Buffalo11

'm curious how many folks here teach newbies about guns and shooting? If so how does it usually get started for you?

For me..I was a Pro Archer for several years..When I see someone struggling I have to jump in and help them..Teach them safety or whatever they need to learn..Only had one person take offense and cuss me out..a LADY..?!?!?!? All in all it is very rewarding.
wPm

gfw1985

Started all my kids with a BB gun about age five. Basic skills and safety have all transfered. Grandson is starting with airsoft gun. Too many kids today don't even have a father able to teach them about gun safety or even how to change the oil in a vehicle. Times sure have changed. I was helping feed the family with squirrels and rabbits by age 12.

NCLEO89

I have done it before, yes. I have always found it to be extremely rewarding. Thus far, it's only been other guys that wanted to learn. I have made the offer to several women [with the understanding that my wife would be in attendance as well], but so far, no serious inquiries from the fairer sex. Still, I think it's incumbent upon all of us shooters to make ourselves available to beginners for help in getting started.

razadp

Only my nieces in the last 20 years. Several of us did show a group of non-shooters way buck in university, with 22 rifles.

Amishman44

Almost exactly what I would have said!!! I've taken friends, relatives, etc...sometimes to range and sometimes to some popcans set up out back on the farm...but either way it typically goes as follows:

1. Safety First Discussion
2. Handgun Safety (business end vs. handling end)
3. Dry Firing
4. .22lr in a 4" SP101.
5. .38 in an SP101 or GP100.
6. Glock 19 in 9mm (most of the lady's)
7. Glock 23 in .40 S&W (most of the guys)
8. .357 mag (if they want) in an SP101 GP100.
9. etc.

Most people, on their first time out, are content to shoot the .22 and just have fun! But typically they will ask to go again and the second time around, I will suggest bumping up to .38 or 9mm...it typically goes very well!

Example: I started a friend out about 18 years ago on a SA .22lr revolver...and she's slowly climbed the ladder of both quality of gun as well as in caliber of gun. Her first purchased was a Beretta Tomcat in .32. Then a Bersa Thunder .380 acp. She then traded both of those in on a Glock 26 in 9mm. She later added a Glock 19. She then bought a couple of Taurus's in .38+P, .22lr and finally a Ruger SP101 in .327 mag. She quickly realized the difference in gun quality and sold both of the Taurus's and replaced them with Ruger SP101's (a 2.25" in .38+P and a 4" in .22lr). But what I'm really proud of her for is she spent her tax return on a Kimber Pro-Carry II in .45 acp in May...and has started carrying that after some training and about 300 rounds of practice. It's her most accurate gun at 15'! She has also added a 20 GA home-defense shotgun and a Ruger Mini-14 for a high power rifle to go with her Ruger 10/22's (she has 2 of them!) With her 2 Westies earning their keep as home alarms...she should be okay!

Last...my 7 y/o daughter is nails with my 10/22...as long as we set up a rest for it on a table top! At 35'...she doesn't miss!!! So far, she gets to go 2x per year...so she looks forward to it and is extremely obedient when it comes to safety first!!! We'll bump it up as time passes. But right now it's kudo's to her!

Sbh87

Well I wish I could convert more anti's but the truth is I just don't know that many anti's because I just don't surround myself with that type of person. I take mostly people who are neutral on guns, but want to learn. And I also take my friends who are pro-gun, but have not acquired their license to carry yet.

Shadyw

My wife and four kids. I grew up around guns and hunted with my Dad and Uncles. My wife was pretty leery of guns till last yr. and now she has two of her own and we have annual memebrships at a local range.

CdnInAz

I teach, mentor or just plain help new shooters every chance I get.

Back when I served Canada, I always enjoyed shooting so volunteered to help and latter instructed. As I progressed in shooting eventually qualified as RSO - sort of rare for an Air Force Engineering Officer. After left the service got away from shooting, mostly because of stupid libtard Canadian gun laws that made it difficult to own handguns, especially for the time while starting a new civilian career.

Got back into shooting after moving to AZ, and after being legal to buy a gun with Green Card in hand. Soon after that I taught my son, by then older, to shoot and how to always do it safely - he still shoots. About two years ago his Scout Troop needed a replacement Shotgun Instructor when the Dad who had done it moved on after his youngest son grew out of Scouting. So I did the NRA certification for instructor that BSA requires. During that course, discovered that BSA had added a requirement for certified RSO, so did that as well. Have really enjoyed teaching boys for their merit badges and running range times as RSO for shotguns and 22s. Has been a standing joke with boys about the Dad with a Canadian accent teaching American boys to safely handle a firearm and to shoot clays. Put on the Scoutmaster uniform at start of this year, so my firearm teaching is sure to continue.

Got into USPSA shooting with local club about three years ago. Guess my willingness and ability to teach has showed because past year or so have been asked to help run Tyros at matches. I've really enjoyed doing that. We have new folks show up at Thursday night fun matches almost every week. Most have shot before but not under a clock nor while moving, so that is a whole new experience for them and I enjoy helping with that.

Back in spring volunteered to work at annual Sportsman Expo run by Arizona State Game & Fish at Ben Avery Range. Our USPSA club setup four introductory stages – all steel to keep resets simple and make it fun, including a Texas Star. I worked as RO for both days. Of all the teaching and RSO work I have done, that was first time that I have ever put guns into hands of someone I did not even know. Of course all was great, many people that we introduced that weekend have come to club events and some have become active members.

Anyway, there's my story - yep I like teaching. One point I'll add that may sound corny – I fear the sport/pastime will decay if we don’t help and introduce new shooters or help semi experienced to move up into more activities. I fear that because I’ve seen the decay in my lifetime back in Canada. I was introduced to rifles and shotguns as a teenager in a rural area, handguns while serving. But the majority from urban areas never had as many opportunities to experience the good in the sport, so they assume the bad that the libtard media and government always told them. That setup a pattern that eventually allowed the antis to push their agenda. I'd hate to see that happen in US, so I'll keep doing my little part every chance I get.

SafetyFirst

My grandfather is the one that got me hooked with his BB gun. My parents then bought me my own as a Christmas or birthday present. I took the Hunters Ed class as soon as I was old enough and my dad and I started hunting together. I think I was into it more than my dad but he always seemed willing to go.

Now I have 3 children of my own - 2 sons and a daughter. As my sons became old enough, we joined the 4H Shooting Sports program. My daughter will shoot with us once in a while but it is not her favorite activity.

I became a 4H Shooting Sports Instructor and totally enjoy seeing the transformation of the kids in the program as they progress and become more confident. We are sticklers on safety so all the kids in the program know how to safely handle firearms and bows. The great thing about shooting sports is that even if a kid is not good in the normal school sponsored sporting events they can shine in BB, Air Rifle, 22, Trap, Muzzleloader and/or Archery.

rockmcl

I have always loved shooting and tearing apart guns. Four sons and a wife provided mentoring oportunities close to home. Military provided some oportunities to grow in that area both at work and taking troops out to actually learn to hunt and shoot for sport. Ended up buying the training range from the guy who gave me my HCP course here in TN years ago. So now, God has blessed and, I get to train folks every week that range in experience from expert master trainers themselves to zero/none.

When you have introductory type opportunities, make sure it is fun. The suggestions about multiple guns/calibers are great and different targets can make it more fun.(ballons, platic bottles with water/die and if you ever do wood working/construction you will find wood blocks are a blast too)

Please don't tell my customers, friends or family but I actually have more fun they they do. Making someone who was very nervous, a safe and confident shooter or a helping someone to overcome grip/trigger/eye/breathing/stance issues and become an accurate shooter or helping an accurate shooter learn to safely draw and engage multiple targets with combat accuraccy/speed is about as rewarding as it can get sharing with someone short of the story of the cross.

j3rd

I showed my nephew how to shoot but beforehand I had him memorize the safety rules.

gunaddict826

Anytime someone expresses the least bit of interest I always offer to take them to the range.

If someone goes up to the cabin with me for the weekend, we're going to shoot. No two ways about it.

With newbs; it's safety instruction first, then handling, then "load one, shoot one" until we're both comfortable.

Some prefer shotgun on clays, some like rifles on old beercans full of colored water, some get major grins for handguns on bowling pins.

As long as they have fun and get excited, it's all good.

gstephens

I taught all my children and a lot of relatives/.friends. My oldest son and I became NRA Instructors and NC CCW Instructors about 4 years ago and we really enjoy teaching the NRA Basic Courses to new shooters. The NRA Basic Pistol Course give a new shooter a good grasp of handgun safety, knowledge, basic skills and how to improve them. Even experienced shooters will learn from and enjoy the course.

fungun

Thanks everyone, it's great reading all these responses. Not surprised to discover some of you are formal instructors of firearms training, excellent depth of knowledge to be found in this forums membership.

Rivers2k

Taught 2 people to shoot they are both better shooters than me now! Cant figure that one out.