Beginning shooter

[cat_IT_guy]

I think that I have finally convinced my girlfriend to come shoot with me sometime. I would like to take her to shoot skeet. My question is though, should I start her with a .22 before I take her to shoot skeet? I have 20ga o/u that I will let her use, but even though its a 20, the recoil is not light. Might she be better off w/ a 12ga 1187? She is by no means weak (grew up farming and raising cows), but she is not very big (5' 2-1/2") so I wonder if recoil will be a problem.

Will shooting a rifle help or hurt with skeet for a beginner? I think it would boost confidence initially because it would eliminate any anxiety about shooting a gun. On the other hand, the technique for shooting a rifle is very different than for shooting a shotgun.

I am delighted that she is willing to try something new, and really dont want to scare her off the first time we go. Any thoughts or lessons you have personally learned from similar experiences?

 

[Milkmaster]

IMHO

You did not say whether she has ever held or shot a firearm before. If not, then I would take her out with a .22 pistol or rifle for teaching the rules and general feel of things. Work up to a larger caliber say like a 9mm and do the same. Then she might be ready for a 20ga or 12ga to use without it totally shocking her senses and turning her away from things all together.

She can also witness you shooting and hopefully some other women at the skeet range. That sight will help her to ask another woman about it. Her talking to another woman whether it is right or wrong sure seems to help in my past experience.

Good Luck!

 

[Dave McCracken]

IMO, shooting a 22 rifle is not good prep for shootig a shotgun.

My response for queries like this run thus.....

Let her pick her shotgun.

Have someone else give her that first lesson.

Fit is crucial. Get someone who knows get her shotgun fitted to her.

HTH....

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I appreciate the input, but getting a another gun that is going to fit her well is going to be tough - after all, Im about 6'3" with a huge wingspan, so most guns are too small for me if anything. I do not have the budget to purchase another one specifically for her at present.

Why do you recommend letting someone else teach her? For relationship sake or is there another reason?

She has never shot before, but I am getting conflicting opinions about whether or not starting with a smallbore rifle is a good idea. Maybe we should just start with that, and if SHE wants, she can try skeet later. Or as mentioned by one of y'all, I can let her come watch skeet and she can decide whether or not she wants to try it.

I have seen some new to clay games shooters start on station 7 shooting low house for a box or more shells just to build confidence and consistency with the gun. Opinions on this practice?

 

[pdowg881]

The hardest part I've had is just teaching proper grip. My sister took 20 minutes to figure it out. rested the bottom of the stock ontop of her shoulder, grasped the center of the butt with her hand, and I dunno what the hell the supporting arm was doing. Then there was the stance issue.

That may not be the case for you, but i definately suggest starting with the .22 to get the fundementals down. If she doesn't learn proper grip and stance the added recoil of a shotgun over .22 is going to exacerbate the issue and possibly turn her away from shotguns.

It could also cause her to develop a flinch. Teach her the basics before she has to learn how to manage recoil. Ldearning both at once can cause bad shooting habits that will be hard for you to catch when the recoil is covering up the issue.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ben, the relationship often suffers, and that fact that you may be an experienced shooter but not an instructor can hinder or stop any interest she has.

Having a qualified instructor get her started means she gets trained free of entangling other issues common to a relationship. IOW, no baggage.

And low 7 shots are a good start.