Taking wife to range for first time... need advice

[wnr700]

Tommorrow night is date night.

My wife has agreed to go to the range and punch holes in paper. Had to bribe her with some cash for a shopping spree later in the evening.

This will be our first trip togeather.

Today we had a short session on safety by handling the Model 581 frame revolver. She seemed intimidated by the size and basic grip/finger positioning. Wasn't confidence inspiring.

On the other hand, she really liked the little Beretta Bobcat.

I've determined that I will handle all loading/unloading and let her get comfortable just handling the guns safely.

The range has several .22 rentals available, including Taurus revolvers and the obligitory Ruger Mark II.

Figure to follow that with a couple magazines from the Beretta Bobcat.

Figure a few cylinders from my 6 inch Model 17 to gain confidence and lose the size intimidation factor.

On the firing line, shoot one round to start, then proceed from there.

Maybe end it with a cylinder of .38 Special from the L frame.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[ContinentalOp]

It sounds like a good plan to me. However, I wonder if maybe you have too much shooting planned for a beginner? I would say let her dictate how far you progress in your plan. Someone who hasn't shot before may not be able to shoot that much at first. Then again, she may want to keep going well past your plan, so I'd be prepared for that, too.

You may also want to let her observe you shooting first. That way she can get used to the sound of the gun firing and see what you're doing. It also provides you with some empty cases so you can have her dry fire first before she shoots any live rounds. That way she can get a feel for the basic mechanics of shooting without worrying about muzzle flash/blast or recoil.

Just a couple of thoughts, for whatever they're worth.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Hey, I certainly don't profess to be an expert. I taught my wife and daughter to shoot. And while working at an indoor range have taught many women how to shoot.

My experience? Take it slow. Start with a 22lr. Either a revolver or semi auto. You may find that most revolvers are either too big or they don't have the hand strength for a DA trigger pull. And some women hate all the "gadgets" of a semi auto.

Women listen better and do as you suggest where men normally don't. Women quite often shoot better right from the start.

Make it interesting and fun. Then you will have a shooting companion for life.

I taught my wife and daughter starting with a Walther P22 and Ruger Mark II. After a while we progressed to a full size 9MM (M&P 9).

Good luck.

 

[wnr700]

Tonight we'll start with the rental Ruger and Bobcat.

I'll shoot the Model 17.

We'll work on handling and safety.

 

[Old cop]

I've worked with a few new shooters and the .22 is the place to start, but only after a full safe handling experience away from live fire. Then I have the newbie stand next to me while I shoot a cylinder full so they get used to the noise.

As others said, take it slowly and allow the newbie to dictate how much shooting they want to do. I had one lady who wanted to go on, but whose hand as too tired using my Model 63 .22 lr.

Best and let us know how it went.

 

[J. W.]

As others have said, go slow and start with the .22. Help her develop confidence and a proper grip. Once she has the basics down then you can step up to something more.

I'm currently teaching my girlfriend to shoot and I've found she is very recoil sensitive. Her favorite gun at the moment is my .22 lever action Marlin Golden Mountie. She's confident with it and shoots it well. For handguns, she prefers the 4" 686 because the weight makes recoil with .38's almost none. Even mild shooting guns like my Colt Detective Special and Glock 19 are a bit much for her. Its almost entirely a mental thing that will just take time to work through.

 

[APS]

Sounds like a good plan already. Let her shoot the .22 revolver first, single action. She will feel like she is more in control if she has to cock it first. No hot brass flying out and landing down the front of her shirt or her hair. She'll probably put her support hand thumb behind the slide of the auto repeatedly as well.
If your 6" M17 is too heavy for her, rent a lighter .22 revolver. Don't overdo it, you don't want to scare her off from going shooting with you again.
Make sure she uses ear plugs AND muffs. Also, if possible request a lane away from the other shooters.

 

[LedFowl]

If you had to bribe her, her desire to shoot can't be too great. Limit the things that will turn her off, like recoil and noise. Hope it works out.

 

[JamesArthur60]

Make sure she uses ear plugs AND muffs. Also, if possible request a lane away from the other shooters.

My thoughts as well. Like other experienced shooters, I've taught newbies with the .22, and mostly females in my case. They tend to get startled by the loud noise within the inclosed range. Remember, the sound of gunfire is completely foreign to them. It can screw up their concentration and focus. I hope she does well, because sometimes it's better to have someone unrelated to a new shooter. They are not as judgmental. Be safe, be slow and be nice.

 

[everReady Rob]

Hey man, the longest journey starts with - you guessed it - the first step. Keep going, keep working together, keep talking about the choices and it will work itself out. I don't think the choice of gun matters as much as having a gun, but it needs to be something she is comfortable with, even if it makes no sense to you (trust me). We all start somewhere, everything seeks it own level.

Congratulations.

 

[snowman]

Make it interesting and fun. Then you will have a shooting companion for life.

Lots of excellent advice here, and the above is possibly the most important. What the average woman wants is a pleasant experience with her partner. Whatever it takes to accomplish this(within reason, of course), I highly suggest that you do it.

I have a similar situation, and am planning how to approach it right now. My sweetheart is a petite, timid, fearful, fragile type. Even my M63 seems heavy to her, and I'm thinking that even .22lr recoils a bit too much out of the same gun to start her out. I'm thinking of getting CB caps or something similar.

I would suggest strongly that you remember to praise her every effort and accomplishment, especially if she is quite sensitive to how you respond to her. Rejoice with her over every improvement, every good thing you notice about her shooting. Little jokes are good; e.g., after she scores well: "Oh, no! She's better than me! (turn to her)Honey, you look a little tired and it's getting late -maybe we'll call it a day for now."

It just occurred to me that that last paragraph sounds a little intrusive -I'm sorry if I'm getting too personal. It's just that I've observed so many husbands neglect to treat their wives with proper sensitivity; and it makes me cringe each time. I'm not at all suggesting that you are this way, but in my observations it seems to me that we men tend to be stunted in our awareness of what makes for good relationships.

I wish you the best experience this evening; wish me well whenever it's my turn.

Andy

 

[MotorCityGun]

If I'm not too late, one additional suggestion is to sit her in front of the (plexi-) glass and give her some time to watch other people shoot and get used to the noise. Point out to her, while she is watching, safety practices, such as, pointing muzzle down range, trigger finger discipline, etc. Hopefully, there will be other women shooting at this time. Then ask her to let you know when SHE'S ready. The key to this is don't rush her/things.

 

[growr]

As an Instructor for over 20 years I would also like to add ...make sure that she has not just good hearing protection but GREAT hearing protection on. Many ladies like to put foamies in the ear and then add muffs as well.(I also recommend that they remove their earrings to ensure a good seal around the ear.)
This may seem to be overkill on a .22...but the both of you will appreciate it on an indoor range when the person about three booths down is firing their .44 mag or such. The concussion and muzzle report can be very intimidating on an indoor range.

I would if possible make her first range trip to an outdoor range to minimize the noise factor. I also like to use the computer generated graphics that are available either on line or on a number of DVD's. Although it is older (circa 1987), the Women's Guide to Firearms with Gerald McCraney and Lee Meriweather is a great introduction to all of this.
I have found that with many ladies that once they have a good understanding of what is actually happening inside the gun they are no longer intimidated. I have heard more than one lady after watching the video I mentioned say," Well, my sewing machine is much more complicated than that!"
No longer being intimidated they actually have a lot of fun with it once shown a proper grip and proper stance.
I do not know why, but new ladies seem to always want to wrap their support hand thumb around the back of the grip, so try to teach her one grip and one grip only that can be used on ALL handguns.

I had a couple in a class last spring that were in their late 70's and had never really done anything like this before...at the end of class going back to their car she said to him, " Oh Honey, we need to get some more ammo and do this again, I never thought that it would be this much fun!" They were using a Ruger Mk 3 that had never even been fired as they had just bought it the day before class.

Have a great time with your lady and don't rush anything!!

Randy

PS...An old joke that you might enjoy...Do you know how to get a woman off of the firing line?
"Honey, we are out of ammo." the usual response is, "I don't care what your problem is...go get me some more!

 

[fiasconva]

Just try not to show how pissed you are when she outshoots you with your favorite gun.

 

[vytoland]

give her the credit cards and she will have a fun shopping trip..................while you enjoy a session at the range.

 

[wnr700]

Wow! What a date!

She started with the Beretta Bobcat and immeadiatly hated it. A little loud, a little hot, and flying brass was a distraction.

After one magazine, she then turned the the Model 17.

She loved it. With demonstration and instruction she learned how to hold the gun properly. After each cylinder she gained more confidence and at the end of our half hour, she had learned to load and unload and shoot on her own.

I listened, encouraged, and let her go at her pace. A range marshall was a great deal of help as well.

She really had fun.

She likes revolvers.

Her only complaint was that the Model 17 was a bit on the heavy side. On the way out we handled a snub .22 Taurus rental which was more to her liking.

Thanks for the advice, and I will keep you guys posted

 

[computeruser]

A recipe I've seen work: Pick one gun, let her get comfortable with it. She controls the pace and activity. Go when it's not busy and therefore more quiet. If you can find an informal shooting venue where you can pop tin cans and the like, better still.

 

[tchick]

I've taken both my wife and grown daughter to the range to start them out shooting. I took a good selection of firearms. A Sig P230 .380, S&W 640 J-frame .38 (with CT grips), Glock 9mm G19, and a Colt Python .357 (shooting .38 special). After shooting everything my wife locked in on the Colt Python. Hardly any recoil shooting .38's and she loved the super smooth double action trigger. She didn't understand why the J-frame's trigger pull wasn't as smooth. Now my wife only wants to shoot the Python. She's comfortable loading and unloading it herself. My daughter locked in on the Glock after shooting everything and she shot it a lot. She later went out and purchased a G19 for herself. All this to say, we may think we know what our wives/girlfriends/daughters will like but they'll all have different likes and dislikes (kind of like us).

PS. Before I took my wife to the range I started her out at home with an airsoft pistol to get her used to proper sight picture, etc. She did really good with the airsoft pistol.

 

[4011]

I started my wife out with her dad's 38 pre 10 loaded with some very old wad cutters. I had the target at the seven foot line. She could see the holes very easily and her confidence was quick to build. Trigger pull was a problem. I switched to my G26 and she didn't care as much for it. My 1903 Colt pocket is her gun of choice. That ain't gona happen so I have purchased a Mod. 37 Airweight for her. When she gets her health back I'll get her up and running on the 37. I have a mod 34 22 that will help. I shoot it in the garage at a phone book using low power 22 longs. Has helped my shooting. Then I have to have the shooting eye worked on. They need to know the safety and at least how the firearms work. She is 62 and had never fired a firearm.

 

[tchick]

......... I shoot it in the garage at a phone book using low power 22 longs. Has helped my shooting. Then I have to have the shooting eye worked on. They need to know the safety and at least how the firearms work. She is 62 and had never fired a firearm.

You should try some of the powderless .22 target ammo. When my wife took her concealed carry class the instructor had the students shoot his .22 revolver using some of this ammo. No hearing protection is needed and you won't have to worry about it over penetrating.

http://www.smokewagongear.com/p-1187-22-caliber-colibri-ammunition-aguila-22-c0libri-powderless-ammo-20g-50-rds.aspx