A list of guns for first time shooters...

[improperlyaged]

I will soon be taking several women from work shooting and was wondering what guns should I bring to introduce them to the sport. I would like a list of what you think should be some of the first guns that new shooters get to shoot. I have access to pretty much anything save the really super high dollar stuff. I own Glocks, 1911's, single action revolver's, small .380's etc.

I understand that we should shoot .22's but I don't have any. I got rid of them when I could no longer pick up ammo at walmart.

 

[HammsBeer]

Brand new shooters? You should absolutely start with a .22 so they can comfortably learn safe gun handling without being distracted by noise or recoil. If you don't have a .22, borrow one. There is no reason to skip it, some of them will be nervous enough for their first time.

 

[Agsalaska]

depending on who they are, I do not know if I would take them without having a .22. I have taken people for their first time before and had them shooting pretty big guns in 30 minutes. I have also had some that I lost relatively quickly with a Springfield XD9. But I have never had one that did not at least enjoy the 22.

Recoil, while we get used to it, is actually very powerful and is a sensation far away from any normal activity for the vast majority of people.

That being said, understanding I do not know them, I would get your softest felt recoil gun and get the lightest loads possible for it and start form there. Do you have anything that shoots 32 S&W or something like that?

 

[WestKentucky]

Really tough to answer that being that there's no 22lr in the mix. Next up would be 25acp but there are no even moderately sized guns out there, so on to 32acp and 32swl. Both good starter calibers even if they are centerfire...assuming you have one big enough to get a decent grip on. The only .380 I would even consider starting a new shooter on would be a Beretta design, and likewise 9mm, but those are getting large in the hands of most ladies. In this power class though a good 38spl revolver would do well if it's not an ultralight.

Are we strictly talking handgun or are we going rifle and shotgun too? Shotgun I would go 410 single or pump 20ga. Rifle I would go with a pistol cal carbine of neatly any flavor, again simply due to the absence of 22lr from the list of options.

I would almost suggest starting with a bb gun but that may seem to them like you are coddling them too much, might be offensive to some.

 

[DaisyCutter]

The ladies fawn over my old clapped out Ruger MKII pistol. Then I usually graduate them to a 7.5" Super Blackhawk 44 Mag. I have hundreds of lead 240 grain cartridges loaded up with low pressure charges. I've never chrony'd them, but it's gotta only be 700-750 FPS. Out of a heavy revolver, they are really tame. There is still a BANG, and some recoil, but it's the fun kind. Shooting the big "44 Magnum" builds confidence.

Also, both handguns are very accurate, with a generous sight radius and good triggers (compared to defensive autos).

 

[Agsalaska]

I bet your local pawn shop has a single shot 22 for less than $100. And ammo is now readily available.

Sounds like a good excuse to buy a gun.

 

[Teachu2]

Any CZ, Glock, or 1911 that is equipped with a .22LR conversion. If not available, borrow or buy several .22s. If that can't happen, use a BB, pellet, or Airsoft pistol. Recoil is the enemy of brand-new shooters .Sure, some will do fine with a mid-sized 9mm, or a .38 revolver, or even a 1911, but many won't. Those that have a bad first experience often never get a second experience.

I have a scoped 22/45, a Browning 1911-22, a S&W steel snubbie in .22LR, and all three of the mentioned conversions. Every female newbie (and I've helped dozens) gets to try them all if they choose, then they can choose to shoot anything and everything I have. I have yet to have one say they didn't want to shoot some more - in fact, they all own handguns today. Some had no desire to move past the .22, others are proficient with .357s and .45acps. My wife was married to me 25 years before she decided that maybe her father had exaggerated the dangers of handguns a bit, and wanted me (and only me) to teach her to shoot. She now has a CCW and three 9mms of her own.

Trying to reduce felt recoil by using a heavy gun is hard for some. Reduced loads are OK in a revolver, but problematic in a semi. Noise and muzzle blast add to the fear factor. The .22LR reduces these factors about as much as can be achieved with a handgun.

 

[earplug]

Do you reload?

A full size revolver shooting cast lead bullets is cheaper then many 22LR rounds now.
A heavy 9MM pistol such as a 1911 or CZ 75 would be a decent 2nd choice.

 

[Old Dog]

You gotta borrow a .22 ... anything. I like to use the Ruger Mark II, Browning Buckmark or an old Colt's Woodsman. A S&W 617 revolver, a Taurus Model 94 revolver (4" barreled 10 and 9 shot revolvers respectively) to work on DA trigger pulls.

Then on to the 9mm (I have good luck with the SIG P228, the S&W M&P-9 w/small backstrap, and an old CZ-75) -- any models that allow new shooters, particularly those with smaller hands, to really work on a good grip and trigger squeeze.

.380s, especially the smaller ones, tend to be a bit "snappier" and new shooters are more recoil-sensitive. I've got a Beretta with a tip-up barrel that's popular, as well as the SA SIG P-238.

Most new female shooters seem to encounter the most problems trying to rack the slides. Be able to teach the technique to manage a stiff recoil spring ...

Stay away from the big boomers for the first session.

 

[Hardtarget]

The few times I've tried a "start up new shooter" day I stayed with one platform....revolver.

I started with the .22, then the .38 with light target loads. First time out those seemed enough and I had a few hot .38 loads if they wanted to step up.

I've only had this type of range trip twice. Considering the smiles, I think it was a win/win day.

One time I started a true new shooter with only a pellet pistol. She was hitting coke caps at 25 feet in just a few days. Surprised both of us.

Hope the training day goes well. Y'all have fun!

Mark

 

[old lady new shooter]

Since my first class (and first time ever shooting) was only about a year ago, I will chime in. .22 was easy and after the first mag (where I was still terrified to be actually shooting) to my amazement accurate. .38 revolver also fine and almost as accurate as .22. 9 mm and .40 both horrible -- no problem operating them but shots went everywhere. .45 no problem operating and shots much more accurate than 9 mm and .40 but not up to level of .38. In fairness I think part of what happened was that although the class was advertised as "beginners" only three of us had never shot before so the class was moving at the speed of the majority, and since I couldn't get the hang of loading the semi-autos we were always supposed to be shooting before I was done loading.

None of the recoil bothered me, I kind of liked it actually. After the first two tries no problem racking any of the slides, however I could NOT get the hang of loading even the uplula. If someone had asked me I would have said my fingers were too big relative to the size of the rounds, but the guy I was "partnered" with was HUGE with fingers to match and had no problem, so obviously that wasn't it. FWIW when I did the rifle class a couple of weeks ago I was able to load the .22LR mags ok, no idea if this is actually anything like what we had to do in the handgun class, partly because when I was ready to own my own gun I purchased a revolver (686), so I have nothing to compare to as far as loading.

One thing that was very good about that class was that the targets were only 3 yards away, that enabled participants to feel successful seeing their shots hitting the targets.

 

[Plan2Live]

I understand that we should shoot .22's but I don't have any. I got rid of them when I could no longer pick up ammo at walmart.

Having personally purchased over 14,000 rounds of .22 mostly at Walmart and passing on at least that much because I am running out of storage space, all since Sandy Hook, I find that statement laughable. Was it always there? No. Did it take effort and diligence to find it? Yes.

I always start new shooters by using a .357 full frame revolver with a swing out cylinder to demonstrate the basic fundamentals of action types, grip, stance, sight picture, safety, etc. when moving to the range I often use that same revolver with low powered .38 rounds but prefer to use a .22 if I can borrow one. If shooting a rifle I use my Ruger 10-22 or an old bolt action .22.

If they are interested in semi autos I borrow a friend's Sig Mosquito chambered in .22 and work them up to a Sig P Series 9mm so they can still see the hammer and understand how the action is working. Next step is striker fired.

A Walther PK380 has about the easiest slide for a newbie to manipulate as any semi I have ever tried.

 

[bannockburn]

I would say try to borrow or rent a .22 for first time shooters. Typically I start them out with a .22 rifle or pistol. Once they get accustomed to that I move them up to a centerfire handgun, like a .38 Special revolver or a 9mm. semi-auto. After that I let them try something in a .45 like a single action revolver or a 1911.

 

[Sav .250]

What ever you take , don't over power them with a cannon! Plus, ear protection!!

 

[ATLDave]

I've taken a lot of new shooters for their first range trip, including several women.

For these purposes, there is no substitute for a .22lr. There just isn't.

 

[Furncliff]

I've taken a lot of new shooters for their first range trip, including several women.

For these purposes, there is no substitute for a .22lr. There just isn't./QUOTE]



Amen

 

[J-Bar]

Double Amen!

Start with a .22 rifle over a rest, at a close target. Make small groups the goal. When they see they can control the rifle and put shots where they want them, the positive feedback will be enormous.

When they start getting bored with the rifle, go to a .22 handgun, over a rest, close target.
Again, emphasize trigger control and small groups. Let them show their tiny groups to friends and family and coworkers for more praise. The first range trip should not be instruction in combat shooting techniques.

Do not take the chance on having any negative experiences by using any centerfires on the first range trip.

Other recommendations - don't take a group; make it one-on-one. You want to be able to watch the muzzle direction while they are shooting and make sure it stays downrange. If you take more than one person, only allow one to shoot at a time. You do NOT want one of them to turn around for a conversation and bring the muzzle with them.

Do your instruction on the 4 rules at home before you leave for the range. Have each of them demonstrate how to pick a gun up and put it down while keeping the muzzle downrange. There is just too much distraction at the range for a safe handling class after you get there.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Nothing beats suppressed .22 and an adjustable stock and a reflex sight in my opinion.

Mike

 

[Caliper_Mi]

I took a coworker shooting for the first time. He's a stocky guy, but found that a 38spl revolver (S&W M10, 4" heavy barrel) to be about the limits of his recoil tolerance for the first time. Now, I've seen others start shooting a Ruger SR9c and have no issues with that, but you never know until they fire that first shot. There is a reason why even the worlds militaries use 22lr as a training round.

This is why you never sell a good working .22LR.

 

[ljnowell]

If no 22 just start with a heavy 357 loaded with 38 wadcutters.

 

[buck460XVR]

You don't say what caliber your SA revolvers are and if you reload. I would go that route if no .22 was available. Powder puff revolver loads will not hurt and the revolvers are easy to shoot. Small .380s are probably the last option you list I would use. Most of them bite pretty good. Most women I've taken shooting enjoy the 1911 platform and the narrow grip fits their hands better than a double stack Glock.

 

[old lady new shooter]

You don't say what caliber your SA revolvers are and if you reload. I would go that route if no .22 was available. Powder puff revolver loads will not hurt and the revolvers are easy to shoot. Small .380s are probably the last option you list I would use. Most of them bite pretty good. Most women I've taken shooting enjoy the 1911 platform and the narrow grip fits their hands better than a double stack Glock.

I've never tried a SA-only revolver, but cocking a regular revolver for SA requires a lot of thumb strength, I can't do it without getting the gun all out of position.

 

[Pudge]

Use your off hand to cock the hammer.

There are few better tools than a Ruger Single Six and a Savage model 24 for taking the uninitiated shooting, especially for safety.

 

[entropy]

Beg or borrow, but get some .22's for them to start with. It is an indispensable step in the process. As Agsalaska said, after starting new pistol shooters off with a .22, I've had them shooting a .45ACP 1911 reasonably well within an hour, with a stop at 9mm in between.

 

[DoubleMag]

Are there any small framed women professional shooters out there such as Team Glock? When we qualified on the pistol & long gun courses the ladies, many who had never handled a firearm, could handle the Glock in 40S&W just fine. Yes a few needed a bit extra coaching. Of course they knew ahead of time they would be required to qualify in order to be uniformed, and maintain those quals among others so that prescreened out a few for various reasons.
That said, even IMF women qualify etc. I presume your revolver means 38/357, I would start them out with lighter factory 38spcl loads at 10-15 feet and focus on safety & gun going 'bang' in the general direction of the target, then move back from there. Which is exactly what should happen in any class IMHO. Then have the other pistols there for them to try if they want. They probably will. I think you'll find them very capable unless some physical injury such as wrist surgery but then again that would hamper a guy shooter in same situation.

All IMHO