abrahamsmith
New member
For SAFER http://demigod.org/~safer, I'm working on puttin together a curriculum to teach members how to shoot.
The situation is this: We have a few members who are interested in firearms for ideological/philosophical reasons. I want to teach them safe gun handling this spring so that they can take part when we have events. None of our members are NRA certified (though I will probably become certified after I turn 21), and there's no one close enough to be "on demand" like this. This curriculum will done with only one or two students at a time. I expect it to take several hours.
I want your advice on what should be included and in what order. Also, obviously this outline does not include a full text of everything that needs to be said..
Here's what I've got:
At anytime, if the student gets sick of it or wants to stop for
whatever reason, that's fine. no pressure.
Part 1: fundamentals
I. SAFETY
(first, most important!)
A. COOPER'S FOUR LAWS
B. Always be aware of where people, buildings, pets, cars, etc are.
C. Open action when putting down gun, check chamber when picking up gun
D. Be willing to point out other's errors, even mine
E. Eye/ear protection
II. Mechanism
(basic understanding of how a gun works, done with .22 with iron sights)
A. firearm usually begins with magazine full and chamber empty.
B. Load chamber
C. Close chamber
D. Make sure safety is on (or before B, depending on gun)
E. On target
F. Safety off
G. finger on trigger
H. Fine-tuning aim
I. Fire!
J. Remove empty case from chamber
K. Repeat B through J until out of ammo.
III. Positions
(how to hold a gun, where to put hands, head, etc)
(Key concepts of comfort and accuracy: bone-to-bone)
A. Bench
B. Prone
C. Sitting
D. Kneeling
E. Standing
(during this segment, I imagine the student going through a box or two
of ammo, trying different positions, getting familiar with the gun.)
IV. Technical details of other designs
(show student various arms and describe the differences between these
and the .22)
A. Action is how gun relaods the chamber.
B. Manual: bolt, lever, slide
C. semi-auto: loads automatically
V. New Things
(try new things, learn about other actions firsthand, etc. Most
importantly, don't push the sutdent to a new gun before they're safe
and comfortable with the earlier ones. Let them shoot a lot, if they
want!)
A. scoped .22 bolt action
B. Try small (.223, .243, .257) centerfire bolt action
C. Try bigger calibers
D. try .22 semi-auto (10/22)
E. try centerfire semi-auto (but I don't have one...)
Part 2: Handguns
Re-emphasize safety. Handguns easier to point around and at self, so
be ABSOLUTELY SURE of where the muzzle is pointing.
I. Actions:
A. Revolver: SA vs DA. pros and cons. lack of safety, etc
B. Semi-auto: Kind of like a combination between revolver and
semi-auto rifle. Auto-loads, but have to keep in mind
if its a DA, SA, Glock, etc. Note that Glocks and
most .22's are "hidden SA's", so act just like 10/22.
II. Positions:
A. Where to put thumbs, how hard to grip, reaching controls.
B. Revolver: designed to roll up for recoil
C. Semi-auto: "hold like a hammer"
D. stances
The situation is this: We have a few members who are interested in firearms for ideological/philosophical reasons. I want to teach them safe gun handling this spring so that they can take part when we have events. None of our members are NRA certified (though I will probably become certified after I turn 21), and there's no one close enough to be "on demand" like this. This curriculum will done with only one or two students at a time. I expect it to take several hours.
I want your advice on what should be included and in what order. Also, obviously this outline does not include a full text of everything that needs to be said..
Here's what I've got:
At anytime, if the student gets sick of it or wants to stop for
whatever reason, that's fine. no pressure.
Part 1: fundamentals
I. SAFETY
(first, most important!)
A. COOPER'S FOUR LAWS
B. Always be aware of where people, buildings, pets, cars, etc are.
C. Open action when putting down gun, check chamber when picking up gun
D. Be willing to point out other's errors, even mine
E. Eye/ear protection
II. Mechanism
(basic understanding of how a gun works, done with .22 with iron sights)
A. firearm usually begins with magazine full and chamber empty.
B. Load chamber
C. Close chamber
D. Make sure safety is on (or before B, depending on gun)
E. On target
F. Safety off
G. finger on trigger
H. Fine-tuning aim
I. Fire!
J. Remove empty case from chamber
K. Repeat B through J until out of ammo.
III. Positions
(how to hold a gun, where to put hands, head, etc)
(Key concepts of comfort and accuracy: bone-to-bone)
A. Bench
B. Prone
C. Sitting
D. Kneeling
E. Standing
(during this segment, I imagine the student going through a box or two
of ammo, trying different positions, getting familiar with the gun.)
IV. Technical details of other designs
(show student various arms and describe the differences between these
and the .22)
A. Action is how gun relaods the chamber.
B. Manual: bolt, lever, slide
C. semi-auto: loads automatically
V. New Things
(try new things, learn about other actions firsthand, etc. Most
importantly, don't push the sutdent to a new gun before they're safe
and comfortable with the earlier ones. Let them shoot a lot, if they
want!)
A. scoped .22 bolt action
B. Try small (.223, .243, .257) centerfire bolt action
C. Try bigger calibers
D. try .22 semi-auto (10/22)
E. try centerfire semi-auto (but I don't have one...)
Part 2: Handguns
Re-emphasize safety. Handguns easier to point around and at self, so
be ABSOLUTELY SURE of where the muzzle is pointing.
I. Actions:
A. Revolver: SA vs DA. pros and cons. lack of safety, etc
B. Semi-auto: Kind of like a combination between revolver and
semi-auto rifle. Auto-loads, but have to keep in mind
if its a DA, SA, Glock, etc. Note that Glocks and
most .22's are "hidden SA's", so act just like 10/22.
II. Positions:
A. Where to put thumbs, how hard to grip, reaching controls.
B. Revolver: designed to roll up for recoil
C. Semi-auto: "hold like a hammer"
D. stances