BarbC
Member
Yesterday, I helped instruct a Women on Target course. We had 20 participants even though the weather was rainy with intermittent downpours, although fortunately it cleared up enough after lunch for some quality range time.
Women on Target is an excellent course for beginner women - low key, no pressure, and covers basics from ammunition components to cleaning to firearms handling. Many of these women were interested in getting a handgun for self-defense but had no idea how to start. This day out with the ladies provided a valuable first step.
I brought along my 60LS, 65LS, M&P full size 9, Browning Buckmark .22, Walther P22, KelTec P3AT, and Stoeger 12 ga coach gun and my cleaning kit which is in a tool box.
The lead instructor taught the basics and safety and then the ladies came up to handle the unloaded guns. Many of them had never been that close to a gun before. It was helpful to them to have a relating female show and tell what works for smaller hands. Some were surprised that they really could comfortably hold a large gun.
Down at the range, we started with the .22s rifles and then the .22 handguns. Within an hour, they had worked their way up to .38s and 9mms. Several had never loaded a magazine before but all quickly became proficient. PS - they shot their revolvers double-action (but also had a Ruger SA .22 at their disposal). Let them learn what trigger pull is supposed to feel like.
We broke out the spring-loaded steel cowboy action plate and let them blast the shotgun (with Winchester AA Low Noise/Low Recoil). They loved it and applauded the hits!
For the Grand Finale, Bill brought out his big-bore Russian rifles. Not everyone tried them but the ones who did loved them. I think the onlookers were encouraged that women could shoot these rifles without being knocked over.
We had a few who were slower to get involved past one or two shots from each gun but several who really took to shooting with gusto. We even had an 11-year old girl student who I believe we have now conscripted into our Cowgirl Posse! Not bad for a half-day's outing.
Women on Target is an excellent course for beginner women - low key, no pressure, and covers basics from ammunition components to cleaning to firearms handling. Many of these women were interested in getting a handgun for self-defense but had no idea how to start. This day out with the ladies provided a valuable first step.
I brought along my 60LS, 65LS, M&P full size 9, Browning Buckmark .22, Walther P22, KelTec P3AT, and Stoeger 12 ga coach gun and my cleaning kit which is in a tool box.
The lead instructor taught the basics and safety and then the ladies came up to handle the unloaded guns. Many of them had never been that close to a gun before. It was helpful to them to have a relating female show and tell what works for smaller hands. Some were surprised that they really could comfortably hold a large gun.
Down at the range, we started with the .22s rifles and then the .22 handguns. Within an hour, they had worked their way up to .38s and 9mms. Several had never loaded a magazine before but all quickly became proficient. PS - they shot their revolvers double-action (but also had a Ruger SA .22 at their disposal). Let them learn what trigger pull is supposed to feel like.
We broke out the spring-loaded steel cowboy action plate and let them blast the shotgun (with Winchester AA Low Noise/Low Recoil). They loved it and applauded the hits!
For the Grand Finale, Bill brought out his big-bore Russian rifles. Not everyone tried them but the ones who did loved them. I think the onlookers were encouraged that women could shoot these rifles without being knocked over.
We had a few who were slower to get involved past one or two shots from each gun but several who really took to shooting with gusto. We even had an 11-year old girl student who I believe we have now conscripted into our Cowgirl Posse! Not bad for a half-day's outing.
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