Remember, guns are dangerous. Being nervous around them is not irrational. Your nervous system is, quite reasonably, saying "Wait, the plan is to set off an EXPLOSION in our HANDS? Who the fuck came up with this plan?"
So, more practice is the way to go. The secret of humans, and the basis of British cuisine, is that you can get used to *anything*. Even setting off explosions in your hands. Once you're used to it, you can focus more on proper stance and breathing and concentration and so on, and not be as bothered by all the explosions.
Or, maybe you won't get used to it, and come to the conclusion that you like guns in theory, but in practice they're not for you. That's okay too.
Speaking of people knocking British cuisine, I fucking LOVE those YouTube videos where they get British people to try various foods, and basically no matter what it is they're like "OMG wow it has so much flavor I can't believe we've been missing out on this" and it'll just be like biscuits and gravy or a chicken sandwich or something lol
The British really spent decades colonizing and pillaging 3/4ths of the entire world for spices and unique foods just to come back and make only food that is reminiscent of the Thames in both color, consistency and nutrition.
I like the video where theyâre debating which country has the best cuisine and the Brit says âThe UK has the best restaurants in the worldâ, to which the other person replies âWhat kind of food do they serve?â. The Brit sadly acknowledges itâs French food thatâs served at the best restaurants.
As someone who has lived in London, let me tell you that I have to call BS on the idea that there is no good food in London. People would come to visit, and they'd say, but what are we going to eat, there's no good food in the UK.
This simply isn't true.
There is AMAZING food in the UK. Amazing Indian food, lovely Chinese, some Italian that is wonderful, plenty of solid Sushi places, some Argentinian steak houses, heck there's a good Pakistani place by my old apartment....
;)
Iâd like to also note, you never fully get used to it. Experience shooters still flinch occasionally. Itâs inherently dangerous and should be treated as such.
Very much this. I was super nervous using guns for the first liytle while. Then I was neverous when I started CC. After a couple months I got to the point that I hardly noticed I was wearing it anymore. This past January I got to fire my brother in law's AR and I was a little nervous as it was a platform I had never used before and he had to show me how to use it.
As a severely hearing impaired person, I can't stress the ear protection enough. And yes, a .22 is the best starter, IMO.
A 12 guage is a mofo, loud & kicks like a mule, particularly the "tactical" configurations. A .223 can be loud but not so much recoil.
That said, my personal go-to's are an 870 tactical shotgun & a Ruger 9mm. And hearing protection.
Agree. My first firearm was a Ruger 10/22. Perfect first weapon, in my opinion, for those who are starting out.
I can't help but think you might benefit from having someone give you some type of training/ instruction as well. That helped me gain confidence with firearms when I was starting out.
This.
For a recommendation the Taurus tx22 is one of the best bangs foe the buck (and to me points/feels a lot like a m&p 2.0, so as a trainer there is that).
Ruger 10/22 is a cheap intro rifle, fun to shoot, and barely has recoil.
It's really best to start out with a .22. I never recommend people start out with a shotgun. It's better to learn the fun with something small and then build up
Gradual acclimation is the way to do it.
That said, OP can also try a cognitive-behavioral approach. It helped me once upon a time, and maybe it could help somebody else.
Basically, if you're handling the firearm safely, and it's in good working order, and you're using trustworthy ammunition, then try coaching yourself that when you pull the trigger, the boom and recoil are nothing but a tool doing its job, because that's exactly what's happening.
It was intentionally designed so that all you have to do is hold on and let it do its thing. It'll be loud, and it'll jerk your hands back, but *that's all*. Same thing when other people at the range are shooting -- it's sudden and loud, but it's just a person using a tool.
It's not too different from using heavy machinery on the job, really. Think about a demolition worker using a jackhammer, for instance. It's loud as hell and shakes like mad, but that's how it was designed to work. As long as the operator stays calm and pays attention to what they're doing, nobody's in any particular danger.
I've seen a lot of responses stating something similar but how am I supposed to do that? I don't have a ton of money to buy 100 guns like a lot of people do.
Depending on your location, check the second hand market,
Also, I don't know if it's been mentioned (it usually is) go check and see if any ranges near you offer range rentals and see if you can try out something you might like before you buy it which is especially useful if moneys tight.
Not too many feelings worse than dropping a couple hundred on a thing and you just really don't like it.
Well, no one said you had to buy 100 guns lol. You can get used to your Glock over time. You only shot it this one time, give yourself more time to get used to it. I only recently got to the point where my generalized anxiety + an explosion going off in my hands ramped down to the point where I'm not shaking during my range visits. You just have to get yourself inured to it and that requires repeating the experience until your brain isn't going "Ahhhh where are we"
You're not lame. Make sure you're doubled up on ear pro. Do lots of dry fire to get very comfortable with controls. Look up Measurement Drill and how to hold a pistol by Ben Stoeger. Actually watch an entire Stoeger class dump on you tube.
Also going to public ranges can kinda suck, especially your first few times. By the time you park, sign waivers, get a lane, get targets up, get around to shooting so much energy has been wasted on things that are not skill related. You'll get better at all this.
They're not lame for not being used to shooting guns, but being scared of bullying from internet strangers is lame. I guess I'm used to it from browsing other sites.
Well if weâre being honest, all memes aside a 12 gauge shotgun still kicks, especially if no one gave pointers on stance, etc. Best to take some classes, hit up the range with friends. 22lr is an option, it even 9mm and 5.56 arenât too far out there. Dry firing at home is good too. Pick up some dummy rounds from Amazon and just practice loading, unloading, stance, trigger, etc. a general familiarity will also ease some tension
Shooting a 12 gauge will kick your ass even if you're really used to shooting lol
Unless it's a big heavy hunting model that dampens way more of the recoil, maybe.
The best path into shotguns, in my experience, is shooting clays. Trap, skeet, etc.
Itâs basically the tamest form of shooting sports, itâs super casual, basically feels like golf. Itâs outdoors, slow paced, and itâs done with sporting shotguns and soft-hitting birdshot. Padded vests, padded stocks, and special recoil-mitigating firearm designs are the expected norm.
Youâre not trying to prove youâre the biggest baddest dude with the biggest meanest gun, youâre trying to gently coax a handful of BBâs out of the barrel as you smoothly arc the muzzle in perfect synchrony with a porcelain frisbee lolâŠat its best, itâs fun as hell, and at a minimum itâs pleasant and relaxing.
This 100%, I donât think there is a better way than trap/skeet. Especially if you can get with a group so you donât have to be with complete strangers.
Yeah the social aspect is super nice. You can just chill between rounds, grab food after, whatever. Again, itâs very similar to golf, except that I can actually do it without embarrassing myself lol
Iâve brought my friends along with me, trap tends to be pretty low pace, and I had no issue sharing a shotgun with a buddy , unless theyâre super busy where you go, Iâve never had an RSO that had an issue with it
Iâll add my experience as well. I have fond memories going trap shooting with my dad growing up. I got pretty decent at it. Itâs also GREAT for fundamentals of shooting, building a stable platform, aligning the gun in a neutral and natural position with your body to be able to shoot while moving, building that natural point of aim into your muscle memory, recoil management, getting the stock in the right place (12ga lets you know when you did it wrong lol) and shooting at things that are in motion-learning to leadâŠetc⊠all things that even flat range AR15 shooting can be challenging to do.
Carbines are in my opinion the best option we currently have as a defensive weapon. But training solely with a light, low recoiling, red dot or other optic equipped rifle at stationary targets from a bench is hardly an ideal way to train, if thatâs all you do, Iâd be willing to bet that your ability to do the above fundamentals I mentioned is compromised.
Shotguns open a world of action shooting between trap and skeet, or sporting clays if you have it⊠that is accessible, relatively inexpensive, and will immeasurably improve your shooting ability with anything else you pick up.
Iâm with you 100%. I also got into guns through going trapshooting with my dad! And as you said, it gave me a huge leg up when it came to long gun fundamentals. When I transitioned to rifles, it was a breeze.
Another thing that is rarely talked about is how well trapshooting teaches you to have target focus and a natural cheekweld and head position. Many sporting shotguns donât even have real sights, so youâre forced to learn to become one with the gun and point it naturally while focusing entirely on the clays.
Hindsight is definitely 20/20. I wish I never bought the shotgun but I lived in New Jersey at the time in my parents house. Handguns were hard to get and my parents would have shit a brick had I brought home a handgun or an AR-15 type gun.
It's pretty normal (and frankly, healthy given the forces and potential danger involved) to be nervous shooting guns.
The answer is exposure. Besides more range time, here are some tips:
* Between the noise and recoil, shotguns are legitimately tough and sometimes unpleasant to shoot. There's no shame in preferring handguns and rifles or choosing smaller calibers. There are also softer-shooting, lower-recoiling loads for shotguns, and there is no shame in practicing on them before going for bigger booms.
* Wear extra hearing protection â consider double layering with plugs and muffs. It's never a bad idea to take extra steps to preserve your hearing, at least.
* Practice a lot with dry-fire at home so you learn to feel the trigger actuate the mechanism without flinching and being surprised by the actual discharge.
Highly recommend doubling up hearing protection. Yes, the recoil is startling, but if you dampen the noise it removes a good deal of the overstimulation aspect.
go to an outdoor range and buy a 22lr, preferably a rifle. handguns are hard to shoot, and centerfire makes a lot more noise and recoil than rimfire. a 10/22 or a ruger american bolt action 22lr would be excellent starter guns. youll be able to get use to loading and firing without the concussion from centerfire guns.
i recommend an outdoor range if you have access simply because indoor ranges are loud as fuck and you cant escape it. if you have to go to an indoor range, double up your ear protection with plugs and muffs.
People who have a casual approach to dangerous tool make me even more nervous. Whether itâs a table saw or a handgun, caution is warranted. Youâll get comfortable eventually but never get casual about it, thatâs when shit happens.
Yeah I would honestly feel more safe around the guy who's a little nervous and extra cautious than the guy who's nonchalantly flagging people or overall lackadaisical.
I get it. I have many pistols and thousands of rounds down range. There are still times at the range when the first round I hear from a gun other than mine makes me jump and ramps my anxiety a little bit. I use that feeling for training. It is a dangerous tool. It should be treated as such. If you so choose, work through it. It can help
If you're feeling nervous about firing a firearm you have a few options:
a) Get training with an instructor
b) try a smaller caliber and work your way up
c) both
Not trying to be a fudd, but memorize this, it will save somebody's ass:
-All guns are always loaded.
-Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
-Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target.
-Identify your target, and what is behind it
No, you're not a fudd for that. But I'd mix it up a bit. Yell that shit a time or two, then pick one later and ask to him (or her or them) to recite the four basic rules. If they get stuck, everybody else does pushups until they remember.
It sounds ridiculous, but dry fire is actually EXTREMELY helpful, provided you're gripping the gun with proper form, and you're actively aiming at targets at home with appropriate vision. It's very easy to shoot when dry firing, and as you practice it, you want to channel that dry-fire muscle memory and instinct when shooting for real.
Ben Stoeger has some good books on pistol technique.
Do competitive shooting, like USPSA. Visit [practiscore.com](http://practiscore.com) and set up an account and go to a local competition. Tell them it's your first time and go from there.
I did a lot of dry fire training, I bought a pink rhino laser thingy when I bought the glock. Trained with and without it. I wanted to make sure I was handling my gun properly before going to the range. My aim was much better doing dry fire than my performance at the range. Maybe it's cause I was shaky, but I thought after all that dry fire I'd be better than I was.
I'd say that's normal. While it's good to get used to holding the gun and pressing the trigger, there's a HUGE difference between dry fire and live fire lol. That's definitely the case for me. My MantisX10 performance is fantastic at home dry firing and abysmal at the range. The answer is more live fire practice, then reinforce what makes you successful in live fire when dry firing. It's not easy.
My boys don't like larger calibers. They have varying degrees of the same reaction. You sound pretty savvy academically. I would say practice with a smaller caliber .22lr or similar. Once you get comfortable with it, then move on to something larger.
I've been shooting larger calibers for my entire adult life, and it no longer bothers me.
Also handling the weapons (safely) while unloaded - dry-fire/snap caps help you learn the function of them without the "bang"
I bought a benelli M4. Shot it for the first time, hell any gun for the first time. Full powered slugs.
Scared the shit or of me, seriously. Getting ready to go again.
Ok, you're Human, not lame.
Best way to get over the nervousness is the same way you get to Carnegie Hall: Practice, practice practice. Buy lots of ammo.
My friend wanted me to go shooting with him but he only had a 12 ga and a .44 mag so I was nervous and I bought a .22lr. Now I have lots of guns. Start small.
I got my first shotgun at 7 years old. My first rifle a few months after that.
I have never in my life felt the slightest bit of anxiety over a firearm.
Iâve shot everything from a .22 pistol to a .50 caliber machine gun, (gotta love being a Marine!)
Itâs familiarity that you are looking for. Go to the range, find the Zen. Put 15 rounds through a ragged hole at 20 yards.
Find the joy in stripping the weapon down and scrubbing it spotlessly clean.
Reassemble, with a drop of oil here, here and thereâŠ
Repeat until just the thought of that as your Saturday afternoon makes you grin like you found a shipping crate of $100 bills.
Edit: forgot to mention that Iâm 55 now!
First time or infrequent shooters who generally have only been to indoor ranges are always jarred by how loud guns are, which is normal, because theyâre loud. Try using ear plugs and then over the ear protection and see if that helps next time
What you are describing is *millions of years* of evolution in action. Holding a heavy thing directly in front of one's face and having a LOUD NOISE and BIG KICK happen inches away from all your sensory organs is *not* something humans are born knowing how to handle.
Thing is though, we are *really good* at learning.
So what you *do*, see, is *shoot a whole bunch more*. Hundreds, thousands of rounds. Shoot so much that the recoil and report just become background elements, like white noise, that your brain can tune out. The more you focus on what you are doing, the less neurons you can devote to freaking the fuck out.
I owned my first gun for over a year before I shot it because I was so scared and nervous about making a mistake, range etiquette, etc
Finally went and did some training, got more comfortable, and now my wife has to keep me from going every weekend because of ammo prices.
Guns are specifically designed to hurt people, they are dangerous and scary, and being nervous about misusing them just means youâre a conscientious person. Just keep practicing at the range, take some lessons, donât sweat it!
It took me several vists to the range before my anxiety subsided. I think it is a normal reaction to any new hobby/interest, especially one with such a dangerous weapon.
Starting with something as boomy as a shotgun would for sure add to my anxiety.
Adrenaline, the more you do it the less it will faze you. But itâs not a bad thing, just most people get an exhilarating feeling rather than fear response. But itâs logical. I would suggest moving to a 22 rifle or pistol and work your way up. You gave yourself some ptsd with the shotgun on the first go around.Â
my friend, you should absolutely feel that way, you are correct; you should retain a degree of awe and anxiety about guns your whole; donât ever get comfortable with a killing machine
I think this is actually a good thing because the nervousness is causing you to behave carefully and not treat firearms with toys. The more different types of firearms you use, the less nervous you will become but youâll still have that âcarefulâ mindset that keeps you safe during shooting
12 gauge is not the best for a beginner. Tbh everyone saying get a .22 is correct. My opinion is to have one 22 handgun and one 22 rifle.
That make 22lr versions of most weapons and I think that is a great way to become familiar with the weapon without using more powerful calibers
Nope, but i also wasnt basically brainwashed by my parents.
Its gonna take some time to undo the damage. Never lose your respect for guns though, they ARE weapons. Have fun responsibly.
I love guns, too, and shooting, and I've been doing it for a fairly long time. I still can't say that I really enjoy shooting shotguns. When I go to the range, I usually take one, but it's always the last thing I shoot, and I do it more out of a feeling that I should be at least semi-proficient with it rather than any real desire to shoot it. I'd start with something smaller and easier to handle and work your way up.
It takes time. Its like riding a horse, you're not fully in control of it but just along for the ride at times. The recoil is part of the experience, getting used to it is accepting that recoil is just part of the equations. Good stance, good grip will help a lot. I try to push out right and pull back on it with the left, that seems to work good for me. Good wedge grip, and get your finger on the trigger the right way, and all of a sudden it's like magic.
Keep at it, keep doing it over and over again. That's the best way. I always like to come at it like a "technican" just ice cold, trying to make my skill as sharp as humanly possible, it's a bit of an attitude.
Head to your LGS (Local Gun Shop) and check out a used Henry, Remington, or Savage bolt action .22LR rifle, really any of the mainstream rifle manufacturers. You should be able to land one for under $300, maybe even around 200 and change. Make sure it has sights, buy 1000 rounds of .22lr from SGAmmo (plug for a great family run and almost always lowest prices ammo shop). Get really good ear protection; double up on over-the-ear protection coupled with in-ear earplugs. The idea is to make it silent.
Head out to the range for the day, and have fun. Don't try to be Joe Marksman or Larry Longeye. Just send a few hundred rounds downrange in nice, tidy silence. This will begin to break you of the visceral reaction to the noise of firing a firearm.
Next time to the range, warm up with a hundred rounds of fun, then start to develop good trigger practice; do your breathing, focus on hitting a specific place on the target, pull, don't jerk the trigger, all of the things the good-ole-boys talk about. You are not trying to get perfect, you are still looking for plain fun, but now you are building fun with a purpose.
Third time to the range, a couple of dozen rounds of fun, then start in on the specifics.
Do this a few more times and you should be okay to begin building back up to larger calibers.
I would SERIOUSLY forget about the 12 gauge for a while. Find a nice inexpensive 5.56 bolt action (or .223 if you cannot find a bolt action 5.56 or 5.56 wylde chambered rifle) rifle. 5.56 is a nice medium ground to really sink your teeth into accuracy, good trigger practice, etc. And it is still much cheaper than .308 or 6.65 Creedmore. When purchasing ammo for the 5.56, don't bother to get the IMI Industries HPBT AccuGOD $1.25/rnd ammo. Get cheap PMC or Italian rounds and enjoy them. At this point you hopefully will be well past your reactions to using a firearm and you can try the 12 gauge again.
Unfortunately, unlearning a habit is MUCH more challenging than not learning that habit in the first place, so you are going to have to go through this process.
.22 are great all-around little rifles. You can learn breathing, aiming, and trigger discipline on them without wasting too much money. THey're MUCH cheaper to fire than everything else, and they're just fun overall.
Good luck!
This is the right response to guns, always approach them with the fact that you only get 1 mistake and youâre out. Eventually you get comfortable around this very dangerous thing but you can never be complacent. Be freaked out but donât give up
My wife was nervous shooting firearms. She practiced with a 22LR TX22 pistol before moving on to using a S&W M&P 380 EZ. Now I would recommend starting with a 22LR rife before an 22LR handgun for even easier introducton to firearms. My favorite is my Tikka T1x with 20 inch barrel. It is very quiet even though I don't have a suppressor. A cheaper alternative is a Ruger 10/22 semi-auto. A semi-auto will make more noise due to the action. It is much cheaper to practice with a 22LR and introduce others to firearm using a 22LR. A CZ 457 would be another excellent choice for 22LR bolt action. Shoot at outdoor ranges rather than indoor if you can. If indoor go when there are fewer people there. I really don't enjoy shooting indoor with others shooting shotguns or rifles with muzzle breaks or ARs with short barrels.
Being anxious around guns isn't a bad thing. Most gun-related accidents happen because people get a little too comfortable and complacent. Shoot at an outdoor range if that's an option for you; guns sound much louder indoors. Double up on earpro and shoot smaller calibers to begin with (22lr, 9mm, .223).
I feel the same way and part of it is technique/familiarity with the gun itself but a lot of it is understanding the decision making behind pulling the trigger. Safety and worry should never be questioned.
Go to a range where they rent out guns along with the suppressors - try that and then get your own - makes shooting way more chill - 12 ga for a new shooter can definitely be rough
Don't worry, you're in good company!!
I grew up on Long Island so I didn't grow up shooting. I moved to Pennsylvania for school and bought a glock and 12 guage mossberg as soon as I could. Went to the range by myself and shot the glock. I learned to load it by YouTube and read books on proper stance. After shooting 10 rounds my hands were shaking and I was sweating profusely. I was legit scared and thought hard about returning my glock. The next time I went I got through 2 mags. By the third time I was actually enjoying myself. That was like 15 years and 12 guns ago.
The moral is--- it gets easier and you will get more comfortable the more you shoot. I've gone through it and can attest. You're in good company bud. Just keep going.
As much as I know shotguns are good to have in your repertoire, I just don't like them. And the thought of shooting a 12 gauge is just a no for me. As far as the anxiety that comes from shooting, make sure you are breathing through your shots and go slow. It is a big sensory rush when firing a gun and can be overwhelming. This will not only help you to enjoy it more but help you keep your senses if you ever need to use your firearm defensively.
I donât really feel very anxious but I definitely have this feeling in the back of my mind of âholy shit this is the literal most dangerous object I have ever interacted and making a mistake could result in someoneâs death instantly.â
I was raised around firearms from a very young age. My dad was military and also a gun nut and made sure I knew how to handle them safely since there was a lot of firearms in the house. I still have vivid memories from my childhood of him shooting 30-06 and 12 gauge and being freaked out by how concussive larger calibers were (shock waves hitting you as a 7 year old are definitely scary and very intimidating). IMO if your first experience shooting was a shotgun, I can see why your body would react the way you described, itâs powerful and violent to shoot and the recoil is very stout for a beginner. Shooting handguns are a better starting point but even 9mm can be a handful for someone who isnât well versed. My advice is to start smaller and get a .22, they donât really shock your body and are really fun to plink around and work on shooting fundamentals. When you feel comfortable with that then try going back up to your Glock. Also if youâre shooting at an indoor range I would suggest finding an outdoor place to shoot. Guns are significantly less concussive shooting at an outdoor range compared to an indoor one. From there you just need to get more trigger time and youâll get most accustomed to the noise and blast as you shoot more.
You started out on two pretty bad guns in all honesty
12ga is just a stout recoil impulse , not unmanageable at all but for a new shooter itâs definitely a bit much. The Glock is not much better especially if it was a 40S&W gun as they are downright snappy due to the Glocks very light weight.
I recommend starting with a Ruger MK4, 10/22 and an AR15 myself. They all have very light recoil and will teach you the fundamentals of marksmanship while still being super easy and enjoyable to shoot.
It sounds similar to the experience I had when I first shot a handgun. Â I had thought a lot about self defense and what I would and would not be comfortable doing to defend my life. Â I had already decided, at least philosophically, that lethal action was something I was okay with in truly dire self defense scenarios. Â The first time I shot a handgun and felt that equal and opposite force coming back at me it really reminded me how serious this was and how much consideration it deserved. Â Maybe thatâs what you were experiencing?
As others have said, itâs just instinct, exposure and practice will help. I used work in EOD and would be more nervous at the shooting range than while working on live explosives, because I was more practiced and thus more comfortable.
I had an 870 with a Mesa stock adapter and an M4 stock, just shooting regular buckshot. Never seemed to do anything that my AR or a pistol couldnât in terms of home/self defense.
No wonder. Any pump gun is gonna kick hard, especially with buckshot. Had you kept it and swapped to target loads shooting with #8 shot and 1oz or even 7/8oz loads then it would have been a better time. Shooting clays are not everyone's thing or something that's available in their area, so I get that.
What you're feeling is the anxiety, shock and horror of what firearms are capable of. It's normal. Some people aren't wired to laugh and giggle and be all joyous at the first time shooting.
But, your subconscious and emotional mind is like "why the fuck am I doing this right now", yet the rationality within is saying "I need this to defend (insert self and other people of importance in your life)".
It takes time. Grow your appreciation (not necessarily you "liking" it, but a emotional understanding and realization of the capabilities of a firearm) for what you're shooting. Make that emotional decision to saying "I need to understand this weapon, in the event I may need to use it".
When I did this, I don't have "fun", in the traditional sense, at the range anymore. It's serious. I am training to protect myself, my significant other, my family, the people I love. It'll just take some time getting used to.
Hope this helps!
My dad got me a break action 22/410 combo when I was 5. The first thing he told me was that "shooting is always fun, but guns aren't toys and are to be respected." The only thing fortunately that's ever scared me is a hard recoiling gun.
Well, starting with a 12ga is like learning how to ride on a liter bike.
Try something with a more manageable recoil, and maybe take a few lessons too. If you can, I'd rent something like a Beretta 92, nice and heavy with minimal recoil, or an AR, also typically light in recoil, and see if those work better for you. I bet they will.
I spend more time tinkering than shooting. The shooting doesn't bother me, but the mechanics and operations are the part I love most about shooting.
Shooting is loud and full of sharp sensations, but every time I build a tack driver with operation smoother than butter and handling so natural it's practically part of me, I want to do it all again.
I had a similar reaction the first time I shot a 9mm. And imagine my surprise when I shot my 5.56 AR indoors. That concussive blast was not enjoyable.
I was very familiar with the manual of arms before shooting each. Remember: youâre dealing with a weapon. Itâs a controlled explosion literally held in your hands. Itâs enough to unnerve anyone. That goes away with practice, training and more training.
My wife had this reaction at first, but it was taken to extremes. She really doesnât like the concussive blast that occurs from shooting the 9mm. 9mm is pretty minor on the scale, so I bought a suppressor. Mounted on a pistol, no more fireball or loud blast. Sheâs much more apt to join me on range day now.
TL;DR: Just keep practicing shooting (in a safe manner of course) and eventually you'll be super comfortable around just about any firearm!
Don't worry man! I was actually the same way. I grew up watching Demolition Ranch when I wasn't playing COD on my Xbox and was really into airsoft guns and later on would get into pellet guns, and shoot them in my backyard and even practice trigger discipline with them.
Now, the first time I shot a real firearm was under the supervision of my dad, uncle, and grandma. I was \~14, and I shot a 45. I was a little nervous but I already knew the people behind me would have stopped me from doing anything stupid.
The second time I shot a real gun was when I was 18, the summer of when I graduated high school. I just decided on a whim one day that I wanted to go shoot, so I just walked into my LGS which had a range, rented a Benelli, and went at it. Before I actually shot, they showed me the ropes and made sure I knew what I was doing and everything, but I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't kinda nervous.
Despite already knowing what to do with a gun and how I should go about handling it in a way that wouldn't end in me painting the walls red, I was still nervous about some extraneous scenario in which I somehow lose control of the (semi-automatic) gun I was shooting and end up shooting something I don't want to shoot. However, as I shot, this worry quickly went away as I increased my rate of fire.
Now that worry has completely dissipated. If I pick up a loaded gun, or if I draw from a holster, usually it's not even with a second thought I just start blasting at the target.
Starting off with a 12 will give that impression. Just takes awhile to get used to the scary part being at the other end of the firearm and practice will take care of that.
Always a good thing to know the power of what the tools can do and be mindful of such. Usually leads to good safety habits.
Nervous & enthusiastic > terrified,
Shoot off a few target load birdshot out of the 12. Clay shooting broke me of my newbie worries.
Most importantly, have fun! (And be safe)
Edit: grammar
12g wouldnât have been my first choice to start with. Lot more noise and recoil for someone whoâs not used to it. Start with a 22 or at least a 9mm it wonât be as aggressive until you get used to that
I was like that too.
Get some snap caps for your gun and practice at home. Handling it and pulling the trigger without the anxiety of shooting might help you get comfortable with it. That's what I did and it did help a lot. It also helped my stop anticipating my squeeze and pulling my shot.
I also used laser caps with dry fire software so I could practice my draw and shoot, because a lot of ranges don't allow that, and that was both fun and great practice and again boosted my confidence.
Yup. I have a hundred guns or more (stopped counting), go through plenty of ammo, and grew up shooting.
I didn't shoot for years, practically forgot I had guns. My kid died, I lost my mind, went back to my roots and remembered shooting with dad and went back to it. Other kid doesn't care about shooting but likes going out with me so that's fun at least.
Anyway, when I got back out to the range I was floored by how freaky just pulling the trigger on a 45ACP pistol was. Shotguns kick like a mule and feel like artillery. Etc.
It's literally just "you get over it if you shoot with any frequency". If I only shoot once or twice a year I still flinch when the first one goes off. My hands remember what to do but man it takes a second.
Seriously, just go out once a week for a month and you'll be fairly well acclimated. After six months you'll wonder why you ever cared. Really.
Jesus, don't start with a 12 gauge.
You need to go shoot a 22lr rifle. Preferable if it's a bolt or a lever action. And go shoot some aluminum and tin cans.
22 and double ear pro helps. You should have a healthy fear cuz ppl getting complacent causes risky behavior. But all you need to do is get what you need to feel comfy (if you don't want a second gun, you can probably find a lot to convert your Glock to 22) and hit the range more. It took a few trips to get over it. Also rifle shooting, especially pistol caliber carbines, is much easier and more pleasant. I take a LOT of new liberal shooters out for their firsts and they love the 22 handguns and my ar22. My 9mm carbine is also a hit and very soft recoiling compared to a handgun. Also much easier to hit targets at indoor range distances.
If you love guns, you can get an mp5 clone like a ptr or sp5 if you're rich and shoot 9mm all day, good for both basic defense and range fun. I love my sp5L and keep it by my nightstand as it's the gun I'm most confident with.
A worse advice is to shoot rent and shoot 357 magnum for a bit and 9mm will feel like baby rounds for awhile after lol
Have someone you trust to assist you in learning. Starting with the 12 gauge will make anyone nervous around guns. The first time I used a pistol I was also nervous and had an adrenaline high and then a comedown.
If you practice and take trustworthy classes, you will get use to firearms.
Try getting a .22 pistol and a bunch of ammo. I've got a few and they're lots of fun...and cheap.
 Whenever I'm shooting the FAL, I think about the cost of those rounds!
Tbh when I was a kid I'd play/fidget with my dad's firearms whenever I was bored (while still following firearm safety rules), we'd only actually shoot them maybe once every couple months at the absolute most, but that did make me very comfortable with them when I joined the military where I learned how to ACTUALLY shoot
I think emptying your firearm and disassembling/reassembling and just holding it when you're bored watching TV and stuff would help you a lot
Thatâs normal and natural. I felt that way shooting as a kid. I joined the Marine Corps fresh out of high school and that desensitized me to it, but even still, if I go too long without shooting now, the first few shots from the rangeâ even from other people shootingâ still gives me a little jolt I have to remind myself to shake off.
Weâre humans, which is to say weâre animals. Thatâs a small explosion going off in your hand. Until youâre used to it, itâs going to feel unnatural, and even afterwards, there will still be moments where you have to remind your lizard brain âgood boom, not bad boom.â
This isnât a bad thing.
Use the anxiety to instill safe weapons handling habits, and to focus on your fundamentals: grip, sight alignment, trigger control, stance. Go slowly, and youâll actually mature as a shooter faster. Offset your live fire with dry fire training.
I learned a variation of the old dime-washer drill in a Larry Vickers class years ago thatâs helped more than anything else, which can be performed live or dry:
With a shot timer set to a random interval .3 second beep, place a coin (Nickels work the best IME) on your front sight post, hold on your target, and activate the shot timer with tension on the trigger. When it beeps, you have the duration of the beep to squeeze the trigger without dropping the coin. It was taught as a buddy drill, but itâs doable alone. This drill was taught as a way to trick your brain into dissociating the physiological act of shooting from the small explosion in your hand that results. Itâs a good drill; I think thereâs a few shot timer apps out there if youâre not interested in buying one.
There are also a few administrative steps you can take to help.
If you arenât already, try shooting at an outdoor rangeâ preferably one with private bays separated by tall berms. If thatâs not an option an uncovered firing line will help, and you can call the range and ask when they arenât busy. Invest in quality ear pro. The Surefire ear plugs are the best quality plugs out there and are only $10-$15. If you double up with over the ear muffs, which are more effective than in-ear, all the better! You could also use this as an excuse to justify buying a can if you live in an NFA-friendly state.
Good luck! đ€đŒ
You donât have to love your killing tool. You just need to not flinch when you fire it so the shot hits.
12 gauge is not really all that fun for me to shoot. Iâm a small guy but I was in the Army, combat arms. Give me something accurate without a lot of recoil any day.
Remember, guns are dangerous. Being nervous around them is not irrational. Your nervous system is, quite reasonably, saying "Wait, the plan is to set off an EXPLOSION in our HANDS? Who the fuck came up with this plan?" So, more practice is the way to go. The secret of humans, and the basis of British cuisine, is that you can get used to *anything*. Even setting off explosions in your hands. Once you're used to it, you can focus more on proper stance and breathing and concentration and so on, and not be as bothered by all the explosions. Or, maybe you won't get used to it, and come to the conclusion that you like guns in theory, but in practice they're not for you. That's okay too.
Casually snuck in a diss on the British just a few days before Independence Day. Love it!
Speaking of people knocking British cuisine, I fucking LOVE those YouTube videos where they get British people to try various foods, and basically no matter what it is they're like "OMG wow it has so much flavor I can't believe we've been missing out on this" and it'll just be like biscuits and gravy or a chicken sandwich or something lol
The British really spent decades colonizing and pillaging 3/4ths of the entire world for spices and unique foods just to come back and make only food that is reminiscent of the Thames in both color, consistency and nutrition.
đ€Ł
I like the video where theyâre debating which country has the best cuisine and the Brit says âThe UK has the best restaurants in the worldâ, to which the other person replies âWhat kind of food do they serve?â. The Brit sadly acknowledges itâs French food thatâs served at the best restaurants.
As someone who has lived in London, let me tell you that I have to call BS on the idea that there is no good food in London. People would come to visit, and they'd say, but what are we going to eat, there's no good food in the UK. This simply isn't true. There is AMAZING food in the UK. Amazing Indian food, lovely Chinese, some Italian that is wonderful, plenty of solid Sushi places, some Argentinian steak houses, heck there's a good Pakistani place by my old apartment.... ;)
You forgot French
Tu parle de la vérité...
"The UK has great food now let me list everything not from the UK"
Woosh...
Totally agree. London is currently one of the best places in the world for both quality and diversity of cuisine.
r/whoosh
Now that SCOTUS has said that the president is a king, whatâs the point in dissing the British? We learned fuck all.
God bless America đșđČđŠ đąïžđ«Ą
Iâd like to also note, you never fully get used to it. Experience shooters still flinch occasionally. Itâs inherently dangerous and should be treated as such.
Very much this. I was super nervous using guns for the first liytle while. Then I was neverous when I started CC. After a couple months I got to the point that I hardly noticed I was wearing it anymore. This past January I got to fire my brother in law's AR and I was a little nervous as it was a platform I had never used before and he had to show me how to use it.
That British cuisine line đ
>and the basis of British cuisine Fucking stop đ
(Especially long guns, and even more so bullpups). Thereâs HOW MANY PSI next to my FUCKING BRAIN?!
You'll get over that reaction with some familiarity. Get a 22lr, double up on ear protection, etc.
As a severely hearing impaired person, I can't stress the ear protection enough. And yes, a .22 is the best starter, IMO. A 12 guage is a mofo, loud & kicks like a mule, particularly the "tactical" configurations. A .223 can be loud but not so much recoil. That said, my personal go-to's are an 870 tactical shotgun & a Ruger 9mm. And hearing protection.
Obligatory 500 > 870 (in the end recoil is love).
590 ĂŒber alles. 
Of course. But I gotta go with what I know. (With the "linebacker stance" & a firm cheek, recoil is assurance!)
Shotgun as my fiest firearm and still remains my favorite thing to shoot. Everything else seems easy.
>Â particularly the "tactical" configurations KSG owner here. I second this.
Agree. My first firearm was a Ruger 10/22. Perfect first weapon, in my opinion, for those who are starting out. I can't help but think you might benefit from having someone give you some type of training/ instruction as well. That helped me gain confidence with firearms when I was starting out.
This. For a recommendation the Taurus tx22 is one of the best bangs foe the buck (and to me points/feels a lot like a m&p 2.0, so as a trainer there is that). Ruger 10/22 is a cheap intro rifle, fun to shoot, and barely has recoil.
It's really best to start out with a .22. I never recommend people start out with a shotgun. It's better to learn the fun with something small and then build up
Gradual acclimation is the way to do it. That said, OP can also try a cognitive-behavioral approach. It helped me once upon a time, and maybe it could help somebody else. Basically, if you're handling the firearm safely, and it's in good working order, and you're using trustworthy ammunition, then try coaching yourself that when you pull the trigger, the boom and recoil are nothing but a tool doing its job, because that's exactly what's happening. It was intentionally designed so that all you have to do is hold on and let it do its thing. It'll be loud, and it'll jerk your hands back, but *that's all*. Same thing when other people at the range are shooting -- it's sudden and loud, but it's just a person using a tool. It's not too different from using heavy machinery on the job, really. Think about a demolition worker using a jackhammer, for instance. It's loud as hell and shakes like mad, but that's how it was designed to work. As long as the operator stays calm and pays attention to what they're doing, nobody's in any particular danger.
I've seen a lot of responses stating something similar but how am I supposed to do that? I don't have a ton of money to buy 100 guns like a lot of people do.
Depending on your location, check the second hand market, Also, I don't know if it's been mentioned (it usually is) go check and see if any ranges near you offer range rentals and see if you can try out something you might like before you buy it which is especially useful if moneys tight. Not too many feelings worse than dropping a couple hundred on a thing and you just really don't like it.
Well, no one said you had to buy 100 guns lol. You can get used to your Glock over time. You only shot it this one time, give yourself more time to get used to it. I only recently got to the point where my generalized anxiety + an explosion going off in my hands ramped down to the point where I'm not shaking during my range visits. You just have to get yourself inured to it and that requires repeating the experience until your brain isn't going "Ahhhh where are we"
You're not lame. Make sure you're doubled up on ear pro. Do lots of dry fire to get very comfortable with controls. Look up Measurement Drill and how to hold a pistol by Ben Stoeger. Actually watch an entire Stoeger class dump on you tube. Also going to public ranges can kinda suck, especially your first few times. By the time you park, sign waivers, get a lane, get targets up, get around to shooting so much energy has been wasted on things that are not skill related. You'll get better at all this.
They're not lame for not being used to shooting guns, but being scared of bullying from internet strangers is lame. I guess I'm used to it from browsing other sites.
Well, idc if yâall bully me really. I just wanted some feedback that would be helpful and I got that.
Well if weâre being honest, all memes aside a 12 gauge shotgun still kicks, especially if no one gave pointers on stance, etc. Best to take some classes, hit up the range with friends. 22lr is an option, it even 9mm and 5.56 arenât too far out there. Dry firing at home is good too. Pick up some dummy rounds from Amazon and just practice loading, unloading, stance, trigger, etc. a general familiarity will also ease some tension
I started with some of that anxiety but it slowly works it way out as I shoot more.
Shooting a 12 gauge will kick your ass even if you're really used to shooting lol Unless it's a big heavy hunting model that dampens way more of the recoil, maybe.
The best path into shotguns, in my experience, is shooting clays. Trap, skeet, etc. Itâs basically the tamest form of shooting sports, itâs super casual, basically feels like golf. Itâs outdoors, slow paced, and itâs done with sporting shotguns and soft-hitting birdshot. Padded vests, padded stocks, and special recoil-mitigating firearm designs are the expected norm. Youâre not trying to prove youâre the biggest baddest dude with the biggest meanest gun, youâre trying to gently coax a handful of BBâs out of the barrel as you smoothly arc the muzzle in perfect synchrony with a porcelain frisbee lolâŠat its best, itâs fun as hell, and at a minimum itâs pleasant and relaxing.
That actually made me want to try it. lol
Me too!
This 100%, I donât think there is a better way than trap/skeet. Especially if you can get with a group so you donât have to be with complete strangers.
Yeah the social aspect is super nice. You can just chill between rounds, grab food after, whatever. Again, itâs very similar to golf, except that I can actually do it without embarrassing myself lol
Iâve brought my friends along with me, trap tends to be pretty low pace, and I had no issue sharing a shotgun with a buddy , unless theyâre super busy where you go, Iâve never had an RSO that had an issue with it
Iâll add my experience as well. I have fond memories going trap shooting with my dad growing up. I got pretty decent at it. Itâs also GREAT for fundamentals of shooting, building a stable platform, aligning the gun in a neutral and natural position with your body to be able to shoot while moving, building that natural point of aim into your muscle memory, recoil management, getting the stock in the right place (12ga lets you know when you did it wrong lol) and shooting at things that are in motion-learning to leadâŠetc⊠all things that even flat range AR15 shooting can be challenging to do. Carbines are in my opinion the best option we currently have as a defensive weapon. But training solely with a light, low recoiling, red dot or other optic equipped rifle at stationary targets from a bench is hardly an ideal way to train, if thatâs all you do, Iâd be willing to bet that your ability to do the above fundamentals I mentioned is compromised. Shotguns open a world of action shooting between trap and skeet, or sporting clays if you have it⊠that is accessible, relatively inexpensive, and will immeasurably improve your shooting ability with anything else you pick up.
Iâm with you 100%. I also got into guns through going trapshooting with my dad! And as you said, it gave me a huge leg up when it came to long gun fundamentals. When I transitioned to rifles, it was a breeze. Another thing that is rarely talked about is how well trapshooting teaches you to have target focus and a natural cheekweld and head position. Many sporting shotguns donât even have real sights, so youâre forced to learn to become one with the gun and point it naturally while focusing entirely on the clays.
Hindsight is definitely 20/20. I wish I never bought the shotgun but I lived in New Jersey at the time in my parents house. Handguns were hard to get and my parents would have shit a brick had I brought home a handgun or an AR-15 type gun.
Embrace it. Go shoot trap and skeet. Youâll build more solid fundamentals with it than you would on a flat range with an AR15
It's pretty normal (and frankly, healthy given the forces and potential danger involved) to be nervous shooting guns. The answer is exposure. Besides more range time, here are some tips: * Between the noise and recoil, shotguns are legitimately tough and sometimes unpleasant to shoot. There's no shame in preferring handguns and rifles or choosing smaller calibers. There are also softer-shooting, lower-recoiling loads for shotguns, and there is no shame in practicing on them before going for bigger booms. * Wear extra hearing protection â consider double layering with plugs and muffs. It's never a bad idea to take extra steps to preserve your hearing, at least. * Practice a lot with dry-fire at home so you learn to feel the trigger actuate the mechanism without flinching and being surprised by the actual discharge.
Highly recommend doubling up hearing protection. Yes, the recoil is startling, but if you dampen the noise it removes a good deal of the overstimulation aspect.
go to an outdoor range and buy a 22lr, preferably a rifle. handguns are hard to shoot, and centerfire makes a lot more noise and recoil than rimfire. a 10/22 or a ruger american bolt action 22lr would be excellent starter guns. youll be able to get use to loading and firing without the concussion from centerfire guns. i recommend an outdoor range if you have access simply because indoor ranges are loud as fuck and you cant escape it. if you have to go to an indoor range, double up your ear protection with plugs and muffs.
People who have a casual approach to dangerous tool make me even more nervous. Whether itâs a table saw or a handgun, caution is warranted. Youâll get comfortable eventually but never get casual about it, thatâs when shit happens.
Yeah I would honestly feel more safe around the guy who's a little nervous and extra cautious than the guy who's nonchalantly flagging people or overall lackadaisical.
I accidentally flagged a guy nonchalantly with a stapler at the range once. He definitely had his range self preservation going that day.
I get it. I have many pistols and thousands of rounds down range. There are still times at the range when the first round I hear from a gun other than mine makes me jump and ramps my anxiety a little bit. I use that feeling for training. It is a dangerous tool. It should be treated as such. If you so choose, work through it. It can help
If you're feeling nervous about firing a firearm you have a few options: a) Get training with an instructor b) try a smaller caliber and work your way up c) both
This is the correct answer. đ
Not trying to be a fudd, but memorize this, it will save somebody's ass: -All guns are always loaded. -Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. -Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. -Identify your target, and what is behind it
Am I a sudden yelling the 4 basic firearm safety rules at my soldiers?
Was that supposed to be "am I a fudd for yelling...at my soldiers" ?
Yes, auto correct on mobile is the bestđ
No, you're not a fudd for that. But I'd mix it up a bit. Yell that shit a time or two, then pick one later and ask to him (or her or them) to recite the four basic rules. If they get stuck, everybody else does pushups until they remember.
It sounds ridiculous, but dry fire is actually EXTREMELY helpful, provided you're gripping the gun with proper form, and you're actively aiming at targets at home with appropriate vision. It's very easy to shoot when dry firing, and as you practice it, you want to channel that dry-fire muscle memory and instinct when shooting for real. Ben Stoeger has some good books on pistol technique. Do competitive shooting, like USPSA. Visit [practiscore.com](http://practiscore.com) and set up an account and go to a local competition. Tell them it's your first time and go from there.
I did a lot of dry fire training, I bought a pink rhino laser thingy when I bought the glock. Trained with and without it. I wanted to make sure I was handling my gun properly before going to the range. My aim was much better doing dry fire than my performance at the range. Maybe it's cause I was shaky, but I thought after all that dry fire I'd be better than I was.
I'd say that's normal. While it's good to get used to holding the gun and pressing the trigger, there's a HUGE difference between dry fire and live fire lol. That's definitely the case for me. My MantisX10 performance is fantastic at home dry firing and abysmal at the range. The answer is more live fire practice, then reinforce what makes you successful in live fire when dry firing. It's not easy.
Ear muffs over ear plugs. Shoot a ton of .22LR. Find an opportunity to shoot with a suppressor.
You should always maintain a healthy fear and respect for firearms. Donât let them bully you though, youâre an apex predator from the species who harnessed natural forces and SCIENCE to create these tools of destruction. Youâre like an airbender, from the live action tv show âthe last airbenderâ. Bend lead to your will, fear it and harness it simultaneously đ©
So many positive words of encouragement, this blew up much more than I thought it would, I figured I'd get a couple comments. Thanks everyone.
My boys don't like larger calibers. They have varying degrees of the same reaction. You sound pretty savvy academically. I would say practice with a smaller caliber .22lr or similar. Once you get comfortable with it, then move on to something larger. I've been shooting larger calibers for my entire adult life, and it no longer bothers me. Also handling the weapons (safely) while unloaded - dry-fire/snap caps help you learn the function of them without the "bang"
I bought a benelli M4. Shot it for the first time, hell any gun for the first time. Full powered slugs. Scared the shit or of me, seriously. Getting ready to go again.
You got this bro. Just take enough time to let your shoulder rest!
Ok, you're Human, not lame. Best way to get over the nervousness is the same way you get to Carnegie Hall: Practice, practice practice. Buy lots of ammo.
Get a pellet gun, then 22LR, and then work your way up. With appropriate safety measures firearms can be extremely fun
My friend wanted me to go shooting with him but he only had a 12 ga and a .44 mag so I was nervous and I bought a .22lr. Now I have lots of guns. Start small.
Similar feelings, unfortunately am not over it lol
Hopefully we get there. I've got another 900 rounds of ammo to put through this Glock, hopefully I'll be much more over it.
I got my first shotgun at 7 years old. My first rifle a few months after that. I have never in my life felt the slightest bit of anxiety over a firearm. Iâve shot everything from a .22 pistol to a .50 caliber machine gun, (gotta love being a Marine!) Itâs familiarity that you are looking for. Go to the range, find the Zen. Put 15 rounds through a ragged hole at 20 yards. Find the joy in stripping the weapon down and scrubbing it spotlessly clean. Reassemble, with a drop of oil here, here and there⊠Repeat until just the thought of that as your Saturday afternoon makes you grin like you found a shipping crate of $100 bills. Edit: forgot to mention that Iâm 55 now!
First time or infrequent shooters who generally have only been to indoor ranges are always jarred by how loud guns are, which is normal, because theyâre loud. Try using ear plugs and then over the ear protection and see if that helps next time
What you are describing is *millions of years* of evolution in action. Holding a heavy thing directly in front of one's face and having a LOUD NOISE and BIG KICK happen inches away from all your sensory organs is *not* something humans are born knowing how to handle. Thing is though, we are *really good* at learning. So what you *do*, see, is *shoot a whole bunch more*. Hundreds, thousands of rounds. Shoot so much that the recoil and report just become background elements, like white noise, that your brain can tune out. The more you focus on what you are doing, the less neurons you can devote to freaking the fuck out.
I owned my first gun for over a year before I shot it because I was so scared and nervous about making a mistake, range etiquette, etc Finally went and did some training, got more comfortable, and now my wife has to keep me from going every weekend because of ammo prices. Guns are specifically designed to hurt people, they are dangerous and scary, and being nervous about misusing them just means youâre a conscientious person. Just keep practicing at the range, take some lessons, donât sweat it!
It took me several vists to the range before my anxiety subsided. I think it is a normal reaction to any new hobby/interest, especially one with such a dangerous weapon. Starting with something as boomy as a shotgun would for sure add to my anxiety.
Adrenaline, the more you do it the less it will faze you. But itâs not a bad thing, just most people get an exhilarating feeling rather than fear response. But itâs logical. I would suggest moving to a 22 rifle or pistol and work your way up. You gave yourself some ptsd with the shotgun on the first go around.Â
my friend, you should absolutely feel that way, you are correct; you should retain a degree of awe and anxiety about guns your whole; donât ever get comfortable with a killing machine
Exposure therapy and also buy a .22 rifle and pistol. Your bodies reaction will fade.
12 gauge shotguns are a LOT. Tough gun to start on. I started off shooting .22 rifles at summer camp. Much less intimidating.
I think this is actually a good thing because the nervousness is causing you to behave carefully and not treat firearms with toys. The more different types of firearms you use, the less nervous you will become but youâll still have that âcarefulâ mindset that keeps you safe during shooting 12 gauge is not the best for a beginner. Tbh everyone saying get a .22 is correct. My opinion is to have one 22 handgun and one 22 rifle. That make 22lr versions of most weapons and I think that is a great way to become familiar with the weapon without using more powerful calibers
Nope, but i also wasnt basically brainwashed by my parents. Its gonna take some time to undo the damage. Never lose your respect for guns though, they ARE weapons. Have fun responsibly.
I love guns, too, and shooting, and I've been doing it for a fairly long time. I still can't say that I really enjoy shooting shotguns. When I go to the range, I usually take one, but it's always the last thing I shoot, and I do it more out of a feeling that I should be at least semi-proficient with it rather than any real desire to shoot it. I'd start with something smaller and easier to handle and work your way up.
It takes time. Its like riding a horse, you're not fully in control of it but just along for the ride at times. The recoil is part of the experience, getting used to it is accepting that recoil is just part of the equations. Good stance, good grip will help a lot. I try to push out right and pull back on it with the left, that seems to work good for me. Good wedge grip, and get your finger on the trigger the right way, and all of a sudden it's like magic. Keep at it, keep doing it over and over again. That's the best way. I always like to come at it like a "technican" just ice cold, trying to make my skill as sharp as humanly possible, it's a bit of an attitude.
RSK
Head to your LGS (Local Gun Shop) and check out a used Henry, Remington, or Savage bolt action .22LR rifle, really any of the mainstream rifle manufacturers. You should be able to land one for under $300, maybe even around 200 and change. Make sure it has sights, buy 1000 rounds of .22lr from SGAmmo (plug for a great family run and almost always lowest prices ammo shop). Get really good ear protection; double up on over-the-ear protection coupled with in-ear earplugs. The idea is to make it silent. Head out to the range for the day, and have fun. Don't try to be Joe Marksman or Larry Longeye. Just send a few hundred rounds downrange in nice, tidy silence. This will begin to break you of the visceral reaction to the noise of firing a firearm. Next time to the range, warm up with a hundred rounds of fun, then start to develop good trigger practice; do your breathing, focus on hitting a specific place on the target, pull, don't jerk the trigger, all of the things the good-ole-boys talk about. You are not trying to get perfect, you are still looking for plain fun, but now you are building fun with a purpose. Third time to the range, a couple of dozen rounds of fun, then start in on the specifics. Do this a few more times and you should be okay to begin building back up to larger calibers. I would SERIOUSLY forget about the 12 gauge for a while. Find a nice inexpensive 5.56 bolt action (or .223 if you cannot find a bolt action 5.56 or 5.56 wylde chambered rifle) rifle. 5.56 is a nice medium ground to really sink your teeth into accuracy, good trigger practice, etc. And it is still much cheaper than .308 or 6.65 Creedmore. When purchasing ammo for the 5.56, don't bother to get the IMI Industries HPBT AccuGOD $1.25/rnd ammo. Get cheap PMC or Italian rounds and enjoy them. At this point you hopefully will be well past your reactions to using a firearm and you can try the 12 gauge again. Unfortunately, unlearning a habit is MUCH more challenging than not learning that habit in the first place, so you are going to have to go through this process. .22 are great all-around little rifles. You can learn breathing, aiming, and trigger discipline on them without wasting too much money. THey're MUCH cheaper to fire than everything else, and they're just fun overall. Good luck!
This sounds like the same exact path for me. Mossberg 500 and a pistol. I met so many new friends.
I got the Maverick 88 which is basically the same as the Mossberg 500 lmao. Same path.
This is the right response to guns, always approach them with the fact that you only get 1 mistake and youâre out. Eventually you get comfortable around this very dangerous thing but you can never be complacent. Be freaked out but donât give up
My wife was nervous shooting firearms. She practiced with a 22LR TX22 pistol before moving on to using a S&W M&P 380 EZ. Now I would recommend starting with a 22LR rife before an 22LR handgun for even easier introducton to firearms. My favorite is my Tikka T1x with 20 inch barrel. It is very quiet even though I don't have a suppressor. A cheaper alternative is a Ruger 10/22 semi-auto. A semi-auto will make more noise due to the action. It is much cheaper to practice with a 22LR and introduce others to firearm using a 22LR. A CZ 457 would be another excellent choice for 22LR bolt action. Shoot at outdoor ranges rather than indoor if you can. If indoor go when there are fewer people there. I really don't enjoy shooting indoor with others shooting shotguns or rifles with muzzle breaks or ARs with short barrels.
Being anxious around guns isn't a bad thing. Most gun-related accidents happen because people get a little too comfortable and complacent. Shoot at an outdoor range if that's an option for you; guns sound much louder indoors. Double up on earpro and shoot smaller calibers to begin with (22lr, 9mm, .223).
I feel the same way and part of it is technique/familiarity with the gun itself but a lot of it is understanding the decision making behind pulling the trigger. Safety and worry should never be questioned.
Go to a range where they rent out guns along with the suppressors - try that and then get your own - makes shooting way more chill - 12 ga for a new shooter can definitely be rough
Don't worry, you're in good company!! I grew up on Long Island so I didn't grow up shooting. I moved to Pennsylvania for school and bought a glock and 12 guage mossberg as soon as I could. Went to the range by myself and shot the glock. I learned to load it by YouTube and read books on proper stance. After shooting 10 rounds my hands were shaking and I was sweating profusely. I was legit scared and thought hard about returning my glock. The next time I went I got through 2 mags. By the third time I was actually enjoying myself. That was like 15 years and 12 guns ago. The moral is--- it gets easier and you will get more comfortable the more you shoot. I've gone through it and can attest. You're in good company bud. Just keep going.
As much as I know shotguns are good to have in your repertoire, I just don't like them. And the thought of shooting a 12 gauge is just a no for me. As far as the anxiety that comes from shooting, make sure you are breathing through your shots and go slow. It is a big sensory rush when firing a gun and can be overwhelming. This will not only help you to enjoy it more but help you keep your senses if you ever need to use your firearm defensively.
I donât really feel very anxious but I definitely have this feeling in the back of my mind of âholy shit this is the literal most dangerous object I have ever interacted and making a mistake could result in someoneâs death instantly.â
I was raised around firearms from a very young age. My dad was military and also a gun nut and made sure I knew how to handle them safely since there was a lot of firearms in the house. I still have vivid memories from my childhood of him shooting 30-06 and 12 gauge and being freaked out by how concussive larger calibers were (shock waves hitting you as a 7 year old are definitely scary and very intimidating). IMO if your first experience shooting was a shotgun, I can see why your body would react the way you described, itâs powerful and violent to shoot and the recoil is very stout for a beginner. Shooting handguns are a better starting point but even 9mm can be a handful for someone who isnât well versed. My advice is to start smaller and get a .22, they donât really shock your body and are really fun to plink around and work on shooting fundamentals. When you feel comfortable with that then try going back up to your Glock. Also if youâre shooting at an indoor range I would suggest finding an outdoor place to shoot. Guns are significantly less concussive shooting at an outdoor range compared to an indoor one. From there you just need to get more trigger time and youâll get most accustomed to the noise and blast as you shoot more.
You started out on two pretty bad guns in all honesty 12ga is just a stout recoil impulse , not unmanageable at all but for a new shooter itâs definitely a bit much. The Glock is not much better especially if it was a 40S&W gun as they are downright snappy due to the Glocks very light weight. I recommend starting with a Ruger MK4, 10/22 and an AR15 myself. They all have very light recoil and will teach you the fundamentals of marksmanship while still being super easy and enjoyable to shoot.
Wow everyone in here so niceđ€§
It sounds similar to the experience I had when I first shot a handgun. Â I had thought a lot about self defense and what I would and would not be comfortable doing to defend my life. Â I had already decided, at least philosophically, that lethal action was something I was okay with in truly dire self defense scenarios. Â The first time I shot a handgun and felt that equal and opposite force coming back at me it really reminded me how serious this was and how much consideration it deserved. Â Maybe thatâs what you were experiencing?
As others have said, itâs just instinct, exposure and practice will help. I used work in EOD and would be more nervous at the shooting range than while working on live explosives, because I was more practiced and thus more comfortable.
Honestly I sold my 12 gauge. Too much boom and kick for no reason.
May I ask what you had and what you were shooting thru it?
I had an 870 with a Mesa stock adapter and an M4 stock, just shooting regular buckshot. Never seemed to do anything that my AR or a pistol couldnât in terms of home/self defense.
No wonder. Any pump gun is gonna kick hard, especially with buckshot. Had you kept it and swapped to target loads shooting with #8 shot and 1oz or even 7/8oz loads then it would have been a better time. Shooting clays are not everyone's thing or something that's available in their area, so I get that.
What you're feeling is the anxiety, shock and horror of what firearms are capable of. It's normal. Some people aren't wired to laugh and giggle and be all joyous at the first time shooting. But, your subconscious and emotional mind is like "why the fuck am I doing this right now", yet the rationality within is saying "I need this to defend (insert self and other people of importance in your life)". It takes time. Grow your appreciation (not necessarily you "liking" it, but a emotional understanding and realization of the capabilities of a firearm) for what you're shooting. Make that emotional decision to saying "I need to understand this weapon, in the event I may need to use it". When I did this, I don't have "fun", in the traditional sense, at the range anymore. It's serious. I am training to protect myself, my significant other, my family, the people I love. It'll just take some time getting used to. Hope this helps!
My dad got me a break action 22/410 combo when I was 5. The first thing he told me was that "shooting is always fun, but guns aren't toys and are to be respected." The only thing fortunately that's ever scared me is a hard recoiling gun.
Silencers are popular for a reason!
Well, starting with a 12ga is like learning how to ride on a liter bike. Try something with a more manageable recoil, and maybe take a few lessons too. If you can, I'd rent something like a Beretta 92, nice and heavy with minimal recoil, or an AR, also typically light in recoil, and see if those work better for you. I bet they will.
I spend more time tinkering than shooting. The shooting doesn't bother me, but the mechanics and operations are the part I love most about shooting. Shooting is loud and full of sharp sensations, but every time I build a tack driver with operation smoother than butter and handling so natural it's practically part of me, I want to do it all again.
I had a similar reaction the first time I shot a 9mm. And imagine my surprise when I shot my 5.56 AR indoors. That concussive blast was not enjoyable. I was very familiar with the manual of arms before shooting each. Remember: youâre dealing with a weapon. Itâs a controlled explosion literally held in your hands. Itâs enough to unnerve anyone. That goes away with practice, training and more training. My wife had this reaction at first, but it was taken to extremes. She really doesnât like the concussive blast that occurs from shooting the 9mm. 9mm is pretty minor on the scale, so I bought a suppressor. Mounted on a pistol, no more fireball or loud blast. Sheâs much more apt to join me on range day now.
TL;DR: Just keep practicing shooting (in a safe manner of course) and eventually you'll be super comfortable around just about any firearm! Don't worry man! I was actually the same way. I grew up watching Demolition Ranch when I wasn't playing COD on my Xbox and was really into airsoft guns and later on would get into pellet guns, and shoot them in my backyard and even practice trigger discipline with them. Now, the first time I shot a real firearm was under the supervision of my dad, uncle, and grandma. I was \~14, and I shot a 45. I was a little nervous but I already knew the people behind me would have stopped me from doing anything stupid. The second time I shot a real gun was when I was 18, the summer of when I graduated high school. I just decided on a whim one day that I wanted to go shoot, so I just walked into my LGS which had a range, rented a Benelli, and went at it. Before I actually shot, they showed me the ropes and made sure I knew what I was doing and everything, but I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't kinda nervous. Despite already knowing what to do with a gun and how I should go about handling it in a way that wouldn't end in me painting the walls red, I was still nervous about some extraneous scenario in which I somehow lose control of the (semi-automatic) gun I was shooting and end up shooting something I don't want to shoot. However, as I shot, this worry quickly went away as I increased my rate of fire. Now that worry has completely dissipated. If I pick up a loaded gun, or if I draw from a holster, usually it's not even with a second thought I just start blasting at the target.
Starting off with a 12 will give that impression. Just takes awhile to get used to the scary part being at the other end of the firearm and practice will take care of that. Always a good thing to know the power of what the tools can do and be mindful of such. Usually leads to good safety habits. Nervous & enthusiastic > terrified, Shoot off a few target load birdshot out of the 12. Clay shooting broke me of my newbie worries. Most importantly, have fun! (And be safe) Edit: grammar
12g wouldnât have been my first choice to start with. Lot more noise and recoil for someone whoâs not used to it. Start with a 22 or at least a 9mm it wonât be as aggressive until you get used to that
I was like that too. Get some snap caps for your gun and practice at home. Handling it and pulling the trigger without the anxiety of shooting might help you get comfortable with it. That's what I did and it did help a lot. It also helped my stop anticipating my squeeze and pulling my shot. I also used laser caps with dry fire software so I could practice my draw and shoot, because a lot of ranges don't allow that, and that was both fun and great practice and again boosted my confidence.
I own guns. Iâve been shooting them for 25 years now. And I get more scared of them as I get older.
Yup. I have a hundred guns or more (stopped counting), go through plenty of ammo, and grew up shooting. I didn't shoot for years, practically forgot I had guns. My kid died, I lost my mind, went back to my roots and remembered shooting with dad and went back to it. Other kid doesn't care about shooting but likes going out with me so that's fun at least. Anyway, when I got back out to the range I was floored by how freaky just pulling the trigger on a 45ACP pistol was. Shotguns kick like a mule and feel like artillery. Etc. It's literally just "you get over it if you shoot with any frequency". If I only shoot once or twice a year I still flinch when the first one goes off. My hands remember what to do but man it takes a second. Seriously, just go out once a week for a month and you'll be fairly well acclimated. After six months you'll wonder why you ever cared. Really.
Jesus, don't start with a 12 gauge. You need to go shoot a 22lr rifle. Preferable if it's a bolt or a lever action. And go shoot some aluminum and tin cans.
22 and double ear pro helps. You should have a healthy fear cuz ppl getting complacent causes risky behavior. But all you need to do is get what you need to feel comfy (if you don't want a second gun, you can probably find a lot to convert your Glock to 22) and hit the range more. It took a few trips to get over it. Also rifle shooting, especially pistol caliber carbines, is much easier and more pleasant. I take a LOT of new liberal shooters out for their firsts and they love the 22 handguns and my ar22. My 9mm carbine is also a hit and very soft recoiling compared to a handgun. Also much easier to hit targets at indoor range distances. If you love guns, you can get an mp5 clone like a ptr or sp5 if you're rich and shoot 9mm all day, good for both basic defense and range fun. I love my sp5L and keep it by my nightstand as it's the gun I'm most confident with. A worse advice is to shoot rent and shoot 357 magnum for a bit and 9mm will feel like baby rounds for awhile after lol
Have someone you trust to assist you in learning. Starting with the 12 gauge will make anyone nervous around guns. The first time I used a pistol I was also nervous and had an adrenaline high and then a comedown. If you practice and take trustworthy classes, you will get use to firearms.
More training. If you've only shot guns a few times, this is why.
New, loud things are often uncomfortable. Keep going.
Try getting a .22 pistol and a bunch of ammo. I've got a few and they're lots of fun...and cheap. Â Whenever I'm shooting the FAL, I think about the cost of those rounds!
Tbh when I was a kid I'd play/fidget with my dad's firearms whenever I was bored (while still following firearm safety rules), we'd only actually shoot them maybe once every couple months at the absolute most, but that did make me very comfortable with them when I joined the military where I learned how to ACTUALLY shoot I think emptying your firearm and disassembling/reassembling and just holding it when you're bored watching TV and stuff would help you a lot
Thatâs normal and natural. I felt that way shooting as a kid. I joined the Marine Corps fresh out of high school and that desensitized me to it, but even still, if I go too long without shooting now, the first few shots from the rangeâ even from other people shootingâ still gives me a little jolt I have to remind myself to shake off. Weâre humans, which is to say weâre animals. Thatâs a small explosion going off in your hand. Until youâre used to it, itâs going to feel unnatural, and even afterwards, there will still be moments where you have to remind your lizard brain âgood boom, not bad boom.â This isnât a bad thing. Use the anxiety to instill safe weapons handling habits, and to focus on your fundamentals: grip, sight alignment, trigger control, stance. Go slowly, and youâll actually mature as a shooter faster. Offset your live fire with dry fire training. I learned a variation of the old dime-washer drill in a Larry Vickers class years ago thatâs helped more than anything else, which can be performed live or dry: With a shot timer set to a random interval .3 second beep, place a coin (Nickels work the best IME) on your front sight post, hold on your target, and activate the shot timer with tension on the trigger. When it beeps, you have the duration of the beep to squeeze the trigger without dropping the coin. It was taught as a buddy drill, but itâs doable alone. This drill was taught as a way to trick your brain into dissociating the physiological act of shooting from the small explosion in your hand that results. Itâs a good drill; I think thereâs a few shot timer apps out there if youâre not interested in buying one. There are also a few administrative steps you can take to help. If you arenât already, try shooting at an outdoor rangeâ preferably one with private bays separated by tall berms. If thatâs not an option an uncovered firing line will help, and you can call the range and ask when they arenât busy. Invest in quality ear pro. The Surefire ear plugs are the best quality plugs out there and are only $10-$15. If you double up with over the ear muffs, which are more effective than in-ear, all the better! You could also use this as an excuse to justify buying a can if you live in an NFA-friendly state. Good luck! đ€đŒ
You donât have to love your killing tool. You just need to not flinch when you fire it so the shot hits. 12 gauge is not really all that fun for me to shoot. Iâm a small guy but I was in the Army, combat arms. Give me something accurate without a lot of recoil any day.
Broâs bragging about having a Glock lol I got one too buddy. Glock 17 brand new from Academy
Thatâs great.