- Joined
- Dec 19, 2002
- Messages
- 22,516
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.
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.