Girlfriend is hesitant about going to the shooting range...

[langenc]

Get a friend to do the 'introduction to guns' or a club that perhaps has women only lessons..

No sense making an enemy trying to show her how to shoot. And NO earsplitting boomenslagers. A 22 will do just fine.

 

[Sackett]

Lots of good advice so far.

+1 on the Bearcat. Mom had one of those and I think it's the first pistol I fired. I was shopping for one to teach my wife with, but they're getting pricey these days (maybe it's a CA thing?). Ended up with the Buckmark, which we'll pick up next week (yippee!).

www.corneredcat.com was also mentioned. Highly recommended for anyone with uncertainty about SD, guns, moral issues, etc. It's written by a woman for women, but guys can probably learn an equal amount about how ladies process the whole topic.

Good luck getting her initiated; I hope you succeed at either lighting the spark of interest, or dousing the ember of ignorance.

 

[hso]

I have no .22, pistol or rifle...

Get a .22 pistol. If she's "intimidated" and "fearful" of handguns and your intent is to get her over these prejudices you should make the first experience the opposite of intimidating.

Plugs and muffs, protective eyewear, .22 pistol and pick a time that the range won't be busy. Be sure she's wearing proper clothing so that hot brass won't hop into her shirt or onto her bare foot (no sandals). Remember that this is her first range trip. That is IF your purpose is to actually get her past this programming.

Send her to Pax's CorneredCat.com site before going to the range.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I think the first thing I'm going to do when I'm teaching her safety at my house before we go is to set the gun down and ask her, "If you needed this gun, and wanted to turn the safety off to fire it, what would you press?" I'm betting she's going to point to the magazine release, because there IS no manual safety on my M&P. I'll show her what that particular button does, and how SCREWED she would be if she would have pressed it in an encounter. Then I'll go on to show how to clear a weapon, verify it is unloaded, have her hold it (I imagine she'll instinctively put her finger on the trigger), and go over the 4 rules, etc.

You know your GF better than I do, but do you really think the best way to introduce her to firearms instruction is by playing mind games on her? IMHO that's just likely to antagonize her. Why do you feel a need to resort to trickery? What's wrong with just getting her to agree to learn how to work the gun BEFORE she might need it. All it should take is a simple explanation that not all guns work the same, and that she would be much SAFER if she learned the difference correctly rather than relying on the poor and often incorrect gun handling she has seen in movies and on television.

 

[Hokkmike]

Why not just give her muffs and eye protection and let her watch the first time?

 

[gym]

I have a 10/22, used only one day, if you decide to go that route, i'll sell it to you cheap it's just collecting dust. But I would take her to a range and rent her a few 22's and perhaps a 38, and let her get the feel of the guns. That may be all that is needed. Many times people pre-judge things that they don't understand. Also play a few of those 911 calls that are available on utube, and let her listen to the woman on the phone with 911 for ten minutes, trying to get help while the ex, is breaking in room after room, to kill her. She gets 3 rounds off as he was strangling her. It's on the site someware, I sent it to two guys who are not crazy about guns, and they now are thinking about getting one. The misconception that you dial 911, and the police show up through the phone line, tends to alter reality.

 

[JackBurtonJr]

Before I start in teaching someone how to use a gun I go over the four cardinal rules. Then I go over them again. And again.

And when they actually get around to holding the gun in their hands -- again.

I have found that the more I stress safety the more relaxed the folk become because they begin to understand that it is a process they control.

Just present it in a positive manner instead of a negative, though.

 

[kd7nqb]

My ex GF was an avid shooter had a collection that put me to shame and was a better shot than me and needless to say had her CHL.

The new girl had never touched a gun in her life and was VERY hesitant to go shooting.

However, I took her out we shot .22lrs for a while and she eventually even shot my .40s&w the trick is going slow and letting her set the pace. Don't scare her off.

9mm might not be too much for a first trip as long as its a good quality gun and not super short.