What guns to bring for a first time shooter's first range day?
- Thread starter Narwhal
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TheDaywalkersDad
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I guess it depends on what the person's intentions are. Do they want to sample a buffet or are they looking to get a self defense gun for themselves?
I used to make the mistake of bringing 10 handguns to the range when bringing out new shooters. I still bring a lot of handguns but most of them never get shot. An AR and/or shotgun are usually brought but they too generally never leave the truck. Time is always a constraint when working with beginners and I've found that most will only put in a couple of hours. 2-3 hours is a long time for most people to something they're not paying or getting paid for.
In my experience most new shooters that I take to the range intend to get a home defense or carry gun that will fill both the CCW and home defense role. They may come out just for fun but a future gun purchase is always on their mind.
I start them off with a heavy 4" .357 magnum and the wimpiest .38spl loads that I can find. The next gun is some form of polymer 9mm since that seems to be the most popular option on the market today. Sometimes I let them shoot a M1911 afterwards. I give them the option of shooting a J frame .38spl or Kahr CW9 if they like and can shoot the full sized handguns OK.
That may sound condescending but I had two shooters miss a 3'x3' target frame at 7yds a few months ago. Both owned and could shoot OK with full sized service pistols but were scared of J frame .38's and 9mm P11's. Naturally they were both men and wouldn't listen to any suggestions. One was kicked off of the range after shooting the target frame twice. If you're interested in what they were doing wrong, send me a message.
A couple of .22lr are brought if they simply cannot shoot the larger calibers. There's usually not a lot of time left for .22's after the .38's and 9mm's.
If it's just a fun day then bring the fun guns. New shooters are going to hate the snubbies and will enjoy using what they can connect with. That's probably going to be .22's.
I used to make the mistake of bringing 10 handguns to the range when bringing out new shooters. I still bring a lot of handguns but most of them never get shot. An AR and/or shotgun are usually brought but they too generally never leave the truck. Time is always a constraint when working with beginners and I've found that most will only put in a couple of hours. 2-3 hours is a long time for most people to something they're not paying or getting paid for.
In my experience most new shooters that I take to the range intend to get a home defense or carry gun that will fill both the CCW and home defense role. They may come out just for fun but a future gun purchase is always on their mind.
I start them off with a heavy 4" .357 magnum and the wimpiest .38spl loads that I can find. The next gun is some form of polymer 9mm since that seems to be the most popular option on the market today. Sometimes I let them shoot a M1911 afterwards. I give them the option of shooting a J frame .38spl or Kahr CW9 if they like and can shoot the full sized handguns OK.
That may sound condescending but I had two shooters miss a 3'x3' target frame at 7yds a few months ago. Both owned and could shoot OK with full sized service pistols but were scared of J frame .38's and 9mm P11's. Naturally they were both men and wouldn't listen to any suggestions. One was kicked off of the range after shooting the target frame twice. If you're interested in what they were doing wrong, send me a message.
A couple of .22lr are brought if they simply cannot shoot the larger calibers. There's usually not a lot of time left for .22's after the .38's and 9mm's.
If it's just a fun day then bring the fun guns. New shooters are going to hate the snubbies and will enjoy using what they can connect with. That's probably going to be .22's.
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This, and the possible option, based on their comfort level of the AR. They are loud but have a light recoil. Might help assure them that evil black guns are not very evil.
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tactikel
Member
Always a .22 rifle, to the learn basics, and safety. Progress to .22 pistol. If the shooter responds positively, a center fire to finish off.
I had my Son-in-law at the range: 30 min with a 10/22, 30 min with a 5.56 auto, and finished with a '03-A3 with Ball- 5 rounds. All he could say was "that was COOL!!!" He's a shooter for life
I had my Son-in-law at the range: 30 min with a 10/22, 30 min with a 5.56 auto, and finished with a '03-A3 with Ball- 5 rounds. All he could say was "that was COOL!!!" He's a shooter for life
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Narwhal
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Thanks for the advice everyone.
I ended up bringing the following:
Marlin 795 .22lr carbine
S&W 22a .22lr pistol
S&W M&P 40 full size w/ silencerco osprey
S&W M&P 40 compact
Noveske N4 14.5" AR-15
We started out with the 795 and she really liked it. We started at 7, then 15, then moved out to 25 and she had no problem hitting an IDPA silhouette at those distances. Next we tried the S&W 22a, she liked that one a lot too. I'd say she liked the 22a best of all the guns we shot.
So then I had her shoot the AR-15. I explained the basic operation of the rifle and had her watch me fire a few shots. I adjusted the collapsible stock to best fit her and explained the proper stance. She fired one shot then put it down and said she didn't like it because it was too heavy in the front (it has an sws free float rail) and it hurt her shoulder. Honestly I think the noise from the 14.5" barrel was what bothered her more than anything.
Next she tried the M&P 40 full size, without the suppressor. I explained how to operate and hold the pistol, and changed out the backstrap to the small size to best accommodate her size. Again she fired one shot, then put it down and said she didn't like it. The muzzle flip for her was pretty extreme (i.e. the muzzle went up about 45-60 degrees during recoil) despite my best effort to explain the proper grip. I think she just wasn't gripping it hard enough.
So it was no problem, she shot about 100 rounds of .22lr between the S&W 22a and Marlin 795. I fired a few magazines through the Noveske AR-15 in between her strings of fire. Eventually we went out to check the targets; for some reason she wanted to put a birchwood "sticky" on the "groin" area of one of the targets. I said OK then she said she wanted to shoot the groin with the AR. I said fine and she picked up the AR, fired about 10 rounds through it and hit the 8" paster on the groin about 5 times at 25 yards.
All in all she said she had a fun time and thanked me for showing her how to shoot. She seemed to enjoy it, but mostly liked the .22's. We didn't even try the 40 compact and to be honest I only brought it out as an option because I was carrying it as my CCW anyway. I was glad she showed some interest in the AR-15 toward the end of the range session. While she was firing at the groin I had her use a bench rest instead of shoot freehand which she seemed to like better.
I ended up bringing the following:
Marlin 795 .22lr carbine
S&W 22a .22lr pistol
S&W M&P 40 full size w/ silencerco osprey
S&W M&P 40 compact
Noveske N4 14.5" AR-15
We started out with the 795 and she really liked it. We started at 7, then 15, then moved out to 25 and she had no problem hitting an IDPA silhouette at those distances. Next we tried the S&W 22a, she liked that one a lot too. I'd say she liked the 22a best of all the guns we shot.
So then I had her shoot the AR-15. I explained the basic operation of the rifle and had her watch me fire a few shots. I adjusted the collapsible stock to best fit her and explained the proper stance. She fired one shot then put it down and said she didn't like it because it was too heavy in the front (it has an sws free float rail) and it hurt her shoulder. Honestly I think the noise from the 14.5" barrel was what bothered her more than anything.
Next she tried the M&P 40 full size, without the suppressor. I explained how to operate and hold the pistol, and changed out the backstrap to the small size to best accommodate her size. Again she fired one shot, then put it down and said she didn't like it. The muzzle flip for her was pretty extreme (i.e. the muzzle went up about 45-60 degrees during recoil) despite my best effort to explain the proper grip. I think she just wasn't gripping it hard enough.
So it was no problem, she shot about 100 rounds of .22lr between the S&W 22a and Marlin 795. I fired a few magazines through the Noveske AR-15 in between her strings of fire. Eventually we went out to check the targets; for some reason she wanted to put a birchwood "sticky" on the "groin" area of one of the targets. I said OK then she said she wanted to shoot the groin with the AR. I said fine and she picked up the AR, fired about 10 rounds through it and hit the 8" paster on the groin about 5 times at 25 yards.
All in all she said she had a fun time and thanked me for showing her how to shoot. She seemed to enjoy it, but mostly liked the .22's. We didn't even try the 40 compact and to be honest I only brought it out as an option because I was carrying it as my CCW anyway. I was glad she showed some interest in the AR-15 toward the end of the range session. While she was firing at the groin I had her use a bench rest instead of shoot freehand which she seemed to like better.
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