Guns are intimidating. Or so I thought until I had training from a certified NRA Instructor who taught me the proper way to handle a firearm. My only experience (so far) had been shooting a rifle in .22 LR. So, I wanted to dip my toes into the water and try out handguns.

Seek Proper Firearm Training

There are two kinds of people. People who jump right into the pool and people who take it body part by body part. Personally, I dip my toe in, get a feel of the temperature, and let my body acclimate.

I applied the same logic to shooting guns. Start small with the easiest caliber and work my way up. I figured the best way was to start slow as I worked on my confidence around firearms and anxiety when handling them. My experience of learning about firearms is not a race or a competition. I can move at my own speed.

Now, I can proudly say I tackled shooting a .22 LR rifle and fell in love with it. I had a newfound understanding of the sport and why people get involved. And honestly? I wanted to feel that calmness shooting firearms gave me for the first time all over again.

There is something about how, when the world gets too heavy and overwhelming, shooting is the perfect way to clear your head. I craved to learn and experience more. The next step I wanted to take was handguns. This time, I wanted a trained professional to show me the ropes.

Finding the Right Instructor

Andy Grossman has been an NRA instructor for 13 years and would be showing me the proper way to shoot a handgun. A fellow writer and photographer, Andy likes long walks to the gun range, refilling his ammo, and educating the uneducated.

As Andy prepared his firearms for me to shoot, I asked him out of curiosity if he ever had people come into his class who are strongly against guns but wanted to see what they are about. I was shocked to hear a yes. He also added that most of the time, their opinion on firearms changes to a more positive one.

Now, don’t get me wrong, guns speak for themselves when giving each person their own individual experience. However, a big part of your experience in shooting a firearm is having a knowledgeable teacher to educate you. Instructors play a fundamental role in the experience you have when shooting and how successful it can be.

Keeping It Fun and Informative

Andy made the experience fun, informative, and helped me ease any jitters of anxiety I had. The thing I appreciated the most was that he made it a priority that I knew each gun and how it operated.

He didn’t just slap it into my hand, shove me toward some targets, and tell me to pull the trigger. He took his time in showing me what a cartridge was and the difference in what each caliber looked like.

It is important to know how the firearm operates. Andy showed me where the firing pin was inside the gun and its purpose—to strike the primer on a cartridge and cause it to ignite. Who knew that a small little pin could make a big explosion of chaos happen? I certainly did not. It was cool to learn that it’s such a straightforward process that provides a lot of fun and excitement.

Tiny Details

When I previously held handguns, I never felt comfortable touching them because I didn’t know how to hold them. I always delicately pinched the handle and shoved it off into the hands of the owner as quickly as possible.

Something so small and simple as how to handle a gun makes the whole experience completely different. It adds a newfound sense of confidence. My favorite part of the whole experience was when Andy showed me how to hold a handgun properly.

Grabbing the firearm like you are ready to use it was the biggest lesson I learned about handling guns. He showed me where my thumbs should sit, what thumb should be tucked under what, and how to stand.

It seems silly, but instructors know the tiny details. Sometimes, when we do a repetitive thing, it falls into muscle memory.

For example, if I had my significant other show me how to shoot a handgun instead of an NRA instructor, he could have missed a delicate detail about thumb placement, and I could have gotten pinched.

Boom. Now, the whole experience is off, and I would not feel safe shooting anymore. It would have tainted my experience and made me even more uncomfortable when I was already feeling nervous.

Now, I’m not saying if you are not an NRA Instructor, you cannot teach someone to shoot a gun. They are simply better equipped to educate and less likely to skip over crucial information that can make or break a beginner’s experience.

Time to Shoot

The handgun I would be shooting for the first time was a .22. My first impression was that it looked tiny in comparison with the other firearms that were lined up. It looked like something you look at and declare, “Awe, look how cute!”

Immediately, I had respect for this handgun and knew better than to underestimate it. I knew this pistol deserved the same respect as all the other handguns out there. Now that this pistol and I had a mutual agreement with each other, it was time to practice.

Again, Andy did not shove the handgun in my hands and shout good luck and pray for the best. He prepared me with everything I needed to know beforehand. He quickly made me comfortable with the pistol by showing me how to handle it, where I should be standing, and how to aim. With the magazine out, he allowed me to practice aiming toward the targets.

Just as it looked, it felt tiny. My hands on the grip came around easily, and I could not believe how light it felt. It was a world of difference from shooting a .22 rifle. Holding the rifle for long periods made my arms sore and angry. The handgun felt closer to my body, creating less tension on my muscles, and was much more comfortable to operate.

I practiced for a moment or two, getting accustomed to my stance and how everything felt in my hand. Andy explained the process of aiming, making sure I lined up the sights properly, and to my shock, my nerves seemed to have evaporated.

Leading by Example

I would shoot the handgun but under one condition—Andy shoots first. I knew it would be easier for me if I got to see the recoil of the handgun. Likewise, I also wanted to see what it looks like shooting it—specifically, his grip and stance. He happily agreed.

I will be honest; the first round is always the most challenging for me when shooting. Not knowing what to expect allows fear to creep up and take hold of my fingertips, preventing my hands from pulling the trigger.

However, once the first round is fired, I have no mental block holding me back. I know what to expect and have no reason to be scared. Finally, confidence takes over, and I can enjoy my shooting experience.

I took the stance of my legs spread slightly apart, taking the time to get comfortable. I thought pulling the trigger would take me forever like it normally does. But I found myself more comfortable pulling the trigger. I allowed my fingers to get in the proper position, took a breath in, mentally prepared myself, and…boom. I fired off my first round.

Huh…It didn’t feel like anything I hadn’t experienced before. It was almost puzzling how similar shooting the .22 rifle and the .22 handgun felt. I expected it to shoot differently based on the size difference of the guns, but I was shocked that they felt the same.

Both firearms seemed to sound the same and have the same recoil. It wasn’t a drastic difference and was a good welcome to shooting handguns. Even with the similarity, shooting the handgun gave me the same peaceful feeling that shooting the .22 rifle gave me.

Path to Awesomeness

I strongly recommend that anyone who is a beginner in the gun world learn from an NRA instructor. They make a world of difference. Compared to my first experience shooting, I felt better educated, better equipped, and more comfortable. I had fewer nerves shooting the handgun than a rifle, just because I had an instructor present.

Learning to shoot with a certified NRA instructor was like having your own personal cheerleader on the sidelines. It was a big way to ease the jitters and make me excited to shoot even more guns. I could constantly hear Andy on the sidelines yelling out compliments on how “awesome” I looked when shooting.

And I did. I felt awesome shooting a handgun and will always remember the feeling. Gun instructors deserve more recognition for all that they do. I cannot thank Andy enough for allowing me to have my moment of awesomeness.