Teaching Shooting skills

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

scott5

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
262
Location
northern New Mex.
Hello all,
I try and go to the range every Saturday with some friends, but the range charges non-members $10 and makes them fill out a Hold-non-Libel form every time.
I took a woman friend out with her boyfriend to let them shoot some revolvers and a Marlin in 357 Mag. and show them the various action types of .22 LR, and she liked it so much that joined the range, the NRA, and bought an SP101 in 357 Magnum.
My buddy who I had been educating about firearms and taking to the range for years seemed to forget how to aim and shoot.

Last year we were shooting pistol, and he not very well, when I bet him lunch on the next target. Well he did well enough that we tied so he didn't have to buy me lunch.
But here lately he has been a really bad shot, and I can't figure out why. He knows the fundamentals and I have had him give the safety lecture with the four rules, I'm just frustrated and don't know what to do but keep taking these friends out and going over all the fundamentals as if they had never heard them before.
Sorry for the rant, but I'm just frustrated.:confused:

Does anybody have any advise on what to do differently?
 
If he wants help you can get him a shooting coach.

I went shooting with a friend recently - I never give him advice or anything.

After were finished shooting he told me "I have a problem that when I get ready to shoot I can't help closing me eyes..."
 
...going over all the fundamentals as if they had never heard them before.
Click to expand...

To a very large degree that's exactly what they need. It's what we ALL need. The fundamentals of trigger control, sight picture, grip, follow-through and (to a lesser degree) stance, are what makes us able to steady the gun long enough for the bullet to head out the barrel towards the target we meant to hit. Even if we're doing it 4-5 times per second.

There should be no shame in saying, "Whew! Looks like we need a bit of a refresher. Let's try some drills to work on our marksmanship. Back to the basics! Let's try some ball-and-dummy drills..." etc.

Of course, YOU have to be rock solid on the fundamentals first. Doesn't do much good to teach someone else sloppy, sorta-kinda good 'nuff shooting techniques. Getting all of you signed up together with a capable teacher would be a huge benefit to each of you.
 
Some people do have other priorities or other things on their minds and they will forget or get distracted and have problems. Not much you can do but show patients and restraint with them and keep up the good fight to help advance RKBA issues. You could expand your circle of friends and shoot with them more often and less with the ones that you have issues with.
 
Your buddy needs to take the next step, buy his own guns, buy his own range membership and dedicate himself to being a better shot. He needs to do it if he is so inclined. You cannot make that decision for him or accept responsibility for his shooting skills.

I've been where you are, and there's only so much you can do for other shooters. Eventually, they need to step up if they want to get better.
 
Every now and then I see those circles that have correction direction. Sorry not sure what thry are called. U know the ones,bottom & to the left says grippin hard,ect. If that dont work,some ppl shot oppisite handed and dont know it. Have him try oppisite,or shooting coach. If he wants to be a serious shooter,he'll try. Or he will be offended and try anyway.
 
Teaching shooting

Thanks everyone,
I think the big problem is my buddy doesn't use the irons correctly, and my woman friend is right-handed but left eyed, and her boyfriend's eyesight is pretty bad.:scrutiny:
So their major problem is using iron sights correctly, and even with a scoped rifle on double bags it's still iffy.:banghead:
 
scott5 said:
He knows the fundamentals
Click to expand...
That covers quite a range of knowledge and knowing isn't the same as understanding; understanding isn't the same as being able to self-correct. I was working on a script for a possible video explaining the fundamentals of shooting and it was quite enlightening.

We've all heard the correct trigger squeeze/pull/press described as, pulling the trigger straight to the rear without disturbing the sights, but that really doesn't mean much to a shooter without a deeper understanding of what makes up a correct trigger press. I found that the press breaks down into 8 steps...or points of awareness. Establishing a two-handed grip is 10 points...including placing the trigger finger correctly on the trigger which is 3 points.

What I'm trying to say is that he may not have as firm a grasp of the fundamentals as you think. He may not want a better grasp. He may simply enjoy going out and spending time shooting with you.

If it bothers you enough, you'll just stop going shooting with him
 
put yourself in his shoes. if your friend kept repeating the fundamentals every time you went shooting, knowing fully well you already knew the fundamentals, would you not feel he was treating you like a child? maybe you would, then, start acting like a child (miss on purpose, maybe).

if he is being unsafe, don't shoot with him. if not, just let him be. it is obvious he can shoot well when lunch is on the line!

i'm not saying this is the case. but, it might be.

murf
 
Scott5,

Consider taking an NRA Pistol instructor course and learn how to to teach the fundamentals one step at a time. The NRA Basic pistol shooting course is the perfect introduction to handgun shooting that starts beginners off the right way. Students shoot from the supported "bench-rest" position at first until they are proficient at aiming, trigger squeeze, and follow through. If they are having problems with sight alignment/picture, move them to a gun with a red dot or holo-sight. Only after they can shoot nice round groups off the bench move them to an unsupported position.
 
Knowing the fundamentals and using them are two different things. I train Soldiers and I have the same issues with them. I believe it takes repetitions and practice and if you are not shooting correctly the repetitions and practice aren't going to do you any good. Recently I attended a Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor course which was over 80hrs in 6days. IMO I'm a good shooter and that class built on somethings I already do however doing those things with speed and accuracy proved somewhat challenging the first 2days. Perfect practice make perfect I guess.
 
I agree about taking the NRA course from a certified trained instructor. Eye sight is key. It might be a good idea to train with an air pistol. That is the best way to learn sight alignment according to courses I took and taught.
 
Shooting is a diminishable skill. If I don't go for several weeks (oh the agony) then I find when I do go, my groups are bigger, I am just a bit more shaky and less smooth.

If you are going once a week and you bring this particular friend with you every few weeks, naturally he will not shoot as well as you. Although he can't be that bad if he tied you when you made the bet.

Which could be the other thing. Some people are just more content to shoot less proficiently. There is not that drive to perfection. They just enjoy putting holes through paper. Even if there is no discernable "grouping" but just a smattering of holes. Which is fine too. Not everyone who likes shooting has to aim to be a pro. I think most High Roaders strive to be the best they can be, but that is a unique subset of shooters. If he just treats it as a fun hobby and nothing more, no big deal. But that could explain why he upped his game when money was on the line! Maybe you should make bets more often.

Which is another thing. Games really help to make people improve. Even less competitive ones can get in the spirit. One of my favorites for the range is to just put a 1" paster on a target 10 yards away. Take turns shooting once at a time and first person who hits it wins. You can even give him a handicap by letting him go first.

Now this is making me want to go to the range with some friends again soon!
 
If he is really TRYING to bring his groups in tight, and just can't, chances are he developed a flinch along the way. It happens. When this happens, just have him dry-fire at the target a few times. Or try the snap-cap trick. Put a snap cap randomly in his magazine and watch his muzzle anticipate the recoil when he gets to the snap-cap.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Teach a Frenchman to shoot?
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
gm
G
W
  • Locked
I had a great teaching opportunity this weekend.
Replies
8
Views
773
lucky-gunner
L
C
  • Locked
good and bad day at the range
Replies
19
Views
2K
ChileRelleno
C
D
  • Locked
Introduced a new person to shooting today
Replies
4
Views
393
Steve N
S
Scrod314
  • Locked
Teaching The Kiddos Gun Safety
2
Replies
36
Views
938
TBL004
TBL004
Back
Top