TriggerTalk Radio

Trigger Talk:  Open Carry

Over the past several weeks we did two sessions of our WAAM Trigger Talk “Radio Edition” on the subject of “Open Carry” inMichigan.

Many people are unaware that it is legal for a law abiding person to carry a gun openly in the state.  While there are restrictions on places you may or may not carry openly, most of those restrictions are exempted if the person also has a Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL). This exemption also applies to visiting residents of other states that hold CPL licenses in their home state.

When I first read these rules I was confused as to their application.  I contacted the Michigan State Police Office of the Director of Legal Resource and Education Unit and was able to get direct access to the author of the Michigan State Police Legal Update publication No 86 (dated October 26^th 2010). The Sergeant indicated they get many calls on his subject and the goal of their document is to help both Law Enforcement and the public to better understand the rules governing open carry.

The following is a summary of the information in that document:

• MCL 28.425o lists the premises upon which a CPL holder may not carry a concealed pistol.  MCL 28.425o does not apply to a CPL holder when he or she is carrying a visible non-concealed pistol, commonly referred to as open carry.  
• MCL 750.234d lists the premises upon which a person shall not possess a firearm; however, CPL holders are specifically exempted by subsection (2)(c).  
• Therefore, CPL holders may carry a visible non-concealed pistol on the premises listed in MCL 28.425o and MCL 750.234d without being in violation of either statute.

A web search for “Michigan State Police Legal Update 86”, will locate the document and you can download a .pdf file explaining the laws including hot links to the appropriate pages ofMichiganfirearms law and penal code statutes.

Additionally, there are several organizations around the state and nationally such as www.miopencarry.org where additional information may be found as well a tips and pointers on things such as retention holsters and local events promoting open carry.

The decision to carry a firearm whether openly or concealed is not for everyone and must not be taken lightly. You should be well practiced in safe firearm handling and it is your responsibility to understand and abide by the laws in affect.

Next month we’ll talk about gun cleaning and maintenance.

Until then …….Safe Shooting! 

Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk:  AR style rifles.

AR style rifles are loved and scorned by many people. The AR10 was designed in 1955 as a replacement for the military’s M1 Garand. 56 years later the AR has become one of the most popular firearms available today.

Much of this popularity is due to the versatility of the platform. Originally the AR15 was only available in 5.56 NATO (.223 Rem). Recoil is minimal, it is extremely accurate and very effective for varmint shooting. Today in larger calibers such as .308 Win. , 6.5 Grendel, and 6.8SPC,AR’s can be used for medium and large game hunting.  A recent trend includes lighter versions designed to fire the .22LR round, allowing low cost practice and plinking.

The level of customization available to the gun owner is amazing with easy to change stocks, upper receivers, barrels, sighting systems, hand guards. An entire parts manufacturing industry has grown supplying the latest “Tactical” equipment.

Detractors of the AR rifles are divided into two groups: Traditional firearm enthusiasts and Anti-Gun groups. A departure from traditional  firearm construction, the AR was built from aluminum and polymers instead of blued steel and walnut and did not look and feel like a traditional sporting rifle. Initially available only in .223 Rem. the AR15 was considered too light of caliber and prohibited from deer hunting in some states.

Anti-gun groups don’t like the way AR’s looked, based on a military design they tried to label it a “Machine Gun” despite firing only one shot for each pull of the trigger. Through-out history civilian firearms have been based on military designs, from the flintlocks, bolt actions based on a 1898 Mauser design, to today’s AR style rifles.  In fact, semi-automatic rifles have been available to the general public since Remington introduced the Model 8 in 1906.

Bill Clinton’s 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, outlawed many guns based on cosmetic features such as pistol grips, folding stocks, detachable magazines and bayonet mounts. These attributes became know as “Evil features” and were banned ostensibly to lower crime.  When was the last time you heard of a crime committed with a bayonet? Today many of us affectionately refer to this style of gun as an EBR (short for Evil Black Rifle).

AR style rifles can be purchased from around $600 up through $2-3000 and are manufactured by many companies including: Colt, DPMS, Rock River Arms, Remington, Ruger, Sig-Sauer, Bushmaster, and Smith and Wesson.

Next month we’ll talk about the pro and cons of “Open Carry”.

Until then …….Safe Shooting!

Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk …Selecting a Concealed Carry Handgun Pt. #2

 Revolvers? Aren’t they obsolete?  Why would I want one of those antiques looking things?

 When it comes to self-defense, the LAST reason for picking a firearm is because it looks cool.  Reliability, power, size, weight, and ability to conceal are what’s important in your carry gun.

 Revolvers are making a comeback in recent years. Innovations in materials and design have produced lightweight carry guns with modern features such as laser sights and polymer shock absorbing frames and grips. Several models are offered with shrouded or internal hammers to prevent snagging on clothing when drawing from a holster.

 Short barreled revolvers take more skill to shoot accurately than a semi-auto pistol. The same features that make for easy concealment also can be a draw back. The short distance between the front and rear sights known as “sight radius” makes sight alignment much more critical. Long trigger pulls can lead to movement of the gun and wide variation in shot placement at 10-15 feet. This may be overcome by the use of laser sight, place the red laser dot on the target and that is where the bullet goes.

 The smallest revolvers often have cylinders that hold only 5 rounds, this is done to make them thinner and easier to conceal. This is a tactical disadvantage when compared to the 8 to 15 rounds found in semi-auto pistols. Carrying extra ammo in a speed loader or speed strip is a must with a revolver.

 The most common caliber for carry revolvers is .38 Special and the slightly more powerful .38 Special +P.  Several manufactures make ammo specially formulated for short barreled guns. The .357 Magnum is an excellent choice and still one of the most powerful handgun rounds available. The recoil however is especially brutal in lightweight guns.  It also has the ability to chamber lower powered .38’s allowing for lower cost and more comfortable practice sessions.

 There are many choices available from the major manufactures: exotic materials, special alloys, stainless steel,. The new Ruger LCR and Smith & Wesson Bodyguard are two of the new polymer guns that are worth looking into. Because revolvers have been made for many decades,  the used market is a great source of affordable guns. Often people have moved to the newer semi-auto guns and barely used revolvers have been traded in.

 Next month we’ll talk about AR style rifles.  Future topics will include Open Carry, personal defense training, reloading ammunition, gun cleaning, gun storage and more! 

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

 Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk …Selecting a Concealed Carry Handgun Pt. #1

 How do I select a personal defense handgun? What caliber should I get? Do I want to carry in a holster, pocket carry or maybe a purse or fanny pack?.  These are the question we must ask ourselves? The decision to carry and be responsible for your own self defense is more of a lifestyle change than just a gun selection.

 There are many choices and calibers, a minimum for self-defense should be the .38 Special and .380 acp. Years ago these calibers were considered a bare minimum for self-defense. Modern improvements in projectile design and propellant technology have made these rounds very capable self-defense calibers.  This month we’ll talk about semi-automatic pistols and next month we will cover revolvers

 You will find yourself selecting your clothing based on your ability to properly conceal your carry gun.  Your firearm may change based on the seasons of the year.  In the warmer months when wearing shorts and a T-Shirt a small gun such as the Ruger LCP or Smith and Wesson Bodyguard are good choices with a proper pocket holster. These holsters completely cover the trigger guard preventing accidental pulling of the trigger and are specially designed to stay in the pocket when pulling out the gun. In the colder months when wearing a jacket or coat a larger firearm can be carried without it being seen.

 Many instructors will suggest a 9mm midsize or small frame semi-automatic firearm for a first carry gun. 9mm recoil is very manageable for most people and the midsize frames are large enough to get a firm grip. The trigger pull is typically light and short, the weight is minimal and the ability to conceal is great. Examples include the Springfield XD9 compact, Glock 19, Smith and Wesson M&P compact, Ruger LC9, Kimber Solo, Kahr PM9,and the Taurus 709 Slim. Additionally, some of the latest generation of pistols come with a portion of the grip that can be interchanged to fit you hand more comfortably

 9mm handguns are typically too big for pocket carry, so you must consider your method of carry. There are two main types of holsters: Inside the Waistband (IWB) and Belt or Outside the Waistband (OWB).  IWB also may allow you to cover your gun with your shirt as some have a “tuckable” feature for your shirt tail.

 Next month we’ll talk about carrying Revolvers.  Future topics will include AR style Rifles, Open Carry, personal defense training, gun cleaning, gun storage and more! 

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

 Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk ….Sights and Optics

 Most firearms are equipped with basic sights when you buy them. Hunting or Sport Utility Rifles may only be equipped with mounts to allow you to add a sighting system or optics of your choosing.  Simple “Open” or “Iron” sights consist of a single front post and a rear sight with a groove you align with the front site. These sights are fine for target shooting, but the options available today greatly enhance your ability to place your shots where you want.

 Aftermarket sights that have a large single dot front sight with a shallow “V” rear sight and alignment mark such as those sold by XS Sights greatly enhance your target acquisition especially in low light. Sight alignment is further increased in low light by the use of tritium night sights. These sights incorporate a small vial of a glowing material that makes the sights visible even in total darkness. An example of this type of sight is manufactured by Trijicon right here in Wixom MI.

 In recent years the use of lasers on handguns has gained great acceptance and today there are add-on lasers and replacement grips made for virtually all handguns. A laser sight places a small red dot directly on your target that you can see, assuring that the gun is aimed correctly.

 Telescopic sights offer versatility for the shooter, helping to achieve pinpoint accuracy at typical hunting ranges of 100 to 200 yards assuring clean humane harvesting of game.   Scopes allow long range hunting at greater distances with magnum cartridges, and help those of us will older eyes still see the targets.

 A good rule of thumb for purchasing a scope is to spend at least as much on your scope as you did for your rifle. It does not make sense to purchase a high quality rifle and mount a cheap $39 scope on it.  High quality scopes use much better glass with multi-layer coatings that increase light transmission. This allows you to see better in the early morning light or the decreasing light at dusk.

 “Red Dot” sights project a red dot onto a glass pane in the scope itself. When you look through the glass you just place the dot on the target and that is where to bullet goes. These sights are great for quick target alignment and are similar to the types currently in use by our military.

 Next month we’ll talk about “Concealed Carry” handgun selection. Future topics will include personal defense training, gun cleaning, holster selection and more! 

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

 Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk …Selecting defensive handgun ammunition.

Aren’t all bullets alike? Can I just buy the cheapest? Are hollow-points illegal?… These are questions I often hear from new shooters, so let’s clear up the confusion.

Inexpensive ammo is fine for practice and breaking in a new gun. Buy as many rounds as you can afford and pull the trigger often. A firearm purchased for self defense should have 400 to 500 rounds fired through it before carrying. This break-in allows the parts to smoothly function together improving reliability. The last 50 – 100 rounds should be with your selected self defense ammo to ensure the rounds feed reliably.

Self defense ammo is expensive, while practice ammo may cost $10-$15 for 50 rounds; it is not unusual to pay $30 – $40 for 20 rounds of premium self defense ammo. Remember, you may have to count on your firearm to save your life; you want the same reliable performance from your ammunition that you expect from your gun.

The goal of self defense ammo is to transfer as much energy as possible to the target while preventing over penetration. Practice/Target or Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ammunition often retains its shape passing cleanly through the threat and continuing on through walls and distances striking unintended objects or people. You are responsible to ensure the safety of others even in a self defense situation.

A common method to promote bullet expansion is a hollow point. The cavity in the front of the bullet fills with tissue and forces the sides outward like the petals of a flower. This increased diameter helps transfer more energy to the threat, preventing over penetration as well as increasing the chance of damaging vitals organs and the nervous system.

Some makers of defensive ammunition use a plastic plug in the tip to aid expansion by preventing the hollow point from clogging with clothing such as denim or leather. Other special features may include special propellants to reduce recoil and muzzle flash for quicker follow-up shots and to protect your night vision, with some rounds specially designed for short barrel guns such as snub nose revolvers.

The profiles of defensive bullets vary greatly and different guns have varying styles of feed ramps so you may have to try several brands before you find one that your gun “Likes” and will feed reliably.

Next month we’ll talk about Sights and Optics. Future topics will include personal defense training, “Concealed Carry” handgun selection, gun cleaning, storage and more!

Until then …….Safe Shooting!

Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk ….Shotguns

 Shotguns are at the same time the most versatile and least understood firearms available to the average person.

 A shotgun can be used for several purposes: hunting, sport shooting such as Trap or Sporting Clays, and for personal defense.. Shotguns typically have the added benefit of interchangeable barrels and/or a device on the end of the barrel called a “choke” to tailor the gun to the specific usage desired. Most often the same gun can be used for a variety of uses with only minor modifications.

 A good first shotgun is one that utilizes a “pump” action. After each shot the user pulls back the forestock to eject the spent shell and then pushes forward to load a fresh shell into the chamber. They are simple to use, easy to maintain, and can quickly be adapted to different roles.

 Both Remington and Mossberg manufacture reasonably priced shotguns. Basic models of the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 can be purchased for under $500 and will typically be equipped with a wood or synthetic stock and a blued steel receiver and barrel. If you desire a pistol grip or camouflage forTurkeyhunting those are commonly available options. Interchangeable chokes are a cylindrical device that screws into the end of the barrel and lets you change the size of the shot pattern for the type of shooting or hunting planned. If you are a deer hunter there are rifled barrels available for single projectiles called a “Slug” instead of “shot” (small pellets for birds or small game). Mounts for telescopic sights are also available for greater accuracy at longer ranges.

 Several manufactures produce a home defense or “Tactical” shotgun which is typically shorter than its hunting counterpart to make it more maneuverable. The barrel is shorter, the stock may be adjustable and include a pistol grip and the magazine tube is longer to hold six or seven rounds instead of the typical four that a hunting gun holds.

 For home protection most instructors consider a good pump action shotgun to be the ideal firearm to deal with a home invasion in the middle of the night. Shotguns are both effective and easy to use, but they require good technique. Many people think you just point a shotgun anywhere in the room and you’ll hit the target. The shot pattern from a self defense shotgun may be larger than a single bullet from a handgun at the ranges typically encountered inside a home (5 to 25 feet), but the pattern of shot would be from 2 to 8 inches in diameter. Though easier to hit a target than with a single 9mm diameter bullet, it still requires aiming.  Home defense shotguns will often include enhanced sights help you quickly acquire your target and assist in low light situations

 Several ammunition manufactures make shotgun shells designed for self-defense. They have special powder to reduce muzzle flash so that your night vision is not affected as much and often have reduced recoil to help make the gun easier to handle effectively. I use 12 gauge 00 Buck Hornady TAP or Winchester PDX shells.

 Next month we’ll talk about selecting personal defense handgun ammunition. Future topics will include personal defense training, “Concealed Carry” handgun selection, gun cleaning, storage and more! 

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

 Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk ….Basic Rifles

A rifle is a great way to enter the shooting sports. The offerings available to the consumer today in terms of function, style, materials, caliber and price have never been greater.

As we discussed last month we need to look at the intended usage of the firearm.  Some rifles calibers and designs are very versatile and can serve a training role as well as small game hunting, elimination of varmints, and even home defense. We also need to determine who the shooter is going to be. If you are going to be working with youth or small stature shooters then a youth model or one with adjustable stock may be beneficial.

We will start out with a basic model and a .22 Long Rifle (.22LR) caliber is a good choice. These rifles use the same ammunition as the basic handguns we reviewed last month, offering low cost, universal availability, and virtually no recoil.  Basic 22 rifles can he found in several types:

• Single shot models in which you load each round individually
• Repeaters with a manually operated action (bolt, lever, or pump)
• Semi-automatic or self-loading models.

Repeating rifles allow more than one shot to be fired without reloading.  A repeater will have a magazine that contains multiple cartridges or rounds. There are several types of magazines; some are tubular under the barrel or in the butt-stock and others are removable and snap into place underneath the action of the rifle.  A removable magazine allows you to pre-load cartridges into additional magazines for faster reloads. Semi-automatic or self-loading rifles use some of the energy from firing the round to eject the spent cartridge from the rifle, pick up a new round from the magazine and insert it into the chamber. This allows you to continue firing without having to manually work the bolt / lever action or pump the slide to continue firing.  A semi-automatic firearm will fire once for each pull of the trigger, and should not be confused with full automatic or “Machine gun”.

Since the 15^th century most firearms were a combination of wood and steel, but  today the use of synthetic materials is common providing low cost of manufacture as well as superior resistance to the elements. Some manufactures are offering basic .22 LR rifles styled after current military rifles.  This offers several benefits that go beyond appearance. These smaller/lighter versions of M4 carbines offer adjustable stocks that allow the same gun to be use by shooters of different sizes. Additionally these guns have same the feel and operating controls of their larger counterparts making the transition to a full power cartridge rifle much simpler.

Rifles offer the option of different types of sighting systems. A good place to start is with the “open” or iron sights found on most basic rifle. Open sights will typically have a blade that sticks up at the “muzzle” or exit end of the barrel that is aligned with a notch in the rear sight when aiming at the target. I like to start with open sights when teaching because it helps student grasp the concept of “sight alignment and trajectory.

For longer distances, greater accuracy, or if you are like me and your vision is not quite as sharp as it used to be, I find a telescopic sight or “Scope” to be useful. A scope allows you to see and place accurate shots for longer range shooting and hunting.  We will talk about different aiming devices and their use as well as larger more powerful rifles in future months.

When purchasing that first training rifle you will be looking for quality and reliability.  Any manufacturer can build the occasional product with a problem but sticking with a major brand and a tried and true model will be a good starting point.  One thing I’ve learned is that there will be many people on the web and in forums more than willing to share views on their favorite guns or the models which they have problems.  Some of the people have valid information while others offer opinions with little or no hands-on experience.

There are some popular models that have been around for decades, and seem to get better and more versatile with age. I will list a few I have experience with but there are many others. Remember a trip to the gun store is in order to make sure your choice fits you well.

 Youth                                                 Lever Action                                    Bolt Action              

Savage Cub                                      Winchester 9422                              Savage 93 and Mark II

Marlin XT Youth                               Henry H001                                      Winchester Wildcat

Remington Model 5                         Marlin 39A                                         Marlin XT

Semi-auto                                         AR (Military Style)

Ruger 10/22                                      Smith and Wesson M&P15-22

Marlin 60                                            Colt M4 Tactical 22 (M2245050)

Savage 64                                           Ruger SR22

Unlike handguns you do not need to obtain “Permit to Purchase” to buy long guns.  When purchasing from a licensed dealer you will need to fill out a form 4473 and a FBI NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) will be performed.

Next month we’ll talk about shotguns. Future topics will include telescopic sights selection, personal defense training, “Concealed Carry” handgun and ammunition selection, gun cleaning, storage and more!  Until then …….Safe Shooting

Dick Cupka is an NRA Certified Pistol, Personal Defense in the Home and Concealed Pistol License Instructor. You can reach him by e-mail at….. triggertalk.dc@gmail.com

Trigger Talk …..Buying your first gun

Wow, the sales flyers in the Sunday paper have great prices; I’m going to buy my first gun!!!

Slow down a little bit, first you’ll need to know what you’re looking for. Buying a gun is more than looking in a glass case at the gun counter for the one that looks coolest. Let’s figure out what

you are planning to do with it. Basically there are three types of guns: Handguns, Rifles, and Shotguns, each with its own purpose. The one you choose will depend on how you want to get started in shooting.

For today let’s talk about handguns, and because we are starting with the basics we’ll assume you are a beginner and plan to use the firearm to learn about shooting fundamentals.

Safety, marksmanship, technique and maintenance are the same whether you are shooting a basic .22 or a fancy .45.  Maybe your intent was ultimately to use the handgun for self or home defense and you were thinking of buying a large caliber high capacity gun like law enforcement uses.  I would suggest you take a different approach, when you were learning to drive a car you didn’t run out and buy a Ferrari and if you recall, I’ll bet your first two-wheeler had training wheels on it. You would be well served to take a similar approach in your first handgun.

A good .22 caliber pistol is a great training gun for practicing proper grip, stance, breathing, trigger control, and sight picture.  Best of all, you can shoot a .22 all day for less than $20.  Good quality bulk packs (525-550 rounds) of .22 ammunition can be purchased at most of the big box stores for $17-$20.

.22 cal. handguns are manufactured in both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. I enjoy using both, but for teaching a beginner I prefer the semi-auto.  Several manufactures produce models specifically for training, these guns will typically have mid length barrels 4-6 inches long, adjustable sights, and a smooth consistent trigger.  My favorite, and the one we use at our club for training is the Ruger Mark II or III, but there are others. Smith and Wesson produces the model 22A and 41, Browning makes the Buckmark, and the Beretta U22 Neos.  Some manufactures make models such as the Walther P22 which is designed to match the controls and feel of their larger caliber guns, making the transition to a larger caliber gun easier.

To purchase a handgun inMichigan unless you hold a valid Concealed Pistol license you must first get a “Permit to Purchase”. This is one of the steps the State goes through to ensure a person buying a handgun has at least a basic knowledge of handgun law. It additionally is used as a method of recording handgun ownership for the state law enforcement agencies. The permit is only valid for a period of ten days, so it is best to do your research on which type and model you plan to purchase before obtaining the permit.  You obtain the permit at your local Law Enforcement agency such as the City or Township Police, or County Sheriff’s office.  Additionally, when purchasing any firearm from a licensed dealer you will be required to fill out a form and undergo an FBI instant background check during the purchase process.  You can debate whether you feel these steps are appropriate, but these are requirements under current law and must be followed.

Now let’s head to the store for some shopping. We know we want to get a gun that has a good reputation for quality at a fair price. But wait, how does it feel in your hand, is it too heavy, are the grips so thick you can’t reach the trigger, are the controls hard to operate? These questions are why you need to go to a store and actually handle the guns you are interested in. This also is why you don’t want to purchase a gun for someone else. A gun can be a great gift, but make an outing of it so the shooter can hold and “feel” the gun themselves.

Another consideration is whether to purchase new or used. Many gun retailers have a used gun counter, or maybe a friend has offered their used gun to you because they have moved on to something new.  Real bargains can be had, but just like used cars you need to know what you are getting.  A good quality used gun can provide all the safety, functionality and enjoyment of a new one if has been properly used and maintained.  I still shoot the first handgun I ever used; it was purchased by my Grandfather in 1968 and reminds me of him every time I shoot it. My oldest handgun was made by Colt in 1922 and is as accurate and fun to shoot as the day it was made.  My point here is that when you are purchasing a gun you are making a purchase that can last a lifetime. Take your time, choose quality and if used, verify condition. Saving a few dollars on the initial purchase for a lesser quality or poor condition gun will seem small versus the loss of reliability and function over the lifetime of that firearm.

Next month we’ll talk about selecting a basic rifle. Future topics will include personal defense training, Shotgun selection, “Concealed Carry” handgun and ammunition selection, gun cleaning, storage and more!  Until then …….Safe Shooting

Trigger Talk Courant May 2011

Trigger Talk …..Getting started in Shooting

Okay, so you’ve wanted to learn to shoot for a long time.  There are many reasons you have come to this conclusion.  Perhaps you are concerned about crime in your area and want a gun for home defense, or your friends at work are hunters and you’d like to join them.  Or maybe you are concerned about your 2^nd Amendment Rights and want to purchase a firearm before an anti-gun administration tries to take away your rights.  Whatever the reason, how do you get started?

Here in the Midwest, the changing landscape has also changed the way many of us get started in shooting. Over the last 50-60 years the shift from a rural farming population to urban and suburban living has reduced both the available space and opportunities to begin a lifetime in the shooting sports.  Getting that first BB gun followed by shooting tin cans off a fence post with a .22 after dinner with a parent or grandparent is not an option for many people.

Many people think they know how to handle a gun, after all they played “Cops and Robbers” as a kid and certainly all those hours playing video game war simulations must have taught  them something… right?  The truth is: Proper training in the use of firearms is essential; the first thing you will need to understand is safe gun handling.

A good way to get started is to attend a “First Shots” or “First Steps” class designed for people with absolutely no firearms experience. At one of these introductory sessions you will typically receive:

• An introduction to the safe handling and use of firearms
• A basic introduction to different types of firearms and ammunition
• Classroom and firing range instruction.
• An understanding of the local requirements for purchasing and owning a firearm

There are many places you can go to seek out this type of training.  A good place to start is your local gun store.  These may range from a small individually owned gun store to one of the large chains such as Cabela’s, Gander Mountain or Bass Pro Shops.  Some of the individual gun stores such as the “Firing Line” in Westland also have on-site gun ranges, with instructors and gun rental available.  Another source is a local Gun or Sportsmen’s Club which can add the benefit of a social club environment to the learning and enjoyment of the shooting sports. Most counties including Washtenaw and Livingston have several to choose from.  A quick internet search for “Firearms Instruction” or “Places to Shoot” in South East Michigan revealed dozens of locations from which to choose. Each of these options will have a list of places and instructors to get you started on your journey to responsible gun ownership.

A popular introduction for women is the NRA’s “Women on Target” events held exclusively for female shooters. Women of all ages are introduced to Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun shooting including  “Trap” or clay pigeon shooting. Both the “First Shots” and “Women on Target” are typically offered in conjunction with local ranges and clubs.

Next month we’ll talk about the types of guns best suited for your initial training and skill development. Future topics will include personal defense training, Concealed Carry handgun and ammunition selection, gun cleaning, storage and more!

Until then …….Safe Shooting

Trigger Talk April 2011