Taking the Ladies to the Range

[RetiredUSNChief]

As an instructor, the absolute worst part about teaching women to shoot is when their husbands come along.

You know, as a husband I can honestly understand. Sometimes I find it's just better for close family members to get their teaching/training on certain subjects from someone outside the immediate family. My kids, on certain subjects, are prime examples. Sometimes is just comes across better from someone else.

My wife and I have been shooting together a few times...and just recently started going shooting together again. I didn't realize that she required so much more attention on how things work since the previous time (several years ago), and I made darn sure I wasn't patronizing or impatient about anything...and let her take the lead.

She's due to get her first, very own pistol next month for her birthday: a brand, spanking new Walther PPK/S, something she has expressed a clear interest in. And I DARN sure am not going to screw this up by doing anything stupid like shooting it first without her knowledge, or treating it like it's anything but HER pistol that SHE will be the expert with.

About the only thing I'll do with it before it gets gift wrapped is a basic mechanical function check, an "everything there" check, and a breakdown/reassembly so I'll know how to do it on that pistol. I gotta at least be able to discuss those things with her, because she's gonna ask!

 

[au01st]

She definitely got proficient with the 1911 much quicker than I expected...

 

[BSA1]

I actually see the opposite issue much more often as I work at a LGS. IMHO, the Airweight J frames have probably turned off more ladies (due to badly informed guys) to shooting than any other handgun. Not just the recoil, but the 12 pound trigger on a one pound revolver is tough to train up on.

Not just that heavy trigger pull but the small grip which enhances concealability. The K-Frame is an excellent training platform but for many it is at the top end for c.c.

The problem is as soon as the person becomes aware of the revolvers shortcomings, for example only holding 5-6 rounds and being slow to reload, they want a semi auto instead.

Which opens the question how many times do you have to miss to win a gunfight? And what documentation is there that supports your claim? FBI stats say otherwise.


With over a century of history behind the semi-automatic pistol, which goes back at least as far as 1893 with the Borchardt C-93 (which itself was only the first commercially successful semi-auto handgun produced, after the 1883 introduction of Hiram Maxim's recoil machinegun) why would the semi-automatic pistol ALSO not be considered a "time tested proven self-defense weapon"?

I didn’t say it wasn’t. Just responding to attitudes like the above that to win a gunfight you need more than 5-6 rounds with extra magazines for reloads. I don't understand why with some folks the semi-auto is the only choice for S.D. when gun sales say otherwise.

But we are getting off-topic. The only response we seem to be missing is the GLOCK is the perfect and only gun she needs.

There I got one on the table.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

With over a century of history behind the semi-automatic pistol, which goes back at least as far as 1893 with the Borchardt C-93 (which itself was only the first commercially successful semi-auto handgun produced, after the 1883 introduction of Hiram Maxim's recoil machinegun) why would the semi-automatic pistol ALSO not be considered a "time tested proven self-defense weapon"?

I didn’t say it wasn’t. Just responding to attitudes like the above that to win a gunfight you need more than 5-6 rounds with extra magazines for reloads. I don't understand why with some folks the semi-auto is the only choice for S.D. when gun sales say otherwise.

But we are getting off-topic. The only response we seem to be missing is the GLOCK is the perfect and only gun she needs.

There I got one on the table.

*facepalm*

You had my understanding and sympathy with your clarification on your stand with semi-autos....and then shot that completely out of the water with the mention of "GLOCK"...

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

"GLOCKS, why does it always have to be GLOCKS...?"

 

[DougW]

My wife of 36 years descided that she needed to learn how to run an AR15 recently. Went shooting last Saturday, and she fell in love with "her" AR carbine, and then shot very well with "her" GLOCK 19. Finished the day skeet shooting. Now I feel better that she knows how to handle her AR or GLOCK when I am away.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

"GLOCKS, why does it always have to be GLOCKS...?"

And WHY DO THEY HAVE TO YELL THE NAME ALL THE TIME?

It's almost like they have to compensate for something...

 

[bobmcd]

Glock, after all, is a name, not an acronym.

Gaston Glock. Glock, auf Deutsch, just means "Bell". Like Bell helmets. Nobody calls them BELL Helmets.

So it's Glock, not GLOCK.

UNLESS YOU FORGOT YOUR HEARING PROTECTION, THEN I GUESS IT WOULD BE GLOCK!

 

[340PD]

For all those that have trouble racking a semi's slide but still know how to handle one, take a look at a Walther PK380. Very easy to rack.

 

[Hometeached1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shanghai McCoy
"GLOCKS, why does it always have to be GLOCKS...?"


I have wondered about that as well. Personally I think the M&P is a better SD pistol in that you can get one with/without a safety, has ambi slide stop/release and a much better grip.

 

[texasgun]

when I take first time shooters to a range (woman or not) - I typically go to an outdoor range ... MUCH less noisy and crowded than the indoor ranges and far less intimidating for a newbie. I also pick the morning hours when it's not packed and you have more time.

Generally speaking - girls here in TX love to shoot and more often than not when I go on a 1st or 2nd date... the 3rd date ends at the gun range and we have a blast