Summary: A round table discussion on some questions frequently asked by new shooters and gun owners. The panel also covers some very helpful shooting tips for the firearm mentor.Ryan Michad from Handgun Radio fills in for Jake this week and leads a roundtable discussion with Handgun Newbie (Practically Tactical), J.W. (AR-15 Podcast), and Carol from Fat2FitHQ.Welcome to Episode 109 of Gun Guy Radio! This is the podcast that shines a positive light on the firearms lifestyle. I’m Your host Ryan Michad filling in for Jake Challand and this is your weekly dose of positive firearms talk, without the politics.Announcements:Great Bond Arms GiveawayWe are giving away the new Bond Arms “Back-up” in 45ACP!You get an entry for every quality Gun or GearSubmit your review at http://firearmsinsider.tv/submit/Announcing the winner on May 4th! All reviews must be submitted by April 30thBrownells helps make this episode of Gun Guy Radio Possible. Selection Service Satisfaction. Find it all at Brownells. Go to www.gunguyradio.com/SatisfactionMain Topic: New Shooter FAQ's & Tips for Shooting MentorsThoughts on Handguns vs. Long Guns for new shooters:Long guns CAN be easier for a new shooter to utilize, but can also bring about issues such as the shooters strength, mobility with the long gun, and ability to handle increased recoil (most long guns above .22 have pretty good recoil, especially for someone not used to firearms.Handguns have the advantage of being able to be used inside and outside the home as a concealed carry piece if so desired..22 LR is great for gettting new shooters started, but DO NOT neglect to show the new shooter centerfire handguns as well. A .22 is great for general practice but the new shooter absolutely needs to know how to handle a centerfire firearm.Prices of firearms can be daunting to some cash-strapped new shooters. Try to advise them against spending less on a defensive firearm. There are GREAT deals on quality defensive firearms, but purchasing a poorly made, unreliable handgun will never give you a return on your investment. You will end up spending more money to buy a gun that works reliably. A Jennings/Raven/Bryco .380 may be a lot cheaper than an LCP, but an LCP isn’t going to spontaneously disassemble in your hand either.Thoughts for Shooting Mentors:The biggest thing is to try and understand where the new shooter is in the firearms world. To someone who is totally unfamiliar with firearms, it can be an overwhelming and for some, scary experience. They have spent their lives hearing about how dangerous guns can be if used improperly. The key is not to brush off their concerns, but to EDUCATE them so that they are able to dispel their concerns on their own. Helping the new shooter to understand WHY there are four safety rules and how safe things will be if they follow them and ask questions if they have any will go a long way towards making them more comfortable in the firearms world.Don’t start the new shooter off with a handgun or long gun that they cannot handle. Giving a new shooter a 12 gauge with 3” shells or a Mosin-Nagant M44 for their first time shooting with almost certainly turn them off to shooting.Be understanding. I’ve personally seen many instructors on the range get impatient with students because they truly didn’t understand how a mechanism of the firearm worked, or how to get into a proper stance. The firearms world may be old hat to us; we understand how to do most of the things taught in a basic shooter & safety course. To new shooters, this is a whole new world, and it is a lot to digest in a short period of timeGear Thoughts (J.W. - AR-15 Podcast)Learn the basics before getting fancy - build proficiency with irons before breaking the bank with an opticWhen you do decide to expand your platform, save and try to buy quality components - nothing more frustrating than seeing poor performance downrange that could be attributed to an airsoft-quality knockoff (buy once,
