I have been noticing more females in the gun shops lately, NOT trailing behind their signifigant other looking bored, (like my wife,) but shopping either alone or in pairs. I have heard that women shooters are the fastest growing segment of gun owners but it is still surprising to me after a lifetime of the LGS being male dominated. Has anyone noticed else a difference?
More females at the LGS?
- Thread starter freyasman
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allaroundhunter
Member
Definitely. I know that after I got my girlfriend shooting, her mother and sister accompanied us on the next few range trips before her dad ever showed interest and they loved it. I think women are naturally more curious, and when someone takes the time to teach them correctly they warm up to the shooting sports very quickly!
M2 Carbine
member
The last 11 people I taught to shoot, or helped with their shooting were females.
I have a home range. I just teach new shooters now and then but if I wanted to I could stay right busy teaching females.
I have a home range. I just teach new shooters now and then but if I wanted to I could stay right busy teaching females.
Naybor
Member
Yep. A lot more gals.
Also, the wife is 67 years old and up until about two years ago had never shot a handgun. Today, she has a ccw license and owns a Ruger SS SP101 .357 and a SS Mark III .22. She says she loves them and they are NOT FOR SALE. (Go figure!)
Also, the wife is 67 years old and up until about two years ago had never shot a handgun. Today, she has a ccw license and owns a Ruger SS SP101 .357 and a SS Mark III .22. She says she loves them and they are NOT FOR SALE. (Go figure!)
oneounceload
member
52% of the US population is female
Females, especially of the soccer mom variety make up most of the Brady Bunch
EVERY one of them we convert to our side is a victory as they tend to do things in groups, so they'll draw even more friends into the the fray
Get your wife/GF shooting and have her get her friends shooting - we all win!
Females, especially of the soccer mom variety make up most of the Brady Bunch
EVERY one of them we convert to our side is a victory as they tend to do things in groups, so they'll draw even more friends into the the fray
Get your wife/GF shooting and have her get her friends shooting - we all win!
Certaindeaf
member
Spring is here!
ForumSurfer
Member
There seems to be more people in general when I go, so there naturally has to be more. Has the ratio increased? I'm not sure. But one of the other forums I visit had enough interest to warrant a ladies' only sub-forum.
mortablunt
Member
I either always buy from a monastery or I'm just plain oblivious. Probably the latter.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Not only that, women - even those new, or previously ambivalent or even antagonistic to, guns - frequently outshoot men. 
The days of the stereotype crusty old SOBs sitting around a table drinking coffee, filling the room with tobacco smoke and growling, "What can I do ya out of?" are over. Any that are left need to adapt, or get out of the business.
The days of the stereotype crusty old SOBs sitting around a table drinking coffee, filling the room with tobacco smoke and growling, "What can I do ya out of?" are over. Any that are left need to adapt, or get out of the business.
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I saw a 50 something year old lady at Cabelas opening a box of ..40 S&W and chambering it in her 38 spl revolver. The sales guy said to put it away. She said, "I have a CHL class tomorrow and I wanted to buy ammo for it. Just wanted to see if this ammo will fit in my gun."
floydster
Member
First time ever
I have been a member at my range for over ten years, and shoot at least twice a week.
Well, last Sat. I was at the range on the pistol line when three young ladies came up to shoot, they each had several handguns and ammo you would not believe
Myself and the RO are very good friends and we could not believe the great gun handling and shooting these gals did, I was very impressed to say the least.
It was a great day
I have been a member at my range for over ten years, and shoot at least twice a week.
Well, last Sat. I was at the range on the pistol line when three young ladies came up to shoot, they each had several handguns and ammo you would not believe
Myself and the RO are very good friends and we could not believe the great gun handling and shooting these gals did, I was very impressed to say the least.
It was a great day
I've certainly noticed more ladies at the gun shows. It's a great thing. Whats really still lacking is minorities. I am seeing a few more black folks at the shows than I used too but not enough and I don't think I've ever seen a person of Hispanic or Asian descent. Thats something I'd like to see the NRA and other firearms organizations give some more attention to.
3KillerBs
Member
When DH and I were first married and occasionally walked into a gun shop to browse (we didn't do much shooting then), I was inevitably the only woman.
8-10 years later when we took up pistol shooting because an indoor range had opened up in our town I never saw another woman there but the owner said there were some others.
Today there are quite a few female shooters in the club I belong to and on any given day at the gun shop there may or may not be other women there besides me and my daughter. The owner of the shop makes sure to have a clean, decent woman's bathroom, stocks gun purses and accessories sized for smaller hands, has his shop t-shirts done in pink, etc.
We ladies aren't going to be elbowing the guys away from the gun shop counter like it was a Black Friday sale in the cosmetics department but there are definitely more of us than there once were.
8-10 years later when we took up pistol shooting because an indoor range had opened up in our town I never saw another woman there but the owner said there were some others.
Today there are quite a few female shooters in the club I belong to and on any given day at the gun shop there may or may not be other women there besides me and my daughter. The owner of the shop makes sure to have a clean, decent woman's bathroom, stocks gun purses and accessories sized for smaller hands, has his shop t-shirts done in pink, etc.
We ladies aren't going to be elbowing the guys away from the gun shop counter like it was a Black Friday sale in the cosmetics department but there are definitely more of us than there once were.
writerinmo
Member
The LGS where I made my last two purchases have two ladies who WORK there, very easy on the eyes and knowledgeable as well. They were thrown a bit doing the paperwork for a two gun purchase but JW came out and gave them a couple pointers and they got it done without a hitch.
k-frame
Member
At one of our local shops I believe a woman is one of the co-owners.
Around here the usual crowd is white and male and 30-to 40-ish. But the number of women at the range is growing and there are almost always women on the line at any given time in the ranges I visit.
A few stores offer Ladies Night with free range time. Ammo must be bought from the store but the shooters can bring whatever firearms they like within the rules of the range.
There's also a fairly large Korean community in my area and so we'll see occasional groups of Asian folks. Recently I saw a fellow taking a group of Indian teens shooting. Looked liike they were having a great time!
It was actually my wife who got me started in shooting (I came to it very late in life). She expressed an interest in learning how to shoot, so off we went for some basic handgun training. She still plinks from time to time and is showing more interest in getting her concealed carry permit. And THAT might be one of the main reasons why we're seeing a spike in the number of women shooters - they are exercising their right to remain safe in their homes and in their daily lives. So posessing and knowing how to use a firearm goes hand in hand with that right.
Around here the usual crowd is white and male and 30-to 40-ish. But the number of women at the range is growing and there are almost always women on the line at any given time in the ranges I visit.
A few stores offer Ladies Night with free range time. Ammo must be bought from the store but the shooters can bring whatever firearms they like within the rules of the range.
There's also a fairly large Korean community in my area and so we'll see occasional groups of Asian folks. Recently I saw a fellow taking a group of Indian teens shooting. Looked liike they were having a great time!
It was actually my wife who got me started in shooting (I came to it very late in life). She expressed an interest in learning how to shoot, so off we went for some basic handgun training. She still plinks from time to time and is showing more interest in getting her concealed carry permit. And THAT might be one of the main reasons why we're seeing a spike in the number of women shooters - they are exercising their right to remain safe in their homes and in their daily lives. So posessing and knowing how to use a firearm goes hand in hand with that right.
Tim the student
Member
I've noticed it.
I actually saw a woman I know at Scheels today. She was buying herself (well, ordering really) a new shotgun. Browning Maxus, IIRC.
I actually saw a woman I know at Scheels today. She was buying herself (well, ordering really) a new shotgun. Browning Maxus, IIRC.
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
I've noticed too.... and yes like the op, not looking like a cat being drug though water...
Mine still hisses at the thought....... SSSSSSSSS
Mine still hisses at the thought....... SSSSSSSSS
Seanpcola
Member
I pushed and pushed my wife over learning to shoot. She finally, reluctantly, went to the range with me. Within an hour it was obvious that I had created a monster. From her the fever spread to most of the other women in our family, their friends and on and on. Now it's the better half that mentions going to the LGS.
Obviously self defense is in the forefront. However, really watching all the ladies I think the challenge appeals to them. My wife for instance has always been very competitive. She plays tennis, used to barrel race, bowls, pretty much anything like that. As she's getting older her physical prowess is of course slowing a little so target shooting (I believe) is filling in the gap.
Works for me!
From her the fever spread to most of the other women in our family, their friends and on and on. Now it's the better half that mentions going to the LGS.Obviously self defense is in the forefront. However, really watching all the ladies I think the challenge appeals to them. My wife for instance has always been very competitive. She plays tennis, used to barrel race, bowls, pretty much anything like that. As she's getting older her physical prowess is of course slowing a little so target shooting (I believe) is filling in the gap.
Works for me!
Seanpcola
Member
Wife and oldest daughter have scheduled their CCW appointments. Takes about two months to get in here in FL. Other women I know are gearing up to carry.
More and more I'm seeing more women at the range, in the shops and signed up for safety courses. This a great thing to see happening.
I think women getting into the shooting sports, and also having personal firearms for self defense is fantastic. I believe it has helped to save our gun rights, and I hope the trend continues, and helps to expand our rights down the road.
I take my wife to the range with me. She will only shoot .22's, but that's fine. It is great to see women at the range, and at gun shops. The more the better!
I take my wife to the range with me. She will only shoot .22's, but that's fine. It is great to see women at the range, and at gun shops. The more the better!
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