Taking a Friend to the Range Advice

[Monkeybear]

Go over the basic safety rules as everyone above has outlined.

Teach him how to manipulate the firearm prior to leaving for the range.

Load the guns for him, just one less thing for him to worry about.

Start off with guns loaded with just one round, then progress to twos and then let him rip off a few fully loaded magazines once he seems comfortable with that.

Let him get comfortable just firing a gun before you worry about teaching him how to aim.

If he starts to look confused/overwhelmed then you are probably talking to much and not shooting enough.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would go over the basics of safety first. This can be done with the gun unloaded. Then I would demonstrate how to load and unload, sighting etc.

For me a lot depends on the range and how many people will likely be there. The teaching is more stringent at an indoor range than a public outdoor range.

I would try to make it fun and not attending class. Be safe and have a good time.

 

[Trebor]

Stress the basic safety rules.

Focus on the "bare bones" fundamentals. Just the basics of stance, grip, sight alignment and trigger squeeze.

For sight alignment, actually draw a picture of a sight picture to show him what it should look like. Tell him to the front sight should be in focus and the rear sight and target should be blurry. Let him know it's OK that the front sight will move around on the target a little and not to worry or try to rush the shot when it looks "perfect."

For trigger pull, tell him that the ONLY part of his trigger finger that touches the gun is the part that touches the trigger. Tell him that he is trying to move JUST his trigger finger. He should NOT squeeze with his whole hand or tighten his grip. Just move the finger straight back.

Other then that, just watch him very closely so you can control the muzzle if needed. Load one, shoot one, is good for the first few shots.

Oh, and when he aims, tell him to get a good sight picture and then just to put the front sight where he wants the bullet to go. It's easier then explaining a six O'clock hold to newbies and works just as well at close range.

Tell him not to drop the gun after every shot to look at the bullet hole. That causes poor follow through and his shots will start going lower and lower. Just focus on the front sight and then put the sight back where he wants the next shot to go.

And think about buying a .22 if you plan to take newbies shooting on a regular basis.

 

[Guns and more]

Guns and more - not to get too technical, but here's the correct way; photos originally taken from box o truth website:

I'm going to the range today and I'll give it a try. I think I'd have my hand a little higher on the grip than the photo. I was taught "Cup and saucer" but at the time I had my left thumb wrapped behind and over my right thumb, super tight.
I'm not a great shot, so I'm willing to try.