A few friends of mine...

[GunLawyer]

I've seen this happen a lot. One thing I've done is schedule "ladies only" Basic Pistol classes, so that women can learn to shoot in a slightly more comfortable environment. I also have some very comfortable smaller-caliber pistols for them to start with (if they prefer), but I'm a big fan of anyone - male or female - picking a firearm that they are comfortable with and appropriate for their purposes (self defense, etc.) and training with that firearm from the beginning. I've trained "little ol' ladies" with .45s who were damn accurate (and comfortable) after a quality training session. The key there is education - and letting them know exactly what to expect before they step out onto the range.

[Bill of Rights]

Originally Posted by jjohnisme

I have two very good female friends of mine, i've known both of them for years, and they just found out i have a mild gun fetish.

Both want to learn to shoot, and even get their CCL's, but i ran into a problem.

I took them to the range, where both of them clearly communicated their fear of actually *shooting* the guns only after having shot a .38 special.

I know, i know, start with a .22, thats how i got my sister into shooting. At the time, a .38 is the smallest i had with me.

Anyway, one of the chicks has taken a liking to firearms, and i've had a few conversations with her about different styles, a 'concealment purse', different calibers and whatnot. I've convinced her.

My problem lies within the other girl, who is now quite afraid of firearms. She shot the same amount as my other friend, but clearly did not enjoy it. Is she just not a gun-gal, or did i introduce them improperly?

Every person is different, so the whys will vary with every person. My thoughts would lean toward a .22 pistol, and if you can find someone who has one, have it be one with a suppressor. No noise, no recoil, no flash to speak of... just a couple of clicks when the action cycles and a >tink< when the bullet hits the target. Once she's comfortable with that, the same pistol without the suppressor... and the rest you can figure out.

I really wish I had a suppressor, but that won't happen for quite a while, I think.

Good luck!

Blessings,
Bill

[jjohnisme]

Originally Posted by Bill of Rights

Every person is different, so the whys will vary with every person. My thoughts would lean toward a .22 pistol, and if you can find someone who has one, have it be one with a suppressor. No noise, no recoil, no flash to speak of... just a couple of clicks when the action cycles and a >tink< when the bullet hits the target. Once she's comfortable with that, the same pistol without the suppressor... and the rest you can figure out.

That was my initial starting point, but i then realized 'I don't have a .22 pistol, and i don't have any supressors...', and of course it takes damn near 6 months to get a supressor.

We were at an indoor range, as well. In my opinion, outdoors is a better place to learn since there's less noise on your end of the firearm, but the situation led to an indoor range.

I'm planning on taking them again in a few weeks, maybe even stepping up to a rifle!

[Bill of Rights]

Originally Posted by jjohnisme

That was my initial starting point, but i then realized 'I don't have a .22 pistol, and i don't have any supressors...', and of course it takes damn near 6 months to get a supressor.

We were at an indoor range, as well. In my opinion, outdoors is a better place to learn since there's less noise on your end of the firearm, but the situation led to an indoor range.

I'm planning on taking them again in a few weeks, maybe even stepping up to a rifle!

Oh believe me, I understand. I have a .22 I've used to teach a couple of people about guns and their use, and I've wished I had a suppressor, but it just wasn't going to happen. That was before INGO, though, and I didn't know anyone I could get in touch with to ask. I think that today, I would find someone here to ask if I was worried about recoil and noise sensitivity in someone I was introducing to guns. It would depend first on who had one, second on if they were willing to let you use it, and third if you were willing to drive to them to do so. (Suppressors, being Class III items, have to be with their registered owners when in use.) I would suggest if this is what you want to do, that you go to the Class III forum and ask there.

If you're interested in stepping up to rifle.. Come see us at an Appleseed. (shameless plug here)

Good luck!

Blessings,
Bill

[Glock21]

The vast majority of women I've trained really dislike shooting revolvers. I almost never start a female shooter of with a revolver, especially a small one.

Just an observation.

Keep at it, you're doing fine!