Hiltonizer
Banned
Over the last year, I recall a few threads with relatively new gun owners asking questions about bringing a guest to their range. I myself having received my LTC in Jan 09 have taken quite a few guests to my range for their first shooting experience.
I figure, with the new year, gun sales at very high levels, and a renewed American spirit towards self sufficiency and preparedness... now might be a good time to exchange some tips and other thoughts regarding bringing new shooters and guests to the range.
A few thoughts of mine:
- As I think anyone here will agree, making sure the rules of safety are very clear is extremely important. We will all have the tough-guy friend who acts bored or contemptuous of safety precautions, but in reality.. I believe new shooters are happy and encouraged by being taken by someone who is taking their safety seriously. Stressing safety and professionalism does a lot more for taking the bubba-effect out of shooting than it does make it boring. I try to blend stressing safety to make new shooters more comfortable, as there can be a lot of apprehension in firing a firearm for the first time.
-- Part of this is always having a jar of disposable plugs, and a few extra safety goggles. They are cheap enough and light enough to keep in your range bag for last second guests
- I try my best to set first time shooters up for success. Guns that are easy to shoot (my mark 3 and AR) at closer ranges. New shooters are encouraged by hitting the 'bulls eye"
- Uncrowded range times are important in my opinion. A crowded range can make safety explanation, and question answering difficult. If possible, I try to bring guests late on a Sunday or during a weekday when my club is usually deserted. Aside from the excess noise, new shooters can be intimidated by a bunch of experienced shooters all on the bench at the same time. I've been lucky by having some great guys at my club be the ones there at times it wasn't abandoned, and helped tremendously with new shooters by letting them try their stuff and providing additional advice.
- Don't overload them with information. I try to not over-explain everything the first trip out.. It seems to be a turn off if you get too technical all in one trip.
I'm sure i'll be taking plenty of friends, co-workers, family this year... and you probably will/have. Please share any thoughts you have on the subject. I think it is important we are successful in spreading the sport.
I figure, with the new year, gun sales at very high levels, and a renewed American spirit towards self sufficiency and preparedness... now might be a good time to exchange some tips and other thoughts regarding bringing new shooters and guests to the range.
A few thoughts of mine:
- As I think anyone here will agree, making sure the rules of safety are very clear is extremely important. We will all have the tough-guy friend who acts bored or contemptuous of safety precautions, but in reality.. I believe new shooters are happy and encouraged by being taken by someone who is taking their safety seriously. Stressing safety and professionalism does a lot more for taking the bubba-effect out of shooting than it does make it boring. I try to blend stressing safety to make new shooters more comfortable, as there can be a lot of apprehension in firing a firearm for the first time.
-- Part of this is always having a jar of disposable plugs, and a few extra safety goggles. They are cheap enough and light enough to keep in your range bag for last second guests
- I try my best to set first time shooters up for success. Guns that are easy to shoot (my mark 3 and AR) at closer ranges. New shooters are encouraged by hitting the 'bulls eye"
- Uncrowded range times are important in my opinion. A crowded range can make safety explanation, and question answering difficult. If possible, I try to bring guests late on a Sunday or during a weekday when my club is usually deserted. Aside from the excess noise, new shooters can be intimidated by a bunch of experienced shooters all on the bench at the same time. I've been lucky by having some great guys at my club be the ones there at times it wasn't abandoned, and helped tremendously with new shooters by letting them try their stuff and providing additional advice.
- Don't overload them with information. I try to not over-explain everything the first trip out.. It seems to be a turn off if you get too technical all in one trip.
I'm sure i'll be taking plenty of friends, co-workers, family this year... and you probably will/have. Please share any thoughts you have on the subject. I think it is important we are successful in spreading the sport.
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