Took a non-shooter to a range

DennisCA · Dec 18, 2014

(Sorry for the late post - been busy)
Last sat my son and I went out to our favorite range (in the bay area). A few days before my son asked me if it would be OK to bring his friend, who never-ever ever shot a firearm (FYI - both are over 21).

Of course I said yes-any chance to take a non-shooter out, I'll do it.
BTW-we set up at the 100 yard bottle and tin can range-(plastic bottles only) it's more satisfying when something blows up! :thumbsup:

I started him with a .22 rifle and once he got comfortable, I moved him on to the center-fire rifles. I was surprised how quickly he learned the basics and get very comfortable after awhile. Besides the .22 he shot an 06, .303 plus he shot a muzzle loading rifle!

My son told me the next day that was best Saturday's he ever had!

I must say - I was very happy to hear that!

I just wish it had been a bit warmer, it was one cold and cloudy day! :rolleyes:

PJDiesel · Dec 18, 2014

Very cool.

PJDiesel · Dec 18, 2014

Wait, cold and cloudy in CA?

A blustery 62 degrees!?

kenpo333 · Dec 18, 2014

That is something we should all strive to do in the next few years. If every member turned even 5 more people on to the pleasure of using their 2nd amendment rights we could really have a grassroots movement. The reasons that I teach the HQL class for free is to help promote more active shooters and to make it cheaper for active shooter to acquire more. Great Job. Now get your son's friend to bring another friend next time. I've taught dozens of my friends wives because we all know it is tough to teach your own wife.

DennisCA · Dec 18, 2014

PJDiesel said:
Wait, cold and cloudy in CA?

A blustery 62 degrees!?

A bit cooler than that - prob in the 40's, hardly any sun and damn damp.
(I know that that's summer-time temps for some but that's cool for the bay area in ca!)

BTW - we ended the day with eating some Chick-fil-A (finally got some of them in the bay area!)
and after that we had some cigars!

rob-cubed · Dec 18, 2014

Kudos! It's spreading the love of gun ownership that will win us the war against 2A. The more people we turn on, the stronger our side becomes.

I feel like a hippie... must be those bay area vibes.

rob-cubed · Dec 18, 2014

kenpo333 said:
The reasons that I teach the HQL class for free is to help promote more active shooters and to make it cheaper for active shooter to acquire more.

Good on you too... that's the spirit!

I've taught dozens of my friends wives because we all know it is tough to teach your own wife.

My wife still can't drive stick. I'm working on it... slowly...

rseymorejr · Dec 18, 2014

DennisCA said:
(Sorry for the late post - been busy)
Last sat my son and I went out to our favorite range (in the bay area). A few days before my son asked me if it would be OK to bring his friend, who never-ever ever shot a firearm (FYI - both are over 21).

Of course I said yes-any chance to take a non-shooter out, I'll do it.
BTW-we set up at the 100 yard bottle and tin can range-(plastic bottles only) it's more satisfying when something blows up!

I started him with a .22 rifle and once he got comfortable, I moved him on to the center-fire rifles. I was surprised how quickly he learned the basics and get very comfortable after awhile. Besides the .22 he shot an 06, .303 plus he shot a muzzle loading rifle!

My son told me the next day that was best Saturday's he ever had!

I must say - I was very happy to hear that!

I just wish it had been a bit warmer, it was one cold and cloudy day!

You'll have to stop calling him a non-shooter and start calling him a new-shooter!
:thumbsup:

Mooseman · Dec 18, 2014

There is nothing better than introducing someone new to the sport of shooting.

davsco · Dec 18, 2014

good on the OP!!

a friend invited me over to his house a while back and asked me to bring a few guns for some his friends (and their wives/GF's) most who had never shot before. I of course went over safety stuff first but everyone had an absolute blast (pun intended). it really is fun to knock over cans, blow stuff up, hit moving targets and the like.

Gryphon · Dec 18, 2014

Most Excellent! :thumbsup:

DC-W · Dec 18, 2014

Thanks for spreadin' the good word!

Warpspasm · Dec 19, 2014

I LOVE stories like that! I always try to get new shooters to the range. Most are amazed how much fun they have. I agree it is something every shooting enthusiast should strive to do. Be a shooter evangelist.

5.56blaster · Dec 19, 2014

Great! That's how we get new happy shooters!

j_h_smith · Dec 19, 2014

Great news. It's always been one of my favorite activities to do as well. Glad to hear it. Now make sure he continues to go out and shoot.

Jim Smith

lsw · Dec 20, 2014

j_h_smith said:
Great news. It's always been one of my favorite activities to do as well. Glad to hear it. Now make sure he continues to go out and shoot.

Jim Smith

Plus it's a great excuse to buy a new .22 rifle. (At least that's what I told myself recently.)

md123 · Dec 20, 2014

If we take four people to the range, we'll likely create three gun nuts! At the end of the day, it's fun. The grabbers know it...that's why they try to shut it down with hurdles to ownership....knowing full well criminals don't follow any of the rules.

j_h_smith · Dec 20, 2014

Over the years, I've taken more than 40 non-shooting folks to the range. I have not had anyone tell me they didn't have a good time. My son's brother in law is married to true anti gun person (ortho doctor), but for my son's bachelor's party, we went to an indoor range. This guy took to shooting, like a duck to water. Within a month, he had bought his first handgun and now owns a few rifles too. The anti gun wife has learned to live with it and he says he's sure she will make it out to the range with him sometime soon.

There is hope for all of them.
Jim Smith

Redcobra · Dec 20, 2014

I've never met a person yet who, when taught how to shoot, doesn't love it.
I teach a basic shotgun course at LR, and I get many women newbies. Once they learn not to be afraid of the recoil and how to hold the gun, they love to see the clays break.

OrbitalEllipses · Dec 21, 2014

Redcobra said:
I've never met a person yet who, when taught how to shoot, doesn't love it.

Even the most aggressive anti doesn't actually dislike shooting, they philosophically disagree with the RKBA. I've struggled to understand that hypocrisy.

Took a non-shooter to a range

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