Advice on Guns and the Significant Other

[Positrack]

She's pretty good on the first two, but the LOP is a BIG problem. Man, does she look small shouldering that Wingmaster (she's about 5'4" or so). If her interest keeps up, I might look for a simple shotgun that fits her, but we'll see how it goes. I don't want to put a bad taste in her mouth by spending more $$ on guns... She really does seem to enjoy shooting the shotgun though, which kind of surprised me. She seems to like it even more than the .22. I think she likes seeing the milk jugs go flying.

 

[SWDoc]

Positrack, good going. Just found this thread, very good advice here.

A couple of things. First, go ahead and get a safe. For quick access, consider a GunVault for long guns. It would be safer not only now, but certainly if you may have young visitors, like her niece.

Second, think about finding a youth model 870 20 ga. Try some pawn shops, buy it used. Prob cost around $100, will fit her better, lighter, less recoil, and ultimately, with buckshot, is a very powerful SD gun.

Corneredcat is a great resource, as is "The Best Defense" show. As was said earlier, ask her to watch it as a favor to you. Stress that it is NOT a "gun" show. A lot of the content has to do with awareness and tactics not involving firearms. My wife actually said she learned a lot and was not turned off by Janich and Pincus's style. It is not condescending or dripping with testosterone like she was afraid it would be. I asked her to watch it as a favor to me, 1/2 hour a week.... it is in reruns right now, and I don't know if you will be able to find a way to start at the beginning, but would really encourage you to try. It has a very well thought out progression in the topics presented.

If she gets to the point where she is considering trying the handgun, get her a copy of Vicki Farnam's book "Women Learning to Shoot: A Guide for Law Enforcement Officers". It is written for women, by women. All the basics, plus a little more attention to techniques specific to problems unique to women shooters.

Hope things continue to go well. You have a big advantage in that you have both approached this as a difference between you, but not a deal breaker.

Steve

 

[Positrack]

SWDoc-

I thought about finding a used 20ga, and a youth model might be just the ticket. I've never actually shot a 20ga so I don't know how much they kick, but I could see her really liking that, a little less recoil with a stock that fits. I could definitely see her getting pretty handy with the right shotgun and a little practice. It amazes me that she can shoot my 870 with any accuracy at all as big as it is on her. She seems to handle the recoil fairly well though (she never complained about it anyway). I know they're low recoil shells but it's still a pump 12ga and she had basically zero experience before this.

What channel is "The Best Defense" show on? We get satellite (mainly for the internet), but we have the most basic package so I don't know if we'd get it. It sounds good though; I'll keep my eye out for it.

 

[WillDe83]

Its funny, my wife got me into guns. She and her uncle took me for a 'ride' on the families property and she saw some hogs picked up the rifle next to her and started to bang away at them . That was my first experience with guns, they let me shoot and loved it.... since then i bought an M1 Garand, AR 15, Winchester 70, 1911, and a beretta 92fs. My wife looks like a lil valley girl too. you would not know by looking at her that she loves shooting and being a tom boy at times.

 

[jakemccoy]

Does she think movies are real? My dad watches movies with gun violence, and then gets all of his information about guns from there. It's been impossible to get him to the range to try out my guns. My mom, on the other hand, is more level-headed. She's been shooting at the range with me. She wants to become a gun owner.

 

[Pistol Toter]

It will only get worse. My son had to get rid of the only .410 single shot he ever had. I gave that one to him. In plain language;DUMP THE WOMAN!!

 

[danprkr]

Congrats on the progress, after reading this line:

She seems more than ready to expand her horizons if some authority is doing the teaching, and particularly if her sister is involved, but she absolutely will not let me teach her anything.

I thought you may have met my ex, or for that matter current wife. in the eyes of both of them I instantly went from a reasonably intelligent person to the single dumbest human being on the planet with 2 simple words - I DO.

Anyway, good job on starting to bring her around. I got lucky in this department though. The first wife came around big time in a hurry. To the point that she outshot me on our CHL class test.

The second is kind of an ostrich, but logic is starting to work. I've had her shooting a time or 2. I think a lot of is that she doesn't want to take responsibility for her own safety. Problem is my job has me out of town some so I want her to be able to protect her self. To that end for her birthday I gladly granted her desire for RADS training. I'm hoping that it teach her the concept of situational awareness, and she will see the things she's thus far not wanted to.

Here's the link for your info
http://www.rad-systems.com/