what kinds of problems would a complete newbie have with firing a gun in general, and 19th century guns in particular?
I've used a gun exactly once, on a firing range about ten years ago. (Well, I fired it more than once, but that was the only time that I've used one.)
I wasn't given any real formal training, but I still remember just how heavy that thing was in my hand. It was just a tiny revolver, but it was made of solid metal and it must have weighed several pounds. And it was loud, so loud it was painful even with giant ear covers on. I couldn't bring myself to fire a rifle later on out in the woods, because I didn't have ear protection.
The recoil was also surprising. It's like the gun jumped in my hand every time that I fired it. I could imagine the thing striking me in the head if I let go. Finally, if I remember right it was amazing how even trying my best to aim, standing still, I couldn't hit a stationary target nearly as often as I'd have liked. I'd line up my shot and fire, and nothing would happen.
As far as training would go, about the only thing I can remember is that you should always treat a gun as loaded, and never ever point it at someone else. I don't know what you'd teach someone if you were trying to help them to learn how to hit something with it, though. I imagine that once they got the basics of loading it down the biggest thing would be to practice.
And if you're using 19th-century technology, a Colt .45 or a Magnum might be interesting. I barely know what either of those are, but I remember hearing they were very significant. Flintlocks I know less about, except that black powder weapons are slow to reload and create lots of smoke.
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Date: 2009-11-15 07:49 am (UTC)I've used a gun exactly once, on a firing range about ten years ago. (Well, I fired it more than once, but that was the only time that I've used one.)
I wasn't given any real formal training, but I still remember just how heavy that thing was in my hand. It was just a tiny revolver, but it was made of solid metal and it must have weighed several pounds. And it was loud, so loud it was painful even with giant ear covers on. I couldn't bring myself to fire a rifle later on out in the woods, because I didn't have ear protection.
The recoil was also surprising. It's like the gun jumped in my hand every time that I fired it. I could imagine the thing striking me in the head if I let go. Finally, if I remember right it was amazing how even trying my best to aim, standing still, I couldn't hit a stationary target nearly as often as I'd have liked. I'd line up my shot and fire, and nothing would happen.
As far as training would go, about the only thing I can remember is that you should always treat a gun as loaded, and never ever point it at someone else. I don't know what you'd teach someone if you were trying to help them to learn how to hit something with it, though. I imagine that once they got the basics of loading it down the biggest thing would be to practice.
And if you're using 19th-century technology, a Colt .45 or a Magnum might be interesting. I barely know what either of those are, but I remember hearing they were very significant. Flintlocks I know less about, except that black powder weapons are slow to reload and create lots of smoke.