Wife's First Trip to the Range

[Darklyte27]

is that your wife in the avatar?

Education is usually effective but not when they are like a brick.

If she says "guns are bad" then ask why.
If you can, bring other friends who shoot and have her ask their opinion why they shoot guns.

[Saym14]

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.

my two girls started n ared ryder at 5 to 8 - then a pellet gun, then a 22, then the 9 the 223 and th1 12 Ga. they now have thier own 20 GA. now at 11 and 14 they can shoot everything I have. they go with me way more then the wife.

[wheels]

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.

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

+1 on the above - just took my sister for her first outing, I made sure she got a cheapo ($30) set of electronic muffs so I could talk to her and help her with grip while she shot.

I was also glad I had a 380 auto in my bag of tricks - I personally can't tell much difference between 9mm & 380 auto, but in her hands 380 was as much as she could handle.

If a first range trip goes south it could be the last range trip for her. If you don't have some smaller caliber weapons for her to try see if the range has rentals and ask about smaller calibers. I intended to rent a smaller revolver since all I own are semi autos, but the range didn't have any.

Also make sure the range guy knows you are bringing a first time shooter in and ask if they can leave a lane clear around you or make sure that you are not next to someone with a cannon. When we first got in the guy next to us was shooting some cannon that was scaring the crap out of my sis, luckily he shot about 20 rounds then left, but it would have made it a 10 minute range visit otherwise. The range cleared out and we shot for almost 2 hours, she said had a blast.

[adrenaline]

is that your wife in the avatar?

Education is usually effective but not when they are like a brick.

If she says "guns are bad" then ask why.
If you can, bring other friends who shoot and have her ask their opinion why they shoot guns.

Yes that is my wife in my Avatar. She doesn't think guns are bad, she just thinks that bad things happen when safety isn't properly exercised. She thinks that if the risk is removed then the safety level is greater. I always argue that the risk isn't the gun, but the owner of the gun and that education, training, etc. is the proper way to remove the risk.

She's bought into it and hence why we have the gun. She trusts me. She is a registered nurse and when she gets to talking with her nurse co-workers, they agree that generally guns are a bad thing.

We do have other close friends that shoot (including his wife). I think I'll try to plan the range trip with them as well.

[9mmepiphany]

If your looking for formal training to get her more comfortable, send me a PM.

I'm local to you and have worked with several shooters on the forum

[Steyrlp10]

To the OP: What 9MM and Shelly said

In my former life, my ex just shoved every caliber, make, and model into my hands and expected me to take to those firearms like a fish to water. Yada-yada-yada.

I compete well today thanks to experienced guys at the range who have both patience and common sense -- they helped me, not him. You'll see several past threads on here from other Calgunners who have had similar experiences to what you're having now.

Since you're in 9MMs area, I encourage you to have a chat with him. He knows what he's talking about and will be an asset to you in helping your wife feel comfortable in handling a firearm. From there, she'll become more confident and perhaps, understand that having a healthy respect for guns may eventually change her views towards them.

[adrenaline]

Okay, just wanted to post an update. We finally made it to the range yesterday. I took a gamble and decided to do the training myself. She did surprisingly well for a first time shooter and the .25 Beretta. She had 5 inch grouping with it at 7 yards. She then really wanted to try my 9mm. She was anticipating more recoil so her shots weren't as accurate as the .25 caliber.

She was saying initially that the ear protection wasn't good enough so we went back out and I did ear plugs + ear muffs. She liked that a lot. A guy was shooting a .50 cal and made her go WOW...but with the double ear protection she was just fine.

My primary goal was met. She wants to go again and even asked me last night if she could buy her own gun. She said she wants a .22 caliber full size gun (that my buddy had). She really liked shooting accurately with the smaller calibers, but really wants to work up to my 9mm.

So to recap:

1. She wants to go again (woohoo)
2. She wants her own gun (suprise to me)
3. She posted on her Facebook and has impressed her anti-gun friends, family, and colleagues. (kind of like...if she can do it...then guns must not be that scary...my wife is dainty.)

[Steyrlp10]

Okay, just wanted to post an update. We finally made it to the range yesterday. I took a gamble and decided to do the training myself. She did surprisingly well for a first time shooter and the .25 Beretta. She had 5 inch grouping with it at 7 yards. She then really wanted to try my 9mm. She was anticipating more recoil so her shots weren't as accurate as the .25 caliber.

She was saying initially that the ear protection wasn't good enough so we went back out and I did ear plugs + ear muffs. She liked that a lot. A guy was shooting a .50 cal and made her go WOW...but with the double ear protection she was just fine.

My primary goal was met. She wants to go again and even asked me last night if she could buy her own gun. She said she wants a .22 caliber full size gun (that my buddy had). She really liked shooting accurately with the smaller calibers, but really wants to work up to my 9mm.

So to recap:

1. She wants to go again (woohoo)
2. She wants her own gun (suprise to me)
3. She posted on her Facebook and has impressed her anti-gun friends, family, and colleagues. (kind of like...if she can do it...then guns must not be that scary...my wife is dainty.)

Outstanding!

She needs to get a Calguns handle to continue her bragging rights on FB
Glad she's having a great time -- and spending it with you!

[choprzrul]

Ok, this thread is full of WIN. Congrats adrenaline on a successful outing with the mrs.! I have found that my wife REALLY likes to shoot .22s at reactive targets. Anything that gives immediate feedback is just fine. She has a Beretta u22 Neos with a halo sight on it that she really likes. Here is an example:



I just got done building this Marlin 795 for her:



You might consider starting her with her own 22. Plenty of fun and inexpensive to shoot. Again, congrats on a successful introduction to the shooting world for your wife.

.

[9mmepiphany]

She said she wants a .22 caliber full size gun (that my buddy had). She really liked shooting accurately with the smaller calibers, but really wants to work up to my 9mm.

too bad they don't make a .22lr conversion for the USP

I'm a big advocate of conversion units for full sized guns, because it helps with familiarization with increased handling. I usually recommend the Sig 226 or 228 and the factory conversion unit.

just as a side note, RE: noise, It may be a bit further drive, but SacValley is a lot more open than Rancho and seems generally more pleasant for new shooters...assuming you're shooting outdoors

[sniper5]

My wife's combo:

She was an anti until a couple of years ago. Now huge range rat. She's a teacher, hence the t-shirt.

[Steyrlp10]

My wife's combo:

She was an anti until a couple of years ago. Now huge range rat. She's a teacher, hence the t-shirt.

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

I liked the T-shirt because I say a similar thing when non-gun people sneer at my shooting; I remind them that it's an Olympic event. I also smiled at the blue ammo box... drove my Better Half crazy when he found out I have a Dillon account. I now know who swipes my catalogue when the mailman drops by - lol

[Catheaven]

Glad to hear the range trip was a success.

I have to say I was the same as she was up until about almost 2 years ago. i refused to let my husband own gun and there was no way i was going to shoot one.

Well a camping trip and talking with some friends totally converted me. i shot my first shotgun about 2 years ago and at first I didn't like it and now I love it. (I shoot skeet a bit and I participated in my first shotgun match this year. I stunk but it was so much fun). I hear it all the time how i was adamant that there would be no guns in my house yet I bought a gun before my husband.

i think it was just the fun and adrenaline which changed my opinion. Also getting educated about guns and that when used safely can be recreational and fun.

[kdmmcc]

washing

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.

I wash my hands and forearms before leaving the range, every single time. You should before eating, drinking, smoking or using the restroom. When I took my future wife to the range for the first time, (she chose not to shoot), she asked for wet wipes... so now I keep them handy.

[iareConfusE]

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.

Unless you want some lead in your system, yeah, wash those hands well.

Also, this story was pretty awesome. Good job on getting your wife into guns.