took two "older women" to the range yesterday

[W.E.G.]

Gun was a Ruger Security Six 4" model

Lengthy verbal instruction was given before the outing.

Familiarization dry-firing was done too.

Each had some prior experience firing revolvers.

67-year old did OK provided she fired double-action with two-hand hold.
She ran out of gas (could not execute trigger pull) after 5 shots firing double-action with her strong hand only. She was able to cock the hammer manually, but single-action shots were widely dispersed.

59-year-old (with known hand-strength issues) ran out of gas firing with two hands by the third reload. Shots were otherwise "all over the place" before she ran out of gas. She was unable to cock the hammer manually in a safe manner.

Each had considerable difficulty picking up the revolver, and bring it to bear on the target in a manner that could even remotely be considered timely presentation of arms.

I wouldn't describe either as a "motivated" shooter or firearms enthusiast.

Fair to say that I was disappointed with the product of my effort.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

Don't be disappointed.

The Good thing is that they were open to learning to shoot.

Once they realized their problem(s), should they Want to continue,

they will make adjustments to be able to handle the guns.

The Important thing is that you were willing to take the time to Help them.

Do Not underestimate a Determined woman.

 

[Krell1]

I'm a male and I shot indoor pistol (NRA Gallery Course) for many years. The club had a separate women's club that practiced weekly and a good many of them were excellent shooters. They could compete quite well in the matches that were held there. A good many male shooters at the club couldn't keep up with them.

 

[thebeamanater107]

They may be open to the idea of a smaller simpler gun. I teach first timers with a ruger lc380 and ruger Sr22. When we step up to bigger bullets it turns into a variety like 9mm, dads old s&w 357 Magnum revolver 6" bull barrel, 1911s...

I learned how to shoot age ten with a 22, so I don't look down or pick on 23-25 year olds learning with a 22

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

[arjay]

Ive had good results having new or hardly ever shooters using my 22s.Low recoil and light weight make it fun.If they aren't interested I don't push it.

 

[4011]

Know of a younger lady who gave out in practice. Had to shoot single action but did fine.

 

[gdnagle]

My wife had problems with large caliber handguns. Got her a BG380 she handled that very well. Now she also has a Ruger LC9 Lilac of course, hey if that's what it takes to get her into larger caliber then so be it, and Sig P239 .40 S&W. Practice small and work from there. My wife's biggest problem was jacking the slide. Now she can handle the larger slides.

Thy just need to find a firearm that thy can handle. Good for them though for giving it a try.

 

[Alpo]

When the next-door-neighbor was burglarized, I loaned Daddy a gun. 6" Trooper Mark III. And he sent Mama to a pistol class the sheriff's office was running.

On day 4 of the class, when they went to the range, I went along.

Mama had little hands, with short fingers. Had to hold the gun like this, to be able to reach the trigger.



I let her try my Gold Cup, and she said, "Oh, I can hold on to this one".

So I went home with the Trooper and she went home with the Gold Cup, and it took six years to get THAT gun back.

Point of this story is - that first gun didn't fit her.

If your two old ladies can't handle that Security Six, try a different gun.

 

[Alpo]

And, veering slightly from the topic, when she took that course, they told the women to NOT bring a gun the first day. To bring their gun on day 2, and the deputies would examine them and make sure they were in working order.

The woman next to her had one of them Beretta 25s with the tip-up barrel, and when he got through with it, the deputy turns to Mama and says, "Did you bring a gun, Ma'am?"

She tells him yes, and picks her purse up off the floor (one of them huge, old-lady purses), plunks it down on the desk and digs out that 6" Trooper.

He says, "Yes Ma'am. You brought a GUN".

 

[amazingflapjack]

life act or similar spray. At home-a single-double or O/U shotgun fired from the waist.

 

[joeintexas]

I agree with the above posts on choosing a handgun that's a little more user friendly at first. My wife would shoot my 9s but she never really got excited about it until I got her a Ruger SR 22, she now shoots the lights out! She shot one magazine of 45acp, that didn't work out so well. Good for you for taking them and I hope it works out better with a lighter caliber.

 

[shouldazagged]

A question (after I make the point that 59 is not an "old lady", and 67 is early in the "old lady" category): was the training and trip to the range their idea or yours?

Just asking.

And another question: what ammo were they shooting in that Ruger?

The first question is, I think, the more important one. You said you wouldn't describe either as motivated.

Hand strength aside, it may be that they aren't terribly enthusiastic about developing the skills needed to arm themselves. Perhaps they shouldn't--not everybody should.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I probably misunderstood part of this. At first glance, it seems to me that anyone who went to the range with you, and did that after extensive pre-shooting instruction, was a motivated shooter.

Possibly a slightly smaller gun, like maybe a SB J with Tylers, or even a RB J with Tylers, would work better.

It is also possible that they simply lack the strength to operate a revolver, but I would check out the other possibilities first.

Kudos for the initiative and effort to instruct these ladies!

 

[TACC1]

W.E.G., nothing wrong with your effort or desire
to teach. You just reminded me that I've got a couple
newbies that would like training/shooting. The weather
here is pretty good right now, time for me to get crackin'!
Wonder how your trainees would do with a little
tip-up barrel Beretta or Taurus.
Hey, you still get extra points for effort!!
TACC1

 

[arjay]

Ten years ago my youngest sister asked me to show her how to shoot a handgun, so we headed across the road to some BLM land.I showed her how my Ruger 22 worked and let her have at it.In no time at all she was bouncing those pop cans like she'd been doing it forever.After an hour of this,I asked her if she'd like to try a 45 (I didn't own a 38 then).
Big mistake! She fired one round and was done...My other sister,I taught the same way, except no 45.
Let them get used to it before introducing center fires.

 

[LVSteve]

In my experience hand strength is an issue for many women. My late wife would shoot my Model 63 but refused to try my 686 with 38s. She dry fired my M&P revolver and liked that but never got to actually shoot it. Her sister will try and shoot any kind of hand cannon, but she lacks the grip and strength to rack most semis. My wife hated semis because she did not like the slide thrashing back and forth and was always nervous about the empties.

 

[Big Cholla]

If the Ladies are looking for a home defense gun and aren't comfortable with handguns or willing to put the effort into becoming a safe and acomplished handgun shooter..............switch them to a semi auto short barreled shotgun 20ga or 12 ga........shot with the butt clamped under their armpit. I had several of my female students elect to go this route. They tend to shoot across a room's width and hit the 'knee' level. Then the recoil brings them up a little each shot. By the third or fourth shot they hit at the chest level. Good enough for home defense. My own mother at the age of 85 could still do this with a Rem M 1100 in 12 ga. The shotgun was positioned in a corner of her bedroom muzzle down and fully loaded with the safety on. She never had to use it, but she was much more at ease in that big house knowing she had the shotgun and knew she could handle it. It was a 20" bbl, with a multi-choke in Improved Modified. There was no magazine extension and no side saddle because she didn't need either one. Now that she is gone, it has both and serves me well at my home. .............. Big Cholla

 

[Abbynormal]

Gary: I've known you through posts and PM's over the past 10 or 12 years both here and the Falfiles. I've always gotten the impression that you keep your guns in good repair.

The reason I post this, is, I like Ruger Security Sixes slightly less than a good N frame. I like the feel of them, but I always felt the trigger pull was too heavy until I tried this trick.

I field stripped the S-6 down to component level. I didn't disassemble any component. I hosed the whole thing down with 2 cans of Brake/Parts cleaner, also soaked the frame, cylinder and trigger group in solvent overnight, blew dry with compressed air and liberally lubed with a bottle of RemOil, and pins lubed with Breakfree.

I found the DA pull to be almost 1/2 the effort and nearly S&W smooth.

I also found that I needed to re-lube the innards every month or so and it would stay that way.

Try that trick and maybe your ladies will hang around you longer!!!!

 

[SgtLumpy]

...was the training and trip to the range their idea or yours?

Exactly my question. You say neither was a -
**"motivated" shooter or firearms enthusiast**

What was the purpose of taking them shooting? And whose idea was it?

Taking a non motivated shooter or non firearms enthusiast to the range is something like taking me to watch a taping of "Oprah". I'd poop out about the "fifth round" as well.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Clean Break]

A .38 spl model 10 or Military & Police with aftermarket rubber grips ( like Uncle Mikes) and standard pressure loads is so easy and lightweight to hold, aim and hit with! Women and children love to shoot mine. CB