Things I Learn From Newbie Shooters

[lonewolf]

At some point a good number of these should be consolidated into magazine article form and submitted for general publication.

[plano2001]

How often do you take your daughter to the range?

Sadly, I haven't ever taken here before. One thing I haven't figured out is what age restriction ranges have on youth. Figured it was 12 and up or something similar. We're waiting for the new range to open in McKinney hopefully in a few months...I'm not a big fan of the Bullet Trap in Plano.

Debating getting her a Red Ryder rifle for Christmas so I can teach her the beginning basics of shooting a rifle in the convenience of the backyard.

[C-dub]

How often do you take your daughter to the range?

Sadly, I haven't ever taken here before. One thing I haven't figured out is what age restriction ranges have on youth. Figured it was 12 and up or something similar. We're waiting for the new range to open in McKinney hopefully in a few months...I'm not a big fan of the Bullet Trap in Plano.

Debating getting her a Red Ryder rifle for Christmas so I can teach her the beginning basics of shooting a rifle in the convenience of the backyard.

Elm Fork had no issues with my 9y at all. And the extra bonus was that Andy C works there and all the other RO's I've come in contact with have been exceptionally helpful, kind, and polite. I am unaware that I have tried anything mentioned in Andy's observations.

[jocat54]

As a group, college-age kids are the single worst offenders re gun-safety because the world revolves around them.

Old men are the second-worst - and for exactly the same reason.

Hey, I resemble that remark Just the old part.

[zero4o3]

How often do you take your daughter to the range?

Sadly, I haven't ever taken here before. One thing I haven't figured out is what age restriction ranges have on youth. Figured it was 12 and up or something similar. We're waiting for the new range to open in McKinney hopefully in a few months...I'm not a big fan of the Bullet Trap in Plano.

Debating getting her a Red Ryder rifle for Christmas so I can teach her the beginning basics of shooting a rifle in the convenience of the backyard.

most places I have been, as long as they where tall enough to see over the bench they could shoot

[papajohn1964]

Kind of silly but I thought that it fit here!

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thevelement]

My wife's brother was visiting back in October and she had to work on Saturday so we went to the range down at Quail Creek. We were the only ones on the pistol range for a while when these two gentlemen came over, one middle-age and the other a bit older. After posting targets the older gentleman started firing at his target (a bit bigger than a dinner plate, distance was seven yards). Based on general comments I gathered he was shooting the younger man's pistols, and after a few shots I heard the younger of the two say, what I assume were words of encouragement for poor marksmanship, "That's okay, as long as you shoot the other guy first that's what's important. Back in the day people used to die of gonorrhea from their gunshot wounds."

I immediately stopped what I was doing and looked at my brother-in-law, who gave me an equal look of confusion, horror, and amusement.

Really dude? Really? Gonorrhea? I understand he probably meant "gangrene", but still...

You can't make this stuff up...

[thatguy]

At some point a good number of these should be consolidated into magazine article form and submitted for general publication.

I think you are on to something...

[TDDude]

One thing that bothers me is a guy at the range over the weekend. He was standing back watching his 10 or 11 year old son shoot his semi-automatic rifle that was spraying brass over the 3 shooters to the right of him. Guess who happened to be number 3, and who happened to catch some brass in the side of the head while looking down my scope. Hot brass doesn't feel good when it gets stuck between your glasses and the side of you head.

Meh, brass sprays at a range. This isn't something that would bother me, and I certainly am not focused on where my brass is going when I am concentrating on shooting.

Brass doesn't bother me either. Everyone shoots semi-autos these days and there's really nothing that can be done short of the range building divider walls between every stall like an indoor range has. I typically use a brass catcher cause I like to reload but otherwise, that's why full cover safety glasses with hats should be worn.

[snatchel]

My Grandfather is the scariest person in the world to be around guns with. I cringe when I am at his house and he wants to show me a new gun, etc. I've gotten to where I just avoid it all together, because I dont want to deal with the fright. I guess his absolute worst habit is keeping his finger off the trigger. I've told him time and time again, but he is so set in his ways it's a waste of my time.

Overconfidence and years of developing bad habits are the 2 killers of gun safety. Just saying..

[TAMU_12]

As soon as I spot a cocky attitude in a shooter but there's no fluid, familiar gun-handling to be found in that same person, I immediately think "Here we go..." and keep a very sharp eye open. College-age kids are the #1 worst offenders by far.

I have to strongly disagree. I'm 22 yrs old at Texas A&M, and when my friends and I go shoot, we are generally some of the best/most respectful shooters at the range. I have visited a decent amount of ranges and the only people I've ever been afraid to be around are middle aged men and older men. They either have that "cocky attitude" because they feel that they have established themselves, or are so set in their ways that they feel everyone else is just doing it wrong. I have been shooting with multiple members of my family and family friends and have been told how impressed they are with my safety and respect for the weapons.

Some of the best shooters I know are within two years of my age. They have spent weeks worth of time looking down a sight and they show it with their amazing accuracy, respect for weapons, and safety enforcement.

I didn't mean to go off on a rant, but I hate hearing people say "college kids are bad shooters, don't respect people, break rules, blah blah blah". I know everyone has had their own experiences to stand behind their statements, but to just say we are the worst group when it comes to gun control just seems blatantly disrespectful.

[TexasGal]

post withdrawn