Tips for teenagers first range visit

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Quebecer

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I'm taking my 2 kids (18,19 yo girls) to the range tomorrow(Thurs) for their first time. We'll be using a 10/22. Any advice for a list of things to do / not do?

I'll handle the loading and safety checks etc. while they watch but they will still have to point the gun in the right(safe) direction. I should tell them not to look in the ejection port, but are there other things? I guess I want to know things that I think are obvious but someone who's never used a gun won't think of.
 
Quebecer said:
I'm taking my 2 kids (18,19 yo girls) to the range tomorrow(Thurs) for their first time. We'll be using a 10/22. Any advice for a list of things to do / not do?

I'll handle the loading and safety checks etc. while they watch but they will still have to point the gun in the right(safe) direction. I should tell them not to look in the ejection port, but are there other things? I guess I want to know things that I think are obvious but someone who's never used a gun won't think of.
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Ear protection. It is really really common for new shooters to forget to put it back on when the firing line goes hot again. Also, even .22 is found to be too loud for some new shooters... that surprised me.

If this is a sandpit range make the firing line obvious and make sure they don't go ahead of it.

Get them to help clean up what mess you folks made at the range. That is really really important to instill from day one.
 
T_A_N_K said:
+1 You should police your garbage anywhere you go.
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Ha, I'm going to Ruisseau Noir. There's empty shell casings everywhere! It's outdoors with an obvious firing line.

For ears I have the 33db foam inserts. I also have one headset. I told them to bring glasses with polycarbonate lenses or their safety glasses from school. I have one pair of shooting glasses and I think only the shooter needs to wear them.

As for finger and trigger, should I also use the safety? I'll point it out to them but I've never actually used it. I just don't chamber a round or put my finger on the trigger till I'm ready to shoot. I find relying on a safety is questionable.
 
I wasn't really thinking of cleaning up your brass, but boxes of ammo and such or other garbage that you could leave behind.

I think safety's should be used, but should never be relied upon as they can fail. There's no harm in having that extra precaution, but thats my opinion.

Also since its their first time, you want the emphasis on "Safety", so your children seeing you disregard your safety may result them in having this habit as well.
 
Quebecer said:
I'll handle the loading and safety checks etc. while they watch .
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I would do that only the first couple times, then let them do it so can learn and do it on their own . At their age they will have no problem loading safely, plus it adds to the learning and fun experience.

I would also have them shoot at some reactive targets rather than plain paper ones. My kids learned on balloons of various sizes, starting at the big ones moving on down to the small ones. Try to get a bag with different colors (dollar store) so they can call out the color they are going to try and hit.

I am sure they will(and you included) will have a great time.
 
heavyBullet said:
I would do that only the first couple times, then let them do it so can learn and do it on their own . At their age they will have no problem loading safely, plus it adds to the learning and fun experience.

I would also have them shoot at some reactive targets rather than plain paper ones. My kids learned on balloons of various sizes, starting at the big ones moving on down to the small ones. Try to get a bag with different colors (dollar store) so they can call out the color they are going to try and hit.

I am sure they will(and you included) will have a great time.
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You're right, I'm sure they can handle the loading and checking for an empty chamber.

I've never seen balloons or any reactive target at the range I'm going to, I may have to save that for somewhere else.

I've forgotten about hangfires, has anybody ever had one in the history of shooting? I guess we're still supposed to keep the gun pointed downrange for 30 seconds.
 
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