Looking for some practical advise on introducing someone that has never fired a gun before.
My wife had never fired a gun before Sunday and was afraid of them until recently. Didn't even want to handle one. Which is changing.
Sunday for her 1st experience it was not a good one. We arrived at the range and it was very crowded which I immediately knew wasn't going to be good. This was an outdoor range and we couldn't see the pistol range from the clubhouse otherwise I would have left and waited for a better time.
So what happened is we took our position and I fired a mag thru the gun so she could see the reaction and hear the sound. I could tell she was apprehensive but still willing to try. She has been dry firing this gun for a couple months and even disassembling it so she is at least now comfortable handling it.
She took her position on the line and I had loaded a mag with just one round in it. She loaded the mag, cycled the slide and took aim. Just about that time the guy next to her let loose and was dropping spent cases all over her. She took the one shot and said she was done. She was physically and emotionally upset and un-nerved.
I calmed her down and helped her move off the line. I then finished what I had loaded and we left with no argument from me..
On the trip home she was still upset and part of it was because she gave up so quickly. Yes she was upset with herself.
I tried to reassure her that it was OK and that the conditions were terrible and we shouldn't have tried it then. We have talked and she still wants to try again. Have since talked with one of the indoor ranges close by to see if I could find out when a good off-time period would be for us to come by when it wouldn't be so crowded.
BTW the one shot she did take was 1" directly above the Bullseye.
So how can I help her relax and build confidence. Oh and overcome her fear?
My wife had never fired a gun before Sunday and was afraid of them until recently. Didn't even want to handle one. Which is changing.
Sunday for her 1st experience it was not a good one. We arrived at the range and it was very crowded which I immediately knew wasn't going to be good. This was an outdoor range and we couldn't see the pistol range from the clubhouse otherwise I would have left and waited for a better time.
So what happened is we took our position and I fired a mag thru the gun so she could see the reaction and hear the sound. I could tell she was apprehensive but still willing to try. She has been dry firing this gun for a couple months and even disassembling it so she is at least now comfortable handling it.
She took her position on the line and I had loaded a mag with just one round in it. She loaded the mag, cycled the slide and took aim. Just about that time the guy next to her let loose and was dropping spent cases all over her. She took the one shot and said she was done. She was physically and emotionally upset and un-nerved.
I calmed her down and helped her move off the line. I then finished what I had loaded and we left with no argument from me..
On the trip home she was still upset and part of it was because she gave up so quickly. Yes she was upset with herself.
I tried to reassure her that it was OK and that the conditions were terrible and we shouldn't have tried it then. We have talked and she still wants to try again. Have since talked with one of the indoor ranges close by to see if I could find out when a good off-time period would be for us to come by when it wouldn't be so crowded.
BTW the one shot she did take was 1" directly above the Bullseye.
So how can I help her relax and build confidence. Oh and overcome her fear?