She did what? I converted her?

Congrats.

Being left handed, I'm curious what guns do you have that are only for righties?

Don't be surprised if she winds up out shooting you.

Women cheat, they actually listen to and follow instructions. They weren't born knowing how to shoot a gun like we think we do (but don't).

My wife has never been anti-gun. She just never had any interest in shooting until a few years ago. It was an epiphany moment when she decided she wanted to get her carry permit and buy a gun of her own. She still doesn't really enjoy shooting, but will shoot enough to remain fairly proficient. And she carries her gun everywhere legal.

We both volunteer with our local Sheriff's dept. on a SAR team that assists during missing persons cases and other emergencies. When working in our official uniforms we aren't allowed to carry guns (unless specifically given permission from the Sheriff). But we are also asked from time to time to help with other missing persons cases in other places. When we do that we are not representing the Sheriff, not in uniform, and on our own.

We were helping assist another search team looking for a suspected suicide in an urban setting. About 10 of us were assigned to search an abandoned trailer park. There were 100-200 empty, abandoned trailers and surrounding areas that needed to be searched. The area had a couple dozen homeless people camping in the trailers. Lots of known drug use as well. The search manager advised us that if we had a gun and carry permit that we had permission to carry in that setting.

Everything turned out fine. In fact several of the people living there approached us and after we explained what we were doing they joined us in the search. They ended up being very helpful. But as soon as we got out of the truck to begin the search my wife looked me straight in the eye and asked me to take her to get her carry permit and pick out a gun for her as soon as we got home.

She THOUGHT she was going to like the small aluminum J frame Smiths in 38. I bought one of those for her initially, but she never really liked it and didn't shoot it well. I let her try a Ruger LC9s and she liked it a lot better. I was using a Sig 365 as my CC gun and she liked it just as well. She had no real preference between the Sig or Ruger, but we both decided it would be a good idea to carry the same gun. I sold the Ruger and bought her a matching Sig. Having both guns exactly alike and using the same magazines simplifies things a lot, especially for her.

I didn't have any quarrel with anyone I dated or married. (I've been married 3X.) In the process of getting acquainted we had lots of conversations where I openly shared my beliefs, hopes, dreams, and plans. My wife these days enjoys shooting handguns with me and she wouldn't dream of interfering with my hobby/passion. Shooting is not her go-to pastime, but she enjoys it and wouldn't have considered shooting until she lived with me...30+ years now, I finally got it right. Here's a good story:
In my profession as a clinical psychotherapist (now retired), I did a lot of couple counseling. A newly married couple came in seeking counseling about the increase in arguments they were having. One of the arguments was that he enjoyed hunting and did so with his buddies on the weekends. She said to him during the first session and I quote......."Well, we are married now, so it's time to grow up and quit that nonsense." They eventually had the marriage annulled and went their separate ways.

My wife was deathly afraid of guns when we got together due to her first husband holding her at the point of a 12 ga shotgun. She has relaxed a lot, I took her out shooting with me, had her shoot a heritage 22 lr, she didn't like that gun but convinced her to go shoot, my m 60 Marlin. She claims that rifle as hers now. She doesn't go often but will go, only shoots the Marlin.

Great news!.......... BUT don't ever teach her to assemble (build) an AR Lower. It will be the beginning of a trip to the poor house for you. She'll like one in every color and style just like shoes! Example: My wife

My wife has been totally indifferent. Not the slightest interest.

Her arms are weak, even for using a bench (light weight .22 rifle), and to overcome this she would need serious interest, or curiosity to try a gun.

My wife was very proficient with my handguns. She didn't shoot often, but she was a natural. I bought a Glock 27 but I didn't care much for it so it rested in our closet in the bedroom. We didn't have any kids home anymore, so it laid on a low shelf in there. She liked that pistol and I had a job 35 miles from home and sometimes in the evenings, so I kept it for her. One day I foolishly wound up trading the Glock for a new iteration of Beretta in .40 cal...I disremember the model. But it was bulky and not very balanced...seemed top heavy. I wanted to get rid of it almost from when I bought it. Since I was getting rid of the "closet pistol" I picked up a Beretta Tomcat in .32. I showed it to Swmbo and said this will be your new "closet pistol". She looked it over and fiddled with it a bit and then looked at me and said, "I don't like this pistol" I said why?. She said to me "because the hole in the end of it isn't big enough." She now has a Walther P99 in 9mm on the closet shelf.

Delete

My wife and I were pawn shopping for cool stuff. We found an old school butcher block that day, three legs and a chunk of tree trunk. There was a Colt Detective 38 in the case. She held it, loved it, bought it. She shoots tight groups with it.
When I remember that good day I weep man tears, shameless man tears.

redneck2 said:

I used to work at the LGS. Most guys would bring their wife/girlfriend in to try to get a carry gun. More often than not, the guy anywhere from hinted to downright demanded that they get what he thought was right, more often right for him than her.

If she got what SHE wanted, you did really well.

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At the time we bought a gun for my wife, we stood at the counter and she tried EVERYTHING. She chose a snub-nosed 686, because it felt right to her in a way that is hard to articulate. It also helps that the action is butter-smooth. She shoots it like it was made for her. NO changes have been allowed to that gun.

I think plenty of us have had that experience where a gun we handled just "spoke" to us. When we we take others to buy for them, we need to encourage them to find that same whisper from their choice.

And to be more blunt for those trying to impose their knowledge and logic on a significant other: they choose to be with you. Why do you want to second guess their taste and judgment NOW?

Very nice pistol. I like that color a lot. Good job on converting her. Now to find ammo to feed that thing... and primers to feed the reloading press that feeds that thing...

jmr40 said:

Having both guns exactly alike and using the same magazines simplifies things a lot, especially for her.

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Agreed, mrs farmer and I have the same guns as well.
His and hers.


@jmr40
I have been involved in 4 missing persons searches, mainly as a member of our local fire department. Two were multi day.

Deleted.

HPJeep said:

sales guy handed her

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This seems key to the whole story. Most of the females I've been around who eventually, if not reluctantly, got into shooting had a similar bad experience of someone picking their gun for them.

Too many "experts" have ruined any chance of getting their S.O. into shooting.

Glad she finally came around! I tried to get mine to go gun shopping, but in the course of trying my guns out just to get some familiarity, she laid claim to my P238. I don't mind that, but man...she's added to the subtraction rate of my reloading components.

tlynch said:

And to be more blunt for those trying to impose their knowledge and logic on a significant other: they choose to be with you. Why do you want to second guess their taste and judgment NOW?

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My "significant other" (my wife) chose to be with me because of my vast knowledge of everything guns and shooting related. And she wanted to learn.
Just kidding around. I usually DON'T "second guess" my wife's taste and judgment nowadays. When I do, she tells me, "I only married you for a ticket out of California, you know." Of course we've been married for almost 50 years - 49 of which we've lived in my home state - Idaho. So it's getting kind of hard for me to pretend I'm hurt when she tells me that.

HPJeep said:

Holy moly I think I converted her to the dark side!

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It is not the dark side!

My wife isn't into guns. She rarely shoots with me though I did convince her to take a three-day concealed carry class many years ago; she enjoyed the experience, but still wasn't motivated to get her license.

At the same time, she is very supportive of my addiction hobby and doesn't like hearing any talk of my selling my guns. Latest example: I recently concluded that I wanted a new guitar. When I raised the idea of selling a rifle or two to fund it, she said, "Don't sell your guns. Just buy the guitar." We've been married 38 years. I love this woman.

I din't have any problem converting my wife. Soon after we were married, she joined the County Sheriff's Office as the first commissioned female Deputy in the state.

We even had the same badge number. She was "Charlie Two Five", and I was "Pat Two Five". That was 49 years ago. She out shot all the Deputies during monthly qualifications and is still doing it to me.
Proud of her as a puppy with a new rubber ball.

I hate to show her any new guns I bring home. I've lost some really nice ones that way.

"HPJeep, post: 11797488, member: 9689")

My game plan from here on out is to be patient and not to make her uncomfortable. One baby step at a time.

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Called 'picking your battles'. My wife of almost 50 years isn't a gun person..AT ALL but she realizes this is my hobby, that I do with 2 grown sons and recognizes the value of that. PLUS, altho she would rather 'clean toilets' than go shoot with us..she recognizes the value of having stuff here for home and family protection.

I have had a CCWP for 3 years this month..and wife doesn't know I carry everyday..
'Pick your battles'...

HPJeep said:

Holy moly I think I converted her to the dark side!

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Did you convert her to the dark side or was it really the light side?

My wife is not a shooter by any stretch. While she does own one handgun, a Walther PPK she simply is not a shooter. She is a well educated woman however who has always supported my conservative ideals and is conservative leaning. All conservatives are not gun enthusiast but they do support the second amendment and see no reason to pick and choose American History which suits them. I guess I see those like us as the Light rather than Dark side.

Ron

As a lifelong batchelor with no interest in monogamy the last thing I want to do is arm and train a girlfriend. I don't teach 'em golf or fishing either.

Jimbo80 said:

As a lifelong batchelor with no interest in monogamy the last thing I want to do is arm and train a girlfriend. I don't teach 'em golf or fishing either.

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I've no interest whatsoever in monogamy either. My wife always makes this BIG DEAL about it.