No, this isn’t a post about verbal commands…of those I’m unsure of. Dunno if I’ll be able to find my voice with all the adrenaline, nor do I know if the person I’m commanding understands English or can even hear or understand me.
No I’m talking about something I teach new shooters that I don’t think I’ve mentioned before. Of course its imperative you teach the Four Rules, and rule 5 is a good one, especially with new shooters who might be more afraid of breaking your guns than accidentally hurting somebody.
of course stance, sight alignment and trigger pull are very important too. Still this post from Say Uncle got me thinking.
I shoot a good deal. I’ve been hit with brass from every angle, and I had a scar on my shoulder for several years from a .22 brass that went down my collar and gave me a nice 2nd degree burn! I took a .45 shell to the forehead once mouth-first and it gave me a ring-shaped scab for the next few days. At my indoor range sometimes an ejected shell will hit the ceiling or the target carrier and bounce down onto the crown of your head. Sometimes these things hurt, if you’re not expecting them they can be startling….and when it comes to hot brass caught between clothing and sensitive skin it can be panic inducing.
Make sure to teach a new shooter that brass can do funny things and if you feel a piece hit you, just move on, and if you’re getting burned by brass SET THE GUN DOWN and THEN attend to your injury.
I personally teach it the super-simple way. My club has benches all along the firing line. Just set the gun down. Doesn’t matter if its a rifle, or a 1911, or a Glock. Don’t worry about the safety or rounds in the chamber…just set it down and do what you need to do.
This goes for if you’re tired, need to take a breath, or simply have had all you can take of that gun, or shooting in general.
New shooters need to be kept comfortable. Sometimes that first report rattles them and they start to shake. Have them put the gun down even if its loaded (you taught them the 4 rules for a reason) sometimes they just didn’t like the experience, or decided to shoot another string and half-way through decided they were done.
Just put the gun down! So simple, but to a new shooter they’ll be thinking about so many things, something that basic might elude them.
And certainly if its time to do the hot-brass dance, its safe and fun if there isn’t a loaded gun in your hand while you do your jig of pain.
Remember to teach a new shooter they can safely set the gun down any time, and that if they get hit or hurt by some brass, that would be an ideal time to set the gun down.
