Recommendations for someone who isn't a "serious shooter."

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

This is basically what I did with a friend who likes to shoot a little but wasnt a real gun guy. He went a head and bought an AR on his own, one I wouldnt have recommended, but I didnt say anything...didnt want to dampen his budding enthusiasm. Steered him to a PA budget RDS to get him started and some good 10 rounders (CA.). I think I'm going to gift him some even better mags if you know what I mean. He's probably got $900 into it all and his rig is just fine with him at this point.

If only we bought 1 'bad' AR before finding 'the way' and getting good ones... We all have dated that one chick that makes us cringe and I have an Oly Arms AR as my first kit rifle... Maybe some of us were born with a Colt in our gun safe, the rest of us had to learn.

[Diamondback]

If only we bought 1 'bad' AR before finding 'the way' and getting good ones... We all have dated that one chick that makes us cringe and I have an Oly Arms AR as my first kit rifle... Maybe some of us were born with a Colt in our gun safe, the rest of us had to learn.

Isn't there a saying about how we only build good judgement through experience, and we only build experience through surviving the consequences of bad judgement?

I've actually been starting to work on a piece for one of the politics sites I sometimes write for about "panic-proof prepping, practical stockpiling one case of ammo at a time" which ties into this and it might be interesting if we all could pool resources and spitball ideas about building up household stores, including education/training, on a budget of about say $200 a month.

[markm]

It's hard sometimes to explain that to people, they need a first hand experience to understand just how crappy a rifle they get trying to save nickles and dimes along the way. Optics are the same way, but you have to prove it to people all the time.
I don't talk to many people about guns anymore, but when I do I say "This is what I have, this is why I bought it."
Explaining subtle nuances? You might as well talk to the dog.

After fixing and replacing $200 plus parts on that POS Smith Sport whatever. The kid still didn't get it. He said something like... "not a bad gun" for whatever price he paid. Oh well.

[markm]

Evidently there is more to being a cop than knowing how to shoot.

When I first started taking training... CCW, intermediate, advanced, etc.... I was already a very experienced shooter, but needed some structured training in areas other than marksmanship.

I remember some lady seeing my marksmanship and telling me I should be a cop. I laughed about it later... Like all you had to do as a cop was show up and shoot.

[MegademiC]

When I first started taking training... CCW, intermediate, advanced, etc.... I was already a very experienced shooter, but needed some structured training in areas other than marksmanship.

I remember some lady seeing my marksmanship and telling me I should be a cop. I laughed about it later... Like all you had to do as a cop was show up and shoot.

Right. People do that with military too.
“You like guns, you should join the mil.”
How about I do something else and shoot guns for a hobby.

[Dr. Bullseye]

There are virtually hundreds of good instructors who don't have a name.

Generally, I kind of turned my nose up at NRA Instructors until I retired and felt I needed to maintain instructor credentials, look here and see if something fits you:

https://firearmtraining.nra.org/student-courses/

Another thing you might do is go to a local deputy/patrolman/trooper you know and ask them who is the local guy to go to.

Show up at competitions, ask the RO's.

You can find someone who will be able to st you right, if you look.

No. I am not going for instruction. I hit what I am shooting at just fine and I work on what my weaknesses are. The negatives outweigh the positives as far as I am concerned, as I have explained. Frankly, I am sick and tired of people recommending "instruction"as a cure for everything. Did Daniel Boone attend a training school? The standard answer here for any issue seems to be a Gucci gun, an Aimpoint, and instruction. I am not going for any of those.

[Arik]

Daniel Boone? Seriously? Yea he probably had training from day one. It was called life. Had to know how to shoot, hunt, fish, trap, etc... But who gives a shit about him. And I don't remember Glock and Colt being "Gucci". Hell I buy mine police used

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Right. People do that with military too.
“You like guns, you should join the mil.”
How about I do something else and shoot guns for a hobby.

Free ammo and targets? ��

[JediGuy]

I’d say look at it over a 24 month, three calendar year time frame. Glock now. Buy 200 rounds a month, shoot 100. Next spring buy a BCM AR. Same thing with 556 ammo. Spring 2021, look at buying an optic for the AR, and or a second glock. Continue ammo.

You’d have a Glock and 600 rounds, an AR and 1200rounds and a scope, or a second Glock, as a spare or special CCW version. Call the guns Birthday presents and the ammo is less than dinner out once for a family of four per month.

That and find a monthly local competition that you can make 4-6 times a year.

That’s nothing crazy. Not like you are finding random lowers in drawers you don’t remember buying, cases of 9mm of unknown origin, or unmarked mags that you can’t remember which gun they were for.

ETA; my buy plan with MountianRavens specifics, outside of maybe the x300 for the handgun- that is really nice, but pretty spendy.

This makes a lot of sense to me.

[Jellybean]

Regarding the need for instruction, or certain people's confidence in thinking it serves no purpose or they don't need it for any of the plethora of reasons they come up with- a wise man I met once had a saying regarding that;
"You don't know what you don't know."


On topic, for the OP, here's an article from long ago that may help any interested parties;
http://andysarmory.blogspot.com/2017...ogistical.html