Taught a couple of young men yesterday and I learned something new...

[4v50 Gary]

My friend asked me to teach his son and his son's friend shooting skills. Neither had fired or handled a gun before. Caught the ferry boat (sit down, relax, read a book & enjoy the sights) to their city and my buddy gave me a ride to their house.

Well, best place to start is firearms safety. We went over "all firearms are loaded" and "muzzle control" for a good length of time. We went other rules including range rules. Then we started going into handling and over all the rules and then we got to the Seven Steps to make a modern firearm safe:

1) Muzzle control
2) Keep the finger off the trigger (best place is on the frame)
3) Engage the safety, if any
4) Remove the magazine, if any
5) Open the action
6) Unload the firearm
7) Visually and manually inspect to ensure that it is unloaded

It's Step 3 that threw me off and caused me to pause. In the old days, guns didn't have key operated integral locks ( ) on them and about the only revolver that had a safety was the old .38 Enfield (sliding block). Had to stop to think about what guns had frame mounted locks and explain them. Boy, it's time to update the training program.

After I was satisfied that they understood firearms safety, I taught them about sight picture, grip, stances, handling (both revolver & semi-auto). Quite a bit of stuff in about 12 hours (with a 1 hr. break for a BBQ lunch). They got tested and passed with 90%.

Will be taking them to the range next week.

 

[longtom4570]

There is hope for the youth of today i to have taught my two step sons firearm saftey and have taken privaliges for unsafe handling but the msg got thru it is enjoyable to teach some one to shoot

 

[RustyHammer]

Now have them repeat after you "oh Sh*t, where's the key" ... while ducking behind various objects.

Man, I hate those things and won't buy a gun that has them.

Rusty

 

[4v50 Gary]

Took them to the range today after they had signed up for their classes at the local JC. While E/R I gave them a verbal test on firearms safety and they answered my questions correctly - satisfying me that they retained what I had taught them last week.

We brought out two S&W M19s w/158 gr RN bullets ($109 for 1k at Traders in San Leandro). Used B-27 targets (big paper, easy to see where the bullet went) and had them practice their gun handling first.

Then I had them fire off single shots. They were a bit nervous but did OK. I switched over to natural point to get them use to shooting and handling a loaded gun. Target was set at about 3 yards away and had them double tapping a succession of shots. Then I taught them to scan (ready low, scan L/R or R/L and check 6 w/muzzle downrange). We kept this up for about 75-100 rounds. Afterwards, started them on aimed fire with the failure drill.

As their skill increased, the target went back to 5 yards and then 10 yards. Their skills peaked at about 10 yards and when I tried for 15, it declined. Moved it back close for slow aimed fire to the head. One kept them all in the head and the other developed a flinch.

Both had fired about 250 rounds apiece and did quite well and were very safe. The rangemaster was impressed too. I suggested to the father that he drill his son with the snap caps I had given him. If he practices that drill, we'll begin w/ball & dummy next time out. My goal is to have both of them capable of making head shots at 25 yards.

Then the transition to pistol will begin. One fine day and at some point, I'll have to pitch in their responsibility of protecting the Second Amendment.

 

[JShirley]

Gary,

You're still one of my heroes. Thanks.

John

 

[geekWithA.45]

Integral Keylocks and the Manual of Arms....

I was never under the impression that the keylock was intended to be included in the manual of arms, as a "safety" but rather as as the last administrative task before putting the firearm into deep storage mode, and the first to be done when taking it out of deep storage mode.

Personally, the only time I'd ever contemplate a keylock of any sort is if I stored the firearm in public view, or in a glass case.

As a side note, I wonder if/when ignoring the integral lock is going to become a liability issue, as in the event of theft, etc.

 

[St. Gunner]

Geek,

I have a Taurus revolver with the keyhole in the hammer, I just turned it on and threw the keys into the gun safe, where they may be today, I really don't know. I to have wondered about liability if someone should grab it, but if I keep it locked up, that should be safe enough and responsible enough.

Steve