girls new to the range

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Teaching women

Just remember guys not to treat us like we're stupid. If we were, we would have gone to someone else to teach us to shoot instead of going to someone we trusted first. Don't do anything to betray that trust. Don't push the sport if it is obvious she's just not going to like it.

I had a huge fear of guns, but a larger fear of losing something precious to me if I didn't at least try to find a compromise. So I asked the S.O. to teach me to shoot. He loaded light loads for me, gave me my pick of his arsenal and didn't flinch when I broke the first 4 shots out of the trap house (standing directly behind the trap house) and didn't laugh when I missed the next four. Then I met Dave McCracken, he honed a few of the things that the S.O. told me and now 4 months later I enjoy the shooting thing more than I thought I would. Had things gone any differently, we might not be having this conversation.

Take care!
 
I skimmed so someone else may have mentioned this...

Make sure they know how to dress properly. Low comfortable shoes and high necklines (I know one lady who refused to ever shoot again after some hot brass down the cleavage).
 
Embarrassing to note this, but "dress properly" for shotgunning includes making sure her bra does not have hardware on the front strap. Front-strap hardware and long guns simply don't go together that well.

pax
 
pax,

Thank you for chiming in.
What is the name of that bra you shared not long ago as a suggestion for ladies please?
I feel this thread needs it posted.

See why it is great to have ladies assist ladies ? :D

I dunno, at this part I usually mumble about jogging bras and then "heck if I know, go ask one of them ladies, I forget / I'll get back to once I ask a lady.

Typical guy, I forget once I tell them. :p

"It was gray, I remember it was gray...last lady I assisted said hers was gray..." - Steve scratching head trying to remember...

:)
 
To redeem myself (maybe).

I have been in the lingerie section, with the ladies, and have no problem when they look and ask me about front hardware.
I can even ask the sales lady "where are the ones that don't".
I get funny looks, still I don't care, I do not want a lady hurt.

I do wander about and look at nice oxford shirts, with one or two pockets.
I even have paid attention to what colors a lady likes, or what I think they look good in.

Shooting patches being added to a nice oxford shirt is what I have in mind.

Ladies like nice pretty things, the fact someone - especially a guy listened and paid attention is appreciated

"You look/ would look great in this color".
Ok, that little sneaky deal done...

Surprise a lady with that shirt with a shooter's patch. Either have the folks that come out to the range do one the shirt you bought, or order one already done up.

Ladies...one that started not knowing anything, that progresses and is doing well and gets something like this...oh boy, they really really appreciate it.

Pay attention to equipment they try, and find that works for them.
These little things being shared for husbands, boyfriends, dads, grandparents, family are really appreciated.

One lady is so proud of her brass "shell-knocker-outer".
Another has a shell pouch she went nuts over she tried and works great for her.

Toe protectors - "Yes I look great with my shooting tennis shoes, with toe protector with the top of the broom handle stuck onto it". :p
Her kids had to have these as well.

We all like little gifts of appreciation, so pay attention to students and make notes and assist with the gift giving ideas too.
 
What I have found works at teaching new shooters of both genders:

1. Keep it fun
2. When explaining things, relate the subject to stuff everyone can understand and keep it to the point. Don't spread gun myths.

3. Machoism doesn't belong anywhere - especially not when trying to dispell this myth about shooters to women who are new to the sport.

Heavier guns and light loads are good too.
 
im in college and i bet most of the picks they have wouldn't fit on THR....:D , but i can find a few. i think a better picture would be one holding a shotgun...yeah, that's wife material.
 
How about a gun that they can relate to?
 

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Keep it fun.

Last summer, I took my wife and her sister to shoot clays. We took a youth model Winchester 20g pump, and my favorite 20g side-by-side.

I was not surprised that my 5'3" wife preferred the Winchester. She was able to hit well with it, and it was fun for all three of us.

Keep it low key. We were just out in the middle of nowhere, couple of guns on the tailgate, case of clays, boxes of 20g target loads, hand-thrower that they had fun trying to figure out how to work. I threw for both of them, then they wanted me to "show us" so one of them had to figure out how to throw the clays out of it, and load it w/o breaking them -- wife couldn't get it loaded, so I loaded it for her, then she threw. Do what works, but make sure that it is fun, low key.
 
i have taught a lot of people how to shoot. it all starts with safety and a good understanding of whats going on. I taught my wife how to shoot some 16 years ago. this past sunday i taught my 8 year old son how to shoot. My 14 year old son will shoot just about anything. He has really taken on to shooting. It just takes a lot of patience on your behalf and knowing how much the person can stand. Just remember safety. Important thing also to remember is just because they are girls dosent mean you need to treat them like they are handicapp. My wife will shoot just as well as anyone else and she will do the big guns too. She is not a big girl either small framed just knows her limits.

here are some pics of my boys.
alex-1.jpg
alex2.jpg
anthony-1.jpg
anthony1.jpg
 
hey NAK, i think i've been to the range where that picture was taken. what was the name again?
Click to expand...
The range is Elf Fork, the City of Dallas Parks Department range. One of the best public ranges I have ever seen.
 
We DEFINITELY need to get more women involved. It helps to reduce the macho stereotype. When was the last time you saw a "feminine" pastime attacked? Never.
 
My wife comes to the indoor range as many times as twice a week. She is a stressed out lawyer type who appreciates the relaxed atmosphere. Saying that she finds the zen like breathing required of competitive smallbore, she has become a very talented shooter.
Took her trap shooting last weekend and she felt embarrassed asking for help because she thought she was interfering and being disruptive. The range officers were really good and made her feel welcome, turning her lessons into a refresher for those of standing around.
 
wear full camo

and yell at them when they do little things wrong, saying "YOU'RE GONNA KILL US ALLLL"
 
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