Some Questions For You...

[Dave McCracken]

I'm not good at keeping New Year's Resolutions. I'm still overweight and under exercised, it took way too long to give up cigarettes and I haven't finished writing either book.

Still, one resolution I've made and kept for a very long time.

And this is to pass on what I know to new shooters.

Heck, I've taught for close to 40 years, first informally, then both through MD's prison sytem and as an accredited firearms instructor.

Still doing it also. I spend as much time on the range these days teaching as I do shooting some times, and wouldn't have it any other way.

Every new shooter that knows the reality of gun use and ownership is another point of light in the darkness. Another voter that knows they GET to vote because the Second Amendment guarantees they can.

So here's the first question......

Who have YOU taught in the last year?

Have you?

Or have you hung out with the others who eye askance new folks and their new Expresses and 500s and sneered at them?

Are you part of the solution, or part of the problem?

A rabbi named Hillel asked some questions a few millenia ago that apply here.

If I am not for myself, who is?

If I am only for myself, what am I?

If I cannot answer this now, when?

And my last question.

We're staring down the barrel of a new year and a new beginning.

What are you going to do about this next year?

Best wishes for the New Year.....

 

[CoRoMo]

Good post. I'm also fatter than I deserve to be.

I wouldn't feel right if I were to toot my own horn. But I'll tell ya... there are a lot of kids from single parent homes around here that need a masculine influence in their lives. Their mommas know it too. What's wonderful is that there are a couple good organizations nearby that can take these kids hunting and shooting. These organizations have more kids/mommas calling them than they have volunteer 'mentors' to partner each kid with. So all they really need are gun guys who are willing to take a kid out to the range, up the mountain during deer season, or out in the field for some birds.

I would surmise that all of us are in proximity to these types of needs, and I'd also bet that most of us are in proximity to an organization like this.

Just sayin'.

Happy New Year!

 

[morcey2]

I'm going to try to figure which end of the barrel of the new year I'm looking down. The muzzle or the breech. Too many years staring down the muzzle.

Matt

 

[Rshooter]

Of all the people I have introduced to shooting this year my biggest accomplishment was a Pastor. One less antigunner and one with a following.

 

[bikerdoc]

I taught exactly 2 new shooters in 2011, enouraged and advanced 5 or 6 novices that had basic skills.

Always on the lookout to help.

My weight is OK but I sure need to exercise more.

 

[bergmen]

My daughter (20 years old) became a firearm owner for the first time with a new Henry H001. She added a Ruger MkI .22 auto a few months ago. My son (22 years old) got a CMP M1 Garand for his birthday in August. This goes along with his .45 Colt Blackhawk and 12 gauge pump shotgun. He is in the garage as I write this reloading for the Blackhawk.

My oldest son (23 years old) just added a Rossi lever action in .45 Colt to go along with his Blackhawk in the same caliber. He has a .22 Savage bolt action from a few years ago.

My kids are wonderful ambassadors for the shooting sports and are models of gun safety and handling. They are seen as mentors of the sport in their respective social groups and have brought many new shooters into the fold.

I have done the same. My wife is an avid shooter and has many women friends that are curious (or even more serious) about learning about shooting and owning firearms for personal protection or recreation. This is where I come in to give a training course on handguns including range sessions. We end up discussing a handgun that suits their purpose and I often go shopping with them or find something on the shelf that looks to be a good fit for their desires and needs. All but one have become owners and regular shooters (my wife's daughter is still undecided). I am a strong advocate of women being trained and armed in self defense. In our county (Mendocino), CCW licenses are "shall issue" so it is just a matter of procedure and protocol to become licensed for concealed carry. I openly encourage it to all who will listen.

I have friends I have known for years that seek my advice when they are considering a new gun purchase. I am no expert but can comment on firearms I do know about. Many have increased the inventory in their respective safes as a result of our conversations.

More of this will happen next year fur shur.

Dan

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'm teaching my 8 year old how to shoot. He got a .410 H&R single for his birthday back in august. For a few months, he had no interest in shooting it, which was frustrating. The first time he shot it, he jumped the gun and fired it without a proper cheek weld. He got smacked a bit, and that scared him. But he will shoot my .22 off the bipod all day long if I let him, so I had to find a way to teach him not to fear the recoil of his shotgun.

I had the idea of how to better teach him to shoot... without shooting. His fear was of both the noise (to a minor extent) and the recoil (to a major one). I can't cure both at the same time, So I decided to fix one at a time. I started him off working on not fearing the noise by cutting the shells down to the base, just firing off the primer. Then I'm pulled the shot out of the shell, leaving the primer and gunpowder, adding a bit of recoil. When I have the time again I'll work him up to half shot loads until we eventually get him up to full power loads.

He also shot my 9mm pistol for the first time last week. Surprisingly, the recoil of the pistol didn't bother him, I think we're making progress.

 

[oneounceload]

Taught several new folks how to shoot our 5-stand, my wife with a handgun and my grandson with a rifle.

As someone who did teach school for a while, the trapper usually asks me to help out if I am shooting and there are some new folks -makes it fun to make sure they are safe and have a good time -we sure need more shooters coming back, not getting turned off by bad attitudes

 

[Seanpcola]

Got my daughter shooting earlier this year and finally my wife on Christmas Eve. Wife is very enthusiastic now and really asking questions. She just finished reading Col. Jeff Cooper's "PPD" (thank you Mr. Lapin for referring that) and she is now coming to the realization that the world ain't full of good guys. Also got my dad back into shooting this year, he's 81 YO. Don't know who I can get into the groove in 2012 but have grand kids coming up and will be ready in a couple of years for the beginnings.

 

[spazman]

I introduced a teenage boy to shooting a while back, and that was really rewarding. Never did catch his name. He was with a group of older men at the range, and he seemed uninterested in shooting until he met my (very user friendly) .22 rifle.

I introduced a couple of college-age young ladies to shooting earlier this month. They said they always wanted to learn, but their fathers didn't trust them with guns. Turns out that these two women are better shots than me! I think they found it an empowering and positive experience.

 

[Dave McCracken]

"...sure need more shooters coming back, not turned off by bad attitudes"....

Amen, one oz. I've boycotted a decent range complex near B-more for at least 15 years because if I had seen the Range Master berate another new but willing shooter I'd have copped an assault charge. I understand he's gone but his legacy of arrogance and Macho Caca Del Toro lives on.

And to all wh've posted here, thank you all for the work you've done.

However, we've nine responses so far, and 191 views. That may mean only about 5% of this forum does anything to further the cause.

And I find that disappointing.....

 

[Seanpcola]

My wife is very friendly and outgoing and has a lot of friends that look up to her and trust her opinions. I'm willing to bet that in 2012 she will do more to promote the shooting arts than I ever could.

 

[Apple a Day]

I lost 75 pounds and I took two of my teenage students to the range to shoot for the very first time in their lives. I also got my wife to shoot a rifle for the first time.
In some ways I had a pretty good year.
You don't have to prove anything to anybody. Just go out and do it.
Happiest of New Years to everybody!

 

[Kingcreek]

I lost 55# and found 5 of them again.
One new shooter, a New York City refugee moved to the midwest farm country, had never touched a gun but wanted to learn to hunt and shoot now that he is a permanent resident here. He asked for advice and I suggested an 870 combo for starters. Had him out the farm for orientation and shooting some clays, later sighted in his slug barrel with him. no deer yet but he's having a ball and looking at handguns for his next purchase.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

I purchased 3 clay throwers this past year and started inviting people from work to shoot, I can say I have helped at least 3 get into shooting, and have helped at least double that shoot a gun for the first time

 

[jmr40]

I taught and coached in public schools for 30 years before retiring in 2010. I have taught hunter safety classes since 1986. The next big project is to teach my grandkids how to shoot. Need to wait a couple more years before the oldest is ready though.

 

[DAP90]

Nobody in the last year but my sister-in-law has asked me to teach her how to shoot clays this year. I tried to explain that she’d be better off with an experienced instructor but she has issues with strangers so I relented.

After I introduce her to clays and shotguns we’re talking about taking the NRA shotgun class together this spring. I’ve been meaning to check the curriculum to see how useful it will be.

The place I normally shoot has a handful of youth sized shotguns (she’s short) so we were planning to go rent them all and try them out one by one. In the meantime her husband bought her a Stoeger O/U with a youth stock. I hope it’s a good fit because that’s what we’ve got.

You’re probably wondering why her husband isn’t going to teach her. Me too actually but she says she likes how I explain things. I don't mind. It gives me another excuse to go shooting.

I’ve been reading books and online articles trying to figure out how to pass along what I know and maybe even learn a thing or two myself. Hopefully I can get her shooting and having fun with a minimum of bad habits that another instructor will have to fix later.

 

[foghornl]

I haven't taught a NEW shooter in a long time. That being said, I taught all of my children, who taught their children, so it is a generational thing with me.

Also finally got sis-in-law to retire her late dad's .25 Raven..althought it shot decently for a "Rodent Weapon". I gave her my P-90 Ruger (.45ACP) to replace it.

In my best Mr. T as B A Baraccus voice "I pity the fool that messes with her"

 

[tonedef89]

I am posting as a recipient of training and knowledge to thank all of you who are willing to spend your time doing so. My girlfriend and I had the pleasure of taking a great two day pheasant hunting course put on by our state fish and game department that included shooting instruction which helped fix some of the mistakes I have been making the past few years. The instructors donated their time as did the guides who took us out with their dogs. As a result of that I got in the field this fall and met a gentlemen more than willing to share his secret spots and techniques.

My father caught on to my enthusiasm for shotgunning and I helped him find a new soft shooting semi-auto to replace his shoulder thumper that he hadn't shot in forty years. I have since donated lots of boxes of shells to him and my girlfriend at the range as we all try to get better together.

 

[btg3]

...nine responses so far, and 191 views. That may mean only about 5% of this forum does anything to further the cause.

Bringing along new shooters is one of the greatest joys of the sport! Unfortunately, a majority are not inclined to do so, or may not have the experience, guns, ammo, range access, etc, to do so.

I'm looking forward to 2012! (maybe a few of those 191 viewers are looking to get started?)

 

[Dave McCracken]

BTG3, its 19 responses and over 400 views now.

Not everyone has the time, resources or talent for teaching. But....

If you can't teach a kids' program, maybe you can help out a few sessions. Pull targets, haul trash. BTDT.

Or donate the use of an appropriate shotgun, ammo or targets.

And thank you all for what you do.....

 

[Whole Hog]

I've spent at least 35-40 weekends in the past two years clearing brush, pouring concrete, laying blocks, digging ditches, and pulling wires for a new trap and skeet range. I've spent many, many evenings meeting and planning the work. Now that we have an ADA-compliant trap and skeet field, plus two more trap fields, two more skeet fields, and a 5-Stand field, we're working on a new sporting clays range which will have a short course of 50 targets and a long course of 100. I've seen our club membership grow from 15 or so hardcore shooters to 106 (as of today), and I'll help put on our second registered sporting clays shoot in May. It's been a huge amount of work, but very rewarding and now I have a great place to shoot.

Check us out, and come shoot with us if you're ever in southern New Mexico.
http://mesillavalleyshotgunsports.com/

 

[Seanpcola]

Got one last shooting recruit in for 2011 today, New Year's Eve. My 5 1/2 YO grandyungin. She only sent one down range but it's gotta count for something. She was a little scared at first but after watching Grandma do it she decided it must be OK with grandpa's help. Now she's ready to go back out again.

And yes, she did wear her safety glasses, they were removed for the photo.

 

[morcey2]

Now for my serious answer.

I gave my son a shotgun for christmas and we picked up a mechanical thrower yesterday. We're planning on shooting at least a box of pigeons every week with whomever will go with us. I'm probably picking up a 12 gauge press in the next couple of weeks to load some light loads for practice and for introducing some of his and my daughters friends to shotgunning.

We have a couple of pretty good shooting clubs here and I'll probably be going to those when we can't get out on our own. The closest one only has trap, but there's one about 20 miles away that has trap, skeet, 5-stand, and sporting clays that is supposed to be really good. I haven't been to that one yet.

I've convinced 2 guys from work to get their C&R licenses and they're going to be coming shooting with us on the 16th. We plan on burning a couple of cases of 12 gauge, 7.62x54r, 8x57, and whatever 30-06 and 7x57 I can come up with.

Matt

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good on you all,folks. Sean, that's a cutie there.

If everyone reading this thread spent one hour a month helping new shooters, we'd all benefit greatly.