Newbie Wife

[wingriderz]

My wife is signed up for Florida carry class. Aug 1. Myself being a carry guy since 80's and worked part time formley as a R S O for a very good friend now retired that owned a very respected L G S and range.Miss those days. Any way wife takeing plunge. Which is great. I will be working with her on basics prior to her course. Giving her the can and cannot laws of Florida plus a few range trips prior to her class. Shes totally green to firearms. Like alot of women we trained in past she has issuses with racking a semi auto. Which I will work with her a bit more. Going to. Put her on a . 22 revolver foe target practic along with . 32, and .380. Like many I seen before she says she really likes my 442. But she hasent fired it yet. Who knows how she will do will let you all know.

[coachray]

It's great that she's taking an interest.

[hostler]

Good for her.
About five years ago my wife took the FL class and got her FL permit, she also has her PA license.
She had shot rifles growing up but never a handgun. I started her off with a 22 revolver then moved on to a 9mm Glock , a 22 auto, and a couple 38/357 revolvers. When we go to the range we take an assortment of handguns but she is still not comfortable with semi-autos and prefers revolvers. She says they seem less complicated to use. Because of her preference for revolvers I have pretty much switched over to revolvers, our nightstand gun is a revolver and my main carry gun is a revolver just in case a situation would arise that she would need to use them.
She has never felt comfortable with the possibility of having to take another life, so even though she can carry, she doesn't carry. Actually her PA license to carry expired a few months ago and she has not renewed it.
I would like her to get past that but I'm certainly not going to force the issue. I respect her decision just as I do any ones decision whether or not to carry a firearm, she needs to make that call on her own.

[4011]

I started wife on a Ruger LCP. Big mistake. Myself I preached to start a newbie on a 22 then move on up. She still remembers the unpleasant range time. We are both single now and dating again. I'll take her to the range and try to be a better instructor

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi Wingriderz:

I think starting your wife out on a .22 caliber handgun and working her way upwards is a good plan. While my wife and daughter prefer my Model 642-1 for its simplicity of operation and smooth trigger pull, I'd advise starting your wife on a K-frame sized revolver with .38 Special 148gr. wadcutters first, and then gradually transition her to the J-frames. I think the extra weight and (hopefully) longer barrel length will make her experience better. My late mother's bedside gun was a heavy barreled Model 64 (4.0 inch long barrel) which she greatly preferred over a 3.0 inch long barreled Model 37.

Good luck,

Dave

[hostler]

Originally Posted by 4011

I started wife on a Ruger LCP. Big mistake. Myself I preached to start a newbie on a 22 then move on up. She still remembers the unpleasant range time. We are both single now and dating again. I'll take her to the range and try to be a better instructor

My coworkers daughter, she's 12, has expressed interest in shooting. He had his .45 Glock out cleaning it the other day and apparently his daughter asked him if they could go shooting sometime. The 45 is the only gun he has. My advice to him was not to put her on the 45 first thing. I told him I would be glad to go with them or even let him borrow my M&P 22.

[crazyphil]

I have had a lot of lady students over the past almost 20 years, and
have not found any who didn't love the S&W 442/642...until they
shoot it. Then many of them will complain about the "kick". I always
say no it doesn't kick, it recoils. Best to start with a .22 and work
up gradually to the 442/642 starting with low recoil. As Yogi Berra
might say "recoil is 90% mental and 50% physical".

[murphydog]

Your plan for starting her out with a .22 or small centerfire is a good one. You've probably heard this before but if she decides to carry be sure to let her decide what to use. Extreme examples are all the videos putting a new shooter behind a model 500...

[LoboGunLeather]

Over the years I have introduced several women to defensive handgun use. None had any prior handgun experience, and I always found that to be a positive factor, as there were no bad habits to overcome.

In my experience, the best method of instruction is to start out with basic safety and handling instruction, working slowly and building a solid skill set before any range work begins. Initial range training is best started with a .22 caliber revolver, good hearing and eye protection. Marksmanship skills usually come along quickly, frequently after only 2 or 3 range sessions.

Next step should be a medium-frame .38 Special revolver (K-frame 3" or 4" works very well). This builds familiarity with modest recoil and muzzle blast, while typically allowing the trainee to gain confidence.

Familiarization can then include small-frame revolvers (J-frame, etc), perhaps a magnum revolver, and a semi-auto or two. This will clearly demonstrate the differences to the trainee and allow her to intelligently proceed with selecting a personal handgun.

A final session or two with the trainee using her own handgun should complete the basic training process. After that I usually recommend periodic practice, if not monthly then at least every 90 days, in order to maintain reasonable proficiency.

Along the way repeated discussions about state and local laws pertaining to firearms (ownership, storage, concealed carry, etc) and liability issues, always stressing safety and personal responsibility, should result in a solid foundation.

My experiences have mostly been during the 1970's to 1990's, usually working in the woods or on the prairie. Of course, today I can simply refer women to qualified instructors providing certified training programs in a proper classroom and range setting. There is something to be said for properly certified and credentialed instructors.

[bigwheelzip]

Good luck to her. It's great having a live-in backup for home defense (with benefits ).

You've made it sound like you can shoot on your property. You can add a whole dimension of shooting fun by getting an automatic clays thrower and adding some shotgun shooting to her handgun practice. I started shooting trap before I ever shot a handgun or rifle, and it's still my favorite practice. Wish I could do it in the backyard.

[CB3]

I suggest also to visit a private outdoor shooting area rather than public (indoor) ranges. Yahoos with big guns shooting near a newbie are more than distracting; they can be down right frightening. Not just for the noise, but also because of their behaviors and (lack of) safe gun handling skills.

One on one personalized instruction until the new shooter, male or female of any age, is comfortable enough to deal with the distractions of other shooters. Outdoors because the noise is significantly reduced, the lighting is often better.

[TomkinsSP]

Agree with start on rimfire befor moving up to .38. A 640 (steel frame) is IMHO much easier to learn strong fundamentals on than the lighter alloys.

[TXBryan]

My wife started with a Ruger SP 101 in .357 and it proved too much even with .38 Special loads. My fault as I thought the milder .38 loads would be a good beginning and the 101 was simply too small and too light. She continued to shoot, however, including lots of .22 revolver, and has grown to enjoy target shooting. I bought her a S&W M&P Shield compact 9 and, it too, proved too much with difficulty racking and recoil. I guess I learn slow - but I do learn. Earlier this year I bought her a beautiful Smith & Wesson M&P Hand Ejector (pre-Model 10) K-frame 5-screw, 4 inch, in .38 Special, factory nickel, in great shape, with very nice after-market genuine mother-of-pearl grips. I finally got it right. She loves it, enjoys practicing with it, and carries it in accordance with her CHL. She took some instruction and her CHL class from a female instructor in an all-female class and really enjoyed it.

[CB3]

And start at ten feet with the color changing splatter paper targets (not human silhouettes yet). Progress to 25’ but not further. Instant feedback with better and faster reward. With each new gun start at that 10’ distance. Don’t plink with alternate targets. It’s hard to determine shooting faults with them.

However, when the fundamentals are in place, definitely have some plinking sessions. Clay targets, full then empty soda cans, small melons, proper steel hangers—all things that break, explode, move, ding. Not only fun, but they also can represent the lethality of the caliber.

[Whitwabit]

Good for her !!!

Wish my wife would but even though she a decent shot she has no
desire to carry ..

[fredj338]

Most women have issues first time racking any service caliber slide. As you know, it is all technique, very little to do with hand strength or upper body strength. If she can push herself up off the floor, she can rack any pistol slide. My wife could easily get her ccw, tough to do in Kalif, but she isn't really all that concerned. Maybe because she knows I carry?

[CB3]

Originally Posted by fredj338

Most women have issues first time racking any service caliber slide. As you know, it is all technique, very little to do with hand strength or upper body strength. If she can push herself up off the floor, she can rack any pistol slide.

Absolutely false. Arm strength has little to do with racking a slide. Grip strength is the determinitive factor.

[Triggernosis]

Pics of the wife......

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by CB3

Absolutely false. Arm strength has little to do with racking a slide. Grip strength is the determinitive factor.

No not false. If you can firmly hold and squish a banana, you can rack a slide. If you cant, your technique is wrong. I have had women, small children not ne able to rack a glock or sim slide. After showing proper tech, no issues.

[white cloud]

My wife is pretty analytical. I showed her various pistols and revolvers and then explained the manual of arms. I explained recoil, blast and how it can sting your hands and ears. I explained the pluses and minuses of autoloaders and revolvers. She could rack the slide on a SIG or Glock but rejected autos completely. Her first shooting experience was a Model 60 with the magnum frame and rubber grips. She shot .38 range ammo. In the black with the first shot. She has gone on to purchasing her own guns. Last year she picked up a model 67.

[Triggernosis]

Originally Posted by white cloud

My wife is pretty analytical. I showed her various pistols and revolvers and then explained the manual of arms. I explained recoil, blast and how it can sting your hands and ears. I explained the pluses and minuses of autoloaders and revolvers. She could rack the slide on a SIG or Glock but rejected autos completely. Her first shooting experience was a Model 60 with the magnum frame and rubber grips. She shot .38 range ammo. In the black with the first shot. She has gone on to purchasing her own guns. Last year she picked up a model 67.

Smart lady. And good on you for explaining things and letting HER choose.

[Wise_A]

Awful lot of advice for a shooter we've never seen or met.

Forget all that "transition her from this to that" stuff. It's like you're going out of your way to make shooting as un-entertaining as possible. Yes, start off with something light--a .22 or preferably a .38 K-frame--but let her pick stuff she likes and wants to shoot.

[hostler]

Originally Posted by Wise_A

Awful lot of advice for a shooter we've never seen or met.

Forget all that "transition her from this to that" stuff. It's like you're going out of your way to make shooting as un-entertaining as possible. Yes, start off with something light--a .22 or preferably a .38 K-frame--but let her pick stuff she likes and wants to shoot.

How's a completely inexperienced shooter supposed to pick what they like, by how the gun looks?
They have to try different things, usually based on what's available or advice from an experienced shooter they trust.

[Wise_A]

Given how many guys on here refuse to shoot Glocks and other polymer-framed guns because they "look ugly"...*chuckles*

[GunsNParadise]

Here’s an opinion from a very small older woman just beginning to handle firearms this year....try an M&P Shield 380 EZ. There is NO easier semi-auto made any easier to handle than this gun. Easy to rack the slide, load a magazine, light recoil and easy to take down and clean. Actually easy is an understatement! This gun allows a beginner to learn basics of firearm handling and get some target practice. Once she becomes more familiar with it, she can decide if she wants to carry it or choose another to move up to. I love my EZ but after a while, I have moved up to an M&P Shield 9mm.

[wpriest]

A few years back at a gun club I was was a member allowed spouse/significant others to shoot IF they passed the same safety program as a member. As I was running late I grabbed the wrong revolver for my wife to shoot--(my Dan Wesson with 8" HV bbl.) She had her own DW with a 6".
Well we get to the club and the safety officer (who thinks he is running a boot camp) walks the firing line and tells my wife she can't shoot my pistol-("it's too big for a girl"). My wife explains I grabbed the wrong revolver as hers was still in the safe. She asked if she had to shoot one handed or could use both. His response was "honey do whatever you think you can handle". Course of fire was 20 rounds-2 strings of 10. She shoots the first 10 2 handed and for the second assumes a target stance and fires the second 10 shots singled handed. Her score 196. She outshoots everyone (she was the only female) -- her response was "I could have done better with my own pistol as the grips are smaller."
She is an NRA pistol instructor and regularly teaches intro classes to women so they don't have to deal with a 'drill instructor' mentality.

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm confused. OP's post was Aug 20 saying class starts Aug 1. Is it really September 1st?

I'll play the contrarian here. Don't work with her on the basics before the course. You could unknowingly and unintentionally introduce bad habits that an unfamiliar instructor would have a tough time countering.

Just my two bits.

[FAS1]

I recently saw something similar with my daughter in law. She wanted a gun for home defense, but small enough to carry with her if she wanted to. She wasn't comfortable enough yet with semi-autos and racking the slide so she went with a Airweight revolver. The stock grip was a little uncomfortable for her so they swapped it for one that I wasn't familiar with prior to shooting the gun, the Ergogrip. It's kinda funky looking, but the gun points well and recoil seems more manageable for her. She shoots it well. Just something to consider.

Here's what the grip looks like on her gun.

[dr. mordo]

I HIGHLY recommend anyone shopping for their wife check out a .327. It's the perfect round for someone who hasn't shot much, because it uses any .32 variant of ammo (even the semi-rimmed.32 ACP supposedly). I'd start her off with .32 Long (Fiocci is fairly cheap and available if you order online), they try .32 H&R, then full tilt .327 Mag if she does well with that. If all else fails you could even fall back to .32 Short for training. The .327 round is a monster. Anyone at the business end of a 327 is going to rethink their life choices if just from the blast and noise. That said, it's far more manageable to the shooter than .357 and feels more like shooting .38 SPL in an airweight.

For carry, I'd get a LCR327 rather than a SP101 - I have the LCR and love it. I love SP101s also, but I think the LCR327 is the perfect weight for folks who want an easy and unobtrusive gun to carry.

I own several S&W revolvers, but IMO the LCR327 is the perfect gun for this situation. It's light so she can easily transition the gun from her purse to her waistband if she is in a bad situation and thinks the gun might be needed. After its broken in, the trigger pull is very light (much lighter than a J frame) and the grip is well designed to absorb some recoil. And like I said, it's the most ammo flexible gun I have ever seen.

The only downside is they are spendy - I paid $500 at my LGS; they are $515+transfer fee at Buds. Not cheap, but that is one gun I don't think I'll ever sell. In 20 years when my arthritis is in full bloom, I have a feeling that LCR327 will be my primary CCW.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

I'm confused. OP's post was Aug 20 saying class starts Aug 1. Is it really September 1st?

I'll play the contrarian here. Don't work with her on the basics before the course. You could unknowingly and unintentionally introduce bad habits that an unfamiliar instructor would have a tough time countering.

Just my two bits.

Agreed, sort've. While I would do a little shooting, I wouldn't talk about any of the legal stuff.

All the people I've ever seen fail the written portion of a CCW test came in thinking they knew it all.

[TomkinsSP]

Originally Posted by dr. mordo

I HIGHLY recommend anyone shopping for their wife check out a .327...it uses any .32 variant of ammo (even the semi-rimmed.32 ACP supposedly)...LCR327 is the perfect weight for folks.

My daughter EDCs a LCR327, and she has my Charter Arms Patriot (sadly OOP) for a house gun. I have fired both .32 S&W and .32acp through those, my Charter Undercoverette .32 S&WL and Taurus .32 H&RM. ACPs fre fine, I would be sure to tilt the barrel up when ejecting them as I have overridden the semi-rim with the ejector star when working against gravity (a pencil will easily poke it out). At bullet weights 125 grains and below a .327FM will outperform a .38+p,.32 H&RM will outperform standard pressure .38, and .32 S&W or .32 S&WL has the recoil of .22Short or .22LR.

[Flyingfool]

How does the 32 H&R mag recoil compare to a 38 or 38+p from a LCR/snubbie?

My oldest daughter got a LCR in 357 mag used but like new. She lokes the additional weight comlared to the 38 LCR and lokes the trigger on the LCR better than the 442/642. She has very weak hand strength. She never intended to ever shoot 357. Only 38 special.

However other than the good deal, if I were to do over, I think She might choose the same LCR in 327 fed mag. The added 6th round being most valuable plus potentially less recoil than 38 special?

[Bronco89]

Originally Posted by Double-O-Dave

Hi Wingriderz:..............I'd advise starting your wife on a K-frame sized revolver with .38 Special 148gr. wadcutters first, and then gradually transition her to the J-frames.................

I second this advise. If you reload there are several mouse loads for the .38. I often lie and say that I have to load these for my 5'0" 106lb wife; but this isn't the truth. The truth is: I really enjoy these lite loads and many like the above HBWC, even store bought ones, are quite tame, even in a j-frame air weight.

Hornady also makes some 110gr rounds that are quite peppie and have decent reviews. (See below). I carry the +P version of this load in my snubbie, and it is quite tame, but yet still gets the job done even through denim.

38 Special Defense Ammo For Sale - 110 gr JHP FTX Hornady Ammunition In Stock - 25 Rounds

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi Flyingfool:

I have arthritis in both hands and wrists, and it as robbed me of considerable hand strength and dexterity. On really bad days, my go to EDC switches from a Model 38-0 and Model 638-1 (yes, I'm a NY Reload fan) to a Model 432 in .32 H&R Magnum and a Seecamp chambered in .32ACP. A call to the factory to see if I could fire .32ACP ammo in the 432 in case of emergency yielded their response that if it chambered in the revolver, it could be safely fired. I've never tried it, but it's good to know that it's an option. While I prefer the .38 Special, I have no qualms about carrying .32 Long, .32ACP or .32 H&R Magnum. Sorry, I have no experience with the .327 Federal Magnum.

Regards,

Dave

[dr. mordo]

Originally Posted by Flyingfool

How does the 32 H&R mag recoil compare to a 38 or 38+p from a LCR/snubbie?

My oldest daughter got a LCR in 357 mag used but like new. She lokes the additional weight comlared to the 38 LCR and lokes the trigger on the LCR better than the 442/642. She has very weak hand strength. She never intended to ever shoot 357. Only 38 special.

However other than the good deal, if I were to do over, I think She might choose the same LCR in 327 fed mag. The added 6th round being most valuable plus potentially less recoil than 38 special?

Through my LCR327, .32 H&R recoil is slightly less than .38 +P from my Airweight S&W 637, and .327 is slightly more though not up to .357 levels. That said, the noise and blast from the 327 is formidable and somewhat shocking. It's such a high pressure round it creates quite a blast.

I want a LCR357, but I would never sell that 327. It's a brilliant gun.

[TomkinsSP]

Originally Posted by dr. mordo

Through my LCR327, .32 H&R recoil is slightly less than .38 +P from my Airweight S&W 637, and .327 is slightly more though not up to .357 levels. That said, the noise and blast from the 327 is formidable and somewhat shocking. It's such a high pressure round it creates quite a blast.

I want a LCR357, but I would never sell that 327. It's a brilliant gun.

SAAMI psi 45k for .327FM, 35k for .357RM.

[somorris]

I think it is good that Wingriderz wife wants to learn. Mr. Wingriderz may not always be with her.