Bringing A Friend Into The Sport

BumInABox · 04-28-2006, 05:30 AM

Ive been talking with a buddy of mine at work who is 23 and wants to get into shooting. Please tell me, I am doing this properly. First off, he says he never has held a gun of any sort in his life except paintball guns. I told him, if thats the case, he should really invest in taking a gun safety class. He then starting quizzing me on what type of caliber handgun to get. Price vs caliber. I told him samething my dad told me. For a beginner, you should really stick with something like a .22 or a .38 Special. Something light as to get the feel and to become comfortable with the weapon. Once he gets comfortable, then he can move up into the higher caliber ranges. I told him, one day when we were off, that I would take him up to the range with me and show him the basics of how to properly hold and fire the pistol. So maybe we might have a new shooter in the sport

MosinDave · 04-28-2006, 07:05 AM

Don't rule out a 9mm for a beginning shooter. It is a low recoil round that is very easy to manage, and cheap to boot. There are also a VERY wide variety of hand guns ( and carbines ) that are chambered for this round. Not only that, but when he decides to move on to something else he will have a gun that shoots a very capable round that he can use for self defense, or just keep as a plinker! It is always a good idea to take a firearms safety course, not only for the safety tips, but to also familiarize yourself with firearms in general. The more you understand and use the things they teach you, the less of a safety threat you become to yourself and other people!
And above all else, have fun! That's what it's about!
Heres a few good safety rules you might want to pass on to him ( and use yourself if ya want ) that they teach everyone in the Marine Corps.

1- Treat EVERY weapon as if it were loaded. ( even if you know you have an empty chamber, the other people around you might not... The one day you forget about this will be the day you DO have a loaded round in it. )

2- Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot. ( Just like above, ALWAYS be aware of what is in front of your muzzle and behind what you are shooting at. )

3- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. ( This is a BIG one... Every gun has a safety... it's called the trigger... can't count how many times I have seen people pick up firearms and just immediately wrap their finger around the trigger... not a good habit to get into.. Also remember there are no second chances with guns, period. )

4- Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire. ( Yet another good one to check yourself on regularly, helps prevent accidental discharges )
Stick with these and you will not go wrong. I hope you've found this helpful!

Chris · 04-28-2006, 08:09 AM

Hey Congrats on getting someone's interest into a great sport!

MosinDave has some great tips there. I too recommend a 9mm being a great round for a beginner especially if they have a decent sized body and can handle. If they are looking to get into this for strictly protection then I would recommend checking out a .38 revolver just for the sheer ease of use and "point and click" method of it.

The 9mm offers a lot of fun, and can become a personal favorite very quickly to someone that hasn't been in firearms for long. My dad who is in his mid-50's loves to draw smilie faces at the range with his 9mm.

Good times lie ahead for you and your friend!

BumInABox · 04-28-2006, 09:52 AM

My dad is 22yr veteran with the Houston Police Department and carries a Sig .40 for his sidearm. He had at one time a Barretta 92f that he was issued. But after the 96 North Hollywood Bank Heist, they let them choose whatever caliber they wanted to, to qualify with.

Im gonna look at pricing some guns for my friend. I'll look at Glock, Sig, & Baretta as far as the 9 is concerned. But if he wants a .38 or a .22, then Im gonna reccomend S&W, Tarus, or Ruger.

Chris · 04-28-2006, 10:20 AM

Excellent choices for recommendations as well. That Bank Heist changed a lot of things in police departments.

Best of luck.

.22guy · 04-28-2006, 08:52 PM

Sounds like you have a good start. I'd still try letting him shoot some .22 rifles and then move into pistols. If this guy has never even HELD a real gun before, I would start slow. Like .22 slow. But that's just me.

SPOCAHP ANAR · 04-29-2006, 09:37 PM

Ah Heck get an 8mm mauser or 7.62x54R nagant and let him break his shoulder in the way guys properly.

Big Dog · 04-30-2006, 06:50 PM

MD has the right idea. Start with the basics, explain the rules and procedures. Then progress to dry firing (unless the particular gun shouldn't be dry fired. Use snapcaps.) Then closely monitored shooting with a low-recoil gun.
Sunday morning, I ran a little "Shooting 101" course for a female Corrections Officer, new to the job and facing her Qualifications next week. I supplied the Ruger Securitysix, and she supplied her own targets and .38 Special ammo. She must use an institution-supplied .38 revolver on the job. She started off rocky - she admittedly wasn't a shooter. With good positive reinforcement and proper procedures, she progressed rapidly.
After about 270 rounds, she was easily making more than the 80% of 48 rounds she needed to make her Qualification.
Proper mental outlook is just as important as good hold and sight picture. Her supervisor was being hard on her - with a reason I'm sure, given the nature of the job. But the 'training' he was giving wasn't what she needed. Intimidation doesn't instill good skills.
I have confidence she'll pass. Hopefully, she'll return to the range next week and let me know.

I enjoy teaching the ladies - they don't have the preconceived notions, bad habits from watching too much Hollywood trash, and a habit of showing off like the guys often do.

Oxford · 04-30-2006, 07:30 PM

All of the above is good advice, BumInABox. These guys I respect highly for their experience...and they tell it like it is. Positive reinforcement, as was mentioned by Big Dog, may help to keep his interest up when a few rounds miss the target.

Bookman · 04-30-2006, 08:02 PM

Your idea of starting with a .22 is a good one. I don't agree that a 9mm is a low recoil round. I'd never give a beginner a 9mm.

04-28-2006, 05:30 AM	#1
BumInABox Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In A Cardboard Box Behind The Gun Range Posts: 5	Bringing A Friend Into The Sport Ive been talking with a buddy of mine at work who is 23 and wants to get into shooting. Please tell me, I am doing this properly. First off, he says he never has held a gun of any sort in his life except paintball guns. I told him, if thats the case, he should really invest in taking a gun safety class. He then starting quizzing me on what type of caliber handgun to get. Price vs caliber. I told him samething my dad told me. For a beginner, you should really stick with something like a .22 or a .38 Special. Something light as to get the feel and to become comfortable with the weapon. Once he gets comfortable, then he can move up into the higher caliber ranges. I told him, one day when we were off, that I would take him up to the range with me and show him the basics of how to properly hold and fire the pistol. So maybe we might have a new shooter in the sport

04-29-2006, 09:37 PM	#7
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 3,974 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 3	Ah Heck get an 8mm mauser or 7.62x54R nagant and let him break his shoulder in the way guys properly. __________________ The conversion rate for Stanley dimes to Shrutebucks is the same as leprechauns to unicorns.

04-30-2006, 06:50 PM	#8
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 9,479	MD has the right idea. Start with the basics, explain the rules and procedures. Then progress to dry firing (unless the particular gun shouldn't be dry fired. Use snapcaps.) Then closely monitored shooting with a low-recoil gun. Sunday morning, I ran a little "Shooting 101" course for a female Corrections Officer, new to the job and facing her Qualifications next week. I supplied the Ruger Securitysix, and she supplied her own targets and .38 Special ammo. She must use an institution-supplied .38 revolver on the job. She started off rocky - she admittedly wasn't a shooter. With good positive reinforcement and proper procedures, she progressed rapidly. After about 270 rounds, she was easily making more than the 80% of 48 rounds she needed to make her Qualification. Proper mental outlook is just as important as good hold and sight picture. Her supervisor was being hard on her - with a reason I'm sure, given the nature of the job. But the 'training' he was giving wasn't what she needed. Intimidation doesn't instill good skills. I have confidence she'll pass. Hopefully, she'll return to the range next week and let me know. I enjoy teaching the ladies - they don't have the preconceived notions, bad habits from watching too much Hollywood trash, and a habit of showing off like the guys often do. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-30-2006, 07:30 PM	#9
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 12,670 Blog Entries: 4	All of the above is good advice, BumInABox. These guys I respect highly for their experience...and they tell it like it is. Positive reinforcement, as was mentioned by Big Dog, may help to keep his interest up when a few rounds miss the target. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

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04-28-2006, 07:05 AM	#2
MosinDave Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 571	Don't rule out a 9mm for a beginning shooter. It is a low recoil round that is very easy to manage, and cheap to boot. There are also a VERY wide variety of hand guns ( and carbines ) that are chambered for this round. Not only that, but when he decides to move on to something else he will have a gun that shoots a very capable round that he can use for self defense, or just keep as a plinker! It is always a good idea to take a firearms safety course, not only for the safety tips, but to also familiarize yourself with firearms in general. The more you understand and use the things they teach you, the less of a safety threat you become to yourself and other people! And above all else, have fun! That's what it's about! Heres a few good safety rules you might want to pass on to him ( and use yourself if ya want ) that they teach everyone in the Marine Corps. 1- Treat EVERY weapon as if it were loaded. ( even if you know you have an empty chamber, the other people around you might not... The one day you forget about this will be the day you DO have a loaded round in it. ) 2- Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot. ( Just like above, ALWAYS be aware of what is in front of your muzzle and behind what you are shooting at. ) 3- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. ( This is a BIG one... Every gun has a safety... it's called the trigger... can't count how many times I have seen people pick up firearms and just immediately wrap their finger around the trigger... not a good habit to get into.. Also remember there are no second chances with guns, period. ) 4- Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire. ( Yet another good one to check yourself on regularly, helps prevent accidental discharges ) Stick with these and you will not go wrong. I hope you've found this helpful!

04-28-2006, 08:09 AM	#3
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,710 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	Hey Congrats on getting someone's interest into a great sport! MosinDave has some great tips there. I too recommend a 9mm being a great round for a beginner especially if they have a decent sized body and can handle. If they are looking to get into this for strictly protection then I would recommend checking out a .38 revolver just for the sheer ease of use and "point and click" method of it. The 9mm offers a lot of fun, and can become a personal favorite very quickly to someone that hasn't been in firearms for long. My dad who is in his mid-50's loves to draw smilie faces at the range with his 9mm. Good times lie ahead for you and your friend!

04-28-2006, 09:52 AM	#4
BumInABox Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In A Cardboard Box Behind The Gun Range Posts: 5	My dad is 22yr veteran with the Houston Police Department and carries a Sig .40 for his sidearm. He had at one time a Barretta 92f that he was issued. But after the 96 North Hollywood Bank Heist, they let them choose whatever caliber they wanted to, to qualify with. Im gonna look at pricing some guns for my friend. I'll look at Glock, Sig, & Baretta as far as the 9 is concerned. But if he wants a .38 or a .22, then Im gonna reccomend S&W, Tarus, or Ruger.

04-28-2006, 10:20 AM	#5
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,710 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	Excellent choices for recommendations as well. That Bank Heist changed a lot of things in police departments. Best of luck.

04-28-2006, 08:52 PM	#6
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,636	Sounds like you have a good start. I'd still try letting him shoot some .22 rifles and then move into pistols. If this guy has never even HELD a real gun before, I would start slow. Like .22 slow. But that's just me.

04-30-2006, 08:02 PM	#10
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 726	Your idea of starting with a .22 is a good one. I don't agree that a 9mm is a low recoil round. I'd never give a beginner a 9mm.