Took the office out shooting last night

[41magsnub]

There was 6 of us, 4 of which had never fired a gun before. I brought out the AR-15, hi point carbine, 10/22, garand, two shotguns, 3 revolvers, and a truck load of water jugs and clay pigeons.

After a brief safety talk we went to town. With that many new folks I did not try to teach anything besides safety and I just let them shoot. I just walked around as each person handled a particular gun for the first time and went over how to load it, shoot it, and how the safety works.

The funniest part was when I was pitching clay pigeons in nice slow straight lines directly away from us and there were two shooters most of them were still missed. They were getting better towards the end though.

I figured make it fun and safe, then worry about actually being able to hit anything later when they are hooked.

Overall it was a blast and they want to do it again. The first one was free but I will be looking for ammo donations or cash next time. It's sort of like being a crack dealer. Two of them are seriously talking about getting a gun now and we discussed some options and will probably go shopping next week online to see what is out there.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Good job! I am the same way, first time is free!

 

[Bill2e]

That's great, now they will never believe the guns are evil BS & know what we already know. SHOOTING IS FUN!

 

[damien]

I don't like training 4 newbies at once. I don't like training 2 newbies at once. But that is just me. Good job.

 

[Picard]

Nice job. More people need to be like you. I plan on doing this in the future as well. The future of the shooting sports and the 2nd Amendment itself rests on how many people we can teach about the safe use of firearms.

 

[ochmude]

I had a similar experience the other night. I took a friend of mine out shooting, who happens to be a liberal, hippie, anti-everying college student in Boston. First thing she said when we were finished and back in the car was, "So, how do I go about getting a license?" Arguing with an anti accomplishes nothing. Show them how fun shooting is, and you'll get them hooked.

 

[41magsnub]

None of these guys are even remotely anti's, they were just indifferent to the whole thing due to lack of exposure.

 

[Picard]

None of these guys are even remotely anti's, they were just indifferent to the whole thing due to lack of exposure.

That's how the majority of America is. Indifference may as well be anti since their votes count as much as the rest of us. They could care less if gun bans are put into place because guns don't matter one way or the other to them. Fortunately, these people's ideas can easily be change as long as we are pro-active.

 

[Majic]

Way to many new folks for one shooter to watch over.

 

[41magsnub]

Way to many new folks for one shooter to watch over.

And then Mr. Negative shows up...

Everything was perfectly safe, they were respectful of the guns, and I did not have to correct anybody on anything the whole time there. The 4 rules were followed to a T.

If these were some random yahoos then yes it would have been too many, but these are mid 30's professional folks.

 

[MartinS]

You are a prince among men. A different and greater effort than the perfectly reasoned verbal argument and much more effective.

 

[scottgun]

Sounds like you had a great time. Personally, that would be too many new shooters for me to handle, so I commend you. Having fun with your coworkers, while introducing some new shooters to the sport is a bonus.

Looking back in life, we seldom remember those times that we spent extra house staying late at the office. We might remember going out to lunch/dinner/happy hour with our co-workers. But getting out and blasting off some rounds, shooting different types of guns and building some comraderie is what good memories are made of.

 

[Griff]

Way to go! Very generous of you, too. (Did you let everyone keep souvenir shells and targets as trophies?)

I especially like how you kept things safe and fun for the newbies' first shoot instead of going straight for the deep, dark competition stuff. I know it needs to be said, but the whole "this-here handcannon can kill small, furry Bambis at a well over a mile if you're not careful" can be a bit overbearing unless its presented well. Sounds like you've already got that figured out, all right.

Good job, 41magsnub

 

[scrat]

excellent job

 

[bensdad]

Well done!!!

And then they'll tell two friends, and then they'll tell two friends...

 

[Geno]

Way to go. Re: the numbers, I disagree. You were dealing with adults. Common sense still exists.

 

[penenpitsu]

This has inspired me to take my friends out for a day of shooting at the range.

Being poor college student's we'll probably be shooting 22's

 

[Kind of Blued]

GOOD JOB!!!

It IS pretty neat that you can shoot that many rounds and not kill anybody, huh? Glad they "figured it out", and that you ushered 'em in.

 

[LWGN]

Instead of "taking your guns to work", you took your work to guns!

Good job!

 

[Majic]

And then Mr. Negative shows up...

Not being Mr. Negative, but it's easy for someone to make a mistake. The percentage rises drastically when the person is new at the task. Now if a mistake happens when you are watching or talking to another shooter then you may understand what I'm talking about. It's alright to have a group of new shooters, but if you are the only experienced shooter then have them shoot one at a time or bring you some help.

 

[Picard]

A club at my University had an AR-15 orientation course. 2 people were in charge and there were three rifles. Safety rules were clearly explained at the beginning and there were no incidents. As long as the people are responsible, and there are only one or a few firearms being used at a time, I feel like it doesn't that there are a few more people if they are all watching the one or two people actually firing. It was a nice way to introduce a larger group to the shooting sports and everyone had a great time.