I took my neighbor, who is 16, shooting tonight. He had never even touched a gun, let alone shoot one. His dad went with too, and he told me he hasn't been shooting in years. The look on his face when I unloaded the truck was priceless.
On the way to the range, I talked to him about safety and handling, and after he put his eyes back in his head from the unload, I let him handle them all to get a feel for what he was about to experience. I went over the basics of what to do before, during, and after firing. He was anxious, so I started him off easy with the .22 dedicated AR.
It took him a few rounds to catch the scope, but he was able to hit the steel plate a few times out of the first magazine at about 60 yards. After about 50 rounds of the .22lr, he said he was ready for the AK47. I told him we would get to it, that we were gonna work our way up, so I then handed him the AR .223 and a magazine and instructed him on the operation. He got down on one knee, pulled the charging handle, lined up his sights and pulled the trigger. He got so excited that he stood straight up, and swung the gun around on his hip, aimed right at me, and was grinning from ear to ear. I took evasive action, and in a stern voice told him to lay the rifle on the ground and step away from it. He seem puzzled at first, but I had to reinforce the safety issue for a few minutes.
I then got out the SKS and handed it to him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but as he pulled the trigger, I thought it was going to knock him on his ass. (He only weighs 100lbs) He fired about 10 rounds from the SKS, and again asked for the AK. So I cut to the chase, handed him the AK, and a 40 round magazine and told him to go to town.
After about 10 rounds, he said it hurt and paused for a few minutes. I told him not to be a puss and keep shooting.
It took him a few minutes to rack off all 40 rounds, (from my experience, usually the first thing newbs do is take it easy the first few times, then pull the trigger as fast as they can.
He didn't, which surprised me.
As he finished the magazine, he swung it around aiming it my way again. I then raised my voice at him and told him to lay the rifle down on the ground and again, reiterated that he was NOT to swing that thing around, and to keep it pointed in a safe direction. He said he was going to take a break for a few minutes. (he was bothered that I raised my voice at him)
We continued shooting for about 2 more hours. He went through all of my pistols and rifles, and decided he liked the GSG-5 the best, so he asked if he could just shoot that the rest of the night. I complied and handed him a box of .22s and a few magazines and told him to go at it.
Well, it happened again. He swung that thing around aimed right at me, and I blew up. I told him to put the gun on the ground that we were done. I said that I had already told him 3-4 times not to do that, and he was not remembering. He said he was sorry, and I said sorry don't cut it bud. I told him it only took once to ruin our evening. He turned away and went back to the truck with his tail between his legs. His dad said he backed me up for yelling at him, and I said it was nothing against the boy, but it is serious business when it comes to shooting safety, and I don't take recklessness lightly. His dad and I packed the truck back up, and we hopped in the truck. I talked to him all the way back home about how I wasn't attacking him, but merely trying to instill how serious I was about being safe. I told him mental lapses were not allowed and he had to be as sharp as can be when around firearms. He listened pretty well, and asked a few questions, but I felt he didn't feel any animosity towards me about what happened.
When we pulled in, he said thanks and told me is was the most fun he has had in a long time and he couldn't wait to be able to go again. His dad said I created a monster. He asked when he was allowed to own a gun, and how much they were, and where do you buy them...typical questions. I told him I would take him to the Indy 1500 with me if his dad said it was ok. He will **** his pants when he sees all of the guns there.
Overall had an enjoyable evening introducing the boy to shooting. He seemed to be interested, and I am sure I will hear about it for weeks to come. I even took some pictures for him to post on his Facebook page. I told him his friends will think he has lost his marbles.
On the way to the range, I talked to him about safety and handling, and after he put his eyes back in his head from the unload, I let him handle them all to get a feel for what he was about to experience. I went over the basics of what to do before, during, and after firing. He was anxious, so I started him off easy with the .22 dedicated AR.
It took him a few rounds to catch the scope, but he was able to hit the steel plate a few times out of the first magazine at about 60 yards. After about 50 rounds of the .22lr, he said he was ready for the AK47. I told him we would get to it, that we were gonna work our way up, so I then handed him the AR .223 and a magazine and instructed him on the operation. He got down on one knee, pulled the charging handle, lined up his sights and pulled the trigger. He got so excited that he stood straight up, and swung the gun around on his hip, aimed right at me, and was grinning from ear to ear. I took evasive action, and in a stern voice told him to lay the rifle on the ground and step away from it. He seem puzzled at first, but I had to reinforce the safety issue for a few minutes.
I then got out the SKS and handed it to him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but as he pulled the trigger, I thought it was going to knock him on his ass. (He only weighs 100lbs) He fired about 10 rounds from the SKS, and again asked for the AK. So I cut to the chase, handed him the AK, and a 40 round magazine and told him to go to town.
After about 10 rounds, he said it hurt and paused for a few minutes. I told him not to be a puss and keep shooting.
It took him a few minutes to rack off all 40 rounds, (from my experience, usually the first thing newbs do is take it easy the first few times, then pull the trigger as fast as they can. He didn't, which surprised me.
As he finished the magazine, he swung it around aiming it my way again. I then raised my voice at him and told him to lay the rifle down on the ground and again, reiterated that he was NOT to swing that thing around, and to keep it pointed in a safe direction. He said he was going to take a break for a few minutes. (he was bothered that I raised my voice at him)
We continued shooting for about 2 more hours. He went through all of my pistols and rifles, and decided he liked the GSG-5 the best, so he asked if he could just shoot that the rest of the night. I complied and handed him a box of .22s and a few magazines and told him to go at it.
Well, it happened again. He swung that thing around aimed right at me, and I blew up. I told him to put the gun on the ground that we were done. I said that I had already told him 3-4 times not to do that, and he was not remembering. He said he was sorry, and I said sorry don't cut it bud. I told him it only took once to ruin our evening. He turned away and went back to the truck with his tail between his legs. His dad said he backed me up for yelling at him, and I said it was nothing against the boy, but it is serious business when it comes to shooting safety, and I don't take recklessness lightly. His dad and I packed the truck back up, and we hopped in the truck. I talked to him all the way back home about how I wasn't attacking him, but merely trying to instill how serious I was about being safe. I told him mental lapses were not allowed and he had to be as sharp as can be when around firearms. He listened pretty well, and asked a few questions, but I felt he didn't feel any animosity towards me about what happened.
When we pulled in, he said thanks and told me is was the most fun he has had in a long time and he couldn't wait to be able to go again. His dad said I created a monster. He asked when he was allowed to own a gun, and how much they were, and where do you buy them...typical questions. I told him I would take him to the Indy 1500 with me if his dad said it was ok. He will **** his pants when he sees all of the guns there.
Overall had an enjoyable evening introducing the boy to shooting. He seemed to be interested, and I am sure I will hear about it for weeks to come. I even took some pictures for him to post on his Facebook page. I told him his friends will think he has lost his marbles.
internets for you! 
Great job!!! You may have created a monster, but oh well. More people need to take the time to take more people out and teach them, and help them to learn safe instincts and habits.
