Help with coaching

[Scrumbag]

Hello everyone,

Looking for advice. A couple of weekend's ago I took my girl friend (not shot pistols before) and her father (ex Rhodesian Army) pistol shooting at the local pay per play range (and he didn't shoot me! Woohoo!). Hired a private range for a couple of hours so could go our own pace and wouldn't be disturbed. Went through the 4 safety rules followed by stance, grip, breathing, controls and trigger release.

We then did some shooting with my Colt Woodsman @ 8m, S&W 22 revolver, 9mm and a .45 Revolver (Cowboy action loads so nice and soft).

All went pretty well and group sizes were coming down nicely and 2 happy shooters. Only issue is, my Girlfriend did not like racking the slide on either the Woodsman or the 9mm.

She seemed unduly worried about it. Anyone got any hints for getting past this?

KR,

Scrummy

 

[ku4hx]

Well, my first comment will be you won't get her past this. Only she can do this and my husbandly opinion is to let her make up her mind and work on this at her pace.

My wife likes Ruger's SR guns but they do have stiff RSAs, especially her favorite the SR9c, and require a strong hand to operate the slide. But she was determined and she's now able to rake the slides with no problems. Technique is often as important as strength ... as is practice.

You did the right thing taking her to a range. If it were me I'd give her more options (more guns to try; many are easier to work the slide) but never discount the fact that she just may never feel comfortable with a semi auto. I know several women shooters who love their revolvers. Men too for that matter; I'm one of them

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, my first comment will be you won't get her past this. Only she can do this and my husbandly opinion is to let her make up her mind and work on this at her pace.

My wife likes Ruger's SR guns but they do have stiff RSAs, especially her favorite the SR9c, and require a strong hand to operate the slide. But she was determined and she's now able to rake the slides with no problems. Technique is often as important as strength ... as is practice.

You did the right thing taking her to a range. If it were me I'd give her more options (more guns to try; many are easier to work the slide) but never discount the fact that she just may never feel comfortable with a semi auto. I know several women shooters who love their revolvers. Men too for that matter; I'm one of them

Thanks for that, time is no problem, just wondered if there was a "short cut" as everything else was great for a first timer.

We shot that day:
Colt Woodsman, Semi-Auto .22lr
S&W17, Revolver .22lr
Sig P226, Semi 9mm
S&W 25 in 45 Colt

Favourite was definitely the little Woodsman (The girl has taste, what can I say).

Just have to spend more time shooting I suppose. Oh well

Scrummy

 

[Sam1911]

What technique is she using for racking the slide? Fairly healthy, robust, manly men types like us D) can use several techniques for charging an auto pistol and feel in total control of the gun with either. It is not so easy for smaller statured folks, women, kids, the elderly.

I taught my 11 year old daughter to charge a pistol using the overhand, weak-hand slide grip, and by driving the pistol's grip forward with her strong hand.

Like so: http://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/

Turning a bit to keep the muzzle safely downrange, and bringing the gun in close to the body, your girlfriend should be able to get her strongest muscle groups into play, similarly to how most folks draw their hands down into and against their midsection when trying to open a stuck jar lid.

When the technique is right, the task is easy and controlled. When it is easier and the shooter feels in control, the distrust and discomfort about the procedure should go away.

 

[Scrumbag]

Thanks Sam, I was going for the over hand grip, just perhaps worried about hand going near trigger etc. We'll work on it next time.

Cheers,

Scrummy

 

[Jessie James 58]

Some women (my wife) just do not like to rack a slide. But are a terror with a revolver. Even though I like my Sigs and FNs, she likes HER S&W 686 357 and Winchester 30/30. She is VERY accurate and skilled with both.

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, we shall see what transpires...

 

[Resist Evil]

I would second what Sam wrote in post #4. My wife could not seem to overcome the springs in any autoloader, much less the Para Ord Carry9 she used to use. In one of the gun rags, I had read of that turn slightly, overhand grip, push on the grip technique, so I showed it to my wife. It was a small epiphany for her and allowed her to focus more on her shots without the frustration of having me recharge her pistol for her at each mag change. A month later, we took a two day pistol course and she performed the mag changes with ease.

 

[Walkalong]

My wife has the same trouble, just not strong enough to work an autos slide. She shoot revolvers very well, so that is what she sticks with. She is also more comfortable with the mechanics of a revolver. I gave up on autos with her.

 

[shooter60]

I put a 15# recoil spring and a 19# main spring in my .45's and showed my wife and daughter both the over hand style let them practice at home with a unloaded gun and now they have no problems but I do load lighter loads for them to shoot

 

[ku4hx]

Thanks for that, time is no problem, just wondered if there was a "short cut" as everything else was great for a first timer.

Ask her if you haven't already ... she'll tell you. She may not know what to do, but she'll appreciate you be considerate enough to ask and that's important.

 

[MrCleanOK]

Is the issue that she doesn't have the hand strength/technique, or that she is just uncomfortable with the manual of arms (concerned about negligent discharge, getting hand pinched by the slide, etc.)?

If it's the first issue, then hand strength isn't the culprit, it's all in the technique. There are even one-handed slide manipulations that require exactly zero strength from the support hand.

If it's the second issue (being scared of the metal, spring loaded dangerous thing), only familiarity and practice can really fix that. In fact, I'd even say it's a good thing that she is being conscious of where her trigger finger is.

 

[Scrumbag]

Mr Clean, I think it might be more the confidence thing as she isn't a fan of doing it with the Woodsman which is a delicate little pistol as any.

More range time required.

Oh well

 

[tuj]

Indeed the strength issue is what most women have trouble with and they just need to be showed the technique that doesn't use pure finger and arm strength. Show them how to oppose their arms to rack the slide.

My wife has no trouble at all racking the bolt on her Ruger MKII but she does have trouble sometimes with our CZ-75. Using the over-the-top technique seems to help her.

If its psychological about getting pinched or the gun going off, have her rack it a bunch of times unloaded to get past those fears.

 

[Scrumbag]

Thanks Tuj, I shall give that a try

 

[TimboKhan]

A related problem I have encountered with new shooters regardless of gender when it comes to working the slide is the habit of easing it down as opposed to just letting the slide drop with authority. It seems to be an issue of people just having respect for stuff and not wanting to break it, and while I correct it, I don't go overboard. The more they shoot, the less it becomes an issue.

I have to add after saying that while I have taught a few people to shoot, I am NOT a professional coach or anything like that. Just a guy that more or less knows how to shoot and enjoys introducing people to the sport!

 

[tarosean]

I taught my 11 year old daughter to charge a pistol using the overhand, weak-hand slide grip, and by driving the pistol's grip forward with her strong hand.

This technic turned my wife from a revolver only shooter to CCWng a semi...