neededausername,
Welcome to THR.
Good of you to share honestly about your skill level, and willingness to take personal responsibility for your and your wife staying safe.
We all have to start somewhere, and this is perfectly fine with me, and others around here.
Where to shoot?
Previous replies I agree and respect, COM is fine.
However, allow me suggest and share some other things.
-Legal and political flavor in your area, i.e, duty to retreat or not?
Defending one's self and how your locale views doing so, with, or without firearms?
So get informed on all this.
-Communication.
You and your wife as part of securing the home (locks, lighting, etc.), and plans of action ( which should be practiced) should include communication.
One is to use code words to indicate if need if something is all right, or not all right.
i.e. she is carrying in groceries and BGs get the jump on her.
You asked if she needs any help, one code word informs you she is in serious trouble, and has a gun at her back, another informs you, everything is fine.
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In dealing with persons under Doctors , and Physical Therapist Orders of "No Recoil" such as those with Osteo, Neck, Back, Shoulder surgery, or Detatched Retnia, here are some other things we suggest:
-Gun has to run and ammunition is very important with semi auto guns, as are magazines.
Feed, extract, repeat, and put projectiles where aimed, repeat.
Each gun is different, and it will tell one what it likes.
For your gun, two loads to test and verify, still have worked with others with a gun like yours is the Win X22LR ( .40 gr LRN) and CCI Mini Mags.
For sure know a good load works, nothing wrong with a plinking load that costs less monies. Federal and Remington bulk packs work for some.
Ah...forgot, of late, Remington's Golden Bullet, the 40 gr LRN is working like the Win and CCI load mentioned earlier.
-Shooting to Stop A Threat.
While COM is often suggested, the reality is, one may have to shoot at the largest target "Available".
BG might be partially covered, or hidden and COM , Head is not afforded, instead a knee cap, upper leg, groin area, throat...
Problem is, folks get "programmed" shooting flat, face on targets.
Reality is, most serious situations do not present one a flat, face on target, nor is the shooter going to be in the same shooting position at the range.
So, starting out, get one with the gun on face on targets.
Then turn that target at an angle to you.
Change angle the other direction.
These two changes will reveal how simple angles , change presentations.
Get something 3D ( three dimensional) a box, a old pillow, get a inexpensive stuffed animal, whatever.
Now pin/ attach targets to this.
Index cards, playing cards are inexpensive.
6" paper dessert plates work too.
Now shoot this 3D target angled to you, start close, then move out downrange.
Get some water pistols, just the plain vanilla ones , as near the size of your MKIII.
Now one needs to keep safety in mind, and the reality is, in a home situation, one does not stand all the time.
This "safe gun" is to practice retrieving, draw stroke, and shooting when sitting up in bed, kicked back in a recliner, sitting on the couch, lying on the couch, lying in bed.
One has to remember they have upper legs, knees, lower legs, and feet, in producing a gun, and getting it on target.
Water pistol is a good, inexpensive, serious training tool.
This "gun" ( blue ones preferred) are deemed serious training tools, and not to be played with , cutting up and flirting with the wife or her you.
Instill your brains, this blue gun, is a real training gun, and treat it as such.
I don't expect you to shoot water in the house, or on beds , sofa or chairs ( thought we have using tarps), so go outside, and sit in a chair, recline back, even lay down and shoot a 3 D target.
I am serious, we do this , as some folks sleep in a power assist recliner recovering from surgeries mentioned above.
Live fire:
Yes we really do have folks shooting out of recliners, kicked back, feet on the foot rest, and one has to get the gun up, and out, and the draw stroke not be where they shoot themselves in upper leg, knee, lower leg or foot.
WE shoot "lying in bed", "sofas".
Folks that have hip surgery, or other surgeries and are in these positions.
Expectant moms, kicked back in a chair, do this, because down the road, sleeping in chair, is easier than a bed.
That belly gets big, and is another factor besides legs and feet.
Just start slow, crawl, walk run, and you and the wife will be fine.
Too many folks over too many years have been where you are.
Over the years I and mine have assisted too many folks, with what I have shared.
Mentors did these same things before I was born, and all these things shared, still work.
