WomenShooters

Barbara · Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 74

The real answer:

We don't know. Women come in all shapes and sizes and have a variety of preferences and goals in shooting. About the only thing we have in common are a couple of x chromosomes.

But to help well meaning guys narrow it down..let's have a thread to help..and help avoid the weekly question..and keep in mind, these apply to all shooters, not just those with boobs.

1.) Does the person want a gun? If the answer is no, the best answer is no gun at all. You wanting her to have a gun doesn't count. In this situation, the best I'd recommend is teaching her to use one of yours in case of a home invasion or zombie attack, but bottom line: She doesn't want a gun..she shouldn't have one.

2.) Has the person ever shot a gun or shot enough to be comfortable with one? If the answer is no, you're not even close to the point of buying a gun. She needs to find some quality training and get a feel for a variety of guns before she can choose one.

3.) What is the purpose of the gun? Self-defense? Fun? Plinking? Home-defense? Competition? Zombies?

4.) What physical limitations might the person have? If she's not missing a hand or doesn't have a disability like arthritis, or something similar, there's no reason she can't shoot a semi-automatic, despite the widely held belief that women can't rack the slide on semis.

5.) Lighter guns recoil more. The laws of physics still apply, regardless of estrogen levels.

6.) Putting the word Lady in a gun's name, or painting it pink does not make it the ideal gun for a woman. Those are marketing ploys, not realities.

7.) If a woman can handle driving a car, she can figure out how to clean a semi-automatic firearm. If she wants a revolver, cool..but that needs to be her choice. Revolvers have limited capacity. If she's comfortable with 5 or 6 rounds, that's her call. Personally, I'm not that good a shot and prefer to have a few extra rounds to make my point if necessary.

8.) The best pistol for a woman might be a rifle or shotgun, if she's not going to carry it. Personally, I hate shooting pistols. It's a chore. I like shooting rifles. Part of shooting is enjoying it. She needs to figure out what she enjoys.

Pat A · Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 12

I've always felt (and told my students) that the best gun is one that they feel comfortable enough with to practice consistently and regularly. Buying a firearm and slinging it in a drawer or on the closet shelf does not constitute self defense - whether it's done by a man or a woman, the rule still stands. Barb's guideline of getting trained and trying out several different models before buying is an excellent one. When seeking training, make sure either the instructor or the range has a variety available for newbies to try before plunking down several hundred dollars.

Oh yes, another important guideline - always buy the best gun you can afford, NOT the cheapest available. Save your money and wait a few months if necessary. Study up and get as much advice as you can from a variety of sources. Everybody has an opinion, and each one is valid.

Last but not least - if the gun shop you go to with the intent of purchasing will not let you handle the gun prior to purchase - walk away. If they get offended because you clear the gun right after watching the salesperson do it - walk away. If they try to insist you buy something other than what you've requested - walk away. The rule here is: if the choice is between being safe and being nice - safe ALWAYS wins. Be smart, and find a gun shop that will work WITH you not against you.

KeithD · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject:

Spot on Barb. I dont know why there is such a disconnect in peoples minds when it comes to training women. I dont know how many times I have heard women ask guys for help choosing a carry pistol. Every time its ".38 revolver"

I've had the privilege of training hundred of women and with proper instruction they can run a semi auto in a common defense caliber just as well as anyone. And 90 percent of the time they pic it up faster than most men that have the "I'm a man and i know how to shoot" mentality.

Good advise Barb
_________________
Liberty Defense Training, LLC
Owner/Lead Instructor
Keith@LibertyDefenseTraining.com
www.LibertyDefenseTraining.com

Desofl · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 9

Lots of good considerations have been posted so far. I'll add one more: Can she field strip & clean it? This is a major consideration unless she has someone who is committed to doing this for her.

I have a Springfield XD9 and even it is a bit tricky for me due to small, weak woman-hands. My PM9 has required some creativity to make it where I can get it apart and back together independently. If I had it to do again, I'd probably get a Glock for this reason. That said, I love my XD so much I can't imagine not having it. First love and all that. Cool

KeithD · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject:

Desofl · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 9

Oh, Glocks are no problem! But, that pesky little PM9 is a booger! I practically have to stand on my head, wiggle my ears and gargle peanut butter to get that little piece of machinery apart and back together. It's a pain! But I'm neurotic about having a clean gun, so ya gotta do whatcha gotta do. Just thought it was worth mentioning here since so many don't consider that when selecting a gun.

Edited to add: I meant to thank you for that explanation on the Glock. That's part of the contortions I have to go through with the PM9, but SO much easier with the Glock.

Barbara · Joined: 28 May 2011 Posts: 74

There are not a lot of good (short) videos that show it, but you can see it from this one. I don't have large hands and can do this pretty easily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1We3NHd-lwE

Maybe this is another video we should make..