Curious about "Gun Girls"

Jim Watson said:

Which is why I was so gratified when my protege went to a match on her own. And is signed up to repeat.



That shows, too. My protege and the club match director are constantly slanging each other whenever not shooting.

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One thing I have to point out is that when women get involved in "guy" things they are often over-the-top assertive, vocal, competitive, affirmative or even challenging about it. That can get annoying to the opposite sex when nobody could care less either way.

That's as bad as a 300lb guy who agressively makes perpetual disclaimers and excuses for being a florist and is prepared to kick your teeth in for chuckling at it. Read my lips: NOBODY CARES!

Only once have a I seen two ladies together -- by themselves -- at one of the club's Action Pistol Ranges (if they had been with a guy or two, no idea). They were leaving when I arrived.
It was three days ago, and very possibly....one was a fairly new shooter (8 million new gun owners in 2020: the Wall Street Journal said so....).

And I've never seen any lady by herself - even at the several covered ranges.

My college-educated, professional career missus grew up hunting, and I know she's killed and dressed out more deer than I have. She frequently asks me if I'd like for us to spend an afternoon browsing some of our amazing LGS. It seems at times if we're in a competition to acquire more toys, and she delights in owning larger caliber toys than me. She has a CC and carries everywhere, has no problem going to the range by herself, and almost always goes with me to the range when I go but reserves her own lane. About the only thing she doesn't like is cleaning her toys which is fine by me; I LOVE to find an old movie and watch while I break down and clean whatever we'd taken to the range that day.

She hasn't work a bikini for at least 10 years now. At our ages, no one wants us to show that much skin. She doesn't mind having her pic taken while she's in hunting camo or in shorts and some pro-2A t-shirt while shooting or holding her own large caliber toy, but those pics are to show off to family members, and to shut up know-it-all gun store clerks or disbelieving friends, and sure wouldn't arouse anything except envy over the toy in her hands. (Yes, that sounds mean, but she lurks here and just laughed and approved before I posted this.)

So there you go.

My wife approaches shooting about like I do mowing the yard, its a task, not a hobby.
Guns / shooting have been a hobby of mine for years; posting on gun forums is a public service

Plenty of 'gun girls' out there, even ones with some recognition--Kirsten Joy Weiss and Lena Miculek spring to mind. Mae at C&Rsenal, too

There's at least one gal on another forum that's as passionate about firearms as any of the guys and is collector as well. She has a weakness for S&W revolvers and is very knowledgeable.

BigAlShooter said:

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that most boys grew up playing with guns, toy guns, bb guns, real guns, etc. Not many girls play with toy guns. That's my theory and we'll see if it is proven with my 2 daughters.

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Maybe, but my own (and my wife’s) experience in bringing up two daughters says otherwise. We’ve lived out of town since our 2 daughters (in their 40s now) were knee-high, and both of them grew up shooting BB guns, then pellet guns, then .22s off our rear deck. They both grew up hunting too - at least tagging along with their mom and me, and the oldest one (the “girlie” one) killed her first deer when she was around 14.
The "girlie" one is still an avid hunter. Besides that, she and her husband both carry everywhere it is legal, they took the Idaho Enhanced Concealed Carry Class together, and likely as not, on weekends we’ll run into them down at the gravel pit target practicing or trying out their latest gun(s).
On the other hand, our youngest daughter (the “tomboy” one) never has taken up hunting, and as far as I know, doesn’t even own a gun. Which is a real enigma seeing as how she’s a wheel with one of the nation’s largest hunting and conservation organizations (RMEF).

I was a 4H shooting sports leader for a few years. One of the best tings about that program was that everyone shot/competed together. Often the top scores were shot by the girls.

My wife is probably the stereotypical female gun owner. She shoots very well. Learns quickly. She can ring steel out to 800 yards with any rifle I own as long as I dial the dope or give her the holdovers, but she does not have any interest in learning the math to put her own dope on the gun. She sees the value of gun ownership. She owned one firearm when we met. She shoots regularly enough to maintain her ability to manipulate the gun and defend herself if needed, but she is not consumed with a passion for firearms like I am. She’s accused me of being obsessed a time or two (every day), but she’s never done anything to discourage my habits.

Tamara Keel has a well-written blog that’s a mix of topics, not all of which interest me, but guns and photography figure prominently. It’s clear she has a broader knowledge of general handgun lore and history than I do, and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable. She also has an enjoyably snarky sense of humor. I think she might have been a member here at one time but I might be thinking of another forum. Kathy Jackson’s (Cornered Cat) is another female shooter who seems interesting.

My wife tolerates my interests, but she doesn’t share them. From the stories I hear from some friends I should be happy with just tolerance.

Obturation said:

I've tried so hard to get my wife into guns, she has zero interest but will shoot with me every few years. I even offered to buy her ANY gun she wanted , she said she would have to think about it. That was several years ago, no desicion or interest at all. But at least she supports me in my lifestyle , that's good enough for me if it's as far as I get.

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Kind of same deal here. My wife likes guns, believes in the 2nd. I think some of it probably comes from me and her just being supportive but maybe wouldn't give it a 2nd thought (pun) if not for my views and her exposure through me.

She gets out with me every once in a while. I'd like it if we could at least go once a month but sometimes once a year is more like it. She really likes .22lr's. Every once in a while I'll throw her a pop quiz, sometimes on general knowledge and sometimes on the guns we own, and have owned for a long time just to see if she's just tuning it out, lol. I'll be cleaning a gun or digging something out of the safe and ill say what's this right here? And she usually gets make, model, cartridge correct.

I dont really pay attention to it generally any more.

Back in the Obama days when their was another gun panic similar to this one and social media really started to take off, it was common for me to see in one of my social media feeds a female or two or three posting pictures of a recent range outing. Undoubtedly, it was because of the political climate and it was a new fad for a lot of firsties but I got the feeling many of them were just "doing it for the 'gram" or making themselves seem "cooler" to the opposite sex. Granted, there were plenty of males doing this too.

Though I was fading out of social media quickly at that point, those were some of the reasons I abandoned it altogether around that time. (Though, I am aware that these web boards are also forms of social media. I checked out of the mainstream "Look at me, look at me" platforms)

I am sure some of them stayed with it and the enthusiasm grew. Since females tend to be more liberal, I tend to think we did not garner as many pro-gun votes as we attained new gun owners. Same thing with this go-round.

I have yet to personally know any female who has been what I call a true gun enthusiast. I am sure some of them I see at the range are though.

Brubz said:

But once we get back to the car they are done with guns. They don't collect guns they don't want to talk about guns and they surely don't want to join a forum like this and get down in the Weeds about guns.

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I will, again, point out Mae and Kirsten Joy Weiss and Lena, who are active collectors (they also have their own fora for gabbing about such things, too).

"Turns out men and women are noticeably different. Whoda thunkit!
And thank you, Lord, for those differences.

My wife was my deer hunting partner for a lot of years. We still go on a jackrabbit safari now and then. She hardly ever tries to shoot anymore as arthritis in her hands has made it very painful for her but she still likes to accompany me to the range. My daughter is a good shot and back in her younger days embarrassed a few guys by out shooting them and doing so while shooting right handed and being left eye dominate. She got her concealed carry license last year.

Don't sell the ladies short. They are just a smart as we are or smarter ("honey, I need you to do this because") while they are more dexterous plus the gremlins that run off with our fiddley parts that we drop are scared of them and bring things right back when the woman of the house shows up.

Offhand McFlan said:

One thing I have to point out is that when women get involved in "guy" things they are often over-the-top assertive, vocal, competitive, affirmative or even challenging about it. That can get annoying to the opposite sex when nobody could care less either way.

That's as bad as a 300lb guy who agressively makes perpetual disclaimers and excuses for being a florist and is prepared to kick your teeth in for chuckling at it. Read my lips: NOBODY CARES!

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Good comment. Lol

Brubz said:

I started this thread and it seems to me that some people are missing the point of the OP.
I'm not saying that there are not women who can shoot well at the range I go to the range with women who out shoot me every time I'm cross dominant so that's not difficult.
But once we get back to the car they are done with guns. They don't collect guns they don't want to talk about guns and they surely don't want to join a forum like this and get down in the Weeds about guns.
It seems to me that modern women understand the need to be able to handle a firearm in this world we live in now but to them it's like learning how to use a hammer and a socket wrench set they're tools not something they're going to sit around talking about.
That's all I was saying no disrespect to your wives and girlfriends who can shoot

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I know and have known many women shooters. I think it is true in all cases that the women I've known were shooters, not tech geeks. They liked shooting (in some cases, a lot), but were not very enamored by the guns and gear other than how it made them shoot better.

A lot of guys on internet gun forums are tech geeks, not shooters. There are some great shooters, no doubt but it is not the majority with men either. Most guys on gun forums buy guns and gear, collect guns and gear and talk about guns and gear. Much more so than actual shooting.

Same thing with Jeeps and sports car forums. The women involved are genarally more serious about the sport itself and most of the guys are enamored with the latest cool gear.

You won't see many women alone at a range or at a gun store for the same reason you don't see them alone very often at Macy's. Women like to do woman things with other women. I'm perfectly happy to shoot by myself or with others, but women are just made different, no mystery.

Hugger-4641 said:

You won't see many women alone at a range or at a gun store for the same reason you don't see them alone very often at Macy's. Women like to do woman things with other women. I'm perfectly happy to shoot by myself or with others, but women are just made different, no mystery.

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Indeed, women are the more social animals. In ancient times their well-being depended on being social and "networking", strength in numbers, "who you know". They are socialists by nature, even if they are independent by choice. So over the aeons it gets written into the genes. Of course we all have some aspect of that written into us, just women have it alot more.

Brubz said:

I started this thread and it seems to me that some people are missing the point of the OP.
I'm not saying that there are not women who can shoot well at the range I go to the range with women who out shoot me every time I'm cross dominant so that's not difficult.
But once we get back to the car they are done with guns. They don't collect guns they don't want to talk about guns and they surely don't want to join a forum like this and get down in the Weeds about guns.
It seems to me that modern women understand the need to be able to handle a firearm in this world we live in now but to them it's like learning how to use a hammer and a socket wrench set they're tools not something they're going to sit around talking about.
That's all I was saying no disrespect to your wives and girlfriends who can shoot

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In today’s world, I’d be “cancelled” and labeled a sexist and misogynist for saying this. But it doesn’t change that fact that it’s true. This is the answer in it’s most simple, basic, form.....It’s a “nature vs nurture” thing. And there are social and political stigmas that go along with both sides. By our very nature and genetics, men are “supposed to be” the hunters/protectors. Firearms are tools that fall under that category. Pointing out one or two women that are enthralled with firearms is nothing more than an anomaly. Especially when one of the few pointed out has the last name Miculek. You asked why. That’s the reason. It goes against nature, and the social and political stigmas associated with crossing over into that realm.

Shanghai McCoy said:

I was a 4H shooting sports leader for a few years. One of the best tings about that program was that everyone shot/competed together. Often the top scores were shot by the girls.

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I was a 4H Shooting Sports Leader also, and yes, that's because the girls listen, and don't have ego invested in already being an 'expert'. I find the same thing with the High School kids I coach for Trap; the only way I can get the wax out of the guys ears is to shame them when the girls outshoot them. "You want to shoot a 25 like she just did? Then Listen to me!"

CapnMac said:

I will, again, point out Mae and Kirsten Joy Weiss and Lena, who are active collectors (they also have their own fora for gabbing about such things, too).

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Well, Mae and Lena have 'sidekicks' in Othias and Jerry, respectively.

In my favorite shooting sport the gals that are definitely 'gun gals' have last names like Rhode, and Ross; Kim Rhode, Nora Ross.

On another forum I'm on there is a 'gun gal' who spends a couple years at a time outside the country, then a half year or so on vacation. She won't say which alphabet agency she works for, but I do know she's been to the sandbox a few times. She grew up in a gun shop, outshoots most of the guys on that forum, has a dark sense of humor, and has all the guys atwitter whenever she posts. This country needs more 'gun gals' like her.

I've seen a lot of cases where women were either patronized, made the butt of "practical jokes", (for some reason, which defies explanation, giving an unaware woman a firearm with massive recoil still gets a LOT of mileage), talked down to, or otherwise mistreated by "wiser, more experienced shooters". Then, when these same women are either gun haters, or only become marginally involved with firearms, the rest of us are left wondering "what's up with this?"

Case in point, I had a girlfriend, a while back, who was very anti gun. Turns out, when she was a teenager, her older brothers wanted to
"teach her a lesson", when she asked to come down to the range and learn to shoot. They handed her a SXS 12 gauge, with 12 gauge Super Express Loads, and locked the triggers to fire in tandem. Needless to say, the shotgun erupted like a cannon, cut her hand, sprained her wrist, and because these two buffoons couldn't even be bothered to help her with the proper stance, the gun knocked her over backwards, and she got smacked in the face. All so her brothers could have a little laugh, at her expense.

Not knowing this, decades later, I started delving into the root of her gun hating fear, and irrational behavior. Finally, after a few long talks about it, I managed to drag it out of her, what her brothers did to her, so long ago, that created her long standing fear and resentment of all things gun.
It took a long time, but finally got her to trust me, to take her to the range, shoot 22LRs, with a lot of support, guidance, and encouragement, it turned out that she actually enjoyed herself.

We really are our own worst enemies, guys...

Welcome to the forums, Punk

Kim Rhode or Ginny Thrasher would held as role models if they were medal winners in any other sport.