Took a new shooter to the range

[chaim]

I took a new shooter to the range yesterday evening. There are a few people at work who I have offered to take shooting who have expressed an interest.

Well, yesterday I finally got one to come out with me.

He loved it (and he was a great shot- though he never shot beyond the 25 ft mark). He now is talking about getting a gun of his own.

I brought my Ruger MkII, CZ 75B, S&W 65Ladysmith and my S&W 57 (for me). We started on the .22 (of course) and then moved on to the S&W 65. He did well enough, and the recoil didn't bother him, that he quickly moved from .38spl to shooting magnum rounds (though somewhat underpowered reloads) and still hit where he was aiming (the first few magnum shots weren't quite where he wanted them but he quickly adjusted). His favorite of the day was the CZ. I even let him shoot a cylinder of the .41mag at the end of the day and he absolutely loved that (I didn't plan to let a new shooter try .41mag but he did so well that when he wanted to try it I figured, why not).

After the range session we browsed the guns at the store a bit and he saw several he liked. He wants a Walther P22 and P99 (not bad choices) and a Glock (hey, who said everyone has good taste ).

Anyway, just thought I'd put out a short report




edit-
Almost forgot, at the end of the session (we were there 2 hours) he wasn't ready to stop. He made me promise to take him shooting again. Next time I think I'll bring the 1911, .45LC Winchester 94 and the snub (Taurus 85) to see what he thinks of a bit of variety. When I mentioned the AR he wanted to be sure I take him rifle shooting as well

I think I may have brought in another enthusiastic shooter and future gun owner.

 

[Grampa]

WTG Chaim!

We have a new indoor range in town, so I've been trying to invite someone new to go shooting with me once a week. The range has no rentals, so I ask ahead what handguns they might want to shoot. Yup, it's disturbing how many want to try my Glock 23.

My Ruger 22/45 with the 4 inch bull barrel goes every time, and quickly becomes a favorite. I wonder how many of those have been sold from my evangelizing... At least two.

 

[Cyanide_357]

Good Job! Keep it up...

I myself have corrupting inocent college students (my peers) with the joys of shooting. Feel's good doesn't it. I'm officially the 'gun guy'...

Of course it is always odd, because I am younger than they (I'm 20 - but my addicted best friend is 18), and have a very good start on my collection. I can't buy pistol ammo (except at Outdoor world/Bass Pro - still don't entirely understand that), But I have 6 pistols, and 7 long guns.

Some may have sub-consously been inspired by counter strike, but I don't think so, they are just plane cool (AR-15, AK-47, HK USP Tactical, Benelli M1 Tactical - Glock 22 only 1/2 counts).

Cyanide

 

[ruger270man]

awesome, one more on the good guys side.

Hey cyanide, when you're at walmart, and they ask if the ammo is for pistol or rifle.. you know what to say.

 

[Cyanide_357]

yeah, I know how stupid walmart is with those questions. 12 ga for pistol, 300 win mag for pistol... come on... What do they think, why do they care?

I mean... They won't sell me 9mm and crap because they check your driver's license. One day I would love to freak them out by telling the 9mm is for a machine gun or something.

Cyanide

 

[P95Carry]

Good job Chaim ... as ever, a heartening thing to read. Each and every one brought in is another potential ambassador. WTG dude.

 

[ruger270man]

tell them its for a beretta storm.. which I believe is considered a rifle, and most states you can buy rifle ammo when you're 18.

 

[Third_Rail]

Any ammunition at Wal-Mart, if you tell them it's for a rifle, they'll sell it to you... at least, that's how it is here in MA, and the laws are bad.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Well done!

 

[Mauserguy]

I took my cute and petite lady friend to the local range a few weeks ago. She fired my CZ75B at the target, and turned around all excited, waving the gun in the air screaming, "Look, I hit it, I hit it!"

I nearly soiled myself.
It is always fun to introduce somebody to shooting, though it can be a bit dangerous. Good going.
Mauserguy

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Um, yeah.

That's why you pound the Four Rules into their heads BEFORE the hardware comes out.

 

[chaim]

Definately did some basic safety instruction first. I didn't go overboard since it was just me and him and I didn't want to bore the guy, just enough to ensure he stayed safe (don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire, always keep the muzzle pointed downrange, assume any gun you haven't personally checked is loaded, and if anything goes wrong put the gun down and I'll fix it). I watched him pretty carefully standing right behind and to the right of him (got hit by a few pieces of flying brass) so I could quickly tap him on the shoulder to get his attention if I saw anything I didn't like and I'd notice and put an end to the night if I saw anything I really didn't like.

A couple times after slide lock on an auto or six shots and "click" on a revolver I didn't like how he put the gun down (at an angle) but generally he was almost as much a natural at gun safety as he was at marksmanship.

Anyway, it looks like I'll be getting another chance to introduce someone to shooting soon. I met a guy at shabbos this week who is interested in learning to shoot. He shot once or twice before with his grandfather when he was a kid and he liked it and he is interested in getting into it now as an adult. He's never shot a shotgun so he is especially interested in trying that. With him I'll be introducing another Orthodox Jew to shooting (I introduced two other Orthodox Jewish friends of mine to shooting in the past).

Also, I'm sure now that the one guy at work has gone the other two who have been thinking about it will be more excited to make it a reality.