Taking someone shooting for the first time

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Pinky787

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Not really a training class but not sure where else this would fit in.
Some guys from work are coming over to shoot today. 1 guy is about 26 years old and has never shot a gun before. Aside from gun safety, and ear pro anything special I should or should not do?
Just curious on yalls thoughts.
The biggest thing caliber wise we are bringing is a 357 and 12ga. Other than that some ARs 9mm pistols and 2 .22lr's
Thanks in advance for your input
 
Safety safety safety and fundamentals. Or go the other way and give him the 12ga first and explain how he needs to hold it very lightly and don't push it into the shoulder to tight and make sure your set up to record the punishment of the new guy that ensues. But seriously the fundamentals is key trigger control direction of pointing loaded or unloaded guns. How the safety operates on each firearm being used if they have them. So on so forth.
 
I always have brand new shooters learn good grip, sight alignment, trigger control, etc. Via dry-fire before passing them live ammo, just like @Chuckman recommended above. I usually try to start folks with handguns around 5 yards to build their confidence before working backwards with some distance.
 
As above. Additionally check his eye vs. hand dominance because that gets frustrating when it comes to aiming if they are not aligned.
If you are shooting in a field, I have them shoot into the mud about 7 yards ahead the first shot just to feel the recoil without having to worry about aiming.
I also have a Nerf pistol with a dowel rod in the end to teach people about sweeping.
 
We got together last weekend, showed him a few, and let him dry fire a 9mm. Showed the safety on a AR. All my 9s are red dots so not sure we really went over sight alignment. I know he's a lefty but not sure about his eye dominate
 
Well, there's a whole lot that can go into this!

You mentioned one person in particular, so let's start with the numbers.

You can only have so many people per person when it comes to safety and training. A classroom environment is not so sensitive, because typically this is "show and tell" without having everybody in the class handling the weapons. Once they start handling weapons, the number of people per instructor drops WAAAAAAY down. In fact, there's an issue with a single person doing two jobs: training and safety. If it's one-on-one, than a single person can perform both, because his entire focus is on that one individual shooter being trained. More than one? You need safety observers whose sole job is ONLY that.

So, enough of that. You've got one individual of concern and that's enough for this.

I PREFER some one-on-one before approaching the range. It's not all that difficult or time consuming this way. Cover basic safety (the Four Rules), demonstrate how to clear and verify the weapon is safe, go over the basic functionality of the weapon. Cover how to load the weapon, chambering a round, and any safety mechanisms. Demonstrate one or two basic grips/stances. Talk about sight picture and trigger pull.

Then it's range time. You're within arms reach of him at all times such that you can immediately control any unsafe actions as required. Set target up, then get him to go through the motions to load, chamber, and shoot.

I don't like starting cold on the range itself with this. You're taking up a place another shooter could use and you're doing basic training in a potentially high noise environment when his focus should be totally on what you're telling him. As unsafe moves are more likely to be made in the training period, it's best for this part not to take place on the range itself. It can also be more distracting to other shooters.


EDIT:

Since you mentioned a variety of firearms will be there, I'd caution against trying to run through everything under the sun. It's not so bad one-on-one, though, so use your judgement. One-on-one, you can cycle through a larger variety, but if you had more than one person to train and shoot, the logistics of it start bogging things down. You MUST have control of each student you're working with when they shoot andz, unless you have more than one person to do this, any more than one shooter will require the others to "wait their turn". Shooting becomes less fun the more people have to wait.
 
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I start beginning shooters off with a plain sheet of white paper, no marks at all at 3 yards. No bullseye no chance to fail. The eye will normally go to the middle. Do that for a bit to cover the mechanics. Then add a target.

I also have an airsoft m9 for sight alignment, safety, and magazine discussions.

Start small. .22, then a full size .38. Good earpro so noise doesn't startle them.

Best done 1 on 1,
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Well, there's a whole lot that can go into this!

You mentioned one person in particular, so let's start with the numbers.

You can only have so many people per person when it comes to safety and training. A classroom environment is not so sensitive, because typically this is "show and tell" without having everybody in the class handling the weapons. Once they start handling weapons, the number of people per instructor drops WAAAAAAY down. In fact, there's an issue with a single person doing two jobs: training and safety. If it's one-on-one, than a single person can perform both, because his entire focus is on that one individual shooter being trained. More than one? You need safety observers whose sole job is ONLY that.

So, enough of that. You've got one individual of concern and that's enough for this.

I PREFER some one-on-one before approaching the range. It's not all that difficult or time consuming this way. Cover basic safety (the Four Rules), demonstrate how to clear and verify the weapon is safe, go over the basic functionality of the weapon. Cover how to load the weapon, chambering a round, and any safety mechanisms. Demonstrate one or two basic grips/stances. Talk about sight picture and trigger pull.

Then it's range time. You're within arms reach of him at all times such that you can immediately control any unsafe actions as required. Set target up, then get him to go through the motions to load, chamber, and shoot.

I don't like starting cold on the range itself with this. You're taking up a place another shooter could use and you're doing basic training in a potentially high noise environment when his focus should be totally on what you're telling him. As unsafe moves are more likely to be made in the training period, it's best for this part not to take place on the range itself. It can also be more distracting to other shooters.


EDIT:

Since you mentioned a variety of firearms will be there, I'd caution against trying to run through everything under the sun. It's not so bad one-on-one, though, so use your judgement. One-on-one, you can cycle through a larger variety, but if you had more than one person to train and shoot, the logistics of it start bogging things down. You MUST have control of each student you're working with when they shoot andz, unless you have more than one person to do this, any more than one shooter will require the others to "wait their turn". Shooting becomes less fun the more people have to wait.
Click to expand...

I've followed this method successfully with a bunch of new shooters. Essentially following the BSA EDGE method of teaching and it works great.

Only additions I've got:

* I usually explain the "why" behind each instruction so it doesn't come across as black box/tribal knowledge. also builds some trust with the student
* demonstrate what you've taught them on the range so they can see what its like in person and get an idea of what to expect
* start with a single round in the gun. Prevents accidental double fires and excited people whipping around with a still loaded gun
* suppressors help with muzzle awareness and minimizing the scare factor form not being used to the gun moving or the muzzle blast
 
DO:
Safety brief is your chance to evaluate them. If they aren't paying attention or you don't like the reaction you're getting, pull the plug.
Spend a little extra time talking about safety rule #2 and what it actually means. A demonstration with a flashlight can be helpful.
Demonstrate how to pick up a gun off the bench. Hollywood trigger finger will be natural for new shooters, so address it ASAP.

DO NOT:
Don't get out into the weeds with technical BS. Your goals should be 1) safety, 2) success and 3) fun. Nuances of proper stance and grip (beyond staying safe) have no place here.

I like to single load for first shots.
Stand at the shooter's shoulder on their strong side. Keep your eye on the muzzle. Ignore the target.
Shoot-n-see targets are great for immediate feedback. So is steel once they're shooting @10 yds+
 
Just have fun the first time. Take some tin cans, cantaloupes, soda cans, bouncing targets and blast away. Make it safe, but lighthearted. If he has fun, you’ll see him at the range again taking some classes.
 
Well we just wrapped up. We shot alot longer than I thought we would. But no body got hurt and everybody had fun. I did correct the new guys grip twice, once was just wierd not necessarily wrong, the 2nd I was making sure his hand wasn't near the cylinder as he shot some .38
 
I did check his eye dominance. And he is left eye left hand so not any problems there glad yall brought that up bc that was one thing I didn't think about
 
First, it's always great introducing someone to shooting.
Secondly, it also sucks introducing someone to shooting. More high alert than normal, I get to shoot way less etc lol

I always start with smaller, easier to shoot guns and then work up
Always explaining the safety of it all first, the why of the safety and so on
 
HMP said:
First, it's always great introducing someone to shooting.
Secondly, it also sucks introducing someone to shooting. More high alert than normal, I get to shoot way less etc lol

I always start with smaller, easier to shoot guns and then work up
Always explaining the safety of it all first, the why of the safety and so on
Click to expand...
Yeh I definitely shot less today. I still shot the ARs today but I didn't shoot any pistols
 
@Pinky787 so, debrief time. What worked; what could have been better; what NOT to do next time...

Critique yourself and if anything seems pertinent we didn't cover, post here as lessons learned.

You'll get better, and so will we.

Glad you had a good outing!
 
We started off with .22 and sight alignment. Didn't necessarily get into trigger control to much. 1 thing I either didn't go over, or I didn't go over well enough was the proper way to pull the charging handle on an AR as is 1st attempt he kinda rode it home, the round went in the chamber but the bolt didnt go into battery before i stopped him he tried to pull it again and it was kinda like a double feed situation.
He handled the slug like a champ, he was pretty decent at shooting skeet after he got the hang of it.
The plain white paper trick sounds like a good idea, but we had already started by the time that was suggested. The steel targets and infinity target stay up.
Not sure what else to say other than don't catch brass as it's being ejected. And someone broke my steel target and we can't figure out how. But there is 6 perfectly round holes through the steel. And another guy that was with us now wants to buy an AR.
3 Co workers that I've known between 2-5 years just shooting behind the house and everyone had a great time
 
Pinky787 said:
I did check his eye dominance. And he is left eye left hand so not any problems there glad yall brought that up bc that was one thing I didn't think about
Click to expand...

Ooooohhh...let me tell you it's AMAZING how many people are cross-dominant! I'm a certified Scout Rangemaster and almost every summer I run the BB Range with a whole tribe of single-digit-age kids and this is a huge challenge to have to deal with when you've already got a bunch of hyperactive kids who just can't wait to get to shoot BB guns!

Adults aren't so bad to deal with on this matter. Most especially one-on-one, or small groups.

But kids of Cub Scout ages? WOW! Many can't cock their own BB guns without help (or can't do it safely), not to mention all the other skills they have to master along the way at the same time. Sight picture, different shooting positions, properly shouldering the BB gun, etc.

I'm thinking next summer I'm going to pick up four safety glasses myself and black out two for left eye and two for right eye to see if this will help. I've experimented with different means, such as switching the BB gun to the dominant eye side, blocking the dominate eye with a hand, etc. Different ways help some more than others.

With one kid, when I blocked his dominate eye by a hand over his safety glasses, his shooting dramatically improved. Which makes me want to use the safety glasses I described above.

I make it clear to the kids that there's more than one way to shoot and what we try does not mean that's the ONLY way...and as they grow, they will figure out what works best for them and use that.


SHAMELESS PLUG:

My wife is a Scout Master. I never went that route, but I've always been involved with the Scouts since our son started as a Tiger at age 7...and our girls were always involved alongside them, even today in their mid 20s. You don't have to be an actual Scout Master or Scout Leader. You can be involved in Scouting in many ways, such as getting certified as a Range Master for BB guns, Archery, or Slingshot. You can be an assistant who helps run any of the numerous activities they all do. There's a LOT you can do and it's ALL appreciated.

So if you love shooting and teaching people to shoot (as I'm sure everybody here does) and you'd like to help a local Cub Scout Pack or Boy Scout Troop in any such matters, I highly recommend reaching out and making this known. A single person can make a huge difference in terms of the help provided to any given activity. Sometimes it's hard to get someone available to run a range...which means these kids will not be able to shoot at all without a Rangemaster available.

If some of you would consider qualifying as a Rangemaster, you could also make a world of difference to these little kids.


Scouts are awesome...the one thing I make absolutely clear to all those little boys and girls (after range safety, of course), is that we're here to have FUN and I want them to be excited about it. I guarantee each and every one of them that they WILL be able to hit their targets, from the youngest and clumsiest to the oldest and most skilled. NOBODY leaves my range without a hole in their target and to see their faces when they do it is a reward all its own.

Even if that hole was made by me or one of my older Scout helpers who surreptitiously time a well placed, unseen, shot of their own into the target of that tiny 7 year old who has been trying so hard and not getting anything on the paper! I usually have one of my older Scout helpers do it, because I'm only supposed to be watching for safety. He/She knows the drill, as I have explained it to them on what I want and how. One of the helpers will be one-on-one with the Tiger (or whatever level) and is responsible for things like cocking, assisting in proper posture/aiming, etc. Most of the time they kind of help hold/support the BB gun such that it is more properly aimed at the target, ensuring they're more likely to score a hit. Sometimes they're also a "demonstrator" alongside the little Cub, with their own target next to the Cub and they'll be "shooting buddies"...and then the helper will carefully time his shot to coincide with the Cub and he'll place his shot on the Cub's target. And sometimes, if the activities allow, I'll make arrangements for those who are really challenged to have individual range time so it's all about them and nobody else as I watch over the helper and the Scout sending BBs down range

NOTHING is more disparaging to a little kid to be trying so hard to do something and repeatedly failing, especially in front of his peers. But that ONE magic hole that shows up in his/her paper target will turn it all around for him/her! After that, it really doesn't matter to them any more if they miss because THEY DID IT! And since I seem them summer after summer, I can see their skills actually grow on their own along with their size, strength, and coordination.


Shooting with novice adults is fun, if only because you're shooting "real" guns. But introducing young children to the activity is almost like reliving your own childhood, when you maybe got to shoot that old BB gun for the first time that an uncle gave you on a vacation trip to visit remote family.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Ooooohhh...let me tell you it's AMAZING how many people are cross-dominant! I'm a certified Scout Rangemaster and almost every summer I run the BB Range with a whole tribe of single-digit-age kids and this is a huge challenge to have to deal with when you've already got a bunch of hyperactive kids who just can't wait to get to shoot BB guns!

Adults aren't so bad to deal with on this matter. Most especially one-on-one, or small groups.

But kids of Cub Scout ages? WOW! Many can't cock their own BB guns without help (or can't do it safely), not to mention all the other skills they have to master along the way at the same time. Sight picture, different shooting positions, properly shouldering the BB gun, etc.

I'm thinking next summer I'm going to pick up four safety glasses myself and black out two for left eye and two for right eye to see if this will help. I've experimented with different means, such as switching the BB gun to the dominant eye side, blocking the dominate eye with a hand, etc. Different ways help some more than others.

With one kid, when I blocked his dominate eye by a hand over his safety glasses, his shooting dramatically improved. Which makes me want to use the safety glasses I described above.

I make it clear to the kids that there's more than one way to shoot and what we try does not mean that's the ONLY way...and as they grow, they will figure out what works best for them and use that.


SHAMELESS PLUG:

My wife is a Scout Master. I never went that route, but I've always been involved with the Scouts since our son started as a Tiger at age 7...and our girls were always involved alongside them, even today in their mid 20s. You don't have to be an actual Scout Master or Scout Leader. You can be involved in Scouting in many ways, such as getting certified as a Range Master for BB guns, Archery, or Slingshot. You can be an assistant who helps run any of the numerous activities they all do. There's a LOT you can do and it's ALL appreciated.

So if you love shooting and teaching people to shoot (as I'm sure everybody here does) and you'd like to help a local Cub Scout Pack or Boy Scout Troop in any such matters, I highly recommend reaching out and making this known. A single person can make a huge difference in terms of the help provided to any given activity. Sometimes it's hard to get someone available to run a range...which means these kids will not be able to shoot at all without a Rangemaster available.

If some of you would consider qualifying as a Rangemaster, you could also make a world of difference to these little kids.


Scouts are awesome...the one thing I make absolutely clear to all those little boys and girls (after range safety, of course), is that we're here to have FUN and I want them to be excited about it. I guarantee each and every one of them that they WILL be able to hit their targets, from the youngest and clumsiest to the oldest and most skilled. NOBODY leaves my range without a hole in their target and to see their faces when they do it is a reward all its own.

Even if that hole was made by me or one of my older Scout helpers who surreptitiously time a well placed, unseen, shot of their own into the target of that tiny 7 year old who has been trying so hard and not getting anything on the paper! I usually have one of my older Scout helpers do it, because I'm only supposed to be watching for safety. He/She knows the drill, as I have explained it to them on what I want and how. One of the helpers will be one-on-one with the Tiger (or whatever level) and is responsible for things like cocking, assisting in proper posture/aiming, etc. Most of the time they kind of help hold/support the BB gun such that it is more properly aimed at the target, ensuring they're more likely to score a hit. Sometimes they're also a "demonstrator" alongside the little Cub, with their own target next to the Cub and they'll be "shooting buddies"...and then the helper will carefully time his shot to coincide with the Cub and he'll place his shot on the Cub's target. And sometimes, if the activities allow, I'll make arrangements for those who are really challenged to have individual range time so it's all about them and nobody else as I watch over the helper and the Scout sending BBs down range

NOTHING is more disparaging to a little kid to be trying so hard to do something and repeatedly failing, especially in front of his peers. But that ONE magic hole that shows up in his/her paper target will turn it all around for him/her! After that, it really doesn't matter to them any more if they miss because THEY DID IT! And since I seem them summer after summer, I can see their skills actually grow on their own along with their size, strength, and coordination.


Shooting with novice adults is fun, if only because you're shooting "real" guns. But introducing young children to the activity is almost like reliving your own childhood, when you maybe got to shoot that old BB gun for the first time that an uncle gave you on a vacation trip to visit remote family.
Click to expand...
I think teaching kids early is the key. If it's bb guns or 22 rimfire. Show them safety teach them the dangers. Then those kids grow up knowing that guns aren't toys to play around with loose goosy. I started at 5 years old with my great grandpa and dad shooting the same winchester model 67 bolt action single shot 22 that I still have and is my favorite firearm I own. I've also used that same rifle to introduce my little sisters to shooting when they was young. And now i use that same rifle to introduce my nieces and nephews to shooting.
 
One thing I like to do is impart the idea a rounds does way more damage than what a little hole in paper shows. When teaching kids I alway fill a couple gallon milk jugs completely full with water and hit them with a few different rounds … big splash emphasizes the idea of what damage is actually done when a round hits something other than paper … especially a hollow point or 12 ga 00 Buck.
 
Play play the loaded not loaded game to work on flinch if you want to take training that far.
It's a great way to cure shot anticipation and flinch
 
Chuckman said:
I would have him dry fire a bunch before live fire. Also start at the .22 and ramp up (if he wants). The biggest thing isn't making him a bullseye shooter but making him comfortable with a gun. Ask him what he knows and what he's heard, try to slay any myths he might have.
Click to expand...
Dry firing is great but not with a 22 revolver . Use snap caps . You don't want to damage the firing pin.
 
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