Shooting with wife/signifigant other

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thebluemax

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Do you? How did you get them interested,if they weren't already? My wife has fired a 1911 once that I know of,that is the extent of her shooting experience.
 
I may have a unique situation. While we were away on vacation our home was robbed and it did a number on my wife. She asked me to teach her how to shoot. The next day I took her to the gun range. I made it a point to go when there were few people there because it would have made her nervous. I handed her my Ruger 22/45 - low recoil and low noise. She actually enjoyed shooting it. Because I would not be a fan of her useing a .22 for Home Defense, I gradually worked her up to a higher caliber. My goal was to stop once we reached a caliber that she did not want to shoot. I managed to get her up to .38 Special +P - she refused to go higher and I was not going to make her. The .38 Special is a good defense load and she it comfortable enough to practice with it semi-regularly. My advice is that you start well below her tolerance and work your way up to find her comfort zone.
 
I try not to shoot with her because she always best me! Yes we fish, hunt, shoot etc together...shes my best buddy...just got her a ruger mumber 1 light sporter in .243 for our 33rd anniversary! I think she got interested in shooting because it was a challenge. So far so good and god knows she has endured a lot by the likes of me.
 
My wife used to pretend to like shooting in general...even bought a Browning O/U because the clay sports really appealed to her.

It's been 6-8 months and she hasn't touched it. It's just not her thing.

I wouldn't force it.

Besides, the less time she spends in the garage, the less she notices when I add new reloading stuff or guns.
 
You might try different firearms and different types of shooting. Like anyone new to any sport, you might have to start out slowly and find what she likes the best.
 
I forced my wife to shoot a pistol for the first time in her life when she was 26. She was adamant that she would hate it. As it happened she loved it and is a naturally good shot. Being a woman she also had to pass jugement on my pistols saying they were all crap aside from the Kimber. :rolleyes: 1911 snobs are born not made, clearly. :D
 
My GF is a LEO and routinely whips my butt at anything remotely related to physical activity.

I just go to my happy place until the gloating and snap shots of target papers and comparisons is over.
 
Let her start with a 22 rifle or pistol. Once she decides shooting is fun she'll likely want to spend range time with you. She'll let you know when she wants to try something bigger. Don't force it. My wife fired a 470NE last September, because she wanted to be able to say she did it (thanks H&H).

My wife and I do everything together, so she is always willing to try something i enjoy. Thirty years ago we competed in IHMSA big bore handgun silhouette shooting, something we both still miss after our club disbanded.

Action pistol is not her thing, but she loves shooting clays with her 28 ga.

Oh, we celebrated our 41st Anniversary last month.
 
I tried to get my wife to go shooting with me for 5 years before she gave it a try. I believed she would enjoy it if she tried it and she didnt believe me. I finally got her to go with me a few months ago and she loved it.
I started her out with a .22 rifle and a .22 pistol and before too long she wanted to try the 1911 and P3AT. We mainly stuck to plinking with the .22s and focusing on basics.
Every time I've gone to the range since then she has gone with me, and a couple weeks ago we picked up a Smith 637 for her.

My advice is to be persistent about going shooting but not forceful, and try to make it a fun and enjoyable experience if you get them to go.
 
Do either of you have a lady friend that enjoys shooting?

Get both of them on the range together. Let the female point of view do the sales job...
 
It's been a very slow progression with my wife of 18 years. She was initially adamantly opposed to guns, but scary circumstances about a decade into our marriage persuaded her to reconsider. So, I bought a pistol,then a year or so later, a rifle and then a shotgun. She tolerated their presence in our house, but did not want anything to do with them. However, as I would shoot, sometimes taking our son (daughters went once) and then cleaning them (the guns, not the kids), she became a little more comfortable and I continued to add to my modest collection.

Finally, she accompained me to the range & shoot my 10/22 and P22. She liked the 10/22, (who doesn't?) the P22 not so much. That was last year and she's not gone with me since.

However, just a couple of weeks ago, she actually asked to join me the next time I went (watching "Pride and Prejudice" with her paid off). Unfortunately, our work schedules have not been in sync and she has not gone with me just yet, but will soon...
 
I let my girlfriend shoot a 22 at the range,she liked it,then she shot my G19.Now I will ask her if she would like a nice dinner out or to go to the range.Usually we go to the range.She has since bought some glocks of her own.
 
I had the rule that she know how to safely operate any of the firearms in the house. She signed up for a course taught at the rnge for women She ended surprising herself and actually enjoyed shooting and now had her own XD.
 
My wife shoots, but she won`t kill. Sometimes that worries me when the time comes & she really has to......
 
My wife loves to go shooting with me. She shoots every firearm I own. She is kind of pissed right now that she can't go shooting with me. She had carpel tunnel surgery a month ago and it causes her some pain to shoot.
It does make it difficult to hide how much I really spend on this sport. But at least I can say that we do stuff together that does not require shopping for throw pillows.

Eric
 
Don't introduce a new shooter to noise / recoil too early. A 22 LR is perfect to develop skills on. If the bug bites you'll know - introduce a moderate power rifle (30-30 recoil class) or 9mm / 38 spl handgun - if they like the extra punch you've succeeded.
 
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