Scaring women away from shooting!!!!

[Skans]

I'm trying to think what it would have been like if the first gun I ever shot was a 45 auto? I guess it depends on how old I was at the time. As an adult, even as a 1st time shooter, I have a hard time imagining that it would be a problem to handle - I might not hit anything with it, but It's just not a harsh gun to shoot.

I started off shooting .22 rifles when I was about 7. I think I shot my first handgun when I was around 13 - it was a .22 magnum revolver. Next I shot .38 special out of a .357, and even tried some .357 - probably 14 or 15 at the time.

Of all of the guns I've fired, I'd say that .357 was the most painful round I've fired (and this was recently). The reason for this is because the gun I fired it from had small wooden grips. None of my autos (.45, 10mm, .44 magnum DE, 9mm, etc.) was as harsh to shoot as are some .357 S&W's. There is just a world of difference between the felt recoil of an auto and the felt recoil of a magnum revolver with crappy grips. That was the first time that I really thought about someone unfamiliar with guns really being turned off if they shot this particular .357.

Anyway, the point I was making is that I could see 1st time shooters being intimidated by a full size.45 auto, but I can't find anything inherintly harsh that would make it unshootable for a 1st time shooter, woman or man. Not that I recommend starting 1st timers out with a .45 auto....just saying that they are not painful to shoot.

 

[MLeake]

Usually, by the end of a first session...

... when teaching friends, I have them shooting one of my .45s.

Typical progression is:

Model 18 .22LR, until sight picture and trigger control seem to be coming along, and comfort level attained.

Then, SIG or CZ 9mm.

Then, GP100 with .38s, followed by some .357.

Then, .45.

After the .357's in the GP, the .45 is anti-climactic.

Note: we only move up to the next handgun with mutual concurrence.

The .44 mag (previously Ruger SBH, now S&W Mountain Gun) only comes out to play after the shooter gets to watch me fire it, so they can analyze recoil, blast, and flash and make an informed decision.

 

[raftman]

I actually almost BORED my girl away from shooting, rather than scared.

First, I had her try a BB gun (it was a pistol, but at least capable of firing semi-auto). I thought it would be a good way to learn to handle a gun, how to aim it, hold it, plus figured it would good to develop good safety habits with a gun that's not particularly lethal.

In any case, after the first few dozen rounds, she didn't seem to have fun shooting it, and noticed it wasn't particularly accurate.

Sensing this, I had her try my Nagant revolver, which was the mildest gun I had at the time. Told her to shoot it single action, which is how I shoot it 90% of the time. She enjoyed that thing immensely, and couldn't get over how much of a rush it gave her to shoot it. Plus, she was a natural when it comes to the safety rules.

The weird thing is, now she's tried shooting a large variety of guns and calibers, but her favorite gun of all is still the Nagant. Every time we go to a gun show, she always makes sure we come back with it least one box of 7.62x38R.

 

[Oilburner350]

I started my girlfriend out shooting the single 6 ruger. as an added bonus it has the 22 mag cylinder. After that she moved up to the 45 Colt with reduced power loads. I have her loading her own ammo now.

For the rifles she started out with the .357 winchester trapper. She thought it was more fun than the 22. I guess it kills cans better. She now has her own .308 and loads for that too.

The hand the new person the 375 H&H doesn't fly with me. If they want to shoot it, fine. If they want want to shoot it with reduced power loads, I will show them how to load them. More than one person has learned how to reload that way...

 

[swk314]

I've benn on the range when a guy started his girlfriend off with a .22lr and then handed her a .30-06, telling her the recoil would be the same. She had the worst scope bite I had ever seen, which probably required stitches. She left him there 5 miles outside of the city with no way of getting home. The range officer removed him.

Another time a man handed over a 300 Win Mag to his wife. She fired, landed on her butt, and the rifle flying out of her hands. That man got more than an earful from 4 gentleman that were on the line shooting that day.

I agree that pulling stunts like this on new shooters does nothing but hurt us. The sad part is that these guys put their loved ones(and everone else at the range) in harms way, and they thought it was a huge joke. The thought of hurting a loved one would never enter my mind.

 

[BillCA]

Usually, by the end of a first session...
... when teaching friends, I have them shooting one of my .45s.

Typical progression is:

This is similar to what I've done in the past.
Start with a .22 for basic introduction. It also allows you to observe their gun handling skills and correct where needed. If they are not careful or attentive to the rules, that's where their lesson ends.

Usually the next step is a S&W K-frame with wadcutters or 130g FMJ range loads. For women with small hands, I can let them move to a J-Frame .32 Long first.

If they're game, the .38 gets +P ammo and if we still haven't reached their "gee-whiz!" tolerance, a .357 125g load. Usually, most want to stop there on the power scale.

Then it's a Model 25 .45 wheelgun. Recoil is very mild and they're usually surprised.

Only after handling wheelguns appropriately do they get the autos. A 9mm (Beretta) and a .45 1911. Then they usually come away from the range with big smiles and ask "when can we do this again?"

I'll only offer them the .41 Magnum after they watch me shoot a full-goose gonzo load and a milder load. About half say "no, thanks". They get the mild load first and if they're game, a round of 210grains at 1300 fps will usually put a capper on the day.

 

[BillCA]

That makes sense, I guess I meant "for the most part", it's non of my business.

I usually won't butt in unless the situation demands it. Putting a +P in a .38 usually doesn't. Hearing someone say "these are the light loads" then being deafened thru my own muffs and seeing 18" of flame does require some serious kiester-chewing.

So now I think I'm god's gift to cowboys too. So I start jacking rounds through it, til I get to the last round and BOOM! I had a bruise from that hot load for a week and a half. I think my uncle peed himself laughing.

That'll larn ye, ya darn whippersnapper!
Watch out for us old farts. Youth and inexperience can't compete with old age and treachery!
Years ago some young guys were mocking my shooting partner for his "antique" Sharps chuffing out black powder smoke. Calling it an "gun for old fogeys" or "an old geezer's gun". I watched him load a fresh round and offer the loudest mouth a chance to shoot it. A smokelss powder round in a .45-70 load of 405g bullet at 1975 fps launched him onto his butt. "That'll larn ya' proper!"

The weird thing is, now she's tried shooting a large variety of guns and calibers, but her favorite gun of all is still the Nagant. Every time we go to a gun show, she always makes sure we come back with it least one box of 7.62x38R.

If she likes the Nagent, she might like something a tad more modern in .32 caliber. The older S&W and Colt .32 revolvers can still be found occassionally and many of them in pretty good shape. Like these.

Fun shooting little guns. The .32 is very mild and an excellent target round.

 

[RDak]

I guess it just makes some guys feel macho. Why, I have no idea because it makes me feel macho to teach a newbie how to fire and have them enjoy the experience.

Especially women. Many of them are apprehensive and I understand and respect their honesty when that happens. I just calm them down, tell them the gun won't explode, the gun will only fire when they pull the trigger and have them start out with a .22lr. They've enjoyed the experience everytime in my opinion.

That makes me feel macho!