After 8 years, the wife finally says...

F

frankeinstein06

Inactive
"I was thinking about someone breaking in and trying to hurt the baby last night, and... I am ready to learn how to shoot". :eek:

This is coming from a woman who previously fought me every step of the way in keeping firearms in the house, and keeping a loaded pistol in a lockbox has been a continued source of conflict. If she saw me doing dry fire drills after work, I would get the cold shoulder for the rest of the night.

Now I am so excited I don't know what to do with myself. My full size 92F will be too big for her, and the 1911 will kick her butt. I could a) get her a pistol that is really just for her or b) get a pistol that I really want that she would be able to shoot comfortably (I was thinking about an XDm compact :D). Of course she might try it once and never shoot again, but this may be my only chance to justify a new pistol purchase in the near future (tight finances and all). Either way, I might be getting a new pistol !!! Decisions, decisions !!!!! :p
 
I have an XDm 9mm compact and I love it! Your wife would easily be able to handle that gun - however, I'd let her try it out before buying it; if she doesn't like it, she's not going to get into shooting it, and that defeats your purpose.
 
We are talking about a zero experience shooter here.

4" 357 or 38 revolver with 38+P rounds in it. Find a frame which fits her hand. Don't buy what you want, buy what is best for her and that is almost never an auto for a person with no experience and who is not going to practice regularly.

Check the used shelves at your local shops and you should find plenty for reasonable prices.
 
You really need to go slow, and one step at a time. I recommend starting with a 22LR. She'll immediately like it. That the important thing. She can move up in caliber, but at her own pace.

And always let her pick her gun.
 
Start out with a Ruger Single Six .22LR. Keep in mind her trigger finger is not trained and this gun is about as safe as any can be for a new shooter. The first gun I put in my wifes' hand was a Hi-Standard Sport King .22 auto loader. She fired off about five rounds without even realizing she was the one pulling the trigger. I still won't let her shoot anything but revolvers. :) Also, recoil and loud bangs don't go well for some just learning about guns.
 
Explain to her up front how this works: Start her out shooting one of your .22's -- one that's not too light. Then a .38 Special service revolver using target wadcutters. Then let her pick out something she likes. My wife and my daughter like shooting my Ruger MkII .22 pistol, but I never got them beyond that; they don't like the noise and recoil but they like punching small holes in paper or knocking down soda cans.

You might not be the best teacher for her.
 
More and more I think the Beretta 86 is a neat auto that solves a lot of problems for people with smaller hands / less strength.

20+ years ago I went through a process of trying to find a handgun for my wife and she had trouble pulling the slide back on almost every 9mm on the market at the time. This might sound strange but we didn't try a Glock. In 1987 in my area at least there weren't a lot of Glocks on the shelves.

She also did not like the recoil of the nines.

We settled on a Colt Mustang.

The Beretta 86 has a tip-up barrel so it's easy to load, it's one of the biggest 380 pistols so it makes an already light recoiling round even more manageable...

I think it bears looking into.
 
1. Check out corneredcat.com (both you and your wife).

2. PM Pax, as she is the author of corneredcat.com, if you have questions about what you read there. She is a nice lady, and a good instructor. I have watched her work with new shooters.

3. Speaking of instructors, there is a lot to be said for buying your wife a lesson or two to start out. A lot of guys are not good instructors. A lot of people who may be decent instructors, cannot maintain a good instructor-student dynamic with a spouse (this can be caused by either or both spouses). You may be able to instruct, and she may be willing and able to receive your instruction, but if there is any doubt on either point - buy her a lesson or two.

4. Always, always, always let her pick the gun - after she has tried a few rentals or loaners and has an idea of what caliber, grip, reach, weight, trigger, and sight radius differences will mean.

5. A .22 is always good to have, as an additional gun. Minimal recoil and cheap ammo make it friendly for training. In most cases, a .22 is a poor choice for carry - but it makes a good extra.
 
1. Check out corneredcat.com (both you and your wife).
Click to expand...
This is the best advice you could follow.
Now I am so excited I don't know what to do with myself.
Click to expand...
She is moving along a path (change in attitude) you have already traversed. Don't expect her to jump to your point in the journey overnight. Don't expect her to be as enthusiastic about the hardware as you may be. Don't... Nevermind. Just spend more time reading Pax's wisdom and advice before worrying about all the rest.
Either way, I might be getting a new pistol !!! Decisions, decisions !!!!!
Click to expand...
No, she might be getting a new pistol. That's still exciting! In the long run, it is really more exciting.
 
You've already gotten the best advice you're going to get.

My full size 92F will be too big for her, and the 1911 will kick her butt.
Click to expand...

Probably right though. She'll just out shoot you with yer own gun. ;)
 
I don't know your wife, and perhaps the 1911 would kick her butt... but there are a lot of petite female shooters who can tear it up with a 1911.

My wife isn't petite. She's no tank, but she's 5'7" or 5'8", and grew up on a farm. She can shoot up to a .44 magnum, but prefers .38, 9mm, or .45ACP. (She can shoot .357, but she dislikes noise more than I do... it isn't always the recoil.... and btw, .45ACP is one of the quieter rounds out there.)

So don't pick a gun for your wife, but also be careful about arbitrarily ruling out a gun for your wife. She could very well surprise you.
 
I think you can arbitrarily rule out a 1911 as the first thing she shoots -- but if she wants to try it, by all means let her go for it after she's tried a few .22's and .38's. One of the instructors at my gun club is a woman; not petite, but small-to-average height and build. She rocks with a .45. She also shoots a .22
 
Take the woman to the gun store, and let HER pick out the .22 SHE likes best. Shoot, rinse, and repeat as necessary.

Go from there. Best wishes.
 
Listen to me!~

If she has always had this much resistance to the idea of shooting. Dont start her out with ANYTHING but a .22!

You want her to enjoy her first shooting experiences. So she will come home after a day at the range and think "that was fun". You dont want her shooting anything that might make her uncomfortable and cause her any more anxiety over the idea of shooting.

In fact, start her with a pellet gun first, then a .22 RIFLE, then a .22 hand gun. Then maybe after she's done all that, and is actually enjoying her self, She might be up for trying out your 92!

Trust me. It's worth taking your time when it comes to your wife;)

If all goes well, you and your wife can have a long term love affair with firearms. Or at the very least, she will accept your's.
 
Last edited:
OK, now time to be grown ups.

Get out of the way.

Send her for basic pistol class and Home Defense with someone else. Maybe take them with her if you can be a good student. Let her look at guns. Including yours. Getting advice outside. Then let her use one of yours or buy her her own arm.

This isn't about you. She may not appreciate any jests.

Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top