Now Teaching Family Classes in Firearms Safety

Photo Credit: Michigan State University 4-H Shooting Sports

I am now teaching Family Firearms Safety for donations only.  A typical class of this quality and quantity of information by a Certified Instructor is about $75 per person.

If you have firearms in your home, and don't know much about them, this class is for you! If you cannot afford a class?  No worries.  I can assist you with no charge or agreeable terms.

If you're interested, get a hold of me.  My email address is guskoerner@gmail.com.  I also teach by distance learning (Skype). Typically I will come to your home, or you to mine and talk about family firearms safety.  I have youth appropriate DVD's as well. This class is centered on age appropriate, hands-on materials for the children of your home AND satisfies the Florida requirement for the Concealed Weapons Permit.

This is how it works.  When firearms are in the classroom, they are always locked, or otherwise inoperable, and there is NEVER any ammunition present; the cardinal rule of firearms instruction.  I am successfully security screened by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Corrections and Brevard Public Schools and can show credentials upon introduction.  I am a former 4-H Youth Development Agent and Instructor for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (Game) Commission.

This course description below is typical, but I also teach rifle, black powder firearms and non-certified archery and shotgun.  Below is a description of one of the courses I teach.

NRA First Steps Pistol Course Description, 3 hours (1.5 hrs class + 1.5 hrs range)

FIRST stands for “Firearm Instruction, Responsibility, and Safety Training”, a program the NRA developed to meet the need for a firearms orientation program for new gun purchasers. This FIRST Steps program is a basic courses abbreviated to the most fundamental shooting skills, and the specifics of a particular model of pistol.

This course, because of its narrow focus, can be completed as quickly as three hours. Students will get quick practical lessons on the safe use, cleaning, and storage of their pistol. The practical exercise covers a single pistol shooting position.

Course Goal
“To provide beginning shooters with an introduction to the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to own and use a specific pistol model safely.”

NRA FIRST Steps Pistol Orientation Lesson Plans
1.Introduction to Pistol Safety, Parts, and Operation
2.Introduction to Ammunition and the Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting
3.Introduction to Pistol Shooting from the Benchrest Position
4.Introduction to Pistol Cleaning, Storage, and Training Opportunities

Prerequisites
The are no prerequisites for taking this course, and the material is accessible to appropriately supervised mature children.

Back at the range.

Jim Bridger about 1830

Back in 2012 I was an active instructor at the gun range teaching black powder muzzle loading rifles to the 4-H kids twice a month.  My equipment was all together and organized, lesson plans memorized verbatim and I was ready for any unexpected question or situation that had to do with shooting those old smoke poles. What fun we had!

Then I left the 4h program and the classes stopped. My new job and work schedule just would not permit it longer. So I put it all away, let some of my instructor credentials expire, and just dropped it all until a few weeks ago.

An old friend of mine, Don Richards called me to see if I could and would teach a muzzle loading instructor course.  I cautiously agreed, knowing I would have to do a lot of polishing of my skills and equipment if wanted the class to be a success.  So I did.

In the class that weekend I had six adult students ranging from rookie to veteran, all black powder enthusiasts.   We shot flintlocks, percussion cap locks, shotguns and pistols.  We shot replica guns of Lewis and Clark, Jim Bridger and Buffalo Bill Cody.  We had some misfires and malfunctions, got a little dirty, killed some paper, and all came home safe and sound with smiles from an enjoyable weekend.   We had a ball, and six brand new NMLRA instructors were qualified!

Weeks later, it caused me to reflect upon God and how even though we may leave Him for a while, He never leaves us.  Even though our life’s direction might have taken us from Him for a while, and our Christianity has become a little rusty, we can come back to Him and His open arms.  We can pick up from where we left off.  We can reflect upon our lessons learned, and use those experiences away from Him as a teaching tool for ourselves and others.  Wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes from our successes as well as our failures.

In the 1st Book of John, chapter 1, verse 9 it reads, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Also, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV).  I like that last line, “riches of God’s grace”!

No matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, rookie or veteran, sinner or saint, know that He loves you no matter what, and He’ll always welcome you back with open arms.

Getting Started Into Traditional Muzzle Loading Rifles

This article is being written in response to a request by volunteer youth leaders of the Florida 4-H program who would like to get a youth shooting program started in their community.  It is also applicable to the individual who is wondering exactly what they need to get started shooting black powder, and how to buy everything at once within a fixed budget.  For the group leaders, in many cases sponsoring organizations such as the National Rifle Association or local chapters (called posts) of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will provide start up funding to start a shooting sports club, but the leader needs to come to them with a laundry list of items to purchase, with a near exact dollar figure.  Another fine organization, with local chapters to assist you is the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association.

A common practice in black powder instruction is to work in groups of two - as in two kids utilizing one gun. In 4-H Shooting Sports, we call it the Coach-Pupil method.  This way allows one shooter to actively prepare, load and shoot the gun, while the other assists, watches over and advises the partner.  After one person has shot, they trade places.  The reason this is so successful is that both are actively engaged, having fun and learning.  This also helps the instructor by providing an extra set of eyes on the procedure for safety's sake.  A third person may be added, but in my honest opinion that person has a high likelihood of getting bored.

A good size group for muzzle loading instruction is 4 to 6 shooters per 1 instructor.  Less can be awkward, more can start to compromise the instructor's ability to adequately supervise.  The list below is for one Coach-Pupil set, and should be multiplied to accommodate the group size.  This list is also "just the ticket" for the single adult shooter or parent/child combo.

The Rifle
I recommend rifles such as these 50 caliber, percussion cap-locks: the Great Plains Rifle and the Lyman Trade Rifle by Lyman Products and the Deer Hunter by Traditions Firearms.  If you want to consider a modern inline gun, the QuicShooter Magnum, 50 caliber by MDM Ltd. is a good choice.  Please note! There are many fine guns out there, but in the $400 or less price range, the ones listed have a proven track record of reliability, safety and customer satisfaction.  I personally shoot a Thompson Center New Englander and a Connecticut Valley Arms Mountain Rifle.  Remington and Knight Rifles have some nice inline guns.  The companies listed above usually have special programs with educational or nonprofit organization pricing if you inquire.

Please also note that there has been no compensation by any of the companies listed in the article to myself or my sponsoring organizations for mentioning them here.

The Accoutrements
One of the things I love about muzzle loading is all the gadgets. All of these supplies need to be put into a durable box made of either water resistant wood (home made) or a plastic box.  I prefer the black or bright orange totes that have the ability to lock.  The shooting veterans out there are going to get bothered because I failed to mention a Possibles Bag, as in a leather or cloth pouch one carries on their shoulder with everything they possibly need.  A Possibles Bag is perfect for the single, experienced shooter going to the gun range or out to the field.  I use one, but this list is for a brand new shooter or instructor with students on the range.

Supply Box

Ball Starter

Powder Flask

Powder Measure

Straight Capping Tool

Nipple Wrench

Patch Worm

Powder cap/funnel

Cleaning Kit w/ Brass or Stainless Steel Range Rod

Over time and with experience, these items can be made by hand and even picked up at garage sales or flea markets.  Are there more things you can use?  Of course!  But this list will get you started in taking your first shots or starting that new youth program.

Extra Items

These items are highly recommended, but not necessarily mandatory for a muzzle loading rifle program.

• Every rifle needs a hard case to protect it while traveling.
• A ball will get stuck at some point in the rifle.  The safest way to remove it is with a CO2 Ball Extractor (shown right).
• Also at some point a rod will get stuck in the gun.  Rod Pullers or some safe way to pull it out, needs to be in every coaches tool kit.

My estimate for everything listed above was $502.00, less shipping and taxes.  Best of luck in your purchasing, grant application, and future enjoyment with muzzle loading rifles.  Keeping the tradition alive is so important in our society today.

Keep yer powder dry!

Mr. Gus

For their contributions to this article, I want to acknowledge and give special thanks to Brenda Heberling of Florida 4-H Shooting Sports, and Kenyon Simpson of the National 4-H Shooting Sports and the NMLRA.

Florida 4-H State Muzzle Loading Rifle Tournament, 2011

February is a beautiful month in central Florida, and on this particular day, (Feb.5) the conditions were perfect, about 70 degrees, for a day at the range shooting "black powder guns".  I quote those words because I believe all of the shooters were using synthetic black powder that day.  This was an important day for six shooters and their coaches because it was the Florida 4-H State Muzzle Loading Tournament.  Other than just testing the shooters skill for pride and bragging rights, this particular match determines which senior 4-H'ers will be selected to go to the National Invitational this year in San Antonio, Texas.

The participants included two shooters from Brevard County, two from Indian River County, and two from Okeechobee County.  They all did very very well at each of the 5 events which were 50 yard bulls-eye, off-hand and bench rest, 50 yard silhouette, two 25 yard novelty targets and the knowledge test "Skill-A-Thon".  There was a total possible score of 50 points per target and 130 points for the academic portion.  If you've never participated in a Muzzle Loading Skill-A-Thon, you've missed a challenging and fun opportunity.  Laid out on the table are at least one firearm, and the contents of a Possibles Bag such as ball starter, capping tool and spare flint.  On our table were about 30 different items and the youth were under a three minute time limit to properly label all of the components.

After the shooting we went straight to the awards ceremony, which was a good one!  Not only did we have ribbons for each shooter and a few plaques, but the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association gave copies of their Muzzle Blast magazine and a pin for all, the black powder shooters at the Titusville Rifle and Pistol Club (TRPC) gave shooting gifts to each of the kids and the Brevard County 4-H, Mosquito Lagoon 4-H Muzzleloaders, an NMLRA chartered club, gave old fashioned fixed grain finger chargers to each shooter from Track of The Wolf.

Many thanks to all the parents and coaches who helped prepare and put on this event such as Sylvain Roberge, Lars Lutton and Don Richards for running the line.  Lori Menendez for administrative help.  TRPC for hosting us.  The NMLRA for the gifts and Chris Hodgdon of Hodgdon Powder Company for their donations of powder for the shooters.

My Muzzle Blasts Editorial, Jan. 2010

Muzzle Blasts is the official publication of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. In this month's issue, Letters to the Editor I wrote a column promoting the use of GPS receivers by all hunters and outdoors men, even the most traditional ones.


Here is an excerpt...Dear Editor, (Mr. Eric), I call this Old Tech Meets New Tech... As a group of dedicated gun enthusiasts, typically appreciating more the low-tech nature of the sport than the high-tech, we may often disregard or even scoff carrying and using a GPS receiver, and (God forbid) perhaps even putting it in our possibles bag next to our powder flask and nipple pick. The reasons that we should seriously consider using a GPS receiver is two-fold, safety and convenience. Gary’s reasoning, to find the remote rendezvous location from another city is a good one, but we should also consider other positive implications of knowing precisely where you are (or are going). I have to also mention before I go on, that the old fashioned way of map and compass will never be lost by the wayside of navigation, and will always be more reliable than any electronic device...

At the end of the article, I issued this challenge: PS. The first reader to email me my office street name, I’ll send them an official replica of an 1837 Bank Token cast of solid pewter I bought from Track of the Wolf. I am at GPS Coords. (DMM): 28° 21.579'N, 80° 46.884'W. 

Congratulations to Jerry Boyle, Dave Schreck, Rick Buxton and Jim and Annetta Holmes for being the first to reply! Dave Schreck was the winner, but they will all receive a token (if I have enough!).  Other winners of either finding the location or giving it their best shot were: Steve Pressman, Brad Bennett, Pete Garrett.  Sorry, I'm out of tokens now.