50 feet and kept things in an area the size of an orange. I should have begged him for a lesson.

 

[gundoc1]

I only help if asked, which is usually most times I go out cuz I'm the guy with the hundred year old rifle and a pretty decent group

 

[denton]

I remember well one day at the range, shooting my 357 lever action and hearing one of the guys on the next bench refer to me as "the old guy with the John Wayne rifle". Sheesh.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I don't give advice unless asked. Mostly because I'm not there to socialize, I'm there to train. To whet my own skills to a razor edge.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

Here's a problem I have. People I know ask to shoot with me. They want me to teach them.

Here is what happens:

1. I have to supply the guns.
2. Often I have to give them ammunition.
3. They never bring their own targets, so...
4. I spend half of my time hovering over them and helping them to get it together.
5. I learn almost nothing myself, because I'm busy.
6. I have to clean all the guns because they don't know how.

 

[Walkalong]

I was asked by a female friend who has never touched a firearm in over 30yrs for help and when i do help her i will have my body armor on.

If you need body armor to teach her, you technique is flawed.

 

[Walkalong]

Here's a problem I have. People I know ask to shoot with me. They want me to teach them.

Here is what happens:

1. I have to supply the guns.
2. Often I have to give them ammunition.
3. They never bring their own targets, so...
4. I spend half of my time hovering over them and helping them to get it together.
5. I learn almost nothing myself, because I'm busy.
6. I have to clean all the guns because they don't know how.

Been there done that. You just have to wean them off after a trip or two.

 

[Mousegun]

I was at the range and two young bucks were eating a store full of ammo, trying to get an AR-15 on target at 25 yards.
It was killing me and "I just couldn't take it anymore" so I, as nicely as I could, said, I could get the gun on target in less than 5 shots.
They seemed grateful to hear that and handed me the gun.
I said, I am going to shoot it as it is at a soda can laying in the dirt berm back stop, you guys tell me where the shot lands.
BANG
It was about 2 feet off to the left and a little high.
CLICK CLICK
Next shot, 3 inches left and on line.
click
Next shot the can went flying.
They asked how to work the sights and I showed them. We all went away happy.

 

[Llama Bob]

I'm pretty careful about offering advice. People don't like unsolicited feedback, especially if it's negative. I will help if asked, or if functioning as an instructor obviously.

If someone's struggling with basics like getting on paper, I will sometimes inquire gently how things are going. There are a lot of new shooters now who don't have friends/family to learn from like I did and it's not immediately obvious what to do if you're not on paper.

Shooters that I get a bad vibe from for any reason, I just avoid if possible.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I don't give advice unless asked. Mostly because I'm not there to socialize, I'm there to train. To whet my own skills to a razor edge.

 

[hdwhit]

Aintso asked:
"...has anyone had a bad experience "Butting In" like I did, and wish they hadn't?"

Yes. But, I've also had good experiences as well.

I think a lot of it depends on how much the shooter you are trying to help has gotten their ego involved in the endeavor as thus will see you as a threat.

As I have said before, I'm between a 3 and 4 MOA shooter, so I only volunteer to help people who are really hopeless. I regard myself as a very capable handloader, so I am much more likely to offer my help to someone shooting handloads - and that usually moves the conversation from shooting to reloading.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I have done it before for an individual, and helped them. But I would never help a group. The group to me would consist of someone, in the know, helping new shooters and that is his job. I would never help just to not make the "teacher" look foolish. But to one person struggling I will help if I can.