Markamanship fundamentals

[Lefty SRH]

A co-worker wants me to teach/show/guide her son how to shoot. She says he's VERY interested in learning how to shoot. Can someone recommend a good book he can read that will start a youngster (he's 17yrs old) off on the right foot. Something that shows or teaches the fundamentals or the ground work for a future shooter.

[captaint]

Lefty - I thin the NRA has some pamphlets on handgun shooting and rifle shooting. They're a little brief, but they cover the basics. Other than that, most of the "famous" handgun shooters have a book, as do the (David Tubb) good highpower shooters. Mike

[MBTcustom]

I have a hardback book, called "How to shoot" by Larry Koller. I bought it from the discard pile at the library many years ago. It teaches everything for rifle pistol and shotgun. Proper safety and handling as well as all the shooting positions. It also has quite a bit on hunting etc.
It was written with your situation in mind.
I am sending a book to another member today. If you PM me your address, I'll get this one out to you as well.

[44fanatic]

Check this link out (Army Field Manual): http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-22-9/index.html
Chapter 4, Section II

Its worked for a few million Soldiers

[44MAG#1]

What type of firearms is he interested in shooting? If you are going to teach him why do you need a book to give him? Having a real honest to goodness coach is far better than a book.

[WILCO]

If you are going to teach him why do you need a book to give him?

When engaging in any endeavor, either as an amateur or professional, it behooves one to have an authoritive text for reference and instruction.

[WILCO]

Complete BOOK Of SHOOTING - Rifles / Shotguns / Handguns - Jack O'Connor

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-BOOK-SHOOTING-Rifles-Shotguns-Handguns-Jack-OConnor-hb-/170969723573?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item27ce96f2b5

http://books.ioba.org/books/153551201.html

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Shooting-Shotguns-Handguns/dp/094382219X

[popper]

http://www.bullseyepistol.com/ has about anything you need, online.

[koehn,jim]

I agree with 44fanatic the army field manuals are usually very clear and simple. They are also available fairly cheap.

[44fanatic]

I agree with 44fanatic the army field manuals are usually very clear and simple. They are also available fairly cheap.

And free online...just print what you need.

[Love Life]

Always remember that the military manuals must teach to the lowest level (read mouth breathers) so they are understood by all. Personally I would get the USMC marksmanship manuals because everybody knows the Marines shoot farther and better than the dog faces.

[blackthorn]

When engaging in any endeavor, either as an amateur or professional, it behooves one to have an authoritive text for reference and instruction.

Sort of like --- READ THE STICKIES!!! Reading first gives at least a basic background and then personel instruction is invaluable. Good for you! The youngster will have a leg up by getting hands on instruction from an experienced shooter.

[Porterhouse]

I would be really careful. First, Do you know him? Have you talked to him? His mother says he's interested but unless you yourself knows him, at least a little, recomending some reading material could lead him to wrong direction thus he looses interest quickly. Remember, todays youngstars want everything NOW! And shooting skill is something you have to expect to take long time to learn. I my self started reading "SIXGUNS" by Keith. May be that was a mistake as I can never find anything better than shooting ever since...

[44MAG#1]

BEHOOVE:
: to be necessary, proper, or advantageous for <it behooves us to go>

I like that word. I am going to use it on my wife. It will confuse and confound her
I will be the behoover and will behoove the behoovee.:):)

What behooves one is for one to see someone that is a good shot doing just that good shooting as that has a behooving way about it. Like the proof is in the pudding type of behooving.

[Alstep]

The US Army Marksmanship Unit has a few good basic guide books covering rifle, pistol, small bore, etc. You can get them through the CMP
www.odcmp.com They also have some publications of their own.

[Blacksmith]

Lefty SRH
I am a long time NRA marksmanship instructor and I commend you for helping. My recommendations would be to follow the typical shooting class outline.
1. Teach SAFETY.
2. Familiarize the equipment.
3. Check eye dominance.
4. Teach the fundamentals eyes, breathing, trigger control, sight alignment, sight picture, natural point of aim, range commands and safety again.
5. Teach each of the proper positions as you introduce them to get good bone support and stability. Remind them of the importance of follow through.
6. Don't over coach and give them too much to think about, you can make corrections as you progress.

If you are not very confident in your abilities please find him a good coach or shooting program to get involved with before he develops bad habits which will be hard to unlearn. Most young people believe what they have seen on TV and the movies and shooters know that doesn't work.

I need to cut this short because I gotta go but I will post more later.
The NRA publishes a book "The NRA Junior Rifle Handbook" which is an excellent start. they also have DVDs I get a link later.
The CMP has a Coaching Resources page start reading lots of help:
http://www.odcmp.com/Training/CoachingResources.htm
The first entry "On The Mark" is their magazine back issues are online and have many articles on teaching shooting. The second entry is a list of trainning articles by Gary Anderson (Google him)
http://www.odcmp.com/Comm/Gary_OTM.htm

Those should get you started until I can post more references.

Blacksmith

[Lefty SRH]

Lefty SRH
I am a long time NRA marksmanship instructor and I commend you for helping. My recommendations would be to follow the typical shooting class outline.
1. Teach SAFETY.
2. Familiarize the equipment.
3. Check eye dominance.
4. Teach the fundamentals eyes, breathing, trigger control, sight alignment, sight picture, natural point of aim, range commands and safety again.
5. Teach each of the proper positions as you introduce them to get good bone support and stability. Remind them of the importance of follow through.
6. Don't over coach and give them too much to think about, you can make corrections as you progress.

If you are not very confident in your abilities please find him a good coach or shooting program to get involved with before he develops bad habits which will be hard to unlearn. Most young people believe what they have seen on TV and the movies and shooters know that doesn't work.

I need to cut this short because I gotta go but I will post more later.
The NRA publishes a book "The NRA Junior Rifle Handbook" which is an excellent start. they also have DVDs I get a link later.
The CMP has a Coaching Resources page start reading lots of help:
http://www.odcmp.com/Training/CoachingResources.htm
The first entry "On The Mark" is their magazine back issues are online and have many articles on teaching shooting. The second entry is a list of trainning articles by Gary Anderson (Google him)
http://www.odcmp.com/Comm/Gary_OTM.htm

Those should get you started until I can post more references.

Blacksmith

What you said is how I was taught in high school on the ROTC rifle team and how I planned on teaching this young man. While I am still young I still feel the need to start passing my craft to others.

[adkpete]

You might also try the Boy Scouts Merit Badge Pamphlets for Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting

[Norbrat]

Can someone recommend a good book he can read that will start a youngster (he's 17yrs old) off on the right foot. Something that shows or teaches the fundamentals or the ground work for a future shooter.

First you will need to know; does he read books, and is he the type of learner who can learn from books? For example, it would be a complete waste of time to give my son a book to learn from, as he just isn't wired that way. Show him, no problem; put a book in his hands; ferggedit!

It might be OK for him to have a book AFTER he has been shown the basics, to go and learn some more.

Either way, can't hurt to have something on hand just in case.

[wild thing]

Just a thought, have him take a hunter saftey class. They will teach safe handeling and some marksmanship. john

[Thumbcocker]

Did the army not have a ndownloadable video game type presentation on being a soldier that covered the basics of rifle shooting? I seem to remember that a spokesman said that recruits who had played did much better than non players in rifle shooting. As I recall the game was not a shoot em up but more like an overview of training. If you are dealing with a member of the video generation it'll might be worth a look.

[DCM]

+1 on the hunter ed class.

[Lefty SRH]

Just a thought, have him take a hunter saftey class. They will teach safe handeling and some marksmanship. john

Unfortunately no marksmanship was taught in my Hunter Safety class.

[Norbrat]

Did the army not have a ndownloadable video game type presentation on being a soldier that covered the basics of rifle shooting? I seem to remember that a spokesman said that recruits who had played did much better than non players in rifle shooting. As I recall the game was not a shoot em up but more like an overview of training. If you are dealing with a member of the video generation it'll might be worth a look.

http://www.goarmy.com/downloads/games.html

US Army videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvQmJUIbuvI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ligUEAJH25E

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

for kids of this age that are already on youtube , NSSA national shooting sports accociation or maybe it was federation has a bunch of short videos about teaching positions and such

there are lots of good books and videos also available form the cmp also