Question for Women Shooters

[Kaylee]

Oddly enough, I just had a date with a feller who insisted his ex get a CCW and carry piece to better take care of herself when he wasn't around. And yet, he doesn't own a handgun himself. Hunting rifles certainly. Carry gun no. Odd, that.

Anyhow... I suppose what tripped it for me was a little vehicular stalking thing in the New Mexico desert, just a couple months after finding strangers out back trying to get past my dogs into the house. The yard event was innocent, it turned out... the stalking wasn't. Both ended happily, thankfully. BUT.... were reason enough to go out and learn the gun thing.

My interest in gun (and economic) politics ensued very shortly thereafter, when trying to get a weapon in the PRK where I lived at the time. Nothing like living in a socialist utopia to make you want a gun. :banghead:

Since then, I learned the historical and gadget-based pleasures of the things... and just the pure aesthetic beauty of wood and metal and nice lines... but it pretty much started with a rude shock into reality.

I think that's a necessary event for a lot of folks to get into guns, male or female. Hopefully it's a relatively harmless shock, like mine. Unfortunately, as others have said... not always.

-K

 

[Miss Demeanors]

I can only answer for me, and remember, I used to hate guns


- What makes a woman enjoy shooting?

Hitting the target For the most part, knowing I can defend myself and know how to use my gun. Should someone break in, God forbid, that isn't going to be the first time I have shot my gun. I will be comfortable and accurate with it. It's also fun shooting all different kinds of guns and rifles and in the summer you can get a nice tan.


- Why do women shoot?


Practice and for fun as well.

- Why do women own guns?

Because no one is going to hurt my little girl or me.

- Why is it necessary for a woman to know how to shoot?

In an intense situation, such as a break in or attempted rape, you aren't going to be so relaxed about your gun as you are when not in the situation. I think its important to know your gun like the back of your hand, it will be natural to you when you need to put it to use.


- What would appeal to a woman about owning and shooting guns?


Something new to shop for! The different kinds to choose from come close to that of shoes! LOL Happiness is a belt fed mag! It's the ultimate stress reliever after tending to children all day long. Kids? What kids? All I see is this ak47


- How can I get you to clean my guns ?

Let me shoot them!

 

[stipilot]

- How can I get you to clean my guns

My wife and I have come to an agreement.

I clean her guns. She feeds me.

Not sure how she suckered me into loading her ammo though.

My wife started shooting because she realized there are times when when self defense is necessary and that however unlikely that event may occur, the task of protecting herself or her family could fall to her shoulders.

She came to enjoy recreational shooting and has since become an active USPSA competitor. She enjoys the shooting but also enjoys the fellowship of the regional shooting community.

There's also nothing like going to the range after a crummy day out work and blowing off a 150 rounds of Super.

 

[pax]

Not sure how she suckered me into loading her ammo though.

That's okay. She's still wondering how she got suckered into doing most of the laundry.

pax

This is why guys everywhere will be grateful for an excellent laundry tip sent in by Bob Rundquist of Northampton, Mass. Bob's tip can be summarized in three words: ''Buy more underpants.''
As Bob explains in his letter: ''My wife and I share housework on a random basis. For instance sometimes she does laundry, sometimes I do. I figured out that laundry gets done when one of us is out of underwear. So I bought six new pairs of underpants. Now my stack never runs out before my wife does the laundry.'' -- Dave Barry

 

[redhead]

Well, here's my story. I was never anti-, just neutral. Does anyone here remember Cary Stayner, the monster who murdered three women (Carol Sund, here daugher, and her daughter's friend, exchange student Sivina Peloso) and beheaded a naturalist in Yosemite Park, Joie Armstrong. When that happened, I remembered thinking that perhaps if Mrs. Sund had been armed, she may have been able to save her daughter and friend, and herself.

I went out and bought a .38 revolver, snub-nose, 5 shot. Then I put it in a closet. A few months later, I decided it wasn't going to do me any good there, so my husband and I went to the range. A man there took one look at me, and knew I didn't know what i was doing. He showed me the basics, handed me his ruger .22, and I fired that for awhile. Then I went and bought my own Ruger Mark II, and practiced with that. Wow! I loved to shoot! I have purchased a few other handguns in different calibers since then, and just really enjoy it. It's a challenge to continually improve.

I am a firm believe in self-defense, and think that any feminist worth her lipstick (wait - do feminists wear lipstick?) would also believe that knowing how to use a firearm in defense of herself and her family is very empowering. Unfortunately, too many feminists think that choice only applies to abortions, not to firearms ownership. It seems to contradictory - "the more helpless you are (unarmed), the safer you'll be". It seems to me that a feminist would find the notion of helplessness totally abhorent.

After a day at the range, I cook dinner on the condition that hubby cleans my guns. Sounds fair. Right?

Reloading is next on my list of challenges

 

[Diane]

I wasn't against guns, but more afraid of them. The first time I went shooting changed that. It was fun! Actually shooting and reading the forums esp TFL helped me get over my fears and insecurites. I saw that other people had the same questions that I had, and didn't feel dumb about asking those questions. Now, for personal reasons, I feel very secure knowing that I have a loaded Sig 228 in my night table and am able to use it, if neccesary.

Good Luck!
Diane

Oh, and by the way, my husband cleans my guns!

 

[Calamity Jane]

Reloading is next on my list of challenges.

Ah, yes - I've recently gotten into reloading myself - hubby and I reload all our ammo now. It's GREAT! Once you start, there ain't no goin' back.

 

[redhead]

Once you start, there ain't no goin' back.

That's what I'm afraid of. The same thing when I started shooting. When am I going to have enough guns? I keep seeing things I want, but have to remind myself I already have a decent collection, and there are other priorities right now for the money. I just hate to prioritize.

 

[stipilot]

That's okay. She's still wondering how she got suckered into doing most of the laundry.

Way not true!

I tried to do the laundry once. She won't let me near the washing machine anymore.

 

[Alan Smithiee]

stipilot, does it have anything to do with overflowing washers? (and dishwashers).

my wife got into shooting because she had a BAD day at work and needed to blow off some stress (kinda suprising since she cried when she found out I had gotten a pistol). the 15 minute safety lecture and she was doing half inch groups at 25 yards with a 60 year old .22 hi standard.

then there was the sweeping the Pin table with a 9mm she had never used before at a fun shoot and having 25 guys applaud...

THEN there was guy in the cowboy rig. that was the last straw....

now she "ownes" more firearms than I do... (the ones she doesn't like are mine). but now I don't have any problem with what to buy at any holiday... (firearm related or Edged Steel will do)

and she just said I can get a progressive Reloading press (YEHA!)

when I asked her why she liked it she muttered something about channeling her great great grandmother (back when CA was still part of Mexico)

she beats me with a pistol 99% of the time, when she beats me with a rifle I'm fileing for Divorce neener: )

 

[Travis McGee]

For the record: I am not a woman and have never played one on TV.

If you want a lady to enjoy shooting, and the range is kind of stifling, I'd suggest a fun aftrenoon in the local cinder pit, quarry, or other "free fire zone" with a .22 target pistol.

Forget boring paper bullseye targets. (Yawn.) Take loads of steel cans (much better than soft aluminum soda cans that hardly move when hit), balloons, bottles, steel "spinner" targets etc.

Make it fun! Let her make those cans dance! Pow pow pow! Pop those balloons way up the hill! Yeah baby, now we're talking! .22 is the way to get a newbie to love shooting, THEN move them up to the major caliber centerfires.

 

[JeanC]

Nanaimo Barr muttered:

"she beats me with a pistol 99% of the time, when she beats me with a rifle I'm fileing for Divorce"

Uh huh, and this being a community property state means I get half the reloading stuff, including the progressive press AND half the guns you got left

 

[beckrodgers]

For me, it is the sure joy and pleasure of shooting something. I like the control I feel when I have the weapon and I am learning also so that I can one day protect myself, and not necessarily have to rely on a man. Not that I'm bashing men!! My boyfriend is an avid shooter and I love having that love of shooting in common with him and being able to spend a day with him just shooting is sheer pleasure!! Read Paxton Quigley's book "Armed and Female" and it will tell you a lot about what you want to know and get your wife to do so also. G. Gordon Liddy has good insights into females also. Because of him I read the book.

 

[Dogsoldier]

Ya' know what folks...

All this talk of ladies and guns has given me the heebee-jeebees. All I can remember is the sage wisdom of my granpa who said:

"Never teach a woman to shoot, teach her to fish instead. You see, you can take one hell of a whipping with a fishing pole...."

 

[beckrodgers]

I just hopped over to the Family, Friends & Firearms site and at the top was a discussion about Women and Arms and a link to a website www.womentoarms.net Wonder what that's about? Better go check it out.

 

[goon]

"burnt powder and Hoppe's No.9 both smell really, really cool..."

Are you talking about Winchester ball powder? I swear, burning Winchester powder is the best smell ever.
Except maybe the Hoppe's....

 

[Col. Mustard]

You might try this site

I'm surprised nobody has referenced the Second Amendment Sisters site to answer this question.

 

[CAP]

Col. Mustard. I'll 2nd the Second Amendment Sisters website.
What a great bunch of gals women shooters are.