I need help. Mom wants a gun...

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dgreno

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
339
Location
Savannah GA
Ok, some background. I am currently living at home with my mom saving money until I move to GA in May. There have been a few "strange" events in our neighborhood in the past few months and my Mom has decided that she wants to be better prepared for the worst. She recently asked me to get her some pepper spray and she really wants one of the new Taser C2's because she is not very comfortable with a gun. This is mostly due to the fact that she is unfamiliar with them. The taser is an interesting idea but it's single shot. The main thing she wants is protection in the event of a home invasion.
We were sitting at dinner tonight and SHE started talking about guns and actually said that one of her female coworkers has gotten her CCW and now she wants to do the same!!! :)
I told mom that I would be happy to leave her one of my shotguns when I leave and, to my surprise and joy, she said she was more interested in a handgun but needs to learn how to shoot first and gain confidence in her abilities.
This is where I am stuck. I don't really know how to get her into shooting and have her comfortable enough to wish to continue. The local range charges about $100 for a CCW class including range time and they will work 1 on 1 with anyone on the firing line for ~$65 an hour. Does anyone think that is a decent price range for a beginner to start? CCW classes at the gun shows are ~$45 but they do not include range time.
Now for the gun. Whats the best way to get her looking and "fit" her for her own gun?? My Mom is in her mid 50's and not the most intimidating person. Her hands are smaller so a large frame is probably out. She is the type of person that is going to like what you tell her too so I am unsure how to talk to her and get her to choose what fits her best. I am thinking something about the size of a GLOCK 26 or J frame would be good but I dont know. I am going to take her to the local shop as soon as I can.
Also, I have already emphasized the 4 rules to firearms safety and the 4 rules regarding the use of deadly force so she understands those so far. I am definitely willing to (re)take the CCW class with her if she wants to make her more comfortable, is this a good idea?
I am going to forward her a link to this thread as well so she can stay updated.
Thanks for all your help!!!!
 
Probably the best thing to do is go to a range that rents out handguns, and get her shooting a few rounds downrange. Probably start low caliber and then move up if she wishes, just so she can get a feel for recoil, and build shooting confidence. You could save the $65/hr fee if you act as her instructor - assuming you are knowledgeable about handguns as well (you just mentioned having a shotgun, so I'm not sure).

That way, she can get use to holding some weapons, and see if any of them feel particularly good/comfortable to her. Afterwards, she could go for the CCW classes if she wishes! I tend to believe those classes are a good idea for anyone to get a license, regardless of whether or not they are mandatory in your state.
 
Tasers are worthless. They're about the price of a used Glock anyway ($345). Get a used handgun for mom. I'd say something like a Glock or a revolver- something low maintenance and easy to clean.
 
The best way to start someone learning on handguns is with a .22. They're usually pretty inexpensive and are not intimidating. Getting used to the short sight alignment and being able to hold on target are what you're teaching with it. For smaller hands, a 380 or the new Ruger SR9 are pretty small in the grip. I don't think there's any quick way to get someone proficient and confident. It takes time and lots of practice.
 
I am an avid shooter with "a few" guns:). However, I am not very sure of teaching her. It always seems that family teaching family, in our case anyway, turns out bad. The taser costing as much as a used GLOCK was my exact argument as well. Thanks for your responses guys and gals and please keep them coming!!
 
I always suggest a revolver for someone who is new to guns. They are simpler to operate, less likely to malfunction and in the very unlikely event of a failure to fire all you need to do is pull the trigger again. A J frame or a SP101 is what I would start looking at to start.
 
New Shooter?

Start with .22 cal pistol or revolver.

I bought my wife (at her request) a 9mm compact pistol.

However, before shooting the 9mm, I had her start with one of my .22 LR pistols (Ruger Mk II, 7-inch, heavy barrel).

She had such a good time with it, that sometime around the fourth or fifth magazine, she turned to me and said, "I want one exactly like this." Took me a month, but I found a twin to mine, and now she has both the .22 and the 9mm.

You can teach the basics with a .22 without the distractions of noise and recoil, then move on to a service caliber.

My wife was a little timid at first, but after shooting the .22 pistol, she was sold. She was putting 7 out of 10 in a seven-inch circle at twelve yards, first time out.

I was pleased. She was pleased.

I'm glad I didn't start her on the 9mm.
 
The local range charges about $100 for a CCW class including range time and they will work 1 on 1 with anyone on the firing line for ~$65 an hour. Does anyone think that is a decent price range for a beginner to start?
Click to expand...

That's a very good price for range time with individual attention if the instructor(s) are competent. Remember that the goal of the CWP course is to help people get the permit. It's not a course in tactics or combatives. It is a course in how to be safe and legal with a handgun. After the course is over and your mother has her permit, my guess is that she'll have some confidence and reinforcement while recognizing that she needs to practice. Make the practice enjoyable and satisfying.

My own experience is that there's nothing a man can do with a gun that a woman can't do. And my further experience is that there's nothing an elderly woman can't do.
 
One more vote for the .22 pistol.

Find one that you would like to own, and buy it.

Use it as a training tool.

One visit to the range a week for a month, and just about anybody will be shooting the .22 pretty well, and have a basic sense of gun handling and gun safety.

When you get to that point (May take longer, and it may not. Each student learns at their own rate) Then start trying out some other guns.

The trick here is to let Mom find the pistol that's truly right for her.

Maybe start with a rented .38 and some light loads. Maybe borrow from friends. Many folks (Like me, for instance) will gladly let a beginner shoot their pistols. Try striking up a conversation with the guy in the next lane at the range.

Try a lot of different guns.

It will become clear pretty quickly what is suitable for mom, and what's not.

When she finds something that she can work and handle, that is of a suitable caliber, then THAT'S the gun she needs.

Help her find one of those, and keep your .22 for the next student. (Everybody needs a .22 anyway):D

Or, if you must... you can use the .22 as a trade-in on whatever Mom picks.

Whatever you do, don't hand her a Magnum Hand Cannon to learn on. Make sure she has fun! Go to the range during off times when it's not crowded, And don't do anything to scare her! This is a great opportunity for you to give her a valuable skill.

Make the best of it!
 
My local range in KC has a class that cost $85 and it is meant for hand gun beginners. its a 3 hour class i believe with some range time at the end. They go over all the basics from how to shoot to how to clean and also the legal aspect a bit too. very helpfull. a membership to the range is included in the price, which is nice. at the end of the class they let you rent a gun of your choosing and give you hands on, one on one lessons on how to shoot, reload, the whole bit. very nice, i took it a while back before i bought my first pistol, i didnt have any friends or dads to teach me bout handguns, all i had ever shot were rifles and shotty's. so it was nice. check around, see if your local ranges have similar classes, or maybe a local firearms instructor could help outt!
 
Sounds like the both of you have your priorities straight. You've obviously done some reading up!

$100 for a class is about average what we pay here in VA. Sounds fine to me.

Don't be so sure she'll want something small. I've been suprised *many* times how women really want something more empowering than a dinky j-frame. My CZ75 is actually one of my most popular guns with women at the range, followed closely by my Ruger SP101. My friend shoots the old all-steel J frame and a couple cylinders later, "I'm done".

Not trying to steer away from a revolver, just maybe something to tame recoil better would be in order. A snub SP comes to mind.

Now my CZ with 22 Kadet kit gets the most use out of everything combined. I'm standing there at the firing line loading the *&$(%* mags fast as I can. One nice thing about the Ruger 22's is you can get a speed loader for the mags that literally takes 2 seconds to load.

BTW you might want to let her know a taser doesn't keep a BG down. He'll get right back up, probably more pissed than before. It's simply a device meant to incapacitate while handcuffs can be applied.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys. I think buying the .22 is a good idea, any recommendations on which to choose? I never really got into .22 pistols...
Chris, where in VA are you? I am just south of Richmond and only know of one range in the area.
 
Ruger semi auto's are good .22's and reasonably priced. I have an MKIII that has worked out well for me, and i taught my Dad to shoot and that's the one he prefers.
 
+1 on the 22 to start. perhaps a S&W 34. grip sized & weight for a small to medium hand is good.
as you describe her size & needs, how about a 4 or 5 inch S&W used model 10? grip size is good on the small side, power is adequate--38 spc silverrtips or a +p defense round, weight & size make it much easier (and fun) to shoot than a j frame.
a S&S 60 in 3 1/2 or 5 inch, if it holds well for her, is also worth considering.
as a NRA instructor, i find women take to the 10 real easily; great hold & trigger. the 60 is a bit more versatile, and expensive, as it is a 357/38 model. also a heavier staging trigger yet in SA a 5" reaches accurately to 100 yards (6" groups).
1 on 1 instruction at $65 is high side of reasonable. its a bargain if they supply a number of guns to test with. i price out , you bring 5 assort boxes of ammo (usually 1-22, 2-38 & 2-9mm), we discuss ahead of time what guns may be the best fit-I'll bring maybe 6 & assorted grips to try out & any fill in ammo. 90 minutes for $100. with set up call it 2 hours of gun handling. good luck
 
Last edited:
Most of the mainstream .22s like the Ruger and Buckmark are fairly large guns so keep this in mind. The only smallish .22s I have experience with are the Walther P22 and the Taurus 94 - both of which my wife loves to shoot. I had bought her a Buckmark, but it just wasn't her cup of tea. I know a Taurus is a risky proposition but my 94 is great and it's also a good stepping stone for moving up to a .38 or .357 revolver. My P22 (actually my wifes now) has also been great. I bought it with both barrels so my wife can practice with a small gun or a larger gun on the same frame...
 
Absolutely, start with the .22. The things that might be of concern with weapon selection. Small frame short barrelled guns like the J-Frame and Sp101 are generally poor choices for a beginning centerfire handgun as they are a difficult gun for the beginner to shoot well. There are many better choices for house guns unless they are going to carry concealed. Hand strength is usually a problem for aging female beginners. Make sure that any D/A pistol or revolver has a soft enough trigger for them to pull. The heavier the caliber on auto pistols, the stiffer recoil springs they have. Make sure that she can pull the slide back to chamber a round. I have found that many women beginning shooters are psychologically more comfortable with a handgun equipped with a "safety". Given those criteria, if she has the handstrength for the D/A trigger pull, look at 4" medium frame revolvers like the S&W M10, M15, M19 and their stainless equivalents. In auto pistols, look at the Walther P-38, Taurus 24-7 (9mm) or 9mm 1911 in the FULL size (Govt Model). The 9mm springs are much easier to cycle in those platforms than the .40s or .45s or smaller 9mm guns. I also second the suggestion to go to a range and rent some guns for her to try out. Let her tell you which gun SHE likes best.
 
There is quite a bit of sound advice on this thread .
My $0.02 :
Start out with a .22 pistol and gradually work up to a .38 Special.
I think that for an occasional user, a revolver, being less complicated, is a better choice than an auto.
Zeke
 
Walther P22 is a great training gun. Fits small hands very well. Any of the .22LRs are good (Buckmark, S&W, Ruger). The Walther is iffy as far as accuracy goes. Minute of coke can at 15 yards.

My grandmother wanted a handgun about 30ish years ago (I think she was in her 40s) because on hikes with her daughters she would carry a .22LR rifle and it wasn't exactly the most easy thing to carry. She ended up getting a Ruger Security Six .357 Mag and still has and carries it to this day. However, she looked a LOT of handguns before deciding what she wanted to carry.

Best of luck and good for your mom for wanting to protect herself!
 
Thanks for all the tips guys. I think buying the .22 is a good idea, any recommendations on which to choose? I never really got into .22 pistols...
Click to expand...

Talk about an addiction...$12 gets you 500+ rounds...fun for the whole afternoon

Look at:

S&W 617 (revolver)
Ruger MK III or MK II
Browning Buckmark
Walther
CZ Kadet
Beretta
Taurus
Charter Arms

If you have a Hi-Power, 1911, or Glock, then you can get a conversion kit.

Personally, I have an Advantage Arms 22 conversion for Glock. It works well and everything is the same except the mags. Look at Advantage Arms, Ciener, and Marvel.
 
The local range charges about $100 for a CCW class including range time and they will work 1 on 1 with anyone on the firing line for ~$65 an hour. Does anyone think that is a decent price range for a beginner to start?
Click to expand...

what price do you put on your mother's potential well-being?

i did both for my wife. paid for her safety / ccw class. which is just enough to give you some bare-bones knowledge about the law.

then, to strengthen her shooting skills, i regularly take her for one-on-one instruction with a female instructor ... for ... $65 / hour.

yes, i understand money doesn't grow on trees, but money spent on quality training (that is the key) is money well spent.

p.s. AVOID THE WALTHER-P22 PISTOL.
 
Your first instinct is right on

My suggestion (just as a starting point) is that she look into the j-frames in .38 or .357. The .38+p 642 will be hard to beat as a pocket gun, but I prefer the versatility of the Model 60s. Just saw a nice little S&W LS .357 for $499 at Cabella's. That way you can choose from light wadcutters to full magnums as mom progresses, without worry about gun's function. The Baby Glocks are not as versatile or as powerful, but some really like them. Still, I don't think a wheelie in .357 can be beat for a novice shooter (or me, for that matter.

Shooter429
 
Now, this is a first. Usually it's "what gun for my wife"....but "what gun for my mom" is a new one! :D

As a woman about your mom's age, I can say that when I first bought my own handgun for self defense several years ago, I went and "tried on" every gun (in several stores) that I was interested in. I also had an opportunity to try out a bunch when a friend took me to the range and let me shoot all of his, and his dad's, handguns. If you know someone who can do that for her, that would be great. Definitely go with her to the gun store(s) and encourage her to ask questions, handle anything she thinks she'd like. You can be the BS detector if the salesperson starts spouting nonsense about "one shot stopping power" or "women's guns" or whatnot, but she'll find THE gun that fits her hand herself if you take her shopping. If you can afford both a .22 pistol and a SD gun, great; .22's are fun, and are great learning guns. But it won't take her very long to want to get right to it and get into a SD caiber, is my guess.

Direct her to www.corneredcat.com and you read it too. Very good info on there about women and shooting.

Pay for the training. I'd do somersaults (that would be a sight :what:) if I could get one on one training for so little. That is a great price for an hour of training, if the teacher is good. She might be able to use the range's .22 pistol for training instead of buying one...then work with her SD gun later. Just a thought, as an option instead of buying two guns.

Finally, I'd encourage her to go shooting with her coworker. If she has a female friend who's a shooter, that's her best bet for setting up a shooting buddy. You're fixing to move away; she needs someone to go shooting with after you've left. Maybe you could all three get together at the range for some practice.

Tell her congratulations on her decision. She'll never regret it.

Springmom
 
I like Springmom's advice on getting her into the shopping mode so she can choose the one she is comfortable with. After all she is the one that is gonna have to use it. I would also like to add the new Ruger 22/45 has a super thin grip. You wont lose anything on it as they are new and have a big following. I would start there, then if mom wants to move up when she is comfortable she is free to do so. I gotta say that $11 for a bulk pack of .22 lr at Walmart is the beginning of a fun afternoon.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Moms 1st Gun Show
Replies
14
Views
1K
P95Carry
P
Orion8472
  • Locked
My mom insists on keeping a gun she can't operate.
2 3
Replies
60
Views
3K
Orion8472
Orion8472
C
  • Locked
Took my mom to the range today
Replies
4
Views
433
creitzel
C
B
  • Locked
Mom will always be a sheep
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
MoNsTeR
M
Sergei Mosin
  • Locked
My wife is going to start carrying
Replies
19
Views
875
jeepnik
jeepnik
Back
Top