Wife's First Trip to the Range

[adrenaline]

Okay, my wife was anti-gun (now she's like I'm still against it but you do what you want). With my desire to get into guns an shooting, I keep answering her year after year when she asks what I want for my birthday, "I want a handgun."

Every year she gets me cologne, etc. Stuff that girls think guys want since she's was kind of against me getting the handgun. This year for my birthday she gave in and allowed me to get my first handgun (HK USP 9mm). Now I've been to the range several times already, but want her to come with me.

She surprised me when I stated to her, "If any emergency situation came up, even if it was a last resort thing, could you even use the USP." She was wondering how hard it was? I answered not so hard but you would have to remember to put the loaded mag in, rack the slide, make sure the safety was off...and I also said you should know how it is too shoot it and the basic safety rules when handling if necessary. So she asked, "Well maybe you can take me to the range?"

That was a trip to me! So now I'm excited and want to plan everything out so that her experience is great.

- I have ear protection that I can lend her but was wondering if I should do plugs AND the ear muffs for her (some guys shoot cannons at the range and I don't want her to freak out from them).
- I don't have a 22LR hand gun but my father in law has a Beretta 950 .25 caliber. I should get that cleaned up and ready and have her shoot that first right?

Am I missing something? Have any of you ladies been in my wife's shoes a long time ago and you hubby's gotten you hooked? What was it that did it?

[9mmepiphany]

I'd recommend taking her to an outdoor range during the week when it is less busy...if your schedule allows...or at least early before it gets crowded. I usually take my students to Sac Valley out by Ione and get a private range...it just makes teaching easier.

Plugs and muffs might be overdoing it, because she won't be able to hear you. I double up when shooting by myself indoors, but I have electronic muffs so I can turn up the volume if I need to hear.

remember to bring wet-wipes so she can clean her hands, before touching other stuff.

a hat is good to keep brass from dropping down the top of her eye protection.

If I were taking someone out, I don't think my first choice would be the Beretta 950. do you know anyone who has a .22lr you can borrow. I'd rather start some one on a mid-sized 9mm or .38spl than a .25ACP

[adrenaline]

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't thinking about the hat thing. I notice that my HK USP doesn't eject towards me but I like the extra pre-caution (remember my goal is to avoid anything that my dissuade her from doing it again). Also, if I decide to rent a .22lr I can't be sure how the rental ejects so good stuff there.

What is with the wet-wipes? I myself don't do that when I go to the range.

[Robidouxs]

Wet wipes are utilized to clean the lead off of your hands.

[9mmepiphany]

you don't go shooting with enough women

they like to wipe up the lead and powder when they finish shooting, before they wash their hands

[adrenaline]

Maybe I'm a total noob to shooting, but does everyone wipe and wash their hands immediately after shooting? I normally wash my hands and stuff when I get home.

[Robidouxs]

I wash my hands soon as I finish shooting. I have found it to be not so fun cleaning off lead and powder residue from the lightly colored interior of my car.

[rkt88edmo]

I always wash my hands at the range if possible (nearly always possible).

Yes on plugs and muffs.

Renting the .22lr pistol is also a good idea.

[Jason_2111]

I always wash up immediately after shooting. Lead on your hands, not a good thing really. Especially if you see a Burger King and get a hankering for a Whopper... and eat it in the car with your unwashed hands. (I kinda did this once).

[johnthomas]

I would just take her with what you have. She will either enjoy it or not. Follow all the safety rules, eyes and ears. Explain how the gun works, slide comes back, hold your hands like this, here is the stance I use, always keep the gun down range. Don't be a boss, be a teacher. You will do fine. I posted a thread last week about taking my Granddaughter to the range, today we went again, this time to an indoor range with the targets that you send down range and back to you so you can check it. She enjoys the range. Today she shot her 22 rifle, my cz52, Colt combat commander, glock 9mm and a s&w 45 long colt. If a 15 yo girl can handle all that, your wife will be able to do well with your 9mm.

[Saym14]

I agree on the outdoor range. I just took my friend and his wife who was totally anti gun, until some wierdo pounded on her door late one night when he wasnt home. theyguy went a way but it convinced her she should own and know how to shoot a gun. I took them to west end and know she wants her own handgun and is leting her husband build an AR.

[adrenaline]

I agree on the outdoor range. I just took my friend and his wife who was totally anti gun, until some wierdo pounded on her door late one night when he wasnt home. theyguy went a way but it convinced her she should own and know how to shoot a gun. I took them to west end and know she wants her own handgun and is leting her husband build an AR.

Awww....you caught on to my quest to convert the anti-gunner world. I go around banging on doors of my anti-gun friends and then talk to them about guns the next day. LOL. I kid I kid.

A friend of mines has a Sig Mosquito and he jumps at every chance to go to the range with me so that might be a perfect time. Some really great advice here!

I sure hope she gets into it. Maybe I should e-mail her a picture of that STI Elektra?

[shellyzsweet]

What is with the wet-wipes? I myself don't do that when I go to the range.

But your a guy. -Bring wet wipes.

[shellyzsweet]

Honestly I'd start her on a .22lr revolver. It starts with the basics of trigger pull and grip and stance. It rotates and you don't have to worry about the slide slipping back and biting her hand, or a magazine and the slide locking back, or extraction issues (not that I expect any with your usp). From there I would move to a nice big framed .38 or .357 with .38 wad cutters in it which I would let her hold the night before and aim at a blank wall and dry fire with. Again it focuses on trigger pull, establishes familiarity, and make sure to have her focus on the front sight and steadying the weapon.
Once she's got the .38 at the range down and handling those rounds nicely you can move to the USP 9mm, which is where she can learn to deal with the slide, magazine, safety devices, jams and clearing. (the way I was taught to do this was my grandpa took brass and simulated a failure to feed or failure to extract, and I would have to clear the weapon then load it then rack it then fire it and reload for a total cycle.
Also don't just let her dry fire at a wall for a few minutes....give it a good hour or two. This is something i still do to this day when I want to practice at home and I've seen it improve my grouping.

-This is how I was taught to shoot, your mileage may vary.

It was easier for me cause I'm a daddy's girl and daddy liked guns, so I liked guns. But I started with a .22 rifle, then a .22 revolver then a 686 with .38 rounds, then .357 lights, then regular, then magnum. I then moved into semi-auto's when my grandpa thought I had a good solid foundation.

And yeah...I know its at least 2 guns to rent, but I think it will go smoother if you do it this way. Just my opinion tho.

[adrenaline]

Honestly I'd start her on a .22lr revolver. It starts with the basics of trigger pull and grip and stance. It rotates and you don't have to worry about the slide slipping back and biting her hand, or a magazine and the slide locking back, or extraction issues (not that I expect any with your usp). From there I would move to a nice big framed .38 or .357 with .38 wad cutters in it which I would let her hold the night before and aim at a blank wall and dry fire with. Again it focuses on trigger pull, establishes familiarity, and make sure to have her focus on the front sight and steadying the weapon.
Once she's got the .38 at the range down and handling those rounds nicely you can move to the USP 9mm, which is where she can learn to deal with the slide, magazine, safety devices, jams and clearing. (the way I was taught to do this was my grandpa took brass and simulated a failure to feed or failure to extract, and I would have to clear the weapon then load it then rack it then fire it and reload for a total cycle.
Also don't just let her dry fire at a wall for a few minutes....give it a good hour or two. This is something i still do to this day when I want to practice at home and I've seen it improve my grouping.

-This is how I was taught to shoot, your mileage may vary.

It was easier for me cause I'm a daddy's girl and daddy liked guns, so I liked guns. But I started with a .22 rifle, then a .22 revolver then a 686 with .38 rounds, then .357 lights, then regular, then magnum. I then moved into semi-auto's when my grandpa thought I had a good solid foundation.

And yeah...I know its at least 2 guns to rent, but I think it will go smoother if you do it this way. Just my opinion tho.

Your exactly how I want my daughter to be. Of course she's only a 1 year old right now...but I think I'll try to follow in your dad's footsteps.

As far as the wife goes, her dad has gotten into firearms only recently. Because you were a daddy's girl, I can understand your desire to shoot like your daddy did. My wife doesn't have that same desire. While you would dry-fire for a couple of hours, it might be a turn off to her if I told her that was the proper thing to do. I have snap caps so I'll have her do it for a 15-30 minutes as well as mag release, chambering a round, safety etc., but remember...she's doing it because we both feel she needs to know how to handle/shoot the USP. While I wish shooting was her passions, I have to take my baby steps and start with just day 1 at the range.