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I have a female friend that I used to work with, and she just lost 40 pounds. The wife and I are taking her to the range for the first time ever today. She's one of those grew up scared of guns, and against them. Now, she thinks she needs to learn. These are the first two rules I told her last night.

1. Never point gun un in-safe direction.

2. Never touch the trigger till you want it to fire.

Lionman13 wrote:I have a female friend that I used to work with, and she just lost 40 pounds. The wife and I are taking her to the range for the first time ever today. She's one of those grew up scared of guns, and against them. Now, she thinks she needs to learn. These are the first two rules I told her last night.

1. Never point gun un in-safe direction.

2. Never touch the trigger till you want it to fire.

It is a great thing to introduce a new shooter!

If I may offer advice as an instructor; Her first rule should be to always treat every gun as it is loaded. ALWAYS. Make this solid. Also, never allow the muzzle to cover anything you are not willing to destroy. Emphasize that includes people, body parts and property. Dry fire at your TV enough and you will shoot your TV

I also tell students to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are both on target and made the decision to fire.


What are you going to start her on? Hope you have fun and create a convert!

Good luck, be safe, have fun. It's a good turn to bring someone into the sport.

jbarn wrote:

Lionman13 wrote:I have a female friend that I used to work with, and she just lost 40 pounds. The wife and I are taking her to the range for the first time ever today. She's one of those grew up scared of guns, and against them. Now, she thinks she needs to learn. These are the first two rules I told her last night.

1. Never point gun un in-safe direction.

2. Never touch the trigger till you want it to fire.

It is a great thing to introduce a new shooter!

If I may offer advice as an instructor; Her first rule should be to always treat every gun as it is loaded. ALWAYS. Make this solid. Also, never allow the muzzle to cover anything you are not willing to destroy. Emphasize that includes people, body parts and property. Dry fire at your TV enough and you will shoot your TV

I also tell students to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are both on target and made the decision to fire.


What are you going to start her on? Hope you have fun and create a convert!

She will fire my shield 9mm, and wife's p238 380. Thanks for the extra tips.

I love my shield, it is a little snappy. If you could even rent a .22 to get her started that would be great. If she is afraid of guns, getting over the initial "it is going to bite me" with a softer shooter like a .22 would be great. Smaller is not always "easier" smaller gun = less weight to help manage recoil.

I hope you all have a very positive experience.

Divided Attention wrote:I love my shield, it is a little snappy. If you could even rent a .22 to get her started that would be great. If she is afraid of guns, getting over the initial "it is going to bite me" with a softer shooter like a .22 would be great. Smaller is not always "easier" smaller gun = less weight to help manage recoil.

I hope you all have a very positive experience.

+1

If you go to a good rental range rent a .22 wheel gun and get over the initial fear of bang. Then I rent a Beretta Neos .22 to get them used to the differences in firing a semi auto. Then you can work up from there. Definitely be careful with the .380. Everyone I have fired has been pretty snappy...

Thanks for helping intro new shooters!

Syntyr wrote:

Divided Attention wrote:I love my shield, it is a little snappy. If you could even rent a .22 to get her started that would be great. If she is afraid of guns, getting over the initial "it is going to bite me" with a softer shooter like a .22 would be great. Smaller is not always "easier" smaller gun = less weight to help manage recoil.

I hope you all have a very positive experience.

+1

If you go to a good rental range rent a .22 wheel gun and get over the initial fear of bang. Then I rent a Beretta Neos .22 to get them used to the differences in firing a semi auto. Then you can work up from there. Definitely be careful with the .380. Everyone I have fired has been pretty snappy...

Thanks for helping intro new shooters!

If possible, I would try to stretch it out over several trips to the range.

If she keeps wanting to go back, they you have her hooked.

Last newb I took to the range was my son's ex-girlfrind. She was raised in an anti gun household but my son wanted her to learn and she was interested. We went over the 4 rules (nice graphic, Andy) before any guns were brought out. Stared with a .22 lever rifle and learned quickly she was left eye dominant so we adjusted for that. Went next to the single-six and progressed through a .38 special, 9mm semi, .357 mag, ending with a few shots with a 12 gage at some hand thrown birds. At that point I figured she was done, but the end didn't come until we went through a brick of 22s and a couple boxes of 38 specials. Once a new shooter starts making metal targets ping it is hard to say no to that huge grin plastered on their face.

Have fun and be safe.

Jaguar wrote:(nice graphic, Andy)

I also noticed the graphic. I don't know if you designed it, but it's one of the best I have seen.

WildBill wrote:

Jaguar wrote:(nice graphic, Andy)

I also noticed the graphic. I don't know if you designed it, but it's one of the best I have seen.

I plan to use it on my Facebook page after lent. Not that I am a very devout Catholic, just needed a reason to back away from my crazy liberal relatives for awhile.

She had a blast. At ten yards she put everything on the target page. Not bad for first time shooting a gun! I'm now asking her to be a gun owner soon. She is thinking about it. Obviously she liked the 380 better, because of some recoil on the 9mm.

Fun times! I went fishing, taught somebody how to shoot , and now going to mom's for dinner. Weekend check marks!

AndyC wrote:Have fun!

A quick overview of the Four Rules:

[ Image ]

Great graphic - it's going into my "teach a newbie" kit

Of all the firearm safety rules, the one I find the most ignored by new shooters is placing their index finger on the trigger, no matter how much emphasis I've put on keeping it off until proper to put on.

To be fair, I understand the finger just naturally wants to stray there...

The second most common mistake of new shooters (in my experience) is sweeping, arrggghhh!

Without being a complete maniac, (though close...) I've been rather firm when these rules are ignored.