So, my wife

ironpony52

ironpony52

Sergeant of the Hide
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Sep 24, 2023
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Mid Ohio
#1
comes to me yesterday and says I want to go shooting with you. Now this is a woman who never showed any interest what so ever in guns. Even when I was shooting competitive and traveling zero interest.
Should I be worried about an "accident", LOL.

I think I am going to let her shoot the P322 Comp and then the P320 DH3 being it has some heft to it and should mitigate some recoil. Possibly the P229 Legion would work.

Any other pointers or ideas for me to follow. She is upper 50's but pretty strong for a girl.
 
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#2
ironpony52 said:
comes to me yesterday and says I want to go shooting with you. Now this is a woman who never showed any interest what so ever in guns. Even when I was shooting competitive and traveling zero interest.
Should I be worried about an "accident", LOL.

I think I am going to let her shoot the P322 Comp and then the P320 DH3 being it has some heft to it and should mitigate some recoil. Possibly the P229 Legion would work.

Any other pointers or ideas for me to follow. She is upper 50's but pretty strong for a girl.
Click to expand...
Let her shoot anything she can pull the slide back on.

Sometimes the heavier the better for recoil management. I made the mistake of buying my wife a Walther PPQ for Mother's Day a few years back. Then she went shopping and I had to buy another safe just for her collection. She has good taste when it comes to handguns, men, not so much. . .
 
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#3
….my wife had problems working the slide on every pistol she tried, pulled out some revolvers J/K frames
and very quickly she found a sweet spot with a 66-2, she was drawn initially to the smaller J revolvers for size but didn’t like the recoil.
 
#5
makes sense to start with the .22 and work up. she will probably enjoy the .22 right off the bat.
just sit down and go over the basic rules of safe handling before you go, and review them again when you get to the range.
 
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#11
As a general rule, no more than 5 minutes instruction: 4 rules, sight alignment, smooth trigger pull, manual of arms for the firearm in hand. Then let her shoot.

Critique thru questions:
How did it feel to control recoil?
How did the sights look to you at the instant of ignition?

You get the idea. Let her tell you about the experience. Guided questions can help her discover a repeatable shot process.

And do check with your insurance agent 😉
 
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#14
So, take a shooting buddy along. She will probably be more open to instruction from him rather than being pissed off over the comment you about last night's pot roast.

Start off with getting her comfortable with the proper grip and general weapons handling. You want her to be comfortable manipulating each gun. Let her understand differences (magazine vs revolver for example) where any safeties are and loading/unloading.

All of this will take time. Go slow you'll be throwing a lot of information at her.

Then, maybe choose one or two. You shoot each so she understands how each one recoils and might feel.

At this point, let her go hot with live ammo. Let her know that at this point, the goal isn't exactly accuracy, its getting to know the firearm.

Remember, go slow and HELP her to understand the weapon.

Good luck
 
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#15
Should you be worried about an accident?

Well two things...

First, she could possibly believe your shooting isn't really shooting. You have a side chick and live a 2nd life


And secondly, since you are already question an "accident", it could very well mean something happened. She's never ever had any interest whatsoever. Out of the blue, she does. Women can pull shit like this when they feel guilty and are trying to make up for their fuck-up!

Good luck!
Hopefully it's neither. Hopefully she just finally got around to the idea of being open minded and trying your hobby out.
 
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#16
Agreed with a lot of the above. Start with a 22 and go from there. My wife complained more about the pistol being heavy vs a rifle. Bring both and let her decide.

The other thing I can say is bring something easy and fun. Battleship paper targets, bowling pins, clay pigeons, or steel are all good things to make it fun.

The other big piece of advice is as long as she is safe, let her be with the exception of praising what she is doing. Let her ask for pointers instead of trying to coach right away.
 
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#17
stello1001 said:
Should you be worried about an accident?

Well two things...

First, she could possibly believe your shooting isn't really shooting. You have a side chick and live a 2nd life


And secondly, since you are already question an "accident", it could very well mean something happened. She's never ever had any interest whatsoever. Out of the blue, she does. Women can pull shit like this when they feel guilty and are trying to make up for their fuck-up!

Good luck!
Hopefully it's neither. Hopefully she just finally got around to the idea of being open minded and trying your hobby out.
Click to expand...
Yep, guilt or distrust......

Ill just stop there. I have strong opinions about woman, and none are good.

I vote divorce her, if that was one of the options suggested.
 
#18
37L1 said:
Let her shoot anything she can pull the slide back on.

Sometimes the heavier the better for recoil management. I made the mistake of buying my wife a Walther PPQ for Mother's Day a few years back. Then she went shopping and I had to buy another safe just for her collection. She has good taste when it comes to handguns, men, not so much. . .
Click to expand...

Precisely. My niece was (at the time), 16 yrs, 5'3" and a buck 0'5. I took her a couple of times to the indoor range I used to frequent when living in the PRNJ (it was just over the border near Easton PA). She shot all of my different pistol calibers but, oddly enough, she nailed it with my full sized 1911 .45acp. The best groups ever.

She's now in her mid 20's and got her PtD (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and is now licensed and working in the Va. Beach Area. For her "graduation," I got her her own RIA 1911 full size .45acp. She's coming to FL in July for a music concert so I can show it to her. Can't let her take it as I have to FFL it to her Va dealer so she can take delivery. And for that, I have to hope she converted her DL from the PRNJ to VA. Otherwise, I'll have to keep it for a while longer.

But I digress. Yah, let her shoot what she wants, and I concur that "heavier" might actually be better (from a "recoil" context).
 
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#19
Are you going to an indoor or outdoor range? If you have a range you can shoot a 22 rifle at, that’s where I would start; not a pistol. Also helps if you have steel or something reactive to shot at, they seem to like the feedback.
 
#21
stello1001 said:
Should you be worried about an accident?

Well two things...

First, she could possibly believe your shooting isn't really shooting. You have a side chick and live a 2nd life


And secondly, since you are already question an "accident", it could very well mean something happened. She's never ever had any interest whatsoever. Out of the blue, she does. Women can pull shit like this when they feel guilty and are trying to make up for their fuck-up!

Good luck!
Hopefully it's neither. Hopefully she just finally got around to the idea of being open minded and trying your hobby out.
Click to expand...

I asked today, a day after she asked, Why ?? She replied it is the only thing we do not do together. Truthfully it is the only time we are not together.
 
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#23
My wife was never a gun gal before me...

We started off slow. As I was cleaning different guns, I was teaching her about the.

She was getting more and more comfortable with them. Figuring out which ones she liked, and which she didnt. For her hands, she like my Colt Gold Cup and is positive she doesn't like Glocks.

Have her see what she likes and doesn't. Making her comfortable is huge.
 
#24
I agree with @37L1 .

With one proviso. Do start out with the .22 or even a .38. But definitely, you can hand her a CZ 1911 in .45 ACP. I was talking with a range master one about what calibers women could shoot and I doubted that a woman could handle the CZ. It is a heavy gun.

He corrected me. It is technique. The weight absorbs recoil.

Now, however, if you get her into rifles and she decides to start with a 6.5 Creedmoor, she will have to put her hair up in a bun.

Otherwise, start her on either a tuned up .243 W or a plain jane .308 W. It's got some kick but is useful in teaching recoil management.

And get her this sign, which we have in the window of my office at work.

1717375267023.jpeg
 
#26
Mrs Walter has a P322 and a P365 XL. We shoot the shit out of the 22 working on fundamentals. Then close out on the 9mm. Our range has a rimfire range and a center fire pistol range, both with reactive targets.

+1 on watch what you ask for.

Bought her a SIG 228 to mimic her duty weapon for a house gun. Then she tried the P365 and bought one. Then decided she needed a personal M4, so she bought a DD with an aimpoint just like her duty weapon. I bought me a P322, she shot it, said “thank you” so I bought another one for me.

Last weekend, she decided the SBE3 in 12 gauge was too hard to shoot, grabbed my mossberg 940 Turkey gun and slayed a 10” gobbler. The 940 has a shelf milled into the back of the receiver which allows you to low mount a red/green for aiming. Afterwards she said, “ sell the benelli and buy yourself whatever shotgun you want.” And packed up “her” 940.

She has a HOWA mini in 6 ARC in an ultralight stock and hits the 1 MOA targets at 450 with little fanfare.

She shot my son’s 94/22 in 22LR and tried to steal if from him. I ended up buying her a nicer one.

Thank God she’s recoil shy or she’d be stealing my 7 rem mag.

Wives with guns are even bigger money pits.

🤦‍♂️
 
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#29
I disagree with those saying that husbands or dads are the worst instructors. I’m sure that’s the case in some instances. But I think in some cases we might be their best helpers.

The key is knowing your own limits, and being patient, ie, be a good teacher. Shooting guns isn’t rocket surgery. It’s pretty simple.
 
#30
One comment for little people and a Semi-Auto Pistol.
COMMIT to racking the slide. Make the face, growl if it helps, and commit.

Wife and I are both retired.
She is a retired Marine.
Shooting, instead of Dinner and a Movie are our outside bonding time.
We now mostly shoot 600yd F-Class.
 
#31
ironpony52 said:
comes to me yesterday and says I want to go shooting with you. Now this is a woman who never showed any interest what so ever in guns. Even when I was shooting competitive and traveling zero interest.
Should I be worried about an "accident", LOL.

I think I am going to let her shoot the P322 Comp and then the P320 DH3 being it has some heft to it and should mitigate some recoil. Possibly the P229 Legion would work.

Any other pointers or ideas for me to follow. She is upper 50's but pretty strong for a girl.
Click to expand...
1000004944.gif
 
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#34
Makinchips208 said:
I disagree with those saying that husbands or dads are the worst instructors. I’m sure that’s the case in some instances. But I think in some cases we might be their best helpers.

The key is knowing your own limits, and being patient, ie, be a good teacher. Shooting guns isn’t rocket surgery. It’s pretty simple.
Click to expand...

Plus know your relationship.

One could be a fantastic instructor, however the spouse simply might not be receptive to learning from him.

That's why it is "simpler" to at least get third party training involved, initially. For fundamentals & such. Simply because learning firearms safety, to become second nature, should not have any extra hurdles.

Once safety & basics are down, then see what interests are & share.

Parents are different, and its a different relationship. Your not buds, when its business. Parent.
 
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#35
IronSkillet said:
….my wife had problems working the slide on every pistol she tried, pulled out some revolvers J/K frames
and very quickly she found a sweet spot with a 66-2, she was drawn initially to the smaller J revolvers for size but didn’t like the recoil.
Click to expand...
My wife was this way in her 20's. She just does not have the grip strength. She is a little girl 5'3" and 110lbs. We finally found that the 92FS she could pull the slide back on, and like the OP said the heft of that gun helped as well.

She had been shooting from 7yrs old, so it was nothing new, but it was all 22. And she is a good shot, she can hit a spray painted peach pit at 50 yards.

Centerfire is very different. Way back when she worked retail and had to drop off deposits she carried a J-frame. She did not like the recoil of it, but she could hit with it, and if it did not go bang the failure drill was to just pull the trigger again.

She likes full sized 357's with 38's loaded in them. About the only centerfire rifle she enjoys is an automatic (AR) 223, she is not too keen on bolt rifles in the same flavor.

Now that we are both in our late 50's, and recoil really is starting to hurt us both we are drifting back to 22's for just fun. I still like to shoot the rifles, but I am ready to die after a few rounds. I still enjoy shooting them I just have to do it differently now, lead sled is what I use now on the "bigger" things, and a recoil pad on things like 243.

Getting old is not for the young.
 
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#36
Fx51LP308 said:
Precisely. My niece was (at the time), 16 yrs, 5'3" and a buck 0'5. I took her a couple of times to the indoor range I used to frequent when living in the PRNJ (it was just over the border near Easton PA). She shot all of my different pistol calibers but, oddly enough, she nailed it with my full sized 1911 .45acp. The best groups ever.

She's now in her mid 20's and got her PtD (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and is now licensed and working in the Va. Beach Area. For her "graduation," I got her her own RIA 1911 full size .45acp. She's coming to FL in July for a music concert so I can show it to her. Can't let her take it as I have to FFL it to her Va dealer so she can take delivery. And for that, I have to hope she converted her DL from the PRNJ to VA. Otherwise, I'll have to keep it for a while longer.

But I digress. Yah, let her shoot what she wants, and I concur that "heavier" might actually be better (from a "recoil" context).
Click to expand...
She has likely moved her DL and done all that jazz already. Being in the medical field all that paperwork is a real pain int he ass.

My daughter in law is in the medical profession, after she got married to my son she was talking about the issues in changing her last name on all her paperwork. The medical stuff was worse then the DMV.
 
#37
I want to chime in on the "husband teaching the wife".

I have had quite a few people out that are new to shooting, brand new. Both with shotguns as well as all forms of metallic cartridges.

My wife has said you teach others so much nicer then you teach me, why is that. I don't think I do things any differently but when she went down her list of what I do differently I got it. For example, if someone is doing something wrong I will say, you are behind the clay, you need to get in front of it. Where as with my wife I will say, no no no, you are behind the clay you need to be in front of it. Guess that makes a difference.

I think it happens and we don't even know it happens.
 
#40
You could get her a Glock 19 Gen 3 and also get a 22 LR upper and have the best of both training worlds. The after market 22LR uppers all work with the Gen 3, some do not work with Gen 4 or 5.

Or get a Glock 44 in 22LR to go along with a gen 5 Glock 19 in 9mm with a performance trigger. You can get reduced loads in 9mm to train with and the performance trigger in the Gen 5 is an improvement in my opinion.

The Glock 44 is the same size as the Glock 19, so common holsters, common magazine dimensions, etc.
 
#41
david walter said:
You could get her a Glock 19 Gen 3 and also get a 22 LR upper and have the best of both training worlds. The after market 22LR uppers all work with the Gen 3, some do not work with Gen 4 or 5.

Or get a Glock 44 in 22LR to go along with a gen 5 Glock 19 in 9mm with a performance trigger. You can get reduced loads in 9mm to train with and the performance trigger in the Gen 5 is an improvement in my opinion.

The Glock 44 is the same size as the Glock 19, so common holsters, common magazine dimensions, etc.
Click to expand...
1717435874740.png
 
#42
My biggest piece of advice for someone taking someone new to guns is to take them with a long gun first. The safety fundamentals can be trained with much less worry about the muzzle flagging. Pistols have such short axis to flag it becomes more a concern. But if you say fuck that and go pistol first, then tell the person no matter what happens or you get scared, keep the gun pointed down range and I'll come take it out of your hands. I've seen many new shooters with a pistol do very stupid shit, like the first round is too loud for them or they didn't like the recoil and they spin around with the gun pointing it at everyone behind the line. Stand right behind them and be ready to grab the gun arm to keep everyone safe.
 
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