girlfriends first time

[amurph182]

First, let me say that if anyone misconstrued the thread title (you know who you are!), then shame on you

Anyway, my "not really anti-gun, just doesn't like them very much because she doesn't know anything about them" girlfriend has indicated that she wants to go shooting with me. I guess she's tired of hearing about how much fun I have on the trap fields and wants to give it a go. I'm ecstatic about it, because I've always wanted to be able to share this part of my life with her. ANYWAY, for those that have gotten a newbie-ette into shotgunning...

What do I need to do to make sure she has a good time (or at least to make sure she doesn't have a miserable time)? She's not a small woman (no, she's not fat, either) but she is concenered about recoil. The place I shoot has a variety of guns for rent but I don't know if they have anything besides 12-gauge. She gets embarassed easily, so what's the easiest game for her to start out on, where she might break a couple on her first time out? The place where I shoot has a trap, skeet, wobble trap, 5-stand and SC...I would imagine either trap, skeet or wobble.

I did a search on the board and found some info, but any more help that you could send my way would be appreciated.

 

[Pheonix]

shame on me.



I dont think the gun is as much of a recoil issue as the load that is being shot (unless it is an ultralight gun). Any 12 guage with a light trap load should work. ie 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #7.5 and 2 3/4 dram or less.

 

[sm]

First- Welcome to THR!

I'd consider a semi in 20 ga., shouldn't be difficult to find someone whom has say a 1100, Browning Gold, Beretta...etc.

If not- a light load of 1oz that will run the gun in 12 ga semi. Heck I'd even use 7/8 oz and shoot singles.
Fair warning if she first shoots and 28 ga O/U that fits, well, I warned you.

Good ears a must, reduces perception of recoil. Naturally good eyes and 4 rules, safety. I would invite an ask a lady shooter to assist with gun fit and answer questions. GF needs to choose the gun, and will be more receptive if you don't teach. Trust me and others on this. If the lady teaching is seasoned shooter, shut up and bite lip, even if you disagree, you might learn something...and for sure you won't be walking home, breaking up and ruining a relationship.

I suggest good tennis shoes,that have a bit of lift to heel...meaning no open toe, flat sole shoes. The lift aids in stance IMO. NO open front blouses, hot brass, bits of broken clay not condusive to any of us, ladies especially. Comfortable clothing, Jeans and such not too tight.

Skeet and low 7 is a great station to just bust clays and learn. Many a time I've let a young lady just bust until hearts content, then we move on.

Safety is number 1, Fun is 1a.

And yeah, you buy lunch, drinks candy....etc., Might cost you a 28 ga O/U if you don't heed warning She gets hooked, you will re coup all monies spent, have a great partner, then work this into RKBA and CCW.

Pull! ...*nuttin but dust* One of the best feelings a BF can share.

[Dave reaches for meds, and checks the username on post, spills coffee ..."I'll be -'73 can behave when he wanna"]

 

[Lone Star]

Oh, sorry: I saw your title, and thought that this was the, "Cosmopolitan" website...
Lone Star

 

[Smoke]

Just be gentle.... (shame on me)

Actually that is good advice. Don't criticize. Don't overwhelm her with info.
And I second a nice semi-auto 20ga. to ease her into it. Build her confidence and you may end up with a lifelong shooting partner.

 

[PJR]

re1973's advice is very good and one point is great. The only point that I'd ad is not to over do it on the first outing and that she should shoot much more than you. Don't discourage her with your prowess. The day is about introducing her to the sport.

His really great advice is

Fair warning if she first shoots a 28 ga O/U that fits, well, I warned you.

And if she does make sure it isn't a higher grade in a gun that isn't made any more.

I sure wished I'd had that advice four years ago.

Paul

 

[Black92LX]

i recently took my girlfriend who is in the same boat as yours. she started out by stating she wouldn never buy me anything for my guns. but our 3 year anniversary rolled around and she on her own got me a hard case and proper 12 ga. cleaning kit. then she expressed intrest in want to try shooting. (that was the greatest day ever)

anyway here is my suggestion side by side 20 gauge. they can be purchased for cheap.

Stoeger Uplander $335 MSRP i have seen them for $250. let her use that. and if she enjoys shooting then tell her that the gun is hers. if not you have yourself a nice little bird gun that is so much fun to shoot for under $300

here is my girlfriend who shot it fine and she is pretty small girl.

or if you have a little extra money to spend you could get her a pretty gun a Stevens (savage) Model 411

MSRP on that is $395 so i bet yo could find it for just under $300 maybe a little more.

 

[Al Thompson]

Hmmm. Ears, water, hat or sunglasses, safety glasses, snacks and patience.

FWIW, I'd start her on wobble trap. I'd also ask the attendant to slow down the birds.

Be carefull with some of the patrons and their advice. Seems to be about a 1 in ten ratio at the local skeet field. One idiot per ten good folks. Try to keep the idiots at bay.

 

[sm]

Hey Al,
That's why I suggest the seasoned lady shooter. Not age old just the one winning trophies and taking monies...idiots are kept at bay...and they usually are good instructors, they also remember the learning process.

Forgot about wobble trap...good idea.

 

[amurph182]

The place where I shoot (Bull Run shooting center in northern Virginia) has learn to shoot sessions on the weekends...any input on these?

 

[sm]

Just hang tight , IIRC we have a couple of old farts up that way...err I mean I we have some distinguished shooters up that way. They may be guys...but in this case the experience and lessons learned will be invaluable.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Great thread!

Murph, congrats, you overcame the Testosterone Block and ASKED for advice. Kudos. And welcome aboard.

Along with the fine advice already posted(73 especially, good job) let me add a couple things..

An instructor is worth his/her weight in gold. Let them teach, you may be a fine shooter and gun cognizant as heck, but it'll work out better if someone else gets her through the threshold. Trust me on this.

Buy, beg, make or pilfer super light loads. Something like a 7/8 oz, 1200 FPS load or less in 12 gauge,its equivalent in 20 gauge.

Let her pick her shotgun, preferably under the guidance of that instructor. Fit is important, and instructors almost always have good input about this.

Learn to shoot sessions are good, one on one with a qualified instructor is better. Both might be best.

Bull Run has a delightful wobble setup, and I bet you can get those birds down to easy levels. I'm a little far away to get there often,but it's a great range.

If you get further north, maybe we can meet at PGC. I'd be happy to help any way I can, but my schedule is tight. If you're interested, PM me.

HTH....

 

[kudu]

Welcome amurph

I second or third the the idea of letting someone else instruct your lady at the basics. If you instruct her it could create some friction, unless she insists, then go ahead and do it. It does no harm to applaud when she starts breaking targets either. 20ga is good but like others have said light 1oz or 7/8oz loads in a 12ga are nice and easy to shoot and are prefered even by the veteran shooters.

Good luck and good shooting.

 

[amurph182]

I used to teach sailing....I am a good sailing instructor
I used to teach skiing.....I am a good skiing instructor

I play a decent game of golf....every time I've tried to teach someone it turns into a shouting match.

Don't worry, guys, I've been there/done that when it comes to teaching people things that I haven't been trained on how to teach. Do you think it would be better to just go out and get her a lesson or to go through a learn-to-shoot session, shoot at some birds, and then get a lesson with a real instructor if she decides she likes it?

I hear you guys on the light loads for a 12...I don't know that maney people with shotguns so it's probably limited to my gun (beretta 686) or whatever they have for rentals (probably mostly 12's). If mine fits her then she could probably use it until we can find her something more suitable. Maybe she can borrow my mom's Mossberg 500 pumpgun. Then again, they probably look down on pistol-grips and sure-fire's on the trap field.

 

[kudu]

First ask Her what she would like, an informal "blast a few clays at station 7", or an instructed round of target shooting. If you can get her interested right away with just knocking a few out of the sky at station 7 that might be what it takes to get her really interested in skeet and clay games.

 

[hboy35]

one at a time

if you opt for the semi-auto, I suggest loading one shell in the pipe and leave the magazine empty untill she is comfortable. Sure sucks when they pull the trigger on the first round and lose balance and start to fall back with a fresh one in the chamber....

 

[amurph182]

she did it

Well, we finally made it out to Bull Run for some shooting. They have a Learn-to-Shoot class out there that's a good deal. For $26 you get about a half hour of instruction on gun safety and etiquette, proper shooting mechanics, and some shooting. The guy had her shoot at a couple stationary targets to get used to shooting the gun, and then shot at birds until she hit one. The price also includes gun rental for the day and a round of whatever she wants to shoot. She didn't feel up to shooting a full round, it took her some time to get used to the gun and she didn't feel comfortable shooting a real round with a bunch of other people around. We're going to head out early saturday morning and get a round in. After she shot she was happy she had done it, proud of herself for hitting something, but still kind of uncomfortable about the idea of shooting. However, over the course of the afternoon she kept getting more and more excited about going back out and I think she's really getting herself psyched up about it. The first thing she did when we got home was call her dad and tell him that she broke a bird on her third try. So, maybe, I've got a new shooting partner. At the very least now I've got a gf that understands why I love it so much and can come out whenever she wants to.

Let me also add that the instructor was AWESOME. Young guy, I think his name was Nikko or something like that. He was extremely patient with her, and just the nicest guy. She was having some trouble mounting the gun (too heavy for her) and he worked with her for about 10 minutes just to come up with a comfortable way to hold it. I bet more than a few instructors would have told her to just deal with it. He even picked up on her feelings about shooting that day and politely invited us back into the arms room to pick out a gun for her, and once we were away from other people he asked her if she was up to it or wanted to come back another day. Great guy, great lesson, and I'm convinced that he's at least partly, if not mostly, responsible for her having such a good experience.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Huzzah!! You lucked out twice. Once on GF, once on instructor.

Instructors are not immune to Testosterone Block. Glad you got a good'un...

 

[C.R.Sam]

Lady hit the trifecta.
Patient boyfriend who knows his limitations.
Good instructor.
Great attitude.

Sam