Open Shoot Night

[Kevin G]

October through April on Thursday nights from 7 to 9 a club I belong to opens up the indoor range to the public, we call it Open Shoot.
Along with a couple of other members I volunteer as an RSO once a month. I bring a couple of guns and ammo in my range bag. Usually a 22 I'll let a newcomer or child try, and then a gun that tickles my fancy.
This past Thursday night, a father, with two young sons came in. The youngest about six or seven was shooting a single shot rifle, youth 22 with a scope, and was really nailing it. His brother, about 11 or 12, started out with a Ruger 22 semi pistol, then switched over to a couple of Glocks and was doing quite well.
As the evening wore on the crowd thinned out so I decided to put a few rounds down range. I had brought my S&W 845 which I hadn't shot for quite a while. Put 20 rounds in 2 targets, a flyer in each, but otherwise nice groups decided to quit while I was ahead. The dad and sons were packing up and it occurred to me it might be fun to let the older boy try my gun. Quietly asked his father what he thought and he responded positively. Went over to the station where the boy was and put the case in front him and said try this. Explained to him it was a good quality 45, went over the controls, had him dry fire it a few times and reassured him these were light rounds and recoil wouldn't be excessive.
Had a nice five round group and a smile from ear to ear.
Kevin G

 

[Rustyt1953]

It appears that all four of you were winners.

 

[Doug M.]

I did something similar a couple years ago at my range. There was a mom and daughter (?) trying out pistols and as new shooters their precision was ... modest. With the RSO's blessing, I offered the a few rounds from my RDS equipped Glock. They responded well.

 

[Rpg]

On a couple occasions, I've paired some instruction with my guns to help newcomers enjoy shooting.

Normally, I start with a Colt Woodsman then move to a M34-1 so they have a chance to experience semiautomatic as well as revolver shooting.

I've had a lot of offers to buy the Colt, fewer offers for the Smith.

I use these guns because they are small and fit kids better than larger guns such as a K frame or a contemporary 22 automatic such as a Ruger.

 

[Kevin G]

I've been RSO'ing at the Open Shoot for quite a few years now and had numerous nice experiences.
One that comes to mind was a couple of middle aged gentlemen, were shooting, sharing a handgun. I don't recall the brand or type of pistol except it wasn't particularly noteworthy. What was noticeable was one of the men was shooting bull's-eye style and doing quite well.
He was there with a friend, trying out his new pistol. Turned out he had shot competitively in the Air Force. That night I had my 52–2 in my range bag. I got it out, showed it to him and asked if he knew what it was. He smiled and said yes, I handed it to him with some ammo, and told him to have some fun. He had fun shooting and I had fun watching.
Kevin G

 

[Golddollar]

I never pass up an opportunity to share a shooting experience. Probably the most unique experience of this type was up at an indoor range in northeast Ohio. My brother and I were shooting there and for fun I took along and shot my chrome or nickel plated Luger that probably would make a collector gag but it's my shooter. One of the Range Officers saw me shooting the Luger and asked me if it was a "Pistol 08." I told him it was and then he asked me if he could shoot it. I told him that certainly he could and I even offered to give him the shells to do it. He got some shells that probably were recovered at the range and I loaded the magazine and inserted it for him. I told him how to charge the gun and he proceeded to fire my Luger until the magazine was empty. He had a ball. He really enjoyed having a chance to shoot one of the old classic handguns and I was glad to give him the chance.