New Shooter and a Couple "Lady Problems"

[affinois]

Hi all,

I mostly wanted to introduce myself since I'm new to CG and brand new to shooting. I've been to the range a total of four times now, and I have more fun every time I go!

I wonder if any of you keep your nails long? I usually don't, but I happen to have gels on right now and they've grown out a bit. I find that when I'm loading .22LR ammo, the length of my nails makes me fumble around with the bullets a lot. I also am not finding an easy hand position to rack the slide with these damn nails, not to mention that the magazine release on my gun (Walther P22) is under the trigger and really annoying to work with a long thumbnail. In short: I'm going to cut my nails.

My great victory last night at the range was that I shot my husband's 9mm for the first time (well I'd shot one round out of it before, but last night I shot ten), and I got over my recoil fear and really enjoyed it. Then I felt super hardcore when a hot shell casing got trapped in my cleavage and I didn't even flinch - I maintained perfect muzzle control while fishing it out with my weak hand Now I have a little burn from it which ups my hardcore quotient by like 2%

I haven't seen many women at our range yet, I hope I will start to see more. When I do see them it's usually partners or daughters learning the ropes from men, which is all good, but I would love to chat with experienced lady shooters too.

[six10]

Hi affinois, and welcome to Calguns

I'm pretty much a revolver gal but they're not fingernail-friendly either, so yes, I keep my nails trimmed close and you're wise to have made that decision, imo.

LOL @ the bonus points for keeping a cool head while dealing with burning brass down your blouse! I once had brass from a pistol in the next lane fly down the front of my blouse. Initially thought I'd been stung by a bee (outdoor range) and then realized what had happened. From then on I've worn turtlenecks or buttoned-up collared shirts when I go shooting.

Initially I, too, was extremely recoil-shy and it just took time for me to build up the confidence to shoot centerfire calibers. Sounds like you're already on your way in that department and that's great!

I'm often the only woman at the range I frequent -except for the Range Master- and while it would be nice to see more women there I have to say the guys are always gentlemen and the ceasefire chit-chat we sometimes engage in is always pleasant.

This isn't a fast-paced / high-traffic area of Calguns but the women who do post in this forum regularly are a candid, knowledgeable bunch, so stick around

[71MUSTY]

Please, Please, Please wear appropriate range wear. I hate to see brass catcher burns.

[affinois]

Please, Please, Please wear appropriate range wear. I hate to see brass catcher burns.

I hear you; I need to get some shirts that aren't v-neck or scoop neck first. That's literally all I wear if I'm not wearing a dress... I have learned my lesson though!

[BonnieB]

Affinois, you're doing great. Well done!

And welcome to the Women's Forum. Check in often, there are some great folks here. Sometimes the guys pile on and get jerky, but we don't like that and we push back.

Yah, I had the same problems at first. It's hard, but in the end you have to balance safety over glamour. I chose safety. So it's high necks, closed toe shoes and short nails at the range. I can always change into something better looking after I'm done shooting. Although generally, all I really want to do after a long session is lunch and a nap...

I had to choose between long nails and shooting, because every time I went to the range I'd botch a $30 manicure. It's not a safety issue, but there's no way a long manicure is going to survive around steel and brass So now, the nails are short, but still manicured and polished.

As to catching brass in necklines, even guys catch a piece every so often, in an open shirt collar. You really gotta wear a high neckline at least while shooting. There's no law against bringing a spare crew neck T shirt to the range and changing out of it when you leave. I like V neck T shirts and scoop neck T's too, but for shooting, I tie a bandanna, color coordinated of course, around my neck, cowboy style. It really works, the brass just bounces off.

Closed toe shoes, no flip-flops, no sandals, goes without saying. 'Cause walking out over the gravel to change targets in sandals is just no fun. I wear ballerina flats a lot, and it works.

I like to look nice at the range too, you don't have to dress up like a guy, but you do have to be reasonable. The boys may whine about my saying that the range is no place for plunging necklines, super short shorts, sandals or high heels, but it's true. It's a serious place for serious people.

On the recoil thing, lots of women new to shooting arch their backs, way back, so their shoulders are over their heels. And when the gun goes bang, you're already off balance. Women do this all the time, but I've never seen a man do it. It must have something to do with our center of gravity. So stand slightly hunched forward, not back, and when it goes bang, you're just pushed into a neutral position and not falling backward. It's hard to be confident when you're chronically off balance.

Good luck with your shooting, hang in there, and come back and visit soon.

B

[jeremiah12]

As usual, Bonnie gave great advice. I had never noticed the arching the back thing, I will have to keep that in mind and watch for it the next time I go to the range.

I started shooting rifles as a young kid, and so learned to lean far forward and hold the stock very tight against my shoulder so that even with the recoil the worst that would happen is I would end up standing straight up.

Since I am a lefty, I just got used to the hot brass emptying all over my right arm and occasionally flying in my face. When I come home from a range trip, I always find a few spent casings in my shirt. I am a guy and the closed necked shirts do not stop them all, they still find their way in.

Give it time, I am starting to see more women at the range without a husband/BF just this past year alone.

Welcome to Calguns.

Jerry

[affinois]

Affinois, you're doing great. Well done!

And welcome to the Women's Forum. Check in often, there are some great folks here. Sometimes the guys pile on and get jerky, but we don't like that and we push back.

Yah, I had the same problems at first. It's hard, but in the end you have to balance safety over glamour. I chose safety. So it's high necks, closed toe shoes and short nails at the range. I can always change into something better looking after I'm done shooting. Although generally, all I really want to do after a long session is lunch and a nap...

I had to choose between long nails and shooting, because every time I went to the range I'd botch a $30 manicure. It's not a safety issue, but there's no way a long manicure is going to survive around steel and brass So now, the nails are short, but still manicured and polished.

As to catching brass in necklines, even guys catch a piece every so often, in an open shirt collar. You really gotta wear a high neckline at least while shooting. There's no law against bringing a spare crew neck T shirt to the range and changing out of it when you leave. I like V neck T shirts and scoop neck T's too, but for shooting, I tie a bandanna, color coordinated of course, around my neck, cowboy style. It really works, the brass just bounces off.

Closed toe shoes, no flip-flops, no sandals, goes without saying. 'Cause walking out over the gravel to change targets in sandals is just no fun. I wear ballerina flats a lot, and it works.

I like to look nice at the range too, you don't have to dress up like a guy, but you do have to be reasonable. The boys may whine about my saying that the range is no place for plunging necklines, super short shorts, sandals or high heels, but it's true. It's a serious place for serious people.

On the recoil thing, lots of women new to shooting arch their backs, way back, so their shoulders are over their heels. And when the gun goes bang, you're already off balance. Women do this all the time, but I've never seen a man do it. It must have something to do with our center of gravity. So stand slightly hunched forward, not back, and when it goes bang, you're just pushed into a neutral position and not falling backward. It's hard to be confident when you're chronically off balance.

Good luck with your shooting, hang in there, and come back and visit soon.

B

Thanks for the advice Bonnie! It's very well put, although I admit I chuckled a bit at your description of not needing to look nice or glamorous at the range. I mean, it IS good advice, but I am not a "nice-looking" gal I wear tshirts and jeans 99% of days, no makeup, no hairdo. But my tshirts are either v-neck or scoop neck because I cannot stand having anything touch my neck. It makes me hyperventilate. I've always been that way... no idea why. Shirt collars also gap out extra on me because I am, let's say well-endowed.

I like your tip about a bandana, though. It's not tight, so I may be able to handle it sitting near my neck. I'm going to give it a try. If that fails, a crew neck will probably be fine as long as the material is thin.

This arched back thing is great to know, I have not yet paid attention to my back while I'm shooting. I'm going to start. I know I have posture problems as it is, which makes it hard to feel fully balanced.

[Zorba]

This will be an odd answer - but I'm a guy with pretty long nails, gel over acrylic. I have no problems shooting or otherwise dealing with my guns - including take downs and cleaning.

It may just be that because I wasn't "born to" long nails, I've had to learn things "the hard way". When I first started wearing them long, I had broken nails fairly frequently - but now I usually have a set last 4 weeks. I just take my time, and pay attention to what my hands are doing, especially when racking a slide!

Dunno if this ramble helps at all, but for what its worth, that's this weird guy's approach to the subject! My wife, OTOH, plays classical guitar and has to keep hers short.

[movie zombie]

welcome!
I find brass isn't a problem when one has revolvers, LOL!
however, I have a few semi-autos in my stable now.....
it is like with shoes: one pair is never enough....and so it is with guns: one pistol isn't enough!
again, welcome....no idea re the nails. mine are short.

[affinois]

This will be an odd answer - but I'm a guy with pretty long nails, gel over acrylic. I have no problems shooting or otherwise dealing with my guns - including take downs and cleaning.

It may just be that because I wasn't "born to" long nails, I've had to learn things "the hard way". When I first started wearing them long, I had broken nails fairly frequently - but now I usually have a set last 4 weeks. I just take my time, and pay attention to what my hands are doing, especially when racking a slide!

Dunno if this ramble helps at all, but for what its worth, that's this weird guy's approach to the subject! My wife, OTOH, plays classical guitar and has to keep hers short.

Thanks Zorba - can you describe how you rack the slide when your nails are long? It feels so awkward when I try it.

I rarely grow my nails out, but I just recently got into gel color and I really love how it looks & stays on. Since I'm new, I think I'll cut the nails for now, but I'm sure I'll want fancy nails again eventually!

[Zorba]

Thanks Zorba - can you describe how you rack the slide when your nails are long? It feels so awkward when I try it.

I can try! Basically, its similar to the way I open a Coke can - I use the side of my knuckle of the index finger - along with the bottomside of the thumb, fairly close to the web of my hand, not all the way "out" to the thumb pad. I don't even try to grasp the slide between pad of thumb and pads of other fingers if that description makes any sense - one slip and bye-bye at least one nail! It may help that I have large, powerful hands - my wife has difficulty racking a small .32 that we have, and her difficulties certainly aren't her nails (she has, and prefers, revolvers)!

I had a lady friend explain about the Coke can, and just derived other techniques from there. Its a mindset for me, but I over analyze everything! Like my late father used to tell me: When you modify something, there's always a drawback and you have to then work around the drawback. So that's how I think about it, the nails are a "modification" to my body, and I have to get creative in order to live with them. And every once in a while, I forget or otherwise fail - I destroyed a thumbnail about 4 weeks ago when a pair of pliers slipped, boy did I turn the air purple!

Does that help at all?

[Zorba]

I'm up with insomnia right now, and as is my usual wont; I've now over-analyzed this whole thing:

You might want to try this (rather humorous) article:

http://theguntoter.com/seven-deadly-sins-of-handgun-shooting-5-inappropriate-racking/

The top picture in this article is actually a "dainty" version of what I do - this author doesn't like it. Here's where my over-analysis comes in: I figured out that my technique works for me for two reasons: 1) I have strong hands, and 2) I first developed my racking technique on a Luger, which racks differently than any other handgun in existence and actually REQUIRES "my" technique. The technique this author depicts won't work on a Luger - but as I learned it there first, I just adapted it to "conventional" semi-automatics as well - "getting away with it" due to my strength, and sticking with it as it protects my nails.

However, it looks like this author's technique would/could also be "nail proof".

At this point, I've probably confused the **** out of everybody, so I'll shut up now...

[affinois]

Totally made sense Zorba, and thank you again I actually read that article you linked to on the Beretta blog - they edited it though. I hope the author got credited.

Your slide racking method is like what I have tried, but my hands are neither big nor strong so it hasn't worked that well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[movie zombie]

push forward racking is pretty much what I do along these lines:



i think her whole series is worth a look-see and plan to take the time to watch them.

there are a lot of videos on youtube re racking a slide by women and for women. i also think this is a variation of what i had one timed heard described as the "Israeli" method of racking the slide.

it works.

[jeremiah12]

But my tshirts are either v-neck or scoop neck because I cannot stand having anything touch my neck. It makes me hyperventilate.

It is nice to know that I am not the only one. My wife laughs at me because I constantly stretch out the collars of my crew neck tees. I pull the front down so it is three or so inches down my chest away from my neck. Ties are out. Makes me feel like I cannot breath.