Good starter gun for the girlfriend?

[havanatrader]

Good advice given to me by my wife when she wanted her first gun:
Don't pick it out for her. Be available to answer questions and go shopping with her, but it should be her choice. It's a huge step for her. Let her get the most from it.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Hi Brent

My advice would be a .22 rimfire either semi-auto or lever action. The idea is to introduce the "fun" aspects of the sport after all. A 22 allows a lot of firing time without breaking either the budget or the shoulder.

Selena

 

[The Canuck]

The best present you could give her would be an emmigration for yourself and her to the U.S.

You know, just about every Canadian gun owner has at the very least entertained that idea. Me? I'd go to AZ...

 

[brentn]

I have a full membership to the shooting edge and we have both been there many times. We don't really use the rentals cause most of them have issues, besides we both hate having to pay the inflated winchester winclean prices they charge for the rentals. Even with my discount its still retarded, thus we use my guns.

Like I said she really likes the 10/22 with the scope.
Me personally, if she bought me any kind of gun, I would be happy, very happy. Something unexpected that you suddenly end up owning is exciting.
Then again she is not me.

I think what I'll do is a little bit of both. I'll ask her what she likes when we go there. Something she finds physically attractive (lol) something that she has an interest in trying. I'll see what she likes and go from there.

 

[Soybomb]

Me personally, if she bought me any kind of gun, I would be happy, very happy. Something unexpected that you suddenly end up owning is exciting.
Then again she is not me.

How about if she bought you knitting needles? Part of getting someone into a hobby is letting them develop the interest. When they pick their own gun they wind up having a little more ownership of the hobby. Too many guys wind up forgetting this and its just something her guy bought her to make her come shoot with him.

 

[BlindJustice]

IMHO - get her a .22 RF first - she needs to learn before she can 'run' with a centerfire. A Marline 39 followed by a Marlin 1894 are both fine weapons that can be enjoyed for years with pride of ownership and passed along to relatives.

 

[The Canuck]

They had a pretty snazzy 10-22 there the last time I was in (last Sunday)...

 

[Geno]

I agree with take her to buy it. Let her select what she likes. It seems to me more like treating her like your equal than someone who has be told what she should like because "we" said so. Sorry if that is too forward, but it is what I feel.

 

[telomerase]

If it's going to be a long gun the LOP is critical... she'll have to try it out first.

Whether she lives in CANADA or Antarctica.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Don't buy her anything you would miss too badly should you ever break up

Wise words. Heed them. I don't like the idea of spending big bucks on a woman. That doesn't win a woman over (in my experience). Having dated mercenaries, I've been burned enough times (yep, I'm the average stupid guy).

 

[BlindJustice]

I disagree with Gunpacker. A .22 RF will teach marksmanship
- sight picture/trigger control - and like any sport you learn to
walk before you run i.e. rimfire to centerfire.

Oh, and I checked the price on the Kimber 22 Classic and it goes
for one large ( close to $1,000 anyway ) Lower priced
.22 Bolt Actions would include

Remington Model 5 Less than $350

Also Googled the Remington 541 S which was discontineud in 1999 but
used to be the top Bolt Rem. put out and it had a stock worthy of a
Remington 700 BDL - seems they are holding their value well as a used
one was at $650 with the sale pending.

 

[cnorman18]

Browning .22 auto

I vote for the Browning .22 auto. Small, light, elegant and beautiful, and dead-on accurate. She'll love it. A John Moses Browning design; I've always thought it's the class act among .22 autos.

 

[Jake in TX]

+1 on the Browning Semi Auto. Plus it can be scoped.

Jake in TX

 

[The Unknown User]

I'm voting for the idea of letting her pick out her first firearm.

Switch positions for a moment. How would you feel if your significant other surprised you with a brand new firearm, only to have it be something you didn't even want?

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I think the Taurus M62 .22 rifle/carbine would be a terrific choice. She would have to work the action to load another round, but, whoo buddy, she can dump lots of rounds fast with a little practice! I always try to start folks with a .22. If they're children, it's a single shot bolt action. Once she's comfortable with the .22, the sky's the limit.

But the best advice is to let her pick the gun.

ECS

 

[tegemu]

I strongly recommend that the both of you check out www.corneredcat.com . Written be a super savvy lady that is filled with great info about guns and women. She is also a contributing author for "Concealed Carry" magazine.

 

[jefnvk]

I usually start people on my CZ452 bolt .22, and their response is usually how much/where can I get one.

Other than that, guide but dont suprise, as others have said.