Early winter pistol shooting training on Long Island | .357 Magnum officially unveiled

On Monday, November 3, 2025, the New York Firearms Association (NYFA) held its monthly shooting training session on Long Island. Despite the early winter season, members and new recruits participated enthusiastically, and the entire event proceeded smoothly under standardized safety and professional guidance.

（The Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver on the table stood out prominently, exuding an imposing presence.）

New equipment was also showcased today, with a member bringing a newly purchased Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver. This classic Magnum revolver immediately attracted a lot of attention. It's worth noting that the .357 Magnum has more noticeable kinetic energy and recoil; firing the Magnum charge will result in stronger recoil and muzzle rise. Therefore, Coach Wang demonstrated and advised beginners to use a gradual approach: start with .38 Special or low-energy practice rounds to warm up and familiarize themselves with the grip and trigger control before gradually trying .357 Magnum rounds. This allows for practice in accuracy and a safer adaptation to the recoil.

（Coach Wang stood behind the trainee, instructing them on proper revolver-shooting techniques.）

（ The .357 Magnum revolver has strong recoil, so beginners need someone behind them to provide light support while shooting.）

New trainees learned the proper grip, stance, breathing and aiming techniques, trigger control, and ejection maneuvers in sequence during training. Emphasis was placed on a two-handed grip, a slight forward lean, and follow-through, with goggles and ear protection worn throughout. Several students, entering the shooting range for the first time, gradually became familiar with the movements, and their accuracy improved significantly. The association consistently emphasizes "safety, standardization, and habit formation ," rather than simply pursuing shooting thrills, and this training once again demonstrated this philosophy.

(The female trainees overcame their inner fears and bravely pulled the trigger.)

Every shooting training session is not about showing off equipment, but about reinforcing safety, building a solid foundation, and improving skills. When dealing with firearms like the .357 Magnum, which have significant recoil, we specifically recommend: warming up with milder ammunition, adopting the correct grip and stance, and gradually trying different loads under instructor supervision. The association will continue to hold training sessions and safety workshops in Long Island and throughout New York City to help more legal gun owners develop mature, rational, and responsible shooting habits.

（When using an unfamiliar firearm, it’s essential to share safety-handling experience with one another）

Shooting is not just about honing skills, but also about cultivating responsibility and safety awareness. I look forward to meeting everyone again at the shooting range next time.

(Group photo of participants in this pistol training session)