The wife's first time shooting

[XD NewB]

. . .Shooting.

Since this horrific home invasion in Cheshire, CT

http://wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?s=6830754

The wife & I have been talking about getting her a pistol permit and finding a handgun that will fit her well. To that end, we went to the range today and she tried out my XD .40 Service model. Being a double-stack, the grip was definitely too big for her hand but I think she did pretty well:



This was at 7 yards using WWB target loads. 8 out of 10 on the paper (There is one just on the left edge of the paper at the 9 o'clock position). Keep in mind that this was her first time firing a handgun.

She didn't like the .40, too much recoil for her. She also shot the 20 ga. Semi-auto 1100, she didn't like that much either. We then went to Hoffman's where they let her try out the Kahr PM9 for fit and feel. It is a single stack and fit her pretty well. A friend from work has one, and we are going to the range when our schedules mesh so that she can try it out. Have to get her in a hand gun class and get the permit process started also.

[ichy_trigger]

Thats great that you got her out shooting! I think everyone shouldfind a way to get their wives and g/f's to go shooting. I worry alot less about my wife knowing that shes packing heat.

[Tard]

Dude, congrats on getting your wife to go shooting.

Now, get her a .22 and let her learn to shoot without fear of recoil and sound, then graduate to a 9mm. Don't let her shoot the .40 again.

I've been teaching people to shoot for 20 years, a .22 is the way to go.

I've not kept up with the newer .22 semi-autos, but I have a S&W Model 422 in 6" that is the ULTIMATE learning gun (no longer made). Accurate, reliable, good trigger and lightweight. Everyone loves to shoot it and it takes the same mags as my Model 41 which is really neat.

End of Lecture.

[XD NewB]

I hear ya on the .22 I am in the process of buying a Ruger MKII with the bull barrel from a friend at work.

Thanks for the replies,

Mike

[Tard]

Great choice, you can teach her how to shoot AND enjoy the gun yourself.

Now... does she FISH, too?

[Ironchef]

My wife recently finished a "fire arms and personal safety" course at a local community college and she really took nicely to hanguns. Then when we visited my mother in Montana, we got to shoot allot up there. She and i got to shoot a 8" .357 revolver, a glock 22 (.40), and a .22 rifle. We then went to a gun shop and the gun seller sold my wife on the "idea" of perhaps getting a .22 handgun for home defense on the premise that easily landing 5-10 fast rounds center mass of high powered hollow point .22 rounds is much better than getting a random shot in with a 9mm or .40 or other larger calibers.

I'm a little skeptical of that but then we do have all the targets she brought home from the range from her class and it makes sense to have her hit an intruder center mass than in the elbow or heel. We're looking at THIS for her.

[zac07]

Originally Posted by Ironchef

I'm a little skeptical of that but then we do have all the targets she brought home from the range from her class and it makes sense to have her hit an intruder center mass than in the elbow or heel. We're looking at THIS for her.

But the other side to that is if he has a gun too, it will probably take quite a few shots or one lucky one to stop him. By that time he may of already shot back. I think a .22 would be a good learning gun but Im not so sure I would want it for defense. Its better than nothing but there are other options.

[Ironchef]

Originally Posted by zac07

But the other side to that is if he has a gun too, it will probably take quite a few shots or one lucky one to stop him. By that time he may of already shot back. I think a .22 would be a good learning gun but Im not so sure I would want it for defense. Its better than nothing but there are other options.

Agreed. We had a burglary in our new condo about 6 months ago. Just some drug junky grabbing easily traded goods (digi cam, digi camcorder, tool box, xbox, a clothes basket, etc.) but he also left a small steak knife he took from the kitchen in our bedroom which really left us feeling violated/scared. We're in quite the ghetto and an earful of a scanner in our neighborhood denotes the need for a firearm at home. And like you said, an intruder will likely have a firearm even though it looks like ours probably didn't that one time. But I've told my wife that since the intruder likely cased our condo (they came in during the 3 hour period between when my wife takes me to the train station and comes home from playing with the kids at the park picking up our kindergartener), what's to keep someone from just following her into the house from the parking lot? Since CCW isn't possible here, a larger caliber would be the next best thing for sure..a 12 gauge would be better, but she won't shoot a shotgun.

[Devil Dawg]

Great On You for getting her out there. I don't think she did bad at all. i know guys who would have missed a few more. Keep in mind. She got 8 out of 10 on the paper at 21feet. Be real careful when you had a few and come home yelling for "special favors". the odds are she can plug you from across the house. Yikes.












LOL

[Jeff XD]

Originally Posted by Ironchef

My wife recently finished a "fire arms and personal safety" course at a local community college and she really took nicely to hanguns. Then when we visited my mother in Montana, we got to shoot allot up there. She and i got to shoot a 8" .357 revolver, a glock 22 (.40), and a .22 rifle. We then went to a gun shop and the gun seller sold my wife on the "idea" of perhaps getting a .22 handgun for home defense on the premise that easily landing 5-10 fast rounds center mass of high powered hollow point .22 rounds is much better than getting a random shot in with a 9mm or .40 or other larger calibers.

I'm a little skeptical of that but then we do have all the targets she brought home from the range from her class and it makes sense to have her hit an intruder center mass than in the elbow or heel. We're looking at THIS for her.

Glad you got your wife interested in shooting. IMO a .22 might kill a person but it will not be immediate unless she becomes a very good shot or is lucky on placement. I think a .22 is a very good starter gun. When I got my .22 I had only shot a pistol one other time and it took me almost 2 years before I felt comfortable enough to try a larger caliber. Plus a .22 is a great gun to go plinking with. You can get a lot of range time in with it for not much $.

If she hits an intruder with a 9 or 40 in the extremities it will not kill him, but it will probably stop him and hurt like xxxx. I don't know what a 9 will do when it hits bone but I expect something to break or shatter.