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Originally Posted by The Reaper
Do not hijack my thread...I believe that we were discussing what a beginner should acquire for weapons and basic defensive planning.
TR
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I have learned the weapon is the easy part. I know TR has mentioned training several times in this thread, but recently working with a true beginner has pounded home how much is involved in conferring even minimum levels of proficiency. Safe handling, loading/unloading the specific firearm, immediate action drills, "use the safety, damnit", "Prone, what's prone?" Sheesh. After that, cleaning and lubricating has to be addressed, storage, etc.
Next you have the whole blow-up-the-water jug demonstration, discussion of cover vs. concealment, and convincing the new shooter that his sheetrock and aluminum siding, and then the neighbor's siding and sheetrock, are no barrier to a bullet. No, the cowboy shooting the whiskey bottle and leaving intact the mirror behind it is NOT how things work in real life. Accounting for every round in a suburban setting is daunting.
All this before sight picture, exhale halfway squeeze, etc. And then impressing on him that this is a perishable skill and it's his responsibility as a gun owner to practice.
Finally (this should actually be firstly) there is working out beforehand the morality of using the firearm. What are the ROE? Under everyday conditions, civil disorder, SHTF?
I haven't taken the NRA course since the seventh grade, but that seems to be a reasonable place for the beginner to start. After that, 'enough' range time to achieve minimal proficiency. I recently defined that as placing ten consecutive rounds into a paper plate offhand at 25 yards. Weak, I know, but I ran out of patience. I figured it was good enough of a start to move forward on his own.
Sorry, this is nothing new to you guys, the Army takes 18 year old newbies and teaches them how to shoot every day. After easily moving my daughter from .22 rimfire to an AR, I guess I forgot what a foundation she was building on.
I'd be interested in hearing how others define minimum acceptable proficiency in a newbie.