Girlfriend Handgun Training

rangebob

rangebob

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So, you take your girlfriend (or boyfriend or significant other, or local journalist) to the range.
They've never held a gun in their life, not even a toy.
But they want to shoot at some targets.
What do you teach them?
(I've never done this before, so I'm asking for how from those with experience and know how)

Do you begin training somewhere away from the firing line?
At what range do you setup your target? How big is the target?
Do you make her memorize ACTS and PROVE?
Do you demonstrate it once,
then take her through the various buttons/levers etc on the handgun,
and a little bit of how to iron sight it on the target,
posture, weaver grip,
then have her load a single round and fire a single round,
and then have her load multiple rounds and fire multiple rounds?

What's your list of instructions for an impatient girl who just wants to have fun (and get out without a scratch to anyone)?

Is half an hour too short to teach the basics, fire 30 rounds, and get out without doing anything dangerous?
 
I got my wife to practice loading, unloading, making safe, etc and just general safe handling before we even got to the range on a few separate occasions. I only then took her to the range once I felt comfortable and so did she. I cant afford for a mishap to happen.
 
Do what you implied in your question an al wiull be fine. Allow the person to load/unload make safe, Firmly educate the individual that the said firearm Must always be pointed down range, THen last but not They must be aware of their surroundings eg: range commands cease fire, make safe An all other possible situations should they arise.
But first see above all they have a great time.
good luck.
 
aliceminer said:
I think it is better to send her to silvercore
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Isn't that in British Columbia?

(BTW, she's not interested in taking a 2 day Canadian Firearms Safety Course / Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course; nor reading the CRFSC book more than having a couple of pictures pointed out to her)
 
rangebob said:
You have dummy rounds? Did you use dummy rounds, or just an empty magazine and rack it empty.
Or more to the point -- should I get dummy rounds? :)
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I have taken a few newbies shooting in the past, and ALWAYS started them out at my place getting familiar with the firearms, ACTS and PROVE and practise loading, unloading with snap caps.

Oh, and when I took them to the range, the first time at the line, I only put one round in the magazine. Just in case they reacted wildly to the BIG BOOM, and dropped the gun or turned around with the gun pointed a me or someone else, or what have you.
 
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The first time with pistols I taught her the basics and if there was anything what so ever not right, she would put it down on the bench carefully with her finger no where near the trigger and I would help. I stood behind her just in case. Two magazines out of my pistols went great and she tried a glock .45 acp next. The first empty casing ejected out and fell in the tiny gap at the top of her safety glasses in a freak accident and burned her cheek at the bottom of the lens. She turned away from the us and I helped a little but she did really well for getting burnt at the time. It left a good mark for a week or so and I know it hurt. It could have been more exciting if she panicked or wasn't as smart as she is.

After a few minutes she picked it back up and continued just fine. It looks like something from a Japanese cartoon to see a cute, not very big girl shooting a glock 21.

Crazy accidents happen so my best advice is for you to pay attention and never lose control of the situation. Also, try to go at an off time so your the only one there and there is a lot less distractions. I don't like shooting myself when there are 10 people on the pistol line, a new person is going to feel even more pressured.

Ryan
 
I think one of the best points is to always stay close enough to control if something happens. My girlfriend was wearing safety glasses to not get hit in the eye with something and instead it caused the burn to be worse when the casing fell in the top. We were not expecting that.
 
Sounds like you have it thought out very well.

Follow your own suggestions but give yourself more time. Pick a day when you have a couple hours so no one feels rushed and your beginner can feel confident.

unstableryan said:
I think one of the best points is to always stay close enough to control if something happens. My girlfriend was wearing safety glasses to not get hit in the eye with something and instead it caused the burn to be worse when the casing fell in the top. We were not expecting that.
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No matter how much it might pain you to do it tell her not too much cleavage too! :D
 
I tought my daugher at the range, with live rounds, she shot pistol, revolver and a rifle.
All depends on the teacher and student ...
 
Make sure that they understand to keep the handgun pointed down range at all times and I stand beside anybody new so I can talk them through problems or take control of the handgun if required, for example, stoppages, they don't want to shoot anymore, ensuring it is unloaded when they are done, handgun starts to travel outside arcs of fire, etc.
 
I start out on the rifle range with a .22 first and let them learn to deal with all of the safety issues first. Muzzle control is much easier to learn with a rifle first. Once they are comfortable with all of these issues, then we move to the pistol range.
 
rangebob said:
FIRST DRAFT

http://www.rangebob.com/Newbie/FirearmIntroductionNewbie.htm
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Way too detailed for a newbie. Just spend a night at home showing the very basics of firearm handling. Teach them how to hold it, point it and pull the trigger. Teach them how the action works but dont get stuck on the details. If they just want to try it, all they have to know is how to hold it properly and how to show clear after. Control of the muzzle is the most important part! Dont point it anywhere but down range! Stay right beside them to start with. If they want to do it more than once then get started on the details:cool:
 
What I do:
1 Tell them it is a laser gun. Don't point it at anything you do not want destroyed.

2 if you do not have a Blue gun or similar, strip a pistol and just give them the lower receiver. Explain how to hold it.

3 as someone mentioned above, start them with one round and stand close behind them.

4 Take corrective actions as necessary.

5 Stay calm at all times.

6 If they come anywhere close to breaking 45, calmly but firmly take control of their shoulders and keep them pointed in the right direction.

This has worked for me with the newest of shooters.
 
Miraclejoe said:
2 if you do not have a Blue gun or similar, strip a pistol and just give them the lower receiver. Explain how to hold it.
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You may have noticed from the transparent receiver in the pictures -- I'm thinking of starting with an AirSoft pistol (obviously not at the range).

Miraclejoe said:
6 If they come anywhere close to breaking 45, calmly but firmly take control of their shoulders and keep them pointed in the right direction.
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Grab shoulders. Handn't thought of that.

In other situations, gab firearm.
 
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