A friend of mine called and asked a favor. His son had purchased a firearm and he asked me to show him how to use it safely.
I gladly volunteered and a date was set.

The young man came over last night and was a little nervous but was eager to learn.
Before we even opened his pistol box I handed him some notes I typed up on the Rules, the basics, and SAFETY FIRST.
I made him a nice portfolio with lots of good info in it and a folder for his receipts, notes, class room homework etc., as I did recommend he take a class. I do to everyone.

We hung out for an hour at my place reading my notes, his owners manual, chatting and then- getting familiar with the S&W Sigma .40.

I preached the laser rule, finger off the trigger, verify target/backstop as we practiced grip, trigger control (in theory and 3-step),sight picture, mag insert and drop.
After it looked like he was coming along we moved on to putting the pistol into battery- no live ammo of course as my sofa has enough holes in it from boots and swords and arrows and such already, thank you very much.

It's weird how first timers and those new to firearms are in such a hurry.
I had to keep slowing him down as he kept missing steps or getting sloppy with the muzzle.
I told him haste makes dead things. Including the operator- and you can't undo Dead.
Slooooow dowwwwwn.

We did classroom stuff and practiced a lot of things and more until he was ready to try some live fire. So we loaded up our gear and went to my local tactical dungeon.
I turned a cardboard silhouette sideways and taped (3) 9" plates on it at 9 o' clock, 3 o' clock and 6 o' clock. I had him start on the 6 o'clock one so as not to jerk high and shoot down the wire- as that's 50$ on my card if that happens.
And that never happens on my card or someone buys dinner.

I had him load up 5 rounds per mag (x2). For a few reasons.
It makes a meager ammo supply last a little longer and, I had him changing mags after slide-lock so as to get used to working the pistols features. Again- and slowing him down. Since he was shooting only 10 rounds per round the fatigue factor was lower too.

It was a little hard for him at first just getting on the plate, but he managed at 10y, then we went to 15y, then came back to 10y and did 2 rounds per plate while still working two mags w/ 5 rounds each. He was improving well and getting the hang of it and clearing the pistol at the end of each round before setting it down.
Then I taped a 25y slow-fire bull on and rolled it out to 15y. Told him to hit the little orange thingy. He kinda struggled but was getting it in the black. I told him to take a break and I got it with my 2" snubby twice in 5. Showed him it could be done with a sightless pistol and a blind old fart at the wheel, so slow down!

He did and nailed it dead center. Aaaand got happy hands and missed the rest.

He wanted to shoot my 2" 605 (yeh I know, I NEVER do this....he's family) and the Alaskan.
He missed the plates pretty good with the sightless roller @ 10y but kept it on the cardboard. .
I loaded up 3 live rounds and 3 spent cases in the Alaskan for a flinch-check exercise. He did pretty darn well. And was done with it after 3 rounds.
Didn't drop the gun or, hit any plates with the rollers. But he didn't shoot the floor, ceiling or line down. I call it good!

It was a ton of fun and we both had a really nice time. It was nice sharing a lane with a new shooter that was interested in the Right Stuff vs. Video-game or movie type crap.

And speaking of holy sofas, an LEO did a ND in the shop.
Shot the sofa and the ricochet just missed some others. Nice mess. Stuffing all over. They just vacuumed. Pretty Gnarly. Got there after it happened. Glad it was AFTER.

Thanks fer readin' guys.

-kevin.

Hey Kevin, way to go. Its nice to see someone get started the right way. Keep up the good work.

Good job! Its always fun to get a new shooter started off right!

Yea what they said! Instilling the safety and responsibility early on will hell ingrain it in them forever.

I like to shoot the .44mag into something like a head of lettuce or cabbage or maybe a can of shaving cream.............anything that sends pieces and parts a flying.
Then ask them to imagine what they just witnessed happening to someone’s head.
Usually does a good job getting the safety thing in proper perspective............real quick!!!

I have always used a gallon water jug with a lid on it. Once in a great while I will sacrifice an unopened beer if I have nothing else. I try not to do this to to often. Young shooters usually get the picture real fast.

wiersy111 wrote:

I have always used a gallon water jug with a lid on it. Once in a great while I will sacrifice an unopened beer if I have nothing else. I try not to do this to to often. Young shooters usually get the picture real fast.

Wiersay....STEP AWAY FROM THE BEER COOLER SLOWLY...turn you back to the fire and give yourself 2 bags full of upper cuts !!!

Lemonade, Coca Cola, Pepsi, water....ANYTHING but beer mate. Whatever possessed you to do such a terrible thing !!!

Stoves, well done mate. Its good to see an experienced shooter take the time and effort to explain and teach safe, sensible and responsible firearm operation and ownership. In this day and age there are far too many who either don't want to take the time, or who not interested in assisting new shooters.

Cheers, Vince

wiersy111 wrote:

unopened beer

Try a can of shaving foam instead.. more spectacular

Good job getting a new shooter started right!

I have always liked the idea of graphically showing a new shooter the consequences of an accidental discharge. I do usually cheat, however. I use a large can of tomato paste and show them the bullet I am going to fire into it. The cheating part is that I show them a .172" bullet, but palm the actual round (.17 Remington) so they don't automatically get the difference in case size between it and the 22LR they are about to shoot. Once the "display" dies down, I tell them that the same thing will happen to someone's head if they get careless. Even after they gain experience they always mention that graphic display and how it never leaves their minds.

Thank you gents, very much.

And:

Quote::

Once in a great while I will sacrifice an unopened beer

I'm soooo glad it wasn't me that said that.



I preached the saftey discipline big time. Esp since it was a family friend and they were trusting me with this deal. Every step of the way was finished with "safety first, you can't un-kill something". I told him if something jams or he gets confused, lay it down and back away and get a range agent or me to look at it. We had a couple of issues with the mag not seating from light insertion. I could see it tossed him a curve so he just put it down and backed up, turned around and motioned me over.


It's all about shootin' smart.

Yep, large tomato and a .22 Stinger here. The Stinger looks so little and the tomato blows up so messy...

Along this line, one of the first things I tell a new shooter is to forget all that Hollywood crap they've seen over the years. This includes shooting grips and stances, terminal effects, etc. And hope that, if you ever get in a gun fight, your opponent actually believes all that Hollywood stuff!

Yea Yea Yea it was my dad's beer, he only buys the cheapest swill he can find and drinks it warm. The only reason it is called beer is because it says beer on the can. He doesn't care for good beer, when he comes over he'll ask if I have a warm foofoo beer. Don't worry I'll take my deep secret to beer confession and repent.

Nice backpedal but, it's still a BEER to Vince.

I don't think I could let Vince drink some of that crap. It was a big step up when my dad started drinking Old Milwaukee.

Fair call Wiersay old mate...at least, as you say, it was garbage beer (is there really any such thing).

Methinks it behoves you to take Dad under your wing and bring him back onto the straight and narrow...he has obviously wander off and lost the plot mate. He looked after you as a young fella, its your turn now mate.

Back on topic... The only thing I have every done in regards to graphically displaying the shock factor of a bullet is to put a .243 or 30.0 through a 2 litre bottle of water that has been sitting in the sun for a couple of hours. It "explodes" magnificently. A can of Coca Cola or similar, well shaken, isn't too bad either.

Safety First is the first thing that should be taught to any new shooter...you done good Stoves.

Cheers, Vince