Apple a Day
Member
So there I was at the range- an indoor range. I'd dragged along my CZ-52 and a Ruger MkII to burn through some ammo. I walked in the door and there was already a traffic jam at the counter.
Three ladies were in the process of filling out their consent forms. I noticed a couple of things right away:1) there was only one gun among the three, a pocket-sized Beretta, and 2) they were all borrowing eye and ear protaction from the range. I'm not one to assume, but I thought those might indicate that they were somewhat new shooters. As they were getting rigged up they mentioned that one was retired military, another was active reserve, so I figured they were shooters. Then they bought just one box of .32 ACP. Back to wondering if they were new handgunshooters.
To make a long story short, I settled into the lane next to them and watched them flinch like crazy, send shots all over the place, often off the paper. One would shoot and the others would hang back looking uncomfortable. There was a lot of unhappy, uncertain, this-really-isn't-much-fun chatter. I thought I would be helpful and offer them the use of my MkII.
After a couple of magazines through the Beretta they tried the Ruger and immediately took to it. From "Pow......<long pause>........Pow.............<long pause>.......Pow", they went to "pif. pif. pif. pif. pif." with the .22 with lots of happy noises in between magazines. It turns out that this was their first trip to an indoor range and they weren't that familiar with handguns.
I debated whether or not to buy that Ruger MKII but I am glad I did. The new shooters that I have taken to the range (and the ones I have met there) have been REALLY happy to have something small on which they can practice. I know a .32 ACP isn't much but for a new shooter in a small, light gun like they were using ( a Bobcat or whatever it was) that can be a little daunting. The more I work with new shooters, the more I am convinced that it is a really good idea to start them off with the smallest cartridge and recoil possible and work them up. I think a lot of more experienced shooters take the noice and recoil for granted.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not being sexist. I have seen women go from 0 to magnum in 6.2 seconds. I'm not saying this because they were women. I'd advocate the same thing with new male shooters.
They left the range and I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing. They thanked me and there were lots of smiles all around. I shot some more and finally packed up. When I went up to the counter to pay, the ladies were still there. They were in the process of filling out the paperwork on a Beretta Neo .22LR. With just the experience of the .32 they may or may not have come back to shoot again. With that brand new .22 I know for sure that they will spend more time at the range.
It was a good day.
I am just about convinced that the best idea when working with a new shooter, rifle or handgun, is to start 'em off on something small, like a .22 before they work their way up. I've pondered just starting folks off with a .38spl and just focusing on the one gun but I'm definitely starting off with a .22 from now on.
Then a guy came in with a brand new Ruger 22/45 or MkII in the box, took the ladies' lane when they left. I didn't see the grip but it was a slabside. He hadn't cleaned it or anything. It promptly jammed. Yeargh! But that's another story.
Three ladies were in the process of filling out their consent forms. I noticed a couple of things right away:1) there was only one gun among the three, a pocket-sized Beretta, and 2) they were all borrowing eye and ear protaction from the range. I'm not one to assume, but I thought those might indicate that they were somewhat new shooters. As they were getting rigged up they mentioned that one was retired military, another was active reserve, so I figured they were shooters. Then they bought just one box of .32 ACP. Back to wondering if they were new handgunshooters.
To make a long story short, I settled into the lane next to them and watched them flinch like crazy, send shots all over the place, often off the paper. One would shoot and the others would hang back looking uncomfortable. There was a lot of unhappy, uncertain, this-really-isn't-much-fun chatter. I thought I would be helpful and offer them the use of my MkII.
After a couple of magazines through the Beretta they tried the Ruger and immediately took to it. From "Pow......<long pause>........Pow.............<long pause>.......Pow", they went to "pif. pif. pif. pif. pif." with the .22 with lots of happy noises in between magazines. It turns out that this was their first trip to an indoor range and they weren't that familiar with handguns.
I debated whether or not to buy that Ruger MKII but I am glad I did. The new shooters that I have taken to the range (and the ones I have met there) have been REALLY happy to have something small on which they can practice. I know a .32 ACP isn't much but for a new shooter in a small, light gun like they were using ( a Bobcat or whatever it was) that can be a little daunting. The more I work with new shooters, the more I am convinced that it is a really good idea to start them off with the smallest cartridge and recoil possible and work them up. I think a lot of more experienced shooters take the noice and recoil for granted.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not being sexist. I have seen women go from 0 to magnum in 6.2 seconds. I'm not saying this because they were women. I'd advocate the same thing with new male shooters.
They left the range and I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing. They thanked me and there were lots of smiles all around. I shot some more and finally packed up. When I went up to the counter to pay, the ladies were still there. They were in the process of filling out the paperwork on a Beretta Neo .22LR. With just the experience of the .32 they may or may not have come back to shoot again. With that brand new .22 I know for sure that they will spend more time at the range.
It was a good day.
I am just about convinced that the best idea when working with a new shooter, rifle or handgun, is to start 'em off on something small, like a .22 before they work their way up. I've pondered just starting folks off with a .38spl and just focusing on the one gun but I'm definitely starting off with a .22 from now on.
Then a guy came in with a brand new Ruger 22/45 or MkII in the box, took the ladies' lane when they left. I didn't see the grip but it was a slabside. He hadn't cleaned it or anything. It promptly jammed. Yeargh! But that's another story.
