Took The Wife Shooting: A Training Tale

[The Rabbi]

My wife has had a CCW for some time. Only recently was I able to get her to carry "her" gun, a SIG 230. She has shot it a few times and qualified for the permit with it (which in TN could be accomplished by a blind man with Parkinson's Disease--but I digress).
So today we decide to go out and shoot a little with the kids. I took her gun, a Smith Model 18 in .22LR, and an HK P7 (Thanks again, TechMike!).
First I pull out the Smith and load it up. Daughter (age 11 3/4) takes her turn. She blasts the center of the target pretty good even though her hands are not quite big and strong enough for the double action. Then son (age 10) takes his turn. He does OK as well. Again, hands a little small for the gun. Then my wife takes a turn and her shots are all over (and off) the 8x11 target at about 20 feet. She tries again and same thing.
Then we take out her SIG. Load it up. Her shots are pretty much all over the paper. She thinks the sights are off. I take it and put near every one through the red bullseye, again only 20 feet or so.
Then I take out the P7 and load it up. She takes it. The target center never had a chance. She's blowing and going, hitting whatever she aims for. Tells me she likes the squeeze cocker because she can see the firing pin come back and knows its ready. Sights are easy to use. Recoil is manageable. She'll take it.
Lessons learned: the .22 revolver is not the beginner's panacaea everyone thinks it is. Just because someone doesnt shoot one gun well doesnt mean their technique is bad. Guns are complicated or simple not in any absolute sense, but only relative to someone's make-up.

 

[critter]

So, now YOU need a P7 I take it?

 

[The Rabbi]

So, now YOU need a P7 I take it?

Nah. If it aint got a cylinder turning, preferably counterclockwise, I'm not too interested.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Guns are complicated or simple not in any absolute sense, but only relative to someone's make-up.

Yep. I'm sorry to say it, but I have a hunch revolvers seem more complex to more people than semi-automatic pistols.

 

[P95Carry]

I have a hunch revolvers seem more complex to more people than semi-automatic pistols

It was interesting tho how, at last NRA Basic Pistol Course I was teaching - at the very end I (and some other tutors), had several of our own guns available for trial.

Without exception, everyone who tried, for example, my M66 and who previously had zero experience or interest in revo's - uniformly expressed both pleasure in shooting it, and surprise! All also shot accurately.

Must be some ''myth'' surrounding wheel guns!

 

[mete]

Autos are , in fact ,more ergonomic. But even within autos there are many differences so pick what fits you best.

 

[wheelgunner100]

My wife has tried numerous autoloaders over the past couple of years and won't have anything to do with any of them. Her S&W 3" model 13 is the only gun she will shoot. And she shoots it pretty well. Not fast but well.

 

[The Rabbi]

I dont want this to deteriorate into another hackneyed revo vs auto debate.
My point is that people shoot different guns differently and when teaching one should be sensitive that maybe it isnt the shooter at all but the gun in that shooter's hand. The result of this, btw, is that my wife has much more self confidence and I suspect will look forward to shooting more in the future. Which is what its all about, right?

 

[BluesBear]

my wife has much more self confidence and I suspect will look forward to shooting more in the future. Which is what its all about, right?

BINGO!

And after a few more sessions with the P7 she'll also shoot better when she retries the other guns.

 

[Preacherman]

I'm sure the reason for her accuracy with the P7 was the strength of grip required to de-activate the front grip safety before firing. I've noticed this with a number of shooters whom I've trained. The P7 literally forces you to take a firm grip on the weapon, which of course helps with recoil control, etc. With other guns, you can use a looser grip, which requires re-positioning the hand after each shot - with inevitable results as far as accuracy is concerned.

 

[Sheldon]

I'm guessing the trigger pull on the revolver is heavy. I know the rimfire revolvers tend to have heavy trigger pulls due to the rimfire ammo needed a good wack to consistantly fire. If shooting double action it can be tough to handle. A nice tuned centerfire revolver is easier, in my opinion, to shoot accurately.

 

[The Rabbi]

The .22 revolver has had some kind of tuning done (not by me) and appears pretty much just like my Model 19. My daughter had no problem shooting it.

There are a number of reasons my wife did better with the P7. In addition to the grip thingy, the sights are better, the gun is heavier so felt recoil is less, even accounting for the caliber difference. It also has a lower bore axis. Also I suspect just the shape of the grip and its size fits her hand better.
Honestly, she really doesnt need a gun. She's so mean she just inserts the bullets manually!

 

[ChuckB]

Um, Rabbi- the wife doesn't read this forum, does she?

Chuck

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Rabbi,
Glad to hear the Missus found something that works well for her.

The 22lr revolver is usually recommended to a beginner for several good reasons; cheap ammo, less buttons/levers to operate, etc. However, that being said, it definitely does take some practice to shoot it accurately.

Even if a person shoots a 22lr revolver or automatic poorly, I'd still recommend it to a first time shooter. The beginner just needs to spend time learning the idiosyncricities of that particular firearm.

-Jim

 

[The Rabbi]

Even if a person shoots a 22lr revolver or automatic poorly, I'd still recommend it to a first time shooter. The beginner just needs to spend time learning the idiosyncricities of that particular firearm.

Jim, I have to disagree. There is no, none, virtue to learning to shoot the .22 revolver. They might be fun, cheap, etc (and I love mine too) but if the goal is to get the beginner to learn how to handle a gun safely and fire it accurately then there is nothing gained in insisting on using a gun that obviously does not work for that shooter. The shooter becomes frustrated and even less likely to continue the sport.