Introducing my wife to shooting

[1s1k52]

My wife has approached me with wanting to learn to shoot. For SD reasons only. She has never shot before. Hates loaded noises (balloons popping, fireworks, etc) She was raised by anti-gun owners etc. However, with some light show on how the real world can be lately she wants to know how to defend out home should I not be around.

I really dont have much to show her on. I have a Glock 27.My dad has .44 Ruger Redhawk, and a Beretta 9FS. The only thing I keep at home for her is either my Glock or a Topper 12 with a round of buckshot. The topper scares her because she has seen the damage it does to my shoulder (kicks like a mule but i never mind)

So any thougts? I would love to start out with a .22 pistol to get it fun for her. No money to just run out and buy one. I was thinking of looking at a smaller 9 but I dont want something snappy to turn her away. I was hoping this day would come but now that its here Im unsure how to approach it.

Should I just go buy something and have her learn on that? if so recommendations? my next gun was either going to be a Glock 20SF or a Glock 22. Neither of which get her comfortable enough to learn proficiency

[C-dub]

Before getting something new I'd let her shoot the 9mm. I thought the same thing with my sister and 16y niece when taking them shooting for their first time a couple of months ago. They brought along my BIL's 9mm and they both ended up liking that and shooting it very well for their first time.

Now, if you would still like a G22, I have a nice one I've had up for sale for a little while. If you're in the DFW area and would like to see it and try it out we could get together sometime.

[C-dub]

Oh, and since you have the 9mm at home, you could show her the basics before even going to the range with an UNLOADED gun just to make sure she can even work the slide and all that. You might also be able to go over posture and stance and stuff. I didn't do all that with my sister before going to the range, but did before she shot and I think it made a big difference in her comfort level. She had a well balanced stance, grip, and posture on her very first shot and therefore did not get hurt or terribly surprised by the recoil and managed it well.

[RHenriksen]

You should let us know your location - someone with a .22 pistol might be willing to loan it to you.

[stroguy]

My wife was not a shooter either. I took her out and let her shoot some of my pistols, a .38 snubbie, 9MM 1911 and a Ruger .22. She said she only liked the .22 and despised my snubbie. I then contacted a lady CHL instructor at CC for a one hour familiarization class, one-on-one feminine day at the range. I asked the instructor to let her shoot several styles of pistols and let me know what she felt comfortable shooting. The wife came home after shooting a M19 .357, PPK .380 and 2 9MM semis. She didn't care for 3 of the 4, and they were all the semis. She liked the double action .357. The weight and ease of shooting it with a cocked hammer appealed to her. She now has her own Ruger 65 shooting .38 HD loads. I think giving her that afternoon away from me was the best bet.

Good luck.

[RHenriksen]

I then contacted a lady CHL instructor at CC for a one hour familiarization class, one-on-one feminine day at the range....

I think giving her that afternoon away from me was the best bet.

You're a wise man, sir

[wgoforth]

Don't know if by "don't have money" you mean as in none at all, or not much. BUT, you can get a Sig Mosquito for around $250-$300. Size/weight/feel of a 9mm but low noise/recoil. I know it isn't free, but the difference in the cost of ammo would eventually pay for itself. There are a few tricks to it, so if your interested, let me know and I'll splain it further.

[Teamless]

ditto to the comment above, tell us where you are and I am sure someone in your area would have a .22 that you could borrow.
But also, I find it easier not to teach my own spouse, as they tend to be more sensitive to what you say, but some 3rd party they seem to listen more to.

So maybe someone with a .22 is someone she doesn't know (and maybe you don't know yet either) would be available to help teach the basics.

Once she learns those, then you could take over helping with more range time

[Divided Attention]

If you let us know your area, there are several ladies groups that meet occasionally that may be able to introduce her to an assortment of options in a fun "girls night out" type environment.

ETA - Sometimes is is easier for ladies to learn from someone that is NOT her hubby.... less stressful.

[glbedd53]

My problem is just the opposite. My wife was raised around guns and is not the least bit scared of them, she just has no interest. Gettin her to the range is like gettin Mr. T on a plane.

[1s1k52]

First post on the iPhone yay me. Hitech redneck!! I live in McKinney. To those that asked.

C-dub I wish man. Not test would be required. It's a glock.

Well after posting this we made a trip to dfw airport and swung by bass pro. It was crowded with.... Not my type of crowd that's the nicest way I can put it. I got her to hold an LCR, LC9 bodyguard 380 and a glock 27. All with trigge guards non of the semis had no magazines in them??? She liked the LC9. 2 months ago I almos bought her a PF9 till I read about the recoil and didn't want to scare her off.

Maybe I will see about a class.

[The Annoyed Man]

Before getting something new I'd let her shoot the 9mm. I thought the same thing with my sister and 16y niece when taking them shooting for their first time a couple of months ago. They brought along my BIL's 9mm and they both ended up liking that and shooting it very well for their first time.

Now, if you would still like a G22, I have a nice one I've had up for sale for a little while. If you're in the DFW area and would like to see it and try it out we could get together sometime.

One of the things they emphasized to us when I took my NRA Basic Pistol Instructor's course was to start new shooters with a .22. There are several good reasons for doing it that way, and that is how I do it when I teach someone. I will typically have new shooters shooting a .45 by the end of the day, but I start them on a .22. That is the best way to teach good technique, without the distractions of recoil. And technique is what makes a good—and happy—shooter. In fact, the two ladies I taught last week worked their way up to the .45, and they much preferred it to the 9mms they tried, because the 9mm was snappy, and the .45 was a big pussycat. The 9mm used was a Glock 19. The .45 used was an M&P45.

I can tell you for absolute certain that starting them with a 9mm would have been a mistake. If the OP's wife is afraid of guns, starting her with a snappy shooting caliber will not build confidence for her. In fact, it is likely to help her arrive at the decision to not practice because shooting won't be an enjoyable pastime to her.

[Liberty]

I understand the value that a 22 can bring into practicing, and they are a lot of fun to shoot. I have introduced handguns to a couple of Lady's using 9mm. I introduce them with full sized guns, and using WWB for ammo. Most of the time they remark on how "minimal" the KIck is. From there I explain the mechanics of the how barrel and front sight rise on them and that this needs to b e corrected before the next shot is taken. No one has ever claimed that the 9mm recoil was intimidating most were sorta surprised when they are shown how much the front site lifts and how long it actuallt takes to recover.

My reasoning. They are shooting a real and practical defensive handgun, not a toy. My gun of choice for a first timer is a p92. a long barrel easy to aim but a military grade weapon. Most of the ladies find it pretty easy to rack the slide on this gun, by racking the gun and holding the slide. I insist on good ear and eye protection.

The main problem with a full sized gun is that they can be a little heavy for a youngster or someone who has weak or very small hands.

A 22 is great for plinking and really working on marksmen skills and they are a lot of fun. but recoil really shouldn't be much of an issue with many 9 mm hand guns.

I also like SA/DA guns because it makes it easy to demonstrate both single action and Double action and the advantages disadvantages of both. Although I really feel the first encounter should be about the shooting and not the gun itself. and am not to crazy about introducing a lot of different guns to a newbie.

[wgoforth]

I understand the value that a 22 can bring into practicing, and they are a lot of fun to shoot. I have introduced handguns to a couple of Lady's using 9mm. I introduce them with full sized guns, and using WWB for ammo. Most of the time they remark on how "minimal" the KIck is. From there I explain the mechanics of the how barrel and front sight rise on them and that this needs to b e corrected before the next shot is taken. No one has ever claimed that the 9mm recoil was intimidating most were sorta surprised when they are shown how much the front site lifts and how long it actuallt takes to recover.

My reasoning. They are shooting a real and practical defensive handgun, not a toy. My gun of choice for a first timer is a p92. a long barrel easy to aim but a military grade weapon. Most of the ladies find it pretty easy to rack the slide on this gun, by racking the gun and holding the slide. I insist on good ear and eye protection.

The main problem with a full sized gun is that they can be a little heavy for a youngster or someone who has weak or very small hands.

A 22 is great for plinking and really working on marksmen skills and they are a lot of fun. but recoil really shouldn't be much of an issue with many 9 mm hand guns.

I also like SA/DA guns because it makes it easy to demonstrate both single action and Double action and the advantages disadvantages of both. Although I really feel the first encounter should be about the shooting and not the gun itself. and am not to crazy about introducing a lot of different guns to a newbie.

Liberty, which is why I begin my students with my Sig .22...it is SA/DA, and it's virtually identical in weight and controls to my 9mm... so it's like I'm just introducing them to one gun, just different ammo!

[strider67]

My problem is just the opposite. My wife was raised around guns and is not the least bit scared of them, she just has no interest. Gettin her to the range is like gettin Mr. T on a plane.

But when she goes with you, you say "I love it when a plan comes together."

As far as a recommendation for your wife, 1s1k52, you may want to check out this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=49611" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It deals with some suggestions given to me for my wife... Some really good direction, although our circumstances may be a little different. We haven't made a decision yet, but I thought it might help.