Teaching Someone to shoot on the AR-15 platform ?

So what's everyone's thoughts on teaching someone to shoot ( well the basics of marksmenship and weapons safety) on the AR platform ?

https://www.hunter-ed.com/gun-safety/

THE 4 RULES
OF FIREARM SAFETY

1
Always treat every firearm as though it is loaded.

The phrase “it’s unloaded” should never pass your lips and should never be trusted from someone else’s. Unless you are preparing to shoot, your first action with any firearm in all situations should be to point the muzzle in a safe direction, check the chamber, and clear the firearm.


2
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

It might help to think of the muzzle as a laser pointer—and everything it points toward is in danger. Never let the muzzle cover anything you’re not willing to destroy. Regarding the “safe direction”: don’t forget the possibility of a ricochet!


3
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

The best way to prevent accidental discharge is to keep your trigger finger indexed along the frame of the firearm until your sights are on the target. Do not place your finger inside the trigger guard until you’re ready to pull the trigger.


4
Always be sure of your target and what is in front of it and behind it.

Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. If you pull the trigger, you cannot take back the bullet! Everything and everyone in front of, near, and beyond your target is your responsibility. Make sure you have an adequate backstop and never shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.

X1000 DelawareRob.
Proper grips, stance, sight alignment (if a scope is used face distance from scope) are also very important. Handling malfunctions. Honestly it doesn't matter what firearm platform start at the basics. Go over the basics of said platform and emphasize SAFETY.

Before you introduce ammunition to the process, show the student every aspect and feature of an AR. Have them charge the bolt on an empty chamber and dry fire the gun. You can train a beginner student more without any ammunition than you can with ammunition.
A beginner student is often not at ease around a gun in which they are not familiar. Practicing without ammo will put them at ease.
Proper shooting position, pre-shot routine, proper breath control, trigger pull, and follow through can all be easily determined while dry firing.

Just my opinion...........but teach them first to shoot the M1A. They will then appreciate the reduced recoil of the AR and also realize what a horrible platform the AR truly is !

I love my AR. I'm not sure it's the right rifle for a first time shooter. A lot of shooting issues come from being nervous about the gun. An AR looks scary and is really, really loud.

I like to start new shooters on a .22. We quickly work our way up if they are comfortable with each step

-Ryan
NRA firearms instructor.

The mechanics of firing a shot that 52Carl mentioned will be the same. However, an AR typically has a different grip, comb and forend than most other guns. A typical .22 rifle might be a better choice for that reason, plus a couple others. Less buy-in for the new shooter if they decide they want a gun of their own, and ammo is 1/5 the price as well. The .223/5.56 can also be pretty loud.

A lefty might also be put off by the brass coming back at their face, as well as the gases that come along with it.

They sure are fun though, just finished my first build a few weeks ago and already it's my favorite gun.

a dedicated 22lr upper would be nice for ammo cost savings , the BCG conversions work but not as accurate when you get faster twist rifles.


I would take or send them to an Appleseed people will seldom dedicate two 8 hour days to marksmanship but committing to an Appleseed shoot makes that easier . the program also presents solid rifle marksmanship , steady hold factors and 6 steps to firing a shot breaking it down to very teachable steps.

there is certainly nothing wrong with teaching on the AR it can be very comfortable , with adjustable stocks it is actually very easy to make the rifle fit them. the manual of arms isn't difficult.

I agree hundreds of cycles of dry fire , I believe the Marines call it snapping in , I have heard they will spend 5 days at the range and not add ammo till day 4.

if you could have an ideal training platform dedicated 22lr upper set up just like your 5.56 upper but that is more than some have to spend.

start prone , build a good foundation , support hand open it is just a platform ,support arm under the rifle , loop sling Goldilocks tight , trigger knee up to get off the diaphragm , turkey neck and drop cheek-weld , c shaped trigger finger , middle of the first section of the trigger finger on the middle of the trigger. feet flat not up on toes , here is a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM4inXuzqrw

Ok thanks everyone. The reason I brought this up is because my girlfriend been getting into outdoor stuff with me fishing and such but she really wants to learn how shoot so she can at least shoot with me at the range (her mom also really like the idea of her daughter knowing how properly use a weapon). She's not scared of guns or anything she's just never really had much more beyond " if a bad guy gets in the house aim this in his general direction and pull the trigger.

I was already looking at getting a dedicated .22lr upper for small game so I figured it would double good as a good training tool. I was thinking if I got a flat top I could buy a set or iorn sights to start her with. And it would be easier to add optics later down the line. Also I thought the collapsible stock and the pistol grip wou l make it easier for her to fit the rifle.

As far as the process I figure if just show her how we did it in basic training. Well minus the drill sergeants lol and alot of the extra stuff. Basically muzzle always down range,safety on when not firing ,don't point at somthing you do t intend on killing ,finger off the trigger till your ready to shoot. Then how the rifle works,what does what when and how. Then explain sight picture trigger control breathing. Then finally at her shoot 3 rounds at a time, tmshow her how to zero then just have fun shooting cans or somthing.

The once she good and confident with the .22 I can swap her over to th .223 upper and so on
Sound good ? I know I'm not a certified instructor ( we're actually planning on doing a concealed carry class somtime tis year ) but I figure this would be good enough to get her started

Wish I had one lol !

I'd start anyone on a single shot bolt action .22, if possible; simple, with light recoil and lets the concentration be applied to fundamentals. Agree with white17.

No problem. All of the same principles apply. One change - one cartridge in the clip.

Be cautious and teach using the Socratic method - by asking questions.

This what I would do also and have done to teach someone on fire arms. After said and done they will know the basic of all types of guns

pump BB gun is what I start my kids on - shoot until they are comfortable and send them on their own. Son brought back his first two squirrels last year with bb gun and now he has a single shot .22 - no rush, they need to learn all actions from pump, single shot, lever, bolt, how to safely midcock and decock a lever action, work a bolt fully etc before I hand someone an AR

you would be surprised by the number of people that shoot a gun and then stand there trying to shoot again without working an action.......or those that I don't want to be near when working a lever gun

It works well,my 7 year old can handle the.recoil and sight alignment. Whatever gun you use, make it fun and start slow. We start out kids by just having them blast into the side of a hill. No aight alignment or proper grip or knowledge of how to load or charge a gun necessary. Just make it fun. Then we work up to shooting pop cans at 5 feet, just so they're hitting something. Things like sight alignment, loading, proper grip, breath control, etc etc can come later. Going slow and making it fun, and not work, are what's important. Don't use a nice gun, because they'll probably drop it or scratch it. Pistols above .22 only get one round, because recoil is usually sharper and unexpected, and we don't want accidents with guns pointing the wrong way. Only two kids can go on a shooting trip,because I only have two hands if things get really crazy. (Kids love to pick up empties and don't always pay attention). Obviously safety is Paramount and safety rules must be followed, 100% no exemptions, I'm kind of a "range Nazi" with the kids, because they need to learn the four safety rules fast.


Keep in mind this is what I do with a 5 year old, adults can obviously handle a little more than what a 5 year old can handle. Dry firing at home helps with learning safety, and kids like shooting .22s because hearing protection isn't necessarily required.

Wolfdog, an adult, like your girlfriend, can learn to shoot safely and accurately with your ar the same way tens of thousands of young adults are taught to safely and accurately shoot in military boot camp. Teaching an adult is much different than teaching a child. Teach her the same way the military teachs people. Start with an unloaded firearm. Firearm safety rules. Teach her the nomenclature of each part. Disassembly cleaning reassembly. Firearm safety rules. Then dry fire then live ammo.

Let them learn with a good 22cal less recoil, less cost of ammo build the skills then progress on.

This

single shots are good and bad , good from the one and done shot stand point

slow for training because they spend so much time getting in and out of position , not saying that at some point lots of repetition getting in and out of position is all bad it is good. but a single shot leaves you with a dedicated single gun.

it is more cost effective and time efficient to use a semi auto and load 1 round until they are ready for more , then they can stay in position and work on sight alignment , sight picture , respiratory pause , front sight focus, trigger squeeze and follow through

my opinion first 5 magazines contain 1 round , then next 5 contain 2 rounds , then next few 3 rounds , I feel this is a bit less critical with 22lr rifles but extremely important in hand guns not that uncommon when a person tries a center fire pistol for the first time that you may want to stand behind them and catch the then empty gun. or start shooting in the grass encase they drop the gun and for it to only have 1 round until they are comfortable with it. one of the many reasons I hate magazine disconnects. if you charge the gun from the magazine then remove the mag you can't accidentally have a second round in that mag.

also every gun need a minimum of 2 magazines 3 or more is ideal.

If it is high make them wear a safety harness in case they fall off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ammo cost more but since when does a 223 have any recoil?

I think if I had been introduced to the AR15 as my first gun, I'd still be throwing rocks, but by the same token as Danny said you can teach someone to shoot anything by military methods- the Navy taught me the .30 BAR and 5"-38cal canons.

I would start small with a Ruger 10-22 or something.
A Ruger Single Six in 22 lr./22 mag. is a great pistol to teach someone new.

Whatever you decide don't let her shoot anything with a lot of recoil... you'll be sorry.

I love my smith and Wesson mp .22. It would be a great gun to teach with. It works the same as other ar platform guns do. Cost is cheap to shoot.

it was and it was getting very popular at Project Appleseed events and in Scholastic action shooting , and is now banned from both because it fires out of battery sending shrapnel and hot gasses out the ejection port. S&W issued a recall saying the chambers were out of spec and send your gun in and have it checked. that was great till a checked rifle fired out of battery at a Scholastic Youth Action Shooting event.

keep it clean and don't shoot left handed or next to anyone and it should probably never hurt you. but when your at shoot and lined up 50 people wide with about 6 inches between shooting mats it was too much of a liability.

wow that's too bad. I have never had any of that with mine nor have i had a recall sent to me. That would be a bad deal getting flak in someone's face! Would make a first time shooter not want to shoot again.

here is the notice https://www.smith-wesson.com/mp15-22-consumer-safety-alert

unless you registered your gun with S&W they have no idea who has it.

exactly , Appleseed operates at ranges nation wide , often with new shooters , having an injury is a big deal

S&W was notified of the issue and was slow to respond examples of the issue in fall 2015 and more 2016 Appleseed temporarily banned it 2016 and notified S&W with the details and ammo brand and lot, it was just earlier this year that it happened at a Scholastic action shooting practice , a coach recived only minor injuries but the gun was checked before and after and had been found to be in spec , replacing the trigger pins with anti walk pins was suggested as a resolution but when done the gun still fired out of battery specifically when shooting of the reset

fast forward to 2019 https://mailchi.mp/sssfonline/19_sasp_update_equipment_safety_alert-628477?e=509cd41db8

it may be that the two things these programs share are both teach shooting off the reset as is also commonly taught for high power rifle competition with the CMP, and high round counts.

the rifle was so ideal for the type of shooting taught that Appleseed partnered with Tippman Arms and they are now building a M4 style 22lr rifle. https://mailchi.mp/tippmannarms.com/projectappleseedm4-22_member

I might have to reserve one of those. Looks like its going to be a nice build.

several instructors have been running them a few months now and had good things to say about them.

things I have heard people do so far , replace the hand-guard with an aluminum one mostly for feel , and put a drop in trigger in to improve the trigger more but they are shooing plenty well enough to qualify rifleman right out of the box.

my most recent LTR is a 10/22
caught a sale at Fleet Farm 249.99 had to get a rain check and come back , also signed up for the credit card 10%off took it down to 225 as the delux it started before the sale at 359
replace sling loops with studs , add a GI web sling with uncle mikes style swivels
installed an extend scope rail with 20moa elevation not because it is needed but because some friends like to have 22lr shoots at 200 yards so if 20moa is no added cost better to add it now than buy twice. I do need the extended rail to get it far enough forward for me.
installed vortex crossfire 2-7x32 BDC
I may eventually sand out the barrel channel and glass bed the action like I have done with another , but I need to get around to shooting it myself so far my son and another orange hat have used it.