Things I Learn From Newbie Shooters

[Ldy AlliDu]

scary to read.

[stroo]

One question, probably a stupid one but what is "flagging"?

[A-R]

Wow, just wow.

Permission to steal this and send it to everyone I know?

[solaritx]

OUTSTANDING!!!

If we didn't laugh we would be doing what we really want to do.....cry

[fishman]

Sadly, that does not surprise me.

[Middle Age Russ]

Wonderful observations, Andy. These are right up there with, "You get used to shootin' without hearing protection so why use it?" and the line to new users, "Here, try this .40; it's easier to shoot than that .22".

[Bulldog1911]

yah, it's really amazing, and sad. Couldn't help but chuckle at this one though...

Texans are born with expert gun-handling in their DNA, so they "don't need no darned help", dummy - tsk

That's pretty much the Texan attitude about everything.

[JJVP]

It's perfectly acceptable to offer your girlfriend's "favors" in exchange for more ammunition once you've shot your lone box of 25.

Man what kind of gun ranges you go to. I've never had that happen to me.

[Scott in Houston]

"It's ok to walk up to the firing line with a concealed and fully-loaded firearm - everyone will admire the fact that you can conceal a full-size cocked 'n' locked 1911 under your shirt when you casually whip it out and plunk it down on the table while they're downrange changing targets during a ceasefire. Range officers love surprises such as that and will want to learn more from you."

That one made me squirm little because I thought it was me...
until I read the part about it being a ceasefire and others down range. lol

I try to avoid any range that even has a ceasefire. American Shooting Center, not far from my house, is the worst with offenders on almost all of the above. The 'flagging' issue has happened to me so many times there, that I never go back. There is no barrier between shooters, and I've seen enough come out with a brand new gun, and zero experience. It's scary.

[JJVP]

Wow, just wow.

Permission to steal this and send it to everyone I know?

Sure, if you want - I'm hoping all of us can add to it over time and make it an instructional (albeit shocking) thread

One question, probably a stupid one but what is "flagging"?

Not stupid at all; you probably just use another term for it such as "sweeping", but flagging is allowing the muzzle to point at yourself or someone else.

It's perfectly acceptable to offer your girlfriend's "favors" in exchange for more ammunition once you've shot your lone box of 25.

Man what kind of gun ranges you go to. I've never had that happen to me.

I'm going to save you from contracting a probable STD by not telling you

[Texas Dan Mosby]

While I've seen a few things at public ranges that would fit right into your post, I can honestly say that the overwhelming majority of folks I've seen shooting have pretty much been doing the right things as opposed to the wrong. Most of the shooting errors I see are fundamental in nature, rather than safety issues.

Granted, I usually buy a membership and choose to shoot during "off hours" when there aren't that many folks shooting, if any at all. That probably has a lot to do with it.

That, or luck...

[68Charger]

You didn't say one thing about someone going 'Akimbo'.

[Bulldog1911]

You didn't say one thing about someone going 'Akimbo'.

That was probably the Desert Eagle guy