Taking the wife to the range for the first time

[JohnP]

My wife's never shot and, although she isn't anti-gun, she's afraid of them. By some miracle, I've finally convinced her to try the range. Anybody who's got experience with this, please feel free to offer some advice. I'm trying to figure out if I should solely focus on safety, or give her lots of pointers about how to shoot with some control and accuracy.

Also, the smallest caliber i own is a 9mm. Do ranges (On Target) rent .32 or .380 semi auto's and is it worth it, or should i stick with my stuff which i know is going to perform well.

I have a feeling this is going to be interesting...

[sarge1572]

If she's afraid of guns rent a 22.

My A-hole brother took his wife and right out of the shoot he gave her is 2" 44 mag with magnum loads. She hasn't been back.

If you WANT her to shoot with you rent a 22 pistol or revolver and let her get the mechanics down. They are easy to handle, aren't too loud, don't have much kick and won't add to her fear of guns. If you can rent a 22 revolver start with shorts, then move up the line with recoil, unless you don't want her to go again!! Then let her shoot your lightest gun with +P's!!!! or magnums.

If you have a 357 magnum revolver, you could let her shoot some 38 target loads out of it. They're heavier, and the target loads are a pretty light load, but I'd go with the 22 if you want her to shoot with you again.

Most people see the giant recoil, flames and instant death on TV.... perception is reality.

Jeff

[Bud11]

I did the .22 for my first time and was pleased. Just purchased a .38 as my first gun. Very pleased. Bud

[rkt88edmo]

get a .22 whether you rent or borrow or make a new friend here and meet up with them.

get a board and a hammer. If your wife can whck a board hard with a hammer (wear earpro and eyepro just likeyou will for the range) it is a simple simulation of the noise and recoil of a pistol.

As long as she doesn't drop the hammer and can give a board a decent whack, she will do fine at the range.

let her practice safe handling of the pistol at home

safety first, accuracy is fun, but don't overload her with info.

buy shoot n see targets - if you can't have reactive targets they are the next best thing.

[Thefeeder]

^^^^^

Yep....22 is the way to go.

[erik_26]

Get the proper and comfortable PPE for her (eyes/ears).

Go over all the safety

Demonstrate all the safety

Find a stall where no one is on either side of you

Start off at 7 yards (21ft)

Only put one round in the mag. (just incase after the first shot she drops it).

Be extra calm and patient.

Don't do anything to loose her trust (i.e. lie saying no kick, or put a .44 mag in her hands after a couple rounds of the 9mm).

Positive reinforcement

Keep an eagle eye on her to make sure she doesn't point the gun in the wrong direction or place her finger on the trigger when not ready to fire.

Finally, tell me how you got your wife to agree to go. Cause mine wont.

[41M]

With new shooters I like to demonstrate and let them practice the loading and operating at home, using dummy ammunition. You can at least give her the basic idea of loading a .22 pistol magazine using a 9mm pistol magazine. In addition general safety, if she will be shooting a pistol go over removing the magazine first, while keeping the pistol pointed in a safe direction, and then clearing the chamber. Also, for the first few shots I usually use bullseye targets and face them away from the shooter so they can practice sight alignment before moving on to sight picture.

[cannon]

1, Get a .22 to start.

2, Shoot the gun so she can hear and see first.

3, Go where she can shoot at a can 15 feet in front of her. A bullseye target is not fun but if she can make the can dance she will be having fun.

[coyotebait]

Weird. She says she wants to use the glock. I set her up in the proper stance and lightly smacked her hands and she said the recoil was fine. maybe I'm not giving her enough credit. She did jump out of an airplane on her birthday one time. Today is her birthday so I think she wants to go rambo on the targets

Oh hell, she's good to go. I won't jump out of a perfectly good airplane but there's NOTHING I won't shoot.

[GSwain]

X2 on what alot of people have said here, I had a similar situation with my GF, not wife yet. She was a bit afraid of guns, never shot one. First thing I did was layed out ALL the guns on the bed, and we went over safe handling and how to determine that they were all safe. Did that for a couple hours until she was more comfortable. Then we moved up to dry firing, she was feeling nervous about the idea of practicing cycling bullets. I went and loaded some dummy rounds with spent primers and no powder to use as snap caps for her. She was able to practice loading and clearing the firearms, and she became much more comfortable.

When I have taken her to the range, I have always made time to go when it is not crowded and the idiots are not out in force. For us around LA, that means no weekends at angeles, and usually morning is better. I let her go at her own pace and made sure she felt comfortable.

Now she wants my .357

[bruceflinch]

If she's afraid of guns rent a 22.

My A-hole brother took his wife and right out of the shoot he gave her is 2" 44 mag with magnum loads. She hasn't been back.

If you WANT her to shoot with you rent a 22 pistol or revolver and let her get the mechanics down. They are easy to handle, aren't too loud, don't have much kick and won't add to her fear of guns. If you can rent a 22 revolver start with shorts, then move up the line with recoil, unless you don't want her to go again!! Then let her shoot your lightest gun with +P's!!!! or magnums.

If you have a 357 magnum revolver, you could let her shoot some 38 target loads out of it. They're heavier, and the target loads are a pretty light load, but I'd go with the 22 if you want her to shoot with you again.

Most people see the giant recoil, flames and instant death on TV.... perception is reality.

Jeff

Good advice, right off the bench!

[bruceflinch]

Finally, tell me how you got your wife to agree to go. Cause mine wont.

Threaten to with hold sex till she goes with you....

(Older guys will appreciate this advice more..)

[OffGrid]

I think I may have messed up getting my wife into shooting.

Taught her how to shoot trap using the 12 gauge and now she is stiff competition. Her second trip out with a group of us she was asked to go on an invitation only pheasant hunt by one of the chairs in the womans hunting legue.

I will occasionally find her under an oak tree, lying on a moving blanket, sniping squirrels with a .22 or .17 HMR. The worse part is she giggles every time she makes a good shot.

Good thing I love her because I would be too scared to leave her.

[CALI SHOT DOC]

when taking people out for the first time, i sometimes take them to an outdoor range rather than an indoor range if possible. With an outdoor range there isn't the echo's from each gun shot and can be less intimidating (atleast thats what i have learned from my experience with newbies)

[Steyrlp10]

My wife's never shot and, although she isn't anti-gun, she's afraid of them. By some miracle, I've finally convinced her to try the range. Anybody who's got experience with this, please feel free to offer some advice. I'm trying to figure out if I should solely focus on safety, or give her lots of pointers about how to shoot with some control and accuracy.

Also, the smallest caliber i own is a 9mm. Do ranges (On Target) rent .32 or .380 semi auto's and is it worth it, or should i stick with my stuff which i know is going to perform well.

I have a feeling this is going to be interesting...

I'm surprised that you didn't post you question in the Ladies Forum. There's enough info there from female Calgunners.

I hope she has fun -- that's the important thing right after safety