Took out a new shooter this weekend.

Aug 2009
120
0
WA
To the mods: Couldn't think of where to put this, but if it needs to move to another location, go ahead and move it.

First time I've actually taken someone who is new to shooting out to the range and it was quite a fun experience. Prior to this trip out, all he'd shot was a single shot from a bolt-action .22 rifle when he was a kid.

Spent a half hour introducing him to the differences between the action types(lever, revolver, semi-auto, pump, etc), teaching him basic safety, and giving him time to pick what he'd like to shoot. In the end, we took out two .22 pistols, two .44 mag revolvers, and a .44 mag rifle.

He really picked up quick on how different a Walther P22 was from a Browning Buckmark. He wasn't half-bad shot with them considering it was his first time out. He liked the feel of the Buckmark more, but if he had to pick; I'd suspect he'd choose the Walther because you could mount a laser on it if you wanted to.

When it came to the .44 revolvers, he decided he liked the Redhawk over the Super Redhawk since it fit his hands better. He shot a little better with the revolvers than he did with .22 pistols which was a pleasant surprise. He did admit he flinched one shot though. It was expected. I wish I'd had some .44 special laying around to help the transition.

Shooting the Marlin 1894 in .44 mag did not go so well. Scope positioning and a stock longer than comfortable for him made it near impossible for him to get a good view through the scope. Only fired a couple of shots from that just to see what it was like.

By the time the trip to the range was done, he was trying to decide if he'd want a .22 plinker or .44 for blasting away the stress at the end of a stressful work-week.

It's rather gratifying to help someone who was rather apathetic about guns see what all the fuss is about. Not only that, but seeing the grin on his face made it well worth the time spent taking him to the range.
 
Jun 2009
32
0
washington
New shooters

In my experiance I have always found taking new shooters out for their first time is always more gratifying then going out with my buddies.(although any time shooting is a good time) I had the pleasure of introducing my wife to firearm usage and recreational shooting and she loved it. It is gratifying to see a person with no firearm background get into it. I have invited so many anti gun people out and every single one that took me up on the offer changed their tune. Most anti gun right people never had or were giving the oppourtunity to find the joy in shooting either because they were bred to dissagree or were media brain washed to think gun and their owners were "evil redneck terrorists" but after the first shot is squezzed off it is darn impossib le to get them to stop till we run outa ammo. Any time I get the opportunity to take a new shooter out I jump at it. 1 more for the home team. You guys rock!
 
Aug 2009
120
0
WA
My friend decided he's going to start saving up for a Walther. He's left handed, so having the ambidextrous safety and magazine release went a long way to making his decision.

I do agree with the second half of your comment. Indeed, gun-owners are often viewed as being country hicks on the farm. However, I think that view is changing. Three years ago, I only knew two friends had guns. Two years ago, I went to a party at a friend's house and probably seven or so people went shooting on his property.

Last year, at least ten people went shooting at the same location during a party. I was one of them, and I got to shoot a WWII rifle in .303 British. Before that, my only experience with guns was at a Bible camp shooting .22 bolt action rifles. This year there were at least 13 on the range. Only four of them live in a rural area, and maybe just one comes across as redneck type. Perhaps it's just me and my experience, but I'm seeing more gun owners now than I've ever seen since living down in the South.
 
Jun 2009
32
0
washington
The good ol' days

Sadly on the wet side i don"t know that many gun owners except for local PD which i grew up around. My family on the dry side it is almost odd not to own a firearm. All are responsible hunters and gun owners. I remember as a kid in the rural sticks i could ride my bike with my .22 across my handle bars and wave and police and neighbors alike and never had a problem. I walk out my door with my daughter and her BB gun and my neighbors call the cops! I couldn't stop laughing when they showed up. I have since then been able to taalk to my neighbors and they may not choose to own a firearm themself but they understand that I have the right and as long as I am responsible they don't care. I too have seen (especially since Obama) more and more shooters come out of the wood work. Even ladies. Hopefully this trend will grow. I encourage anyone who reads these forums who is not a gunowner or who is anti gun right, stop hating and just talk to a responsible gun owner. Sadly, like anything else in life, our community has a few bad apple and those are who spoil it for all of us, yet they don't try to take cars or booze away from us. All the criminals who use kitchen knive for crimes, they are yet to take our cutlery away. All the assults and murder using a baseball bat, yet it is a huge fan sport.... Sorry rambling. One day people will open their eyes and realize that even for our differences in beliefs and our choices in life we all want the same thing. Freedom... to be who we want to be and do what we wish without being deamonized for something some maniac did. If this is way to off topic my apologies and the moderators can take it down.
 
Aug 2009
120
0
WA
Don't get discouraged. :)
Every one of the shooters at the party was from western Washington, northern Oregon, or northern California. Two of them were ladies. One is a long-time gun owner with a 9mm pistol and a Super Redhawk in .454 Casull.
 
Aug 2009
120
0
WA
Took out that same new shooter again today. This time it was a trip to the shotgun range. Went with two additional guests as well.

The Mossberg 500 performed quite well and we tried out the 28in and 18.5in barrels. Both my guests shot enough to call it quits with sore shoulders. :rock:

Also sighted in a laser on the Walther P22. Both the new shooter and the somewhat new shooter were quite accurate with it.
 
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