Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
So about a year ago something happened that I thought I would share. I learned to shoot handguns from my friends (about six years ago). They taught me the correct stance, and ways to handle a handgun in a safe fashion. I have never had any formal classroom training, but I was taught well since the three guys who taught me how to shoot are all long time hunters and target shooters. Safety was the first lesson taught, and fortunately (for me and people around me) I am a person who has no problem speaking up and admitting when I don’t know something. I’d rather speak up, feel foolish for a minute, and know the correct way to do something and correct answer. That being said, I am not a firearms instructor. I think a lot of people get into shooting buy going to a range with a friend. The kind of funny thing is that the very first gun someone ever handed me to shoot, was a .44 magnum. I know, a bad idea. But it is what it is.
Anyway, my father expressed an interest in learning to shoot handguns, and I was happy to teach him, and give him an introductory lesson. I live near National Forest lands, so I am able to simply go to the woods to shoot. So off we go to the woods. I brought a variety of guns and ammo for him to try. I asked him out right what he wanted to try first, and he indicated he wanted to try my .357 SP101. I said ok, and proceeded to show him (on an empty gun) the proper way to hold a loaded revolver and had a discussion about safety, minding your muzzle direction, and how to handle magnum calibers. I loaded the gun, showed him how, and then let him load the gun. All was well, and we loaded 4 .38 specials, and one .357. I made sure to tell him when the “big one” was coming and he had a great time. I thought “Success! He likes this!”
He shot the .357 for a bit, and then I asked him if he wanted to try another gun, and he said he did. He said he’d like to try an automatic and indicated he’d like to try my Buckmark. So once again I showed him the proper way to handle the gun, dispelled his movie and tv ideas about automatics, and explained the slightly more complicated use of an auto loader. I showed him how to insert the magazine, and chamber a round. He took the gun, and started shooting. This was going great. So I decided to watch the target to see how he was doing. Another shot, and a ping on the reset target. Then I looked back at him……… and I saw that he had his support hand on the barrel of the gun to steady the weapon. See, he is 63, and his hands shake a bit, so he was trying to make a better shot……………… I have never yelled “STOP” louder in my life. He heard me just as he pulled the trigger, and turned and looked at me like I was crazy. I immediately told him to put the safety on. He did so, I unloaded and cleared the weapon, and I proceeded to explain how lucky he was that he didn’t get hurt, and that if he had done that with my 460 magnum, he would be missing most of his fingers, and we would be racing to the hospital. I also immediately apologized, because this was my fault.
I told him how to hold and shoot a gun, but not WHY a handgun must be held a certain way. :banghead: I missed a crucial step, and assumed that he understood the why part of things, since it is pure logic to me. I also neglected the fact that my dad won’t speak up if he doesn’t understand something. The lesson I learned was to never assume someone understands you even if they indicate they do. Never, ever take your eyes off of a new shooter. And make sure you always explain the why. The why is the most important part.
After that we continued shooting all of my guns and had a fantastic time. I have sparked an interest in him that I’m glad we now share, but I frequently look back on this event and shutter. The fact that it was my own fault, and the thought of what could have happened scares the hell out of me.
I share this story in the hope that it will serve as a reminder to others, and a lesson to all that age doesn’t matter. A new shooter is a new shooter whether they are 12, or 60, and whether they are a total stranger, or your father. When you take it upon yourself to “take someone shooting” for the first time…….. YOU are responsible for their safety.
I now invite others to share their most frightening mishap, or near mishap with us all. This thread has likely been done before, but one can not have too many reminders when it comes to firearms safety. So please, share the worst of the worst with us.
Also, please refrain from calling anyone stupid who doesn’t really deserve it. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge. Stupidity is having the knowledge, and choosing to ignore it. Wisdom is simply the ability to learn, retain, and recall that knowledge.
Anyway, my father expressed an interest in learning to shoot handguns, and I was happy to teach him, and give him an introductory lesson. I live near National Forest lands, so I am able to simply go to the woods to shoot. So off we go to the woods. I brought a variety of guns and ammo for him to try. I asked him out right what he wanted to try first, and he indicated he wanted to try my .357 SP101. I said ok, and proceeded to show him (on an empty gun) the proper way to hold a loaded revolver and had a discussion about safety, minding your muzzle direction, and how to handle magnum calibers. I loaded the gun, showed him how, and then let him load the gun. All was well, and we loaded 4 .38 specials, and one .357. I made sure to tell him when the “big one” was coming and he had a great time. I thought “Success! He likes this!”
He shot the .357 for a bit, and then I asked him if he wanted to try another gun, and he said he did. He said he’d like to try an automatic and indicated he’d like to try my Buckmark. So once again I showed him the proper way to handle the gun, dispelled his movie and tv ideas about automatics, and explained the slightly more complicated use of an auto loader. I showed him how to insert the magazine, and chamber a round. He took the gun, and started shooting. This was going great. So I decided to watch the target to see how he was doing. Another shot, and a ping on the reset target. Then I looked back at him……… and I saw that he had his support hand on the barrel of the gun to steady the weapon. See, he is 63, and his hands shake a bit, so he was trying to make a better shot……………… I have never yelled “STOP” louder in my life. He heard me just as he pulled the trigger, and turned and looked at me like I was crazy. I immediately told him to put the safety on. He did so, I unloaded and cleared the weapon, and I proceeded to explain how lucky he was that he didn’t get hurt, and that if he had done that with my 460 magnum, he would be missing most of his fingers, and we would be racing to the hospital. I also immediately apologized, because this was my fault.
I told him how to hold and shoot a gun, but not WHY a handgun must be held a certain way. :banghead: I missed a crucial step, and assumed that he understood the why part of things, since it is pure logic to me. I also neglected the fact that my dad won’t speak up if he doesn’t understand something. The lesson I learned was to never assume someone understands you even if they indicate they do. Never, ever take your eyes off of a new shooter. And make sure you always explain the why. The why is the most important part.
After that we continued shooting all of my guns and had a fantastic time. I have sparked an interest in him that I’m glad we now share, but I frequently look back on this event and shutter. The fact that it was my own fault, and the thought of what could have happened scares the hell out of me.
I share this story in the hope that it will serve as a reminder to others, and a lesson to all that age doesn’t matter. A new shooter is a new shooter whether they are 12, or 60, and whether they are a total stranger, or your father. When you take it upon yourself to “take someone shooting” for the first time…….. YOU are responsible for their safety.
I now invite others to share their most frightening mishap, or near mishap with us all. This thread has likely been done before, but one can not have too many reminders when it comes to firearms safety. So please, share the worst of the worst with us.
Also, please refrain from calling anyone stupid who doesn’t really deserve it. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge. Stupidity is having the knowledge, and choosing to ignore it. Wisdom is simply the ability to learn, retain, and recall that knowledge.