Thank you all so much for the ideas. This is a great site because of just this kind of thing.

I agree completely with the fun factor. It must be fun whether it’s a new woman shooter or a kid.

Safety is also paramount and while I was focusing mostly to shooting technique, When I teach a Hunter Safety class with a lot of novices, I shoot a 2x4 at three or four feet with a shotgun. It really makes an impression. I think some folks think shotguns aren’t dangerous.

Concerning choice of guns, I’ve tended to stay away from semi-autos because of both the forward weight issue and the fact that most won’t function with ¾ oz loads. Does the Daly function with Trainers?

I think the ideal gun is the Mossberg Bantam in 20 gauge with Fiochi Trainers or a similar shell. The gun will function with anything, it’s very light, you can add weight to the butt as I mentioned in an earlier post and I find kids can operate it easier than single shots because of cocking the hammer. So the revised list is:

• Go over fundamentals of gun safety and demo with the 2x4
• Check eye dominance
• Build the shooters gun mount
• Using a mirror, check gun fit
• Explain the importance and demonstrate proper stance
• Fire POA shots on a board to see if the shooter has a concept of pointing
• For first shots on a flying target, chose an easy going away target with a long hang time before the target begins to fall

As the shooter begins to shoot at his first targets stop and explain fundamentals while keeping the session fun:

• Explain how a broad awareness of the area the target will appear in shifts to tight focus on the target when it appears.
• Explain that the focus should be on the target with the barrels in peripheral
• Explain the concept of follow through
• Explain the fundamentals of lead and how to begin to estimate it
• Begin moving the shooter further (right and left) from the trap to demonstrate changes in lead.
• End the session before the student gets too tired
• I try to end the session with a series of confidence building targets and try to let the last target be a broken target.

What do you guys think about shooting at a point of aim target before shooting flying targets? I see merits both ways.

Thanks again