Advice for First Timers

TaterTots said:

Sadly, I disagree. I can't tell you how many times I've watched someone pick up a gun with their finger on the trigger or pull the hammer back before they are ready to shoot. Not pointing it at stuff is the easy part, but I see a lot of people mishandle them in other ways.

Click to expand...

yes of course finger off the trigger. my point is, learning how to keep your finger off the trigger, and cleaning it is not enough, you need hours upon hours of training to be efficient enough with it to defend yourseslf or others.

blackjack50 said:

I have noticed a few friends who are getting into the shooting sports. A lot of them want one for self defense/home defense or just because they are interested in the sport. So with that in mind, how do you advise them? I've noticed my area is lacking in that kind of instruction.

The one gun shop I went into, I heard a guy advising someone about an AR15. I'm not saying anything about that particular weapon, but for a beginner? Of course they sell black rifles and all kinds of fancy pants tacticool guns. So what do the recommend?

How do YOU advise a first timer? For safety training? First purchase? What is your advise for newbies?

Click to expand...

If they ask me the first thing I ask is what they want the weapon for. The AR-15 you mentioned is a wonderful, forgiving weapon but it may not be suitable for all situations.

I would check ammo prices. From where I sit, it is cheaper to shoot 9mm than it is to shoot .22. But that just may be my location.
.22 couldn't be found for a long time. Still isn't in abundance and where it is a available, it's at a premium.

Bootlace said:

I would check ammo prices. From where I sit, it is cheaper to shoot 9mm than it is to shoot .22. But that just may be my location.
.22 couldn't be found for a long time. Still isn't in abundance and where it is a available, it's at a premium.

Click to expand...

I am getting 325 rounds for 20 bucks and its good stuff

the best I get 9mm at is 8.50 a box of 50

TurtleDude said:

I am getting 325 rounds for 20 bucks and its good stuff

the best I get 9mm at is 8.50 a box of 50

Click to expand...

I'm still working on the several cases I bought from the CMP a few years ago but last week seen a 500 brick for $89.99 at a local sporting goods store. Walmart has better prices but never has .22 in stock. At least not when I happen to be there.

Bootlace said:

I'm still working on the several cases I bought from the CMP a few years ago but last week seen a 500 brick for $89.99 at a local sporting goods store. Walmart has better prices but never has .22 in stock. At least not when I happen to be there.

Click to expand...

my wife went to a show-I was shooting in a pistol match so I wasn't there and she bought 1600 rounds at 30 bucks for 400 which was a bit steep but it was the stuff that runs really well in her steel RF pistol. I told her it was inflated but not the real bad gouging you still see some places. The best prices are at high volume independent dealers. The big box stores are parasitized by employees who horde the stuff or tip their friends before its on the shelfs

TaterTots said:

Sadly, I disagree. I can't tell you how many times I've watched someone pick up a gun with their finger on the trigger or pull the hammer back before they are ready to shoot. Not pointing it at stuff is the easy part, but I see a lot of people mishandle them in other ways.

Click to expand...

It is the thing I always watch for when I hand one to someone that talks all big about their gun knowledge and experience, for some that finger has a mind of it's own.

Casper said:

It is the thing I always watch for when I hand one to someone that talks all big about their gun knowledge and experience, for some that finger has a mind of it's own.

Click to expand...

I recently had my son put in for adult membership at one of the clubs I belong to and this required him to attend a 75 minute safety meeting prior to submitting his application. I sat through it too. The instructor correctly noted lots of new shooters, especially kids, seem to have a magnet in their finger that goes right to the trigger

TurtleDude said:

I recently had my son put in for adult membership at one of the clubs I belong to and this required him to attend a 75 minute safety meeting prior to submitting his application. I sat through it too. The instructor correctly noted lots of new shooters, especially kids, seem to have a magnet in their finger that goes right to the trigger

Click to expand...

Strange how that seems to be so common, both my brother in law and sister in law had that problem before I cured it, the other brother in law was already educated hence no further education was required. Heck I have seen people that are supposedly super gun nuts that would not pass even a basic safety test and seen people with little gun time be correctly safe in their handling of firearms. I used to carry a rifle cleaning rod when I ran ranges, it was an excellent tool for various range uses and came in handy for re-enforcing safe gun practices, some of the stuff I have seen would age you on the spot, oh wait, you have serious range time and have probably seen your fair share.

TurtleDude said:

I recently had my son put in for adult membership at one of the clubs I belong to and this required him to attend a 75 minute safety meeting prior to submitting his application. I sat through it too. The instructor correctly noted lots of new shooters, especially kids, seem to have a magnet in their finger that goes right to the trigger

Click to expand...

When my boy was about 8 or so I was having trouble getting my instructions to stick with him. I put him through a half day NRA safety class that was held at a local indoor range. After the class they shot on the range. I have never had to say a word to him about safety since. He is 26 now.
I'm a big fan of formal training.

Bootlace said:

When my boy was about 8 or so I was having trouble getting my instructions to stick with him. I put him through a half day NRA safety class that was held at a local indoor range. After the class they shot on the range. I have never had to say a word to him about safety since. He is 26 now.
I'm a big fan of formal training.

Click to expand...

Plus people will often listen to a stranger before listening to a family member, even though the family member has told them the exact same thing a 100 times, do not ask me why but it is just the way it is for many.

Casper said:

Plus people will often listen to a stranger before listening to a family member, even though the family member has told them the exact same thing a 100 times, do not ask me why but it is just the way it is for many.

Click to expand...

true, years ago, a 13 or 14 year old boy whose father is a legend in the sport (multiple world and olympic titles), was competing in a national tournament and doing something obviously wrong. So I went to his father and told the father who was working with another athlete. And the champion said-you tell him. I looked at him and said why? and he said watch/ So the father went over to the boy and told him he was dropping his arm which was affecting his performance. And the boy said NO I AM NOT and his father sort of shrugged and then smiled at me. Three minutes later I went over and told the boy the exact same thing. And he said "REALLY" and I said Yeah. And he asked me how to stop doing that and I told him and he climbed up from being in the bottom half of the competitors to almost getting on the podium.

My friend said (My son was only four at the time) said, that's why I will coach your son when he hits about 14. and he does

TurtleDude said:

true, years ago, a 13 or 14 year old boy whose father is a legend in the sport (multiple world and olympic titles), was competing in a national tournament and doing something obviously wrong. So I went to his father and told the father who was working with another athlete. And the champion said-you tell him. I looked at him and said why? and he said watch/ So the father went over to the boy and told him he was dropping his arm which was affecting his performance. And the boy said NO I AM NOT and his father sort of shrugged and then smiled at me. Three minutes later I went over and told the boy the exact same thing. And he said "REALLY" and I said Yeah. And he asked me how to stop doing that and I told him and he climbed up from being in the bottom half of the competitors to almost getting on the podium.

My friend said (My son was only four at the time) said, that's why I will coach your son when he hits about 14. and he does

Click to expand...

Smart. If it works don't knock it, funny thing is it works even when they know it is being done, just too weird.

Casper said:

It is the thing I always watch for when I hand one to someone that talks all big about their gun knowledge and experience, for some that finger has a mind of it's own.

Click to expand...

I took a safety class when I was younger. After we finished the class went to a range and the people next to me were swinging their guns about with the barrel towards me. It blew my mind that we just learned not to do that and here I was surrounded by people making that mistake.

blackjack50 said:

I have noticed a few friends who are getting into the shooting sports. A lot of them want one for self defense/home defense or just because they are interested in the sport. So with that in mind, how do you advise them? I've noticed my area is lacking in that kind of instruction.

The one gun shop I went into, I heard a guy advising someone about an AR15. I'm not saying anything about that particular weapon, but for a beginner? Of course they sell black rifles and all kinds of fancy pants tacticool guns. So what do the recommend?

How do YOU advise a first timer? For safety training? First purchase? What is your advise for newbies?

Click to expand...

If I were to think of the cons of getting an AR15, there are a few.

1. Unless this person is pretty dedicated to the whole gun culture, I'm not sure they'd want to deal with the headaches that you can face with having a weapon like that and what you may have to put up with when moving to different areas and such.

2. There are a lot of parts for cleaning an maintenance of the weapon (it's almost exactly the same as an M16 or M4, which is what I use) that people who are not very familiar with guns may find daunting. A simpler platform may be more desirable (e.g. bolt action rifle).

3. Depending on the area, there may not be a lot of opportunity to use it. They key to using a weapon and getting comfortable with it is to use it over and over and over again. You just have to put rounds downrange. Pistols are usually easier because there are indoor ranges and they also have a much lower muzzle velocity so, if you're outdoors, it's not as much of a liability for stray bullets.

4. The person may also not want to deal with the culture clash of people who are scared of guns due mostly to ignorance, if they see them with it.

Aside from those things off the top of my head, it's an easy weapon to shoot. It's accurate and has little kick. There are a ton of mods on the market for them and they can fill multiple roles.

TaterTots said:

I took a safety class when I was younger. After we finished the class went to a range and the people next to me were swinging their guns about with the barrel towards me. It blew my mind that we just learned not to do that and here I was surrounded by people making that mistake.

Click to expand...

People point their firearms at me or others only once, I am hardcore about ensuring that it does not happen again. For me there is no wiggle room when it comes to gun safety and pointing a gun at anything you do not intend to destroy is the No. 1 No No.
Never Point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.
Never put your finger on the trigger until you have identified and acquired your target and are ready to shoot.
All guns are loaded guns and should be treated as such, the only exception is the one that is already disassembled and lying in front of you for maintenance or cleaning.
Wear hearing and eye protection.
Not too many rules to live by.

blackjack50 said:

I have noticed a few friends who are getting into the shooting sports. A lot of them want one for self defense/home defense or just because they are interested in the sport. So with that in mind, how do you advise them? I've noticed my area is lacking in that kind of instruction.

The one gun shop I went into, I heard a guy advising someone about an AR15. I'm not saying anything about that particular weapon, but for a beginner? Of course they sell black rifles and all kinds of fancy pants tacticool guns. So what do the recommend?

How do YOU advise a first timer? For safety training? First purchase? What is your advise for newbies?

Click to expand...

Know your state's laws inside and out, and understand them (not just read the legalized text). Protect yourself.