First time Lady Pistol Shooter

[Antheia]

Today, my boyfriend and I decided we were going to rent a pistol; one, for me to see what I am going to be handling once I pick mine up on Friday. Secondly, my boyfriend is undecided about the pistol he wants to buy so we thought this was an all around win. Well... In the first 15 rounds I shot, I was pegged in the forehead twice with a shell, and a hot shell found its way into my shirt. Needless to say my first experience with a pistol was rather unpleasant, in my opinion.
My knowledge of weapons were, the empty shell would be expended to the right of the person firing, not fling up toward their face. Was I holding the pistol incorrectly? Can anyone give me tips on this?
Rather comical to say the least, but also concerning as well. I am utilizing a pistol for self defense purposes, and some leisurely shooting. If there is ever a case in which I need to defend myself, I do not want to have to worry about a shell flying in my face or down my shirt. LOL!!
The weapon we rented was a S&W M&P9.

[MrsFS]

Sounds like an ejector problem. I have a S&W M&P9 and I don't have that problem. I doubt your new pistol will either.

[Tlc.norcal]

I shoot a Sig P232. It hasn't ever popped me in the forehead with a spent shell but I do find that if I'm at the indoor range that once in a while they bounce off the seperation wall and find their way in my hair or in my shirt. I also have found them in my coat pockets when I get home. I try to wear shirts that are higher necked since a hot round down my front is not pleasant.

Sounds like the rental needs some fine tuning, maybe thats why it's a rental? I know I take real good care of my equipment but I'm not certain other people are as OCD.

Congrats on your new acquisition.

[onequickshift]

Wear eye protection, and tighter conformed clothing, I have implants, so leaves a decent opening, sometimes they can get in, also wear eye protection! Think I said that lol. Try renting a diff fire arm, I don't think your new one will be doing that, but as always dress appropriately, long sleeves maybe, and gloves could be a good idea for you.

[Antheia]

Thanks for the information and thoughts. Yeah, today was a last minute decision and maybe there is an ejector problem with the weapon we were using. The rounds were bouncing off my boyfriends chest and forehead as well, I just thought it may have been because we were holding it incorrectly. We did everything the instructor told us to do. We definitely wore eye protection and ear protection. It has been years since I shot a weapon so it was a great experience today, minus the hot shells going everywhere!!! Lol! Thanks again for your input! :-)

[movie zombie]

i shot a kahr and hated it for the reasons you described. bought a used colt mark iv officer's .45acp from another calgunner instead. doesn't hit me in the hair or face. however, some woman in another lane was shooting her pistol and her ejects were coming into my lane hitting me! i hate it!

have you shot any revolvers? love them! no ejection problems at all.

[celticstorm]

As someone else posted I also have an S&W M&P 9.... no problem. I have 2 other handguns and that has never been an issue. At our range it is required that protective eyeglasses be worn while shooting.

[Antheia]

Sorry, I know I am a little late responding back, but I thought I would let you know my experience with my pistol now.
The M&P9 I rented had to have something seriously wrong with it because my Ruger does not expel shells back at my face... Thank goodness! Since having my pistol which is about 2 months now, I have shot about 400 rounds through it. I have fallen in love with my Ruger. My aim is getting better, and I am feeling more comfortable with handling my weapon.

To answer you movie zombie; no i have never shot a revolver. I am actually sort of nervous to fire a revolver. I was watching a couple fire one at the range (honestly, I have no idea what type of revolver it was) and it looked like it had little recoil, which is nice. My boyfriend wants to get a beretta, but for some reason I get pretty uneasy when I start looking at pistols with hammers. For some reason I feel the semi auto pistols are a slightly more safe than one that is hammer fire. What are your thoughts? Again, I am still pretty new to gun ownership, and handling pistols in general.

Any and all information is great!
Thanks for the great responses!

[powaybob]

My wife has shot my 1911, Springfield XD .45, Ruger P-89, Ruger P-345, and rented a Glock 17, Glock 19 and S&W M&P 9 and not encountered the problems you described. Probably a faulty ejector on the one you used. Careful wardrobe selection prevents the "down the front" problem. I have even had that one when wearing a button up shirt- I did dance moves I did not know I had!

[movie zombie]

LOL, powaybob!

Antheia, revolvers are just plain simple. the newer ones do have safety mechanisms. i am not a fan of the airweight/lightweight revolvers.....i shot one and almost didn't pick up a gun again. they really hurt the hand because there is nothing to absorb the recoil. even men don't like it.

the more metal the better, imo. the trick is finding one that fits your hand well. with the smith and wessons i find i can handle the j-frame and k-frames....the larger frames just are too big for my hand.

see if you can find a friend with revolvers or rent some at a range. the ruger sp-101 is a nice revolver also.

i have never worried about the hammer.....i don't think its an issue unless you're trying to conceal carry.....and even then there are hammerless revolvers that you might like.

[MrsRazz]

It hasn't ever popped me in the forehead with a spent shell but I do find that if I'm at the indoor range that once in a while they bounce off the seperation wall and find their way in my hair or in my shirt. I try to wear shirts that are higher necked since a hot round down my front is not pleasant.

Same thing happened to me. Let's just say I learned the hard way to wear a higher neckline. I had a burn mark for about two weeks.

The 1911 rental I shot last weekend was expelling towards my right shoulder and I had one or two end up in my hair, but that was it.

[Shellshocker66]

Always wear a high neckline! And long sleeves, hat, and glasses! I've had shells come over from a shooter in the next lane and land right in the bra pocket and of course you then start the hot boogy brass dance (hopefully you remember to safe your gun first).

I've learned over the years if there is any opening a shell will find its way into it! Make sure even your pants are tight and no opening in the back to go down back there... That one is the hardest to get out!

[movie zombie]

yeah, its one thing to get hit by my own shells....but i HATE it when they come from the shooter in the next lane....and that shooter is a woman and seems oblivous to the havoc she is causing other shooters! last time it happened to me was at the los altos range up on skyline.

[raddogz]

That's great news that your current firearm is working out for you. So which Ruger did you decide on?

As for overcoming your anxiety for semi-auto's with hammers - some of it will be preference and most of it will be learning more about them as time passes. I think anyone will say there will be pluses and minuses to striker fired vs. hammer fired pistols.

Revolvers are just darn simple. I love shooting those! For me it's easy to handle, load, and shoot. The weight distribution is a little different than a semi-auto for me.

As to what I wear - the ranges I go to (more so for the indoor range) require ear & eye protection. The indoor range requires you to have ear & eye protection before you enter the outer set of doors before you even enter the lanes. I always wear long pants (jeans), sneakers (there are a lot of empty cases on the floor - you don't want to slip), and a light jacket that can be zipped up.

I've gotten pegged in the head from the lanes beside me and it's annoying; however I've done to myself usually because my stance off. For me (maybe a little OCD), I'm constantly readjusting to find a comfortable stance/position and thinking about how to improve. I am a relatively new shooter as well so for me I'm wanting to improve every chance I can get.

[Antheia]

I decided on the Ruger KSR9. I actually bought it before trying it out, and after my very first experience at the range I was only hoping I wouldn't have the same issue. My first firing experience was honestly last minute. I was not wearing a low cut shirt, however with my arms together holding the pistol, it did create a small pocket (lesson learned :-) ).
I love my Ruger. Like I said, I have fired about 400 rounds through it. Never had any issues except when I tried firing Aluminum cased ammo. BAD idea for sure. The weapon jammed too many times for me, and I will never fire that sort of ammo again. Brass all the way!! Overall, the weapon is easy to clean, I have no problems firing it, and it's pretty accurate. My accuracy has improved substantially since my first time.
I think in the near future I may rent a revolver just to see if I like it. Do you all have any suggestions for a good starter revolver?
Thanks again for your responses, they are great!!!

That's great news that your current firearm is working out for you. So which Ruger did you decide on?

As for overcoming your anxiety for semi-auto's with hammers - some of it will be preference and most of it will be learning more about them as time passes. I think anyone will say there will be pluses and minuses to striker fired vs. hammer fired pistols.

Revolvers are just darn simple. I love shooting those! For me it's easy to handle, load, and shoot. The weight distribution is a little different than a semi-auto for me.

As to what I wear - the ranges I go to (more so for the indoor range) require ear & eye protection. The indoor range requires you to have ear & eye protection before you enter the outer set of doors before you even enter the lanes. I always wear long pants (jeans), sneakers (there are a lot of empty cases on the floor - you don't want to slip), and a light jacket that can be zipped up.

I've gotten pegged in the head from the lanes beside me and it's annoying; however I've done to myself usually because my stance off. For me (maybe a little OCD), I'm constantly readjusting to find a comfortable stance/position and thinking about how to improve. I am a relatively new shooter as well so for me I'm wanting to improve every chance I can get.