Wife wants to shoot all of a sudden!

md123 · Feb 22, 2014

So last night my wife says she might want to go to the range with me, which is a huge surprise :fingerscrossed:

My first post on MDS was advice on how to get a firearm in the house! She mentioned the ladies Olympic shooting (ski & shoot) and home security...that she should know how to operate my firearms.

Has anyone had a spouse show interest all of a sudden? How did you proceed? I'm excited but don't want to spook her! She mentioned getting an instructor so that we don't get frustrated w/each other.

I could obviously teach her myself and promise to be good, I could hire 1 on 1 training, or the NRA range has a "Ladies Only 1st steps Pistol Class".

Lastly- the softest shooting firearm I have is a Glock 17. Do you think 115 grain ammo would be ok out of that thing? She's medium build/height.

[UPDATE- RANGE REPORT ON PG 3, POST #54]

Alan3413 · Feb 22, 2014

Mine was interested for a while until I forgot to renew my life insurance. :innocent0

justsand · Feb 22, 2014

Get her into the ladies only class

iH8DemLibz · Feb 22, 2014

Now you'll really have to start flushing and learn to put the toilet seat down.

And don't get mad when out shoots you. Women are great shots.

chillman · Feb 22, 2014

I started my wife with a .357 revolver shooting .38 sp. she really liked the revolver and showed interest in the semi autos. She hates shooting the Glock 19 but loves the 1911. We are in the process of finding a gun that she prefers. I've always wanted a beretta 92 so hopefully she like shooting it

nedsurf · Feb 22, 2014

I have a wife who was firearms illiterate and came from a culture that fed a steady diet of anti-gun misinformation. She took a women on target class with Patty West et.al. through Monumental Rifle and Pistol at the Assoc. Gun Clubs of MD range. She had nothing but good things to say about the class. She found it a very comfortable environment for learning a skill set that was intimidating. Kudos to those that teach that class!
I strongly suggest this or a similar route. Other than teaching the basic safety rules for firearms, I relied on others to give her good training. This is after trying and failing to teach her to drive manual and another activity I was paid to successfully teach other people.

lsw · Feb 22, 2014

If you can borrow or rent a .22 I really recommend it for a first time shooter, especially a woman. Another good option is a .38 revolver with target loads. (148 grain wadcutters). 9mm is no big deal to you or me but to someone who has never fired a pistol before starting off with one can lead to a bad flinching habit. Since she said "might" want to go to the range she appears to have some reservations. it would probably be best to do what you can to make it easier and most enjoyable for her.

OTOH you know her a lot better than anyone in this forum, maybe you have reason to believe it won't be an issue for her.

dlmarion · Feb 22, 2014

My wife said that if there was a gun in the house, then she wanted to know how to use it. My .40 is too much for her, so I bought her an SR-22. She likes it. She often asks me if I can go to work late so that we can go to the range after the kids get on the bus.

md123 · Feb 22, 2014

lsw said:
If you can borrow or rent a .22 I really recommend it for a first time shooter, especially a woman. Another good option is a .38 revolver with target loads. (148 grain wadcutters). 9mm is no big deal to you or me but to someone who has never fired a pistol before starting off with one can lead to a bad flinching habit. Since she said "might" want to go to the range she appears to have some reservations. it would probably be best to do what you can to make it easier and most enjoyable for her.

OTOH you know her a lot better than anyone in this forum, maybe you have reason to believe it won't be an issue for her.

I hear you on the .22. I think the NRA course will loan a gun and the "ladies" class likely has .22 available. I'll ask next time I'm at the range.

Troublesbrewin · Feb 22, 2014

My wife's first gun was a revolver .357 Magnum, when we got semi-autos we trained with Mike Brudzinski and Patty West, both on here, now she's got a .22, a .380, and a 9 mm. She enjoys it almost as much as me but she hasn't shot my 1911 yet.

BossmanPJ · Feb 22, 2014

my wife loves shooting my 1911. for some reason I cant get her to pick up an ar no matter what I do. I think it is because I let her try shooting one of my ak's once and she said it kicked too hard.... now she wont touch a long gun.

august1410 · Feb 22, 2014

My wife has always shot whatever gun I had taken to the range. Yesterday, she bought a shotgun. This one is all hers, not one I had in the safe and gave her. She paid, she did the paperwork and it's all hers.

When I first brought a gun in the house, she cried. Now, she has one of her very own.

Gryphon · Feb 22, 2014

Don't give her the safe combination until you are sure! Let me guess its her birthday or your anniversary? :sad20:

Seagrave1963 · Feb 22, 2014

august1410 said:
My wife has always shot whatever gun I had taken to the range. Yesterday, she bought a shotgun. This one is all hers, not one I had in the safe and gave her. She paid, she did the paperwork and it's all hers.

When I first brought a gun in the house, she cried. Now, she has one of her very own.

Half-cocked · Feb 22, 2014

Buy her her own .22 - she can practice all day for a few dollars, and she'll quickly lose that "jumpiness" that new shooters who aren't used to gunshots usually have. She'll then crave more powerful calibers, and want another gun. At which point you, as a supportive spouse, will be more than happy to oblige.

md123 · Feb 22, 2014

iH8DemLibz said:
Now you'll really have to start flushing and learn to put the toilet seat down.

And don't get mad when out shoots you. Women are great shots.

Ha. I keep her happy if you know what I mean :innocent0

I have no doubt that she'll be a better shot. That's fine with me; I worry about her home with so many damn solicitors and construction crews floating through Bethesda.

gasman · Feb 24, 2014

md123, in my experience, the husband teaching the wife thing usually goes one of 2 ways. Either she accepts instruction just fine from you, and it's not an issue, or she is resistant, you end up fighting, and the whole experience is less than ideal. You probably already know which way things are likely to go. If you need, I would be happy to get your wife started gratis. The ranges I usually frequent are Free State and Continental.

As for the question of what caliber/gun, the more important question I have is how does your G17 fit her hand? My wife, for example, likes shooting our Sigs far more than our Glocks. A 9mm is fine for most women, but she might like the experience better if she starts off with a .22. For someone who has never shot before, I usually put a .22 conversion kit in one of my P229s to start with, then switch to the regular 9mm slide after they are comfortable. You could consider getting a .22 conversion for your G17.

Safetech · Feb 24, 2014

Wife wants to shoot all of a sudden!

Yeah. Mrs. Safetech gets like that sometimes. But we usually just talk it out.

(%#!@%&% Menopause.)

ST19AG_WGreymon · Feb 24, 2014

My wife said the same thing to me yesterday. And now I have to go with her to a spa.

BigSteve57 · Feb 24, 2014

Be afraid. Be very afraid when she takes up an interest in shooting.

I find myself in the position of having to beg my wife to take me out to dinner or to let me get a new outfit when all she wants to do is buy ammo, go hunting or practice at the range.

Don't end up like me. :sad20:

Wife wants to shoot all of a sudden!

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