Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 2, 2014 12:45:16 GMT -5
This thread isn't about the politics associated with gun control or anything.
In a few weeks, I'll be visiting a friend in Virginia, and he and his Dad (a former Navy officer) will be teaching me how to shoot.
My understanding is we'll be firing Glock 17's at a firing range.
I've never even held a gun before. About everything I know about guns I know from books/movies/video games, so not very much.
So, basically, I'm asking is there any safety tips (or general tips) I need to be aware of? I understand that you never ever point the weapon at anyone, and keep the safety on until you're ready to fire (though I've been told the Glock's don't have safeties).
Is there anything else I should know to prevent any accidents that might hurt msyelf or others?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 12:53:40 GMT -5
Don't load the magazine into the gun until you are ready to shoot. I transport mine separately. At the range, I keep my gun in the stall and load the magazine in another area. Always point gun away from you and others.
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kent
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Post by kent on May 2, 2014 12:54:01 GMT -5
Here's the study guide for the California Handgun Safety Certificate - pretty basic stuff and applicable just about everywhere in the country - some exceptions related to ownership but everything else should be the same.
ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/hscsg.pdf
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justme
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Post by justme on May 2, 2014 12:55:30 GMT -5
You'll probably get a lecture about everything when the person at the gun ranges asks if you've every been to the gun range/shot a gun before. Well, I would hope you would.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 2, 2014 13:03:53 GMT -5
Don't load the magazine into the gun until you are ready to shoot. I transport mine separately. At the range, I keep my gun in the stall and load the magazine in another area. Always point gun away from you and others. That's a good idea. But dumb question time, what do you mean "load the magazine." I thought you bought the magazine with the 9mm rounds (or whatever) already loaded in? Or do you have to load the individual rounds yourself?
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on May 2, 2014 13:08:14 GMT -5
I would hope that anyone training you on shooting will first cover all safety aspects with you. Do not handle a gun until you have been given clear instructions on how to do so. You won't be the first person walking in that's never touched a gun before. Just don't be embarassed to speak up and let them know. It would be much worse to try & pretend like you know what's going on if you don't.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 13:16:50 GMT -5
No, you load the bullets into the magazine then put it in the gun. I'm fussy about my nails so I bought an EZ Loader!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 13:17:38 GMT -5
Always count your bullets and look in the barrel before just thinking its empty.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 2, 2014 13:18:59 GMT -5
Always assume that there is a bullet in the chamber. When you put your gun down, if you are not intending on shooting, clear the chamber and pull the magazine.
Do not point the gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.
When you are shooting, pay attention to not only what you are shooting at, but what is past that. My shooting instructor says "assume a lawyer's child is in the daycare center on the other side of your target".
ut dumb question time, what do you mean "load the magazine." I thought you bought the magazine with the 9mm rounds (or whatever) already loaded in? Or do you have to load the individual rounds yourself?
No, you load the bullets into the magazine yourself. I think that if the Glock 17 has a double stack, the magazine holds 15 bullets. I can't load my magazines, I have a tool that helps me push down the spring to load them.
No, Glocks do not have safetys, but they have a pretty heavy trigger pull. Glocks are around 6 lbs. My Kimber 1911 has a 4 lb trigger pull (and it does have a safety).
Unlike Zib, I load my magazines at the stall.
You'll need hearing and eye protection. If you wear glasses (I think you mentioned that you do) then you'll be fine. However, I do suggest you spend $20 and invest in a pair of muffs. I used ear plugs the first time, did not get one of them properly inserted and felt like I was talking in a barrel for a couple days.
A Glock 17 uses 9 mm, you might want to buy a box of 50 or so before hand. Ammo has gotten expensive recently. Most ranges require that you have total metal jacket (not full metal jacket). Full metal jacket does not emcompass the lead after it's shot.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on May 2, 2014 13:22:15 GMT -5
First never point the gun at anything you don't want to shot. Assume all guns are loaded.
Those two should keep you from killing anyone. So for example if you were going to show someone a gun you were holding you would have it pointed at the sky or ground never at people or things. When carrying a gun in the field and you need to climb over a fence you would slide the gun under first. When at a firing range never walk in front of the other people with guns. They will announce times of no shooting so people can check targets, don't shoot those people.
Wear hearing protection, guns make noise, it can make you deaf. Clean the guns when you are finished. Remember rules 1 and 2, gun cleaning is when people are killed with empty guns, all guns are loaded so don't point them at people even while cleaning them, this means you, don't look down the barrel.
Guns are not toys, don't let small children play with them. Older children need to understand gun safety and be willing and able to abide by rules and only handle firearms with supervision like on a gun range or hunting. Toddlers can be told time after time never to touch a gun they might find but they are irresistible don't trust toddlers. Keep locks on guns and guns in gun safes if you ever have children in your home.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 13:32:25 GMT -5
There's more. I just can't think of it because its as natural as breathing to me so explaining it while I'm NOT doing it is hard. You will have to show id and take a written test. Yes, even to shoot. Having a CPL won't alleviate that.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 2, 2014 13:39:21 GMT -5
Most importantly...
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU INTEND TO SHOOT!
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bookkeeper
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Post by bookkeeper on May 2, 2014 13:54:49 GMT -5
Treat every gun as it is fully loaded and ready to fire.
Alcohol and firearms do not mix.
Ammo is sold separately. The clip is sold with the gun.
Hearing protection is a must. My dad is a huge gun enthusiast and has lost most of his hearing. Don't be like him.
You will be in a controlled environment so you can take your time. Be mindful of others and take deep breaths to remain calm.
Learn how to clear a gun. Many people have died because they thought their gun was empty.
Use a trigger lock on the handgun when you are not firing it at the range. Little fingers are fascinated by firearms.
Open your stance by placing your feet as far apart as your shoulders. A gun will recoil (kick back). Be ready for the recoil or you may end up on a you tube video or worse yet with a bruise or burn.
Guns get hot when fired. Pay attention so you don't burn yourself.
Have some fun while you learn how to shoot. I was raised around firearms and some of the best memories I have with friends and relatives are those out hunting or target shooting.
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milee
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Post by milee on May 2, 2014 13:55:57 GMT -5
Always count your bullets and look in the barrel before just thinking its empty. Just to clarify for Phoenix - do not look down the barrel with the gun pointing at you EVER. When Zib says "look in the barrel", she means either look from the back (if you have a gun that has a clear field of view, don't know if the Glock has that from the back) or into the empty chamber that you can see from the side when it's open. Repeat - DO NOT look down the barrel from the front. Very important.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 13:57:34 GMT -5
Yes, thank you. I KNOW what I mean but explaining it clearly is another story.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 2, 2014 13:58:34 GMT -5
What do you mean buy ammunition beforehand?
Do you mean buy it here in Colorado and take it to Virignia with me? I assume you could check a box of ammunition in your luggage.
I was told the range is also a gun store and I could buy ammunition there. I was planning on shooting about 50 rounds.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 13:58:58 GMT -5
Seriously, take a firearm safety class.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 2, 2014 14:00:04 GMT -5
Always count your bullets and look in the barrel before just thinking its empty. Just to clarify for Phoenix - do not look down the barrel with the gun pointing at you EVER. When Zib says "look in the barrel", she means either look from the back (if you have a gun that has a clear field of view, don't know if the Glock has that from the back) or into the empty chamber that you can see from the side when it's open. Repeat - DO NOT look down the barrel from the front. Very important. To see if there is a round in the chamber of a Glock, you can pull the slide back a bit. If you see a bullet, then there is a round in the chamber. However, what you *should* do is remove the magazine and pull back the slide to release the chambered round. The slide should remain open and you should be able to see that it is clear. The Glock does not have either a trigger release or safety. It fires more like a revolver, with a heavier trigger pull than other handguns.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 14:02:53 GMT -5
Like my Smith. The Glock is now the basement gun.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 2, 2014 14:04:14 GMT -5
What do you mean buy ammunition beforehand? Do you mean buy it here in Colorado and take it to Virignia with me? I assume you could check a box of ammunition in your luggage. I was told the range is also a gun store and I could buy ammunition there. I was planning on shooting about 50 rounds. It's a pain in the butt to travel with ammunition in your luggage if you are flying so just buy it there. If there is a store at the range, go ahead and buy it there, or you might want to ask your friend to pick you up a couple boxes (I think you'll go through more than 50 rounds) because usually ammunition at ranges costs a bit more. Another thing that you might want to check into is seeing if there are other guns that you can rent at the range. Not all guns shoot the same. TD has Glocks and I hate them because they are too big for my hand. But with my gun (which I rented 3-4x before getting one), I shot MUCH better.
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milee
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Post by milee on May 2, 2014 14:09:11 GMT -5
If you want to show off by knowing just a little to start, here are a few things you can do to greatly increase your accuracy right from the start:
1) You're not in a shootout, go slowly and deliberately and you'll be much more accurate. 2) Watch carefully what your friend shows you for stance and hand position. Use those positions even if they're a little odd at first. (Unless he starts teaching you something outdated like the Weaver stance, where you support one hand in the other, then ignore him and do your best until you can get more instruction.) 3) Breathe slowly and regularly. Take one breath in and out then expel 100% of your breath. Do not inhale again until your shots are complete. Breathing moves your body and you want to minimize movement. Along those lines, hold yourself firm and steady without locking any joints, including knees. 4) Line up the target so that it sits like a "pumpkin on a post". You'll see what that means when you look down the sight. The sight has the post, the target is the pumpkin. Line up the gun until the bottom of the pumpkin just sits on the post. 5) Use the pad of your finger, don't jam your finger in up to the joint. Pull very slowly and smoothly. Ever so gently just squeeze until you fire.
There's more, but those are the biggies that help IMHO.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 2, 2014 14:11:39 GMT -5
I don't know the specific range we're going to or what guns are available to rent. I'll ask my friend if there are alternatives to the Glock. He said we were probably going to fire 9mm handguns because the ammunition was cheaper than 0.45 ammunition.
If they do have more than Glocks, any particular reccomendations for first time shooters?
I obviously have no idea which would be better than the other. I'm not sure if it matters, but I don't think the size of the weapon will matter as much to me as I'm 6'2". But maybe lighter guns are easier to fire?
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milee
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Post by milee on May 2, 2014 14:16:06 GMT -5
If they do have more than Glocks, any particular reccomendations for first time shooters?
I really like the Walther PPQ (similar to the PPK, but smoother). Very well behaved, minimal kick so it's quick to accurately reaim and smooth pull.
My husband shoots competitively so has dozens of guns and of all the ones I've tried, that's my favorite. He doesn't have any Sig Sauers, so I haven't tried one, but that was always my sister's favorite FWIW.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on May 2, 2014 14:17:04 GMT -5
Also, how do you deal with recoil?
Are you supposed to tense your muscles and resist the recoil, or relax your muscels and let the gun do it's natural kickback?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 14:21:17 GMT -5
Recoil is very minimal. DF now has a Sig. He had a Glock. I have loved my Smith from day one.
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milee
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Post by milee on May 2, 2014 14:21:49 GMT -5
Oh, one last thing - if you're a big guy, be aware of your hand placement on the gun so you don't get pinched. You want to have your hand up snug to the top of the grip because that's part of what gives you good control and aim. But if your hand is big enough to spill over top of the grip and get near the sliding action you can get a nasty injury when the skin gets caught as the slide action recoils after a shot. You may want to make sure your friend checks your grip carefully for this (that your skin is nowhere near the sliding action) before you shoot.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 2, 2014 14:22:39 GMT -5
Actually, while lighter guns are easier to fire, they may not be as accurate. TD has a Glock 26, I call it his Baby Glock because it only has a 3" barrel. I can't hit the side of a barn with that gun. The longer the barrel, the more accurate you tend to be shooting at a target.
It is more expensive to shoot 45 ACP, but if you get a chance you might want to buy a box of them and try shooting with a 1911 anyway. The premium is about $15 on a box, but it definitely gives a different feel, it has a little more kick to it. A 22 is fun to fire, ammo is cheap and it puts little holes in your paper.
My instructor says that the best gun for you is the gun that you are most accurate with. I'm really good with a 1911, both mine and TD's, I'm pretty good with his 22 Ruger. I absolutely SUCK with all of his Glocks (he has a 17, 26 and I think 19), the gun is just not comfortable in my hand.
That's why I suggest that you might want to try shooting different models.
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milee
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Post by milee on May 2, 2014 14:24:04 GMT -5
Also, how do you deal with recoil? Are you supposed to tense your muscles and resist the recoil, or relax your muscels and let the gun do it's natural kickback? Don't lock up your joints, don't clench your jaw and for the love of God, if you unconsciously bite your tongue or put your tongue out get that under control before you start shooting. You want to be firm but not locked up.
The stronger you are and the better core strength you have, the more quickly you'll be able to stabilize the gun after shooting and be ready to shoot accurately again.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 2, 2014 14:25:50 GMT -5
The magazine can help, too. If you're hand is larger you can buy an extended mag and it'll fit your hand better.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 2, 2014 14:31:12 GMT -5
Also, how do you deal with recoil?
The only gun I had a problem with in dealing with recoil was when I was firing my instructor's Judge. It was a revolver, and I loved the way that it felt in my hand. But I think I fired 5 rounds with it and when I walked away the base of my thumb was bruised from the recoil. For me, it just was not comfortable to fire.
If you find you are interested in this, Phoenix, you might want to search out a local firearm instructor in CO. By going this route, you can get a much better education than just shooting with a friend. Also, they usually have a bunch of different guns you can try out. I think that the first shooting class I took, I fired about 8 different guns. When I left at the end of the day, I was trying to get him to sell me his Dan Wesson 1911.
We had a tune up class last December and I got to shoot his brand new Les Behr 1911 (it had been on order during our last class), and while it was a beautiful gun, I still liked firing my Kimber better.
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