My sister recently decided that she wanted to learn how to shoot a handgun and obtain a handgun carry permit. She is taking the safety class this coming weekend, and will have to qualify, so I took her out today and gave her some preliminary instruction.

We started with a S&W Model 617 6" 6 shot and shot a hundred rounds or so learning the basics. We then switched to a S&W Model 60 (2 1/8" .357 Magnum) but shot .38 Special ammo. She transitioned fine to the increased recoil. I let her try a 638 Airweight, but she gave it back to me before she emptied the cylinder citing a strong dislike for the significantly increased recoil over that of the all steel framed Model 60. Since she didn't care for shooting .38 Specials in the Airweight, I wasn't about to have her shoot .357 Magnums in the Model 60.

We then switched to semi-autos trying a Browning Buckmark .22 LR and a Kahr K9 9mm. She fumbled around trying to load rounds into the magazine and had significant difficulty racking the slide on the 9mm. She also experience a malfunction in the Buckmark, which she pointed out she did not experience in either revolver. She requested to go back to the revolver after one magazine through each semi-auto.

I put her through a 25 round qualification course shooting 5 rounds each at 2, 5, 7, 10, and 15 yards with the 617 and then again with the 60. She had all of her rounds easily within an 8 inch circle with most of the outliers being fired at the longer distances.

She had been told by three different gun stores in her home town that she should get a semi-automatic. I strongly disagreed, but I let her make the choice for herself. We left the range and went by a couple of gun stores until we found the exact same S&W Model 60 that she preferred. 20 minutes later we were back out the door and she is now a gun owner and a S&W revolver shooter.

That is awesome, tell her I said congratulations, its a shame that most gun stores do not employ gunnies

yep...sounds like she is well on her way..

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Took my niece out yesterday same situation getting ready to qualify for a CCW she shot my revolvers and my buddies Berreta 9mm her and her girlfriend both preferred the wheel guns. Her husband bought her a Ruger LCR in .357 fortunately we broke it two weeks ago on its first trip to the range I don't think she would have been real happy shooting that gun.

Well done, another shooter enters the fold.

Another "revolver" shooter!

I forgot to mention, I encouraged her to handle a Ruger SP101 at the gun store, and she liked it, but she came to the same conclusions that I already had (SP101 was larger and heavier and trigger was heavier and not as smooth), and went back to the S&W. I wouldn't even let her near anything from Taurus, Charter Arms, or Rossi. By the way...they had a couple of alloy framed Charter Arms .38 snubs with pink and turquoise frames priced in the mid $400 range. That is more than I paid for my recently purchased S&W 642. Have the folks at Charter Arms lost their minds (on the colors and the price)?

My wife occaisionally shoots with me. Her new favorite, is my 67 no dash. She really doesn't like semi autos that much. Doesn't like 6" barrels. She can shoot the 67 to her hearts content! I'm more in to L's and N's at the phase I'm in. I like 6 inchers, and may try a 8-3/4 some day too! My wife never complains when I get another gun. She gets packages from QVC! It all works out!
It is nice that you helped your sister out! Bob

My fiance has a hard time pulling the trigger in DA with my older Ruger SP101, which has a very tough mainspring. I do love my SP101, though. If I ever have to use it for anything serious, God forbid, I will never be accused of having a worked or "hair" trigger in court

Excellent coaching of an apt student. Good work! And she chose a fine revolver, to boot.

Regards,

Dyson

My wife’s best friend (I think she’s about 65) wants to get her concealed carry permit here in Oklahoma, but mostly wants a gun for protection at home. She came over to the house a month or so ago and I had her handle some different firearms. Feel-wise she thought she wanted one like my “Glock” (actually a Kel-Tec PF-9, which shows that her knowledge of firearms is at least equal that of a news journalist) but I suspected she might change her mind once she actually fired it.

So last week I took her to my local range with a small assortment of guns, both revolvers and autos. Started off with having her manipulate the guns, load dummy rounds, and dry fire. Then went to .22s beginning with the Model 17, moved up to a Kel-Tec P-32 and then a 3” Model 10 .38, and to the PF-9. The 9mm was more than she wanted to deal with, but the real problem was her not having the hand strength to reliably rack the slide, or even load a magazine all the way. That’s one of the things that gunstore commandos often overlook when they recommend an auto, not everyone can handle the manipulation of one. Not to mention the increased complexity of even a DAO auto over a revolver.

She came to the conclusion that something like a 3-4” .38 revolver would probably best for her. All hail the Model 10!

Odd thing about Oklahoma’s concealed carry permit is that there are different levels of qualification, depending on what type of gun you shoot when you take the course. You do not have to qualify with the particular gun that you intend to carry, but: if you shoot the course with a derringer you can carry only a derringer, not a revolver or an auto. If you qualify with a revolver you can carry either that or a derringer, but not an auto. If you quality with an auto you can carry any of the three. Consequently virtually everyone shoots an auto in the course, regardless of what they intend to carry later on. Caliber doesn’t matter, you can qualify with a .22 and carry a .45 - I shot the course with my Gold Cup. (Actually caliber does matter a little bit, you can’t carry anything over .45 caliber so no concealed .500 S&W for me – gotta dial it back to .454 Casull. )

The main thrust of the course is the legalities and do’s and don’ts of concealed carry. The shooting portion is very rudimentary – 25 shots at a man silhouette at 5 yards and 25 shots at 7 yards, with no points requirements, just keep it on the paper. I resorted to making smiley faces and such with my shots, whereas some other people’s targets looked like they’d used a shotgun with open choke at 30 yards.

Anyway, the upshot is that when my wife and her friend get ready to take the course they will both use some kind of auto. Then they can carry and use whatever they want.

Congrats to winning another convert to wheelies.

Couple comments. Im a gun counter commando. i laughed (almost out loud) at that! i work part time at bass pro. Its my "fun job" or my "gun money" job. You wouldnt believe the number of husbands that come in, "my wife needs a gun." i look at wife and she is shaking her head no with a smirk. So i ask her. Do ya want one for personal defense? Yes, HE replies. "Ok, revolver or semi automatic?" is my typical response, looking at wife. Again, husband answers, "auto." i have even had some husbands make a comment like, "we want an auto, not semi auto or revolver." rare, but i have had them answer with that.

Back on topic. We look at all sorts of semi autos. She finally admits that one feels good. So now i drop the bomb, "ok, have her rack the slide." 9 out of 10 times she cannot. Finally at this time i can typically start priming them on the pros of a revolver. She loves it, wants it. Sometimes he will give in and buy it for her. Very few ladies (unless avid shooters) that i help have the hand strength to rack the slide on a lot of semi autos. If they just want something in the house or to carry in their car i do my best to sway them towards the revolver. Its easy. They dont have to think of anything but point and shoot. My answer to the "but it doesnt have a safety" concern is a $30 lockbox. Most of the time it works. I cant stand someone trying to push a semi auto onto an inexperienced shooter JUST because its the "cool" thing to have. A woman (or man for that matter) who doesnt shoot enough to know how to clear jams or fix problems on the fly will likely get themselves hurt or killed should they ever find themselves in a defensive situation.

Good for you for stepping up and looking out for your sister against your "stereo typical" gun counter commando!!

Next is the Rugers. The SP101 was the first revolver i bought after getting back into shooting after a 8 yr hiatus due to a relationship i was in where firearms were not looked favorably upon. I love my SP. it has been my go to as a self defense sidearm while hunting or out and about during the winter months when i can get away with OWB carry. My usual carry is a LCR 38spl that has had many rounds run through it and is quite a weapon in its own right. Great trigger on that one!

That said my recently acquired 586 is a great weapon and will no doubt be seeing shared use in the field. I am always looking too. K frames have caught my eye lately. Looking for a combat masterpiece now. Love those older pinned guns! Ive owned a couple j-frames and loved em all. This site is making me realise I need a money tree. Sigh. Lol

Thanks for listening.

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Joe S.
Central MS

Nice way to get her oriented to defensive shooting.

Teaching defensive shooting can be alot of fun for women. You have to keep it interesting and they do much better when they hit the target consistently.

My oldest daughter on my backyard range. 7 yds on the near target, 2 torso, 1 head shot, advance to the tree and engage the second target at 15 yds, same drill.

I would hate to be on the wrong end of the Model 15 she is shooting in this pic....she doesn't miss..

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Take your time..quickly.

Thats awesome!!

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Joe S.
Central MS

My 29 yr old daughter loves to shoot. We spent about four hours on my birthday at the range. She likes a variety of guns. She was shooting the 4" 19-3 pretty well with powder puff .38 Special reloads.







She was finishing up all the small pieces of clay birds on the hill with the 10-22 to finish the day. She ran about 350 center fire and 6-700 .22 that afternoon.

She has adopted the top photo for her facebook profile photo. she is a realtor in Portland Or and love to hear the feedback, "do you really shoot GUNS?" lol

Thats awesome!! Cant beat shooting time with family...
Heres my wife killing some aggressive clay pigeons and milk jugs with the 30 carbine.


And it trickles down. Here is my daughter getting primed for her first 22 100 yatd match.


Sorry for the hijack. I love seein girls getting into shooting...

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Joe S.
Central MS

Awesome way to introduce handguns to a new female shooter. My wife has had her CC for 4 years now and has convinced her older brother to get a CC also. We all went to the range last time he was in town and tried a mild semi (380) and then revolvers (.22-.38-.357) which he preferred. She really loves showing off her 649.

My wife has become a competent and enthusiast shooter during the past couple years. She loves the way J frames fit her hand and my 36, 34 and 632 are now "hers." I think the 632 is about perfect for recoil-sensitive shooters. She has no problem with full house .32 mag loads, and I can load 'em down to .22lr volume. The 36 with defense loads is a bit much for her, but we practice with light loads (2.7 gr Trailboss or 3.5 g Unique, 158 LSWCHP, 600 fps.). Glad you made another revolver convert.

You gotta watch those agressive clay pigeons. They become so agressive that the only way to deal with them is to pick them up in boxes and shoot them for a second time. I still have 4 crates of them waiting for their time in the air. Frank