I have been shooting a long time. I have been trained in small arms fire buy the US Navy and as a FMF medic by the Marine corps as well. I usually scored expert with the M-14 and marksman with the Colt .45 auto. That was back in the early '60s and while I can still hold my own at 50yds with open military sights on my AR-15 and out to 50' on the pistol range with just about any handgun the years have take their toll. Both in vision and other body movements and stability. Some days I'm just a better shooter that other days and I can not account for it.

I am still safe and as able to take care of my bidness at the range and pertains to my CCW. But some of my neighbors keep coming to me to teach them how to shoot. I have absolutely no experience or perceived aptitude for teaching some one all they need to know about the use and handling of fire arms.

I once talked my wife into coming to the range with me and told her she could shoot my Glock-17 which is a full size 9mm semi auto and easy to handle and mild recoil. She agreed to give it a go.

I had her on the line, checking her grip, stance, posture and everything I could think of that would affect her accuracy, trigger control and recoil recovery. When I was satisfied that she was set I dropped my eyes do her stance and at that moment she lifted her right thumb up to the slide area. When she fired the slide peeled off about 1/4 of her thumbnail. This was a major impediment to me generating any enthusiasm for shooting as you can imagine I'm sure.

I felt awful. She forgives me but says she is no longer interested in shooing a hand gun. Rifles.....well maybe the .22 one of these days.

I have a couple of neighbors that bug me to take them to the range and "teach them how to shoot". I really don't want to and I always encourage them to get a professional. And then to practice what he teaches them. But there old response to all that is that why should they pay a stranger good money when I could teach them just as well. When I remind them that I CAN'T teach them just as well they don't get it. Think I'm being stuck up or something.

Teaching someone to shoot is a lot of responsibility. If I start doing this and there is an accident or someone gets hurt I don't want to feel responsible. But y'all tell me am I being a jerk? Am I wrong to refuse their requests? I appreciate all comments and opinions, thanks in advance.

I am a retired FMF Corpsman and qualified expert on the rifle and pistol. I still shoot pretty well and have various firearms with which I practice regularly. Fortunately, I have never had anyone ask me to teach them to shoot.

But rather than teaching them to shoot and all that entails, perhaps just a range session to see if it is what they want. If they are past that part, then if you are not comfortable with the situation, don't do it.

There seems to be a "gentleman" that frequents my range that has no qualms about coming over and addressing his perceived shortcomings on my part and any others that happen to be around. Perhaps your neighbors could work with him. I am sure he would enjoy it. Not sure if there would be a satisfactory outcome for them.

Many clubs, including mine, have NRA qualified instructors and offer training sometimes at very nominal fees and some may include use of club firearms.

You want family and friends to get the best firearm and safety training and the fact that you are a husband, Dad or friend who shoots does not mean that you the best teacher..that doesn't mean you're bad but may not be the best.

I am, or used to be, a great driver.. all my kids got driving lessons. Like Dirty Harry Callahan said " A man's got to know his limitations".

Sorry to hear about your wife's injury.

See, now that right there is just what I was looking for. That sounds like the right approach to the situation. I'll give that a try and see how it goes. Thanks

Being an effective instructor requires more than just technical proficiency, IMHO it requires a great deal of patience combined with an ability to anticipate problems and "head 'em off at the pass!" My experience in teaching others to shoot is that you often have to watch them like hawks and be able to observe several things at once, and if you realize you are not capable of this, then it's best you not try to instruct others.

It seems to me that most people that want a friend or neighbor to teach them to shoot whether short or long gun think that 1 or 2 boxes of shells and 1 hour time they will be an expert. If you can't produce their desired results it is because you don't know what you are doing. I have found it is better to let them get professional help. Larry

Your probably over thinking your concerns, though that is a far cry better than not thinking at all.
its a bummer you didn't catch your wife thumbing the slide in time. You have no idea how natural it seems to be for ladies to do that in a bid for recoil control. I imagine a few guys try that as well. I've yet to see it though.
its just one of those things the student teaches you as we pass the tradition along.

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it just needs more voltage

I do not think you are a "jerk" at all. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, then don't. It is a lot of responsibility and takes a lot of your time and patience. Other than family members I would not want to teach my friends or neighbors.
I have lots of guys ask me at the LGS about reloading, they basically want me to teach them (only due to the cost of ammo)
I like helping people but I am not gonna have a class at my house. They all seem to want the easy way and not do the homework and reading they need to. I taught enough people at work how to do the basics of the job and it's a pain with some folks.

I would just tell them the way it is, I am experienced with firearms, with skill, but not qualified to teach.

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Still Running Against the Wind

A lot of guys become instant instructors on the skeet range when a 20 something female shows up.


I don't ever try to tell someone 'how-to' while shooting. Once in a while some will ask if I/anyone can tell if they're stopping their swing, or other basic component. I'll offer up what I see, but not a remedy usually.

People are funny, you don't know how they're going to take it. It's different if they really ask,,but to just go in preaching and teaching to someone you don't know with a loaded gun in their hand,,not my way of doin' things.

I know I don't care for a Range Professor to start in on me and/or my equiptment out of the blue.

Sir,

Teaching, regardless of the skill or subject matter, is without question a decidedly different activity than merely knowing that skill or subject yourself. You sense that, and recognize that your shooting skills are not something that you feel able to transfer readily to others. Nothing wrong with that; sounds as though you've assessed things wisely.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if you could learn to teach, at least enough to transfer the essentials: safe gun handling and the fundamentals of shooting. I don't see it as necessary to be able to turn out expert marksmen; just safe gun handlers who know the basics and are able to make progress on their own. We need more folks who are willing to do that, so that we have increasing numbers of responsible, mature shooters who don't become the latest subjects of forum threads decrying the "idiots" at the range who drive the rest of us away. If all the new shooters we have must enlist a professional, I fear that there aren't nearly enough professionals to go around -certainly not in this neck of the woods.

How about sitting down and making a brief list of what every new shooter MUST know, in order to be trusted with a gun and able to improve in his/her shooting ability. Then make a second list, this one consisting of ways you might communicate each item on your first list. Use demonstrations, illustrations, questions, etc. The second list doesn't have to be elaborate or even complete; it just helps with ideas.

Best wishes,
Andy

Jack...I think you've gotten some good advice to just participate in a single range session with them and steer them to a professional.

I am - or used to be! - a fairly decent golfer. But even though I understand the fundamentals of a good golf swing, proper grip,balance and alignment - not to mention course management - I really don't have a good feel for establishing a training program and a step-by-step process for bringing along a novice golfer.

That being said, years ago my son asked me to teach him. So we hit the practice range a couple of time mostly for fun but also to get some very rudimentary fundamentals down. When he showed some more interest and promising progress.....I got him a few lessons from a real pro.

Not a bad way to go about it when your potential relationship with a family member, friend or neighbor is in danger of being altered to teacher-student.

Good luck to you!

Dan

I think the OP has really answered his own question. Which is fine, I would not "want to" either. If you do not have the desire than that sums it up and there is nothing at all wrong with that.

So do not feel bad, and go to the range and shoot and enjoy yourself.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Walkin'Jack,

Over the years I have introduced several folks to handgun shooting. I am not the greatest shot, nor the greatest teacher.

My role has been to start them on the path.

After much discussion of safety and such, I have usually started with a .22 LR and perhaps a .38 Spl. or 45 ACP if they wish to try something bigger.

Essentials of marksmanship are covered but the primary focus is for them to have a pleasant experience.

For your neighbors, I would take them the first time, be very basic and then it is up to them to follow up.

Hope you find this helpful.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

WOW! I deeply appreciate all of your responses. A tremendous amount of well thought out comments and good common sense. I feel a lot better about things now and I know how I will handle this from now on.

I haven't been a member here for very long but I am delighted to find that I am now surrounded by so many mature, intelligent, experienced and thoughtful people. Y'all are great.

Walkin' Jack,

No, you are not 'stuck up', you are being responsible. Teaching a person to shoot a pistol is not easy. It is, however, very easy to teach shooting a pistol badly, setting up bad habits that can be downright unsafe or at least hard to unlearn later.

I had so many friends and family want me to "take them shooting" that I went and got NRA certified to instruct pistol shooting. I highly recommend the class.

maybe a bit different than a certain fishing forum??
you ought to post the same question there and see what happens.
not knocking them, i love it there, too.

If you are "interested" in wanting to fulfill the wishes ot these people that want you to teach them, why not look into taking a Instructors course? I did many years ago, and although I do not offer regular scheduled training, I do have special courses. Especially for the women who don't want their husbands to teach them. Groups of 6-10 can be a fun outing. But be sure to enlist lots of help when it comes to actually putting the gal's (or anyone) on the line with a gun in hand. The NRA Course gives you all the material yo need to teach a complete understanding of the safety needed as well as the technicalities of shooting. If possible always use a red dot sight on a .22 RF as a training gun so that they can actually hit the target easily, and keep the distance within 15 yards.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I too am in favor of the NRA basic pistol course as I sent my wife to one and she learned the basics and can shoot, handle a gun safely although it's not her idea of a good time.
She is pretty stubborn and my trying to teach her would not have been a good thing but she did respect and listen to the experts teaching her class.
Something as serious as gun handling and shooting is best left to those trained in teaching that craft. I'm not qualified to do such and don't mind telling folks they need a more professional than me.

We have a couple of those guys at my range. Nothing irks me more than to be having fun just punching holes and have some self appointed "expert" start telling me what I am doing wrong and why my guns are not what he likes. As long as I am not doing something unsafe, please just leave me in peace.

What Rule3 said. You probably could learn to teach, but right now your viewpoint is right on the money. If & when you're ready, you might follow some of the suggestions on how to learn to teach, but right now your answer is exactly right.

I have taught a lot of people to shoot, and have taught a lot to fly, as well. Both are disciplines which require a well-structured plan, starting with classroom basics, followed by hands-on supervised instruction. To be successful, it must be well-planned before even starting, not just for each lesson, but for the entire course, with probable alterations taking place over the course to better suit each student. You will be surprised at how many people who want to "learn to shoot" think you can briefly show them how to operate the controls of a gun and they will be instant experts, just like on TV! Very few are interested in devoting the time and effort to understand the process or learn about safety - heck, they've seen plenty of shooting on TV and in the movies, it can't be all that hard. Same thing for most people who say they want to learn to fly - they don't understand why they need to study and learn about aerodynamics, weather, and other factors, heck, just show me how to move the controls, and I'm good. Doesn't work that way. Anyway, one of the most important lessons that can be learned by an instructor (in any discipline) is: NEVER try to teach your wife to (shoot, fly, drive, cook, whatever) - she won't listen to you, you will always be "full of, well, something;" she will do something wrong, hurt herself, and it will be your fault; and you will be sleeping on the couch for several nights. Oh yes, she will decide that whatever you are trying to teach her is now something she doesn't want to do (especially shooting, flying, riding motorcycles, etc.), because she had a problem (or hurt herself) while not learning. It is almost always better to have a disinterested third party "professional" instruct one's spouse, as the close relationship between the two of you will ALWAYS interfere with the instructional process. Hope you get out of the dog house soon!