Introducing girls to guns

[gadsden9]

My sister married a guy from a big north-eastern city where "only bad guys carry guns". While I wouldn't say they are anti-gun, they kind of don't see the point. We have had some good conversations when we get together, and the kids have been involved in some of them.

Long story short- my 12 yo niece is very interested in guns, and interested in the concept of self-protection. Over the holidays they visited- she wanted to see the guns. I told her she had to know the 4 basic rules, giving me time to approach my sister and hubby. To my surprise they were all for it. They realize it's something they'll never do and don't want to limit her. So she got to see them, and we talked revolver vs. pistol, shotgun vs rifle etc.

Next time they visit, we will go to the range. She has been studying the 3-4 page safety check from the range. She is excited.

So here is the question: what are some responsible ways to get a young girl involved in shooting? Are their any magazines or web sites geared toward youth or women shooters? I want her to know she is not alone in her interest- it's not just a crazy uncle thing.

Thoughts? Thanks

 

[RogueLeader]

just google women and guns and you'll find a ton of websites and links to magazines and books.

 

[Prophet]

I was looking for a good holster for my mom to use with her weapon, and I stumbled across Falia Photography's youtube channel;

http://www.youtube.com/user/faliaphotography

She gets into survivalism, etc. from a female perspective as well.

edit; she also has a list of other youtube channels having to do with women and firearms on her channel page.

 

[bigfatdave]

Presented in no particular order:
http://corneredcat.com/Is_Your_Child_Ready_for_the_Range/
http://corneredcat.com/The_First_Trip_to_the_Range/
http://corneredcat.com/Having_Fun_With_New_Shooters/
http://corneredcat.com/Talking_to_Older_Kids_About_Firearms/
http://corneredcat.com/Taking_a_New_Shooter_to_the_Range/

That's what I found in a cursory search over on corneredcat's website table of contents, there's plenty more.

 

[red-demon652]

Give a girl a gun and this is what happens!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Apple a Day]

Start her off with a .22, please. Don't be "that guy"

 

[Odd Job]

I've taken numerous first-time female shooters to the range. The thing they really don't like is the noise, I hear more concerns about that than the "kick."
So, if you can, I recommend a .22 rifle with a suppressor, starting on a bench. If they start out not worrying about the bang, they can get over the mechanical side of it much faster and concentrate on the job at hand.
Taking two girls is the best, as they will certainly be competitive (that's right, ladies, you act like you aren't but I know the truth!)

 

[hso]

The NRA has programs focused on women and youth and there are a surprising array of youth shooting programs out there if you start with the 4H and ranges.

 

[abq87120]

+1 on the .22. She should learn gun safety, handling, loading/unloading, sighting, etc. without fighting the kick. My wife and I hired a shooting instructor to bring several guns to the range so she could see what works for her. He started with the .22. Once she was comfortable with that as a process, she tried a bunch of calibers, semi's and wheel. She didn't like the revolvers at all. She was a great shot with the Glock G26 by the end of two hours. We put in another two hour session with him later that week, just to be sure. She shot them all again and was still happy with the G26. The four hours cost me about $200 with ammo and was worth every cent. It saved me buying a gun for her that she might not have been comfortable with, much less carry. But the .22 was the key to getting her off the ground. It's also a good excuse for you to buy a Buckmark or a Ruger Mark III if you don't already have one, lol.

 

[Telekinesis]

I'd recommend corneredcat.com for recommendations about everything from the first time out to self defense. I think it is really good at explaining things in a way that girls will understand. I'd also second the recommendation of starting off with a .22 and you might want to double up on ear pro.

Also, try and go on a day and time where you're the only ones out on the range. That way if you want to explain something to her, or just talk in between strings of fire, you can just take off your ears and talk normally without having to yell at each other. This also lets you change targets when you want and not have to wait around for cease fires, and keeps you from having to deal with other shooters who are bringing larger weapons to the line. There's nothing wrong with a .300 Win Mag (I love them) but to a new shooter, actually feeling the concussion could be a little distracting...

 

[TonyDedo]

Look to see if there is a Juniors rifle team nearby - she should be about the right age, and it would put her in touch with kids (probably some girls) who are also interested in shooting.

Even here in evil Boston, MA, my sportsman's club has a juniors team with 4-5 high school girls on it. And I have no doubt they shoot better than I do...

 

[mortablunt]

Look up The Cornered Cat Blog. I just did a 2 hr binge of the site; it has information for everyone.

http://corneredcat.com/Having_Fun_With_New_Shooters/

 

[tekarra]

bigfatdave has posted some excellent links to cornered cat, which is an excellent site.

 

[thump_rrr]

http://www.appleseedinfo.org
Look into their markmanship clinics. They have them everywhere including the northeast.

"Appleseed Pricing Information

FREE - Active Military, Reserve, National Guard, and Peace Officers.

$70 - For two full days of instruction*

$45 - Single day*

$10 - Women - A substantial discount over the normal $70 pre-reg fee!

$5 - Youths under 21.

*For pre-registered shooters. Although we encourage pre-registration for events, walk-ons are welcome if space is available on the firing line. Walk-on price is $80/weekend, $50/single day."

 

[TX1911fan]

Double up on ear protection if there are others shooting at the range. In ear plugs and over the ear muffs. That will keep her from flinching when others shoot, especially because eye protection usually pulls the muffs off the ears just a bit. Those of us who shoot regularly don't notice, but the girls do.

 

[mortablunt]

Note about appleseed: you must provide your own food, lodging, gun and ammunition. The classes have relatively low fees and many of them are centered around 22 caliber rifles.

 

[Manco]

Start her off with a .22, please.

Right, and not just because she's a young girl--I'd recommend this for any beginner. While it's not strictly necessary, it is preferred because most beginners will struggle with learning the fundamentals when shooting something heavier. I still practice my fundamentals with .22s myself, so obviously I see no reason to recommend anything else for beginners.

Don't be "that guy"

At the other extreme, yes, I'd definitely recommend against using the S&W 500, for instance, as an introductory handgun.

I've taken numerous first-time female shooters to the range. The thing they really don't like is the noise, I hear more concerns about that than the "kick."

I make my charges double up on hearing protection, so the blast doesn't usually bother them much. The kick, however, when transitioning to a heavier caliber from .22 LR has had enough of an initial impact on a couple of them that I make sure to load only a single cartridge for their first shot. In fact, I do this even with .22s for their first shot because I have no idea how any particular beginner is going to react. For all I know, they might make a good first shot and get so excited that they'll turn around and sweep everybody with their finger on the trigger. I've seen this happen just from a beginner experiencing the recoil of a 9mm pistol for the first time.

Taking two girls is the best, as they will certainly be competitive (that's right, ladies, you act like you aren't but I know the truth!)

I've seen this, too, and one of them (she had really good natural skills and needed very little instruction) tried to compete with me and indirectly with people in other stalls from the get-go.

 

[mbt2001]

If she is interested, then what difference does it make that she is a girl? Usually the "girl and guns" posts center around girlfriends and wives that are not supportive. I don't see that there is anything wrong with teaching her, supposing the parents are cool with it, the same as anyone else would be taught.

That being said, no 12 gauge / 458 Winchester recoil pranks... If you are going to do it, do it to the best of your ability and seriously.

Good luck

 

[mac66]

Highly recommend Appleseed for ones first exposure to firearms. Proper instruction builds a safe, competent and confident shooter. I don't know of any program better to do that than Appleseed. It is also a lot of fun.

 

[Manco]

If she is interested, then what difference does it make that she is a girl?

Good question. And my answer is: nothing, really, as any differences between people ultimately come down to the individual anyway.

 

[340PD]

As an NRA pistol instructor I try to get some immediate positive feedback by starting new shooters from a seated benchrest position. It takes a ton of possible variables out of the equation and lets them focus on sight picture and trigger control. Usually both you and the student will see positive results and you can move forward from there.

http://bo.lt/jj8ou

 

[BaltimoreBoy]

One thing that may be useful is an air pistol in the basement as a prelude.

22's are great starters - S&W kit gun, Ruger Standard.

But don't sell kids short.

When she was just 12 my younger daughter was doing just fine with a MIV Series 70 1911.

My father in law was a drill instructor back in WWII and he said that he was proud of her.

 

[Serenity]

At first I had my back up about the "girl" aspect of the thread title (THE SAME THINGS YOU WOULD DO WITH A BOY)

BUT then I saw that the OP was looking for information to give to HER that demonstrates that it isn't a guys only activity:

Are there any magazines or web sites geared toward youth or women shooters? I want her to know she is not alone in her interest- it's not just a crazy uncle thing.

I haven't spent time on the women's gun forums (except for a photo essay that showed a 100# woman concealed carrying a duty sized pistol--impressive!) I have read through a lot of corneredcat.com and I also think that it is an excellent place to get a woman's perspective on gun culture. And you can tell your niece that you have online gun buddies who are women, too Kids don't bat an eyelash over being friends with people online.

 

[1858remington]

"Little girl this is gun"
"Hi Gun"
"Gun this is little girl"
"Hi little girl"
they have been introduced.... easy!

 

[Sniderman]

Red-Demon 652
Might want to get that pack of Marlboros out of the photo of the young lady at the bench,,,
Shooting is fun, but smoking is Dangerous!