So I think I created a monster...

[hunterfreakhd]

I am slowly trying to coax the wife in learning how to shoot,But shes not having any of it.Any tips on how to try to get her to at least learn so I have someone covering my ** while I'm reloading?

I can't give you any tips on coaxing her into it. I got lucky she wanted to go shooting at some point, she also told me before I bought my Sig that she got to shoot it.




Since I can't resist, if you need someone to cover you while reloading then carry more mags and make your shots count?

This site seems to have that affect on some people including myself

[wrench]

Good job, lunchbox!

[XDM45]

Awlrighty then, here's my story on monster-creation....

I've always had an interest in weapons, learning tons about military weapons at the tender age of 12, shooting blackpowder and .22LR a few times as a kid, eventually joining the regular Arm at 18, and then 0 for 25 years until one day my wife says to me "I'm scared because there's been a rash of home invasions in Shakopee during the day when people are home." It's just us there, kids are gone out of the house, crime is up, Shakopee has a gang problem, economy is in the tanker and who knows what will, could, or may happen, so yeah, it's time.

Enter my weapons of choice.

I bought a Ruger Mark III 2245 and an XDm .45ACP. The 2245 for cheaper target practice and with a 45's grip, and the XDm .45ACP 4.5" for home defense (and eventual C&C). I purchased in February, started shooting in mid-April and so far have spent $800-$1,000 on ammo (nope, I didn't shoot all of that yet) and plan on stockpiling several thousand rounds for each one for the sake of price (buying in bulk) and because ammo seems to be hard as heck to find these days. My wife thinks I have enough to start a war with, heh, if I could afford it, I'd have 100k rounds for each weapon.

Every time I go, I usually shoot 400-600 rounds from the Ruger 2245 and 100-300 rounds out of the XDm 45ACP, so it costs $100-200 a crack at the range - not cheap by any means. If I could, I'd shoot both days on a weekend, but I usually only get to go once a week due to other commitments. I'd love to shoot competitively as well, but again with the time and family thing. I love my wife, wish she could get on-board with it too. There's something very Zen about going to the range, being in the moment, focused on what you're doing, etc.

[adoptedson]

Sounds like you got a keeper lunchbox! My wife has just recently taken an extreme liking to shooting as well. She'll get jealous if I go to the range without her now. We try to go once a week together. And of course now she wants a firearm to call her own :face palm It's been great though. It's become our weekly "date night" though it usually happens early weekend mornings. We've mainly been shooting handguns(9 and 45), but she shot a 12gauge and an AR for the first time over the weekend. She was a bit apprehensive, but ended up loving both. Now her mind is really swirling as to what she wants for her first gun. My wallet is trembling in fear, but we're having tons of fun shooting together, so I suppose it's worth it.

Have fun lunchbox!

[Rodentman]

The Rodentwoman is, to be kind, "thrifty." IOW cheap. I told her that with my shot card a BPR I can take another person for nothing, so if she did not come with me whe was wating money. She went once. She fired the .22 I guess the 500 magnum scared her off.

[XDM45]

The Rodentwoman is, to be kind, "thrifty." IOW cheap. I told her that with my shot card a BPR I can take another person for nothing, so if she did not come with me whe was wating money. She went once. She fired the .22 I guess the 500 magnum scared her off.

Ya know, the 10 punch shot card for $130 at BPR is a good deal if you don't shoot that often, but for $5 more, you could get a membership ($135) for a year. I got the $135 membership which cuts my range fees in half for myself, a second gun, and for a second shooter.

The way I see it is that instead of paying $14 for range time + $4 for the extra gun I bring ($18 total a time), I end up paying $7 and $2 for $9. If I go 15 times a year, at $135, it's paid for itself because I've also saved that same amount of money as I spent. If I didn't do the membership, then 15 times would cost me $270.00. So if I take my savings, then next year's membership is essentially "free". I also print out my own targets on 8.5 x 11 for the 21' foot shooting and buy the larger targets for the longer distances. I started in Mid-April and got twice so far, but I'll definitely get my 15 before next April and then-some too.

[engnerdan]

I am slowly trying to coax the wife in learning how to shoot,But shes not having any of it.Any tips on how to try to get her to at least learn so I have someone covering my ** while I'm reloading?

[Lunchbox]

Awlrighty then, here's my story on monster-creation....

Sounds like you're a self-created monster like a lot of the rest of us.

Sounds like you got a keeper lunchbox! My wife has just recently taken an extreme liking to shooting as well. She'll get jealous if I go to the range without her now. We try to go once a week together. And of course now she wants a firearm to call her own :face palm It's been great though. It's become our weekly "date night" though it usually happens early weekend mornings. We've mainly been shooting handguns(9 and 45), but she shot a 12gauge and an AR for the first time over the weekend. She was a bit apprehensive, but ended up loving both. Now her mind is really swirling as to what she wants for her first gun. My wallet is trembling in fear, but we're having tons of fun shooting together, so I suppose it's worth it.

Have fun lunchbox!

Yeah she is, an expensive one but aren't they all.

I will have fun as long as she doesn't make a habit of shooting up all my ammo before I start rolling my own.

Rodentman - those little .22 pistols are a lot of fun. I prolly would have done the same thing (take the .22 and leave you to your .500). Not saying but I'm saying.

[SSBotanyBay]

My wife also recently just got into shooting. We talked about how we needed a common hobby that we can go and do together and shooting became the activity that fit the bill. She has her own guns (a tricked out 10/22 and a SR22), knows how to handle, clean, and care for them. She doesn't much care for the larger rounds that I typically shoot but a .22 is the place to learn form, control, and discipline. I am really pumped that this is something that we can share though it can get a bit expensive. At this point we will both take a box of rounds and a trip to the range over dinner and a movie any day of the week. I am a lucky man.

[Lunchbox]

She shot a few rounds out of a Ruger .22 pistol (never could tell the difference, so not sure which one). After that she took a liking to the 9mm. I ended up burning more rounds through the .22, them things is fun.

[GunGoogler]

New guy here -- don't bite.

I'm actually trying to create a monster right now. My long-term girlfriend has been pretty much terrified of guns her whole life and never fired one until about a month ago. I gave her a thorough overview and safety run-through of my Beretta 96 (she seemed most comfortable and interested in that one) and she was ready to fire a few rounds. I explained to her exactly what to expect from both the gun--noise, smells, sensations, etc.--as well as with the range and then took her to Bill's in Robbinsdale. She fired the gun and was, of course, terrified. She got through a single magazine and then watched me fire through several magazines and then we went and grabbed a beer to chat about it. She said it scared her, but she expected the recoil to be worse than it was, but was still just so intimidated.

I left it be for about a week and then was gearing up to head to the range on my own and she asked if she could go with. I said sure (duh!) and gave her a quick breakdown on the Glock so that she could try that if she wanted since its a little smaller--albeit snappier--then the 96, which fits her 5'2" frame a little better. She fired several magazines through each and was surprisingly good. She kept her first magazine on the Glock all on paper and with a five inch grouping at center mass. Pretty damn good for a newb on her first real shoot. We didn't track the rest too much and just plinked away to get her comfortable with the guns and reloading, the range, etc. Now she's harassing me ever few days to go, which is a great problem.

HOWEVER, I just got a stellar deal on my Rock River Arms AR-15 and she took one look at that thing and became a fearful child hippie. She's still interested in firing the pistols, but the AR-15 is really freaking her out. She said it just looks mean and she's scared. She understands it is irrational, but I just KNOW she'll love it if she can just fire it. Any suggestions from yoots on how to get her through it? Should I even try?

[Countryfried Frank]

Start small. I believe Bill's has a 10/22 you can rent. Start her with that. Then switch her to an AR with a bolt conversion to 22 or a .22 upper. Explain that it is the same cartridge as the 10/22 and recoils about the same. Then hand her the AR. Don't try to be sneaky, let her know what you are doing. Warn her that the .223 is a lot louder than the .22. Whatever you do, don't push her. When she says she's had enough, she's had enough. Good luck!

[GunGoogler]

Great idea on starting her with the 10/22. I believe I even get 10 free gun rentals with my Bill's membership. I'll explore that. As for being sneaky--not my style and certainly wouldn't curry much favor with her and I have no intention of pissing her off given how well she can already fire a pistol.

[GunGoogler]

Heck, since she learned on and loves the .40 cal pistols, the 10/22 should seem almost quaint to her. I bet that will really help her prepare to jump ahead.

[JustinPo]

New guy here -- don't bite. /SNIP
HOWEVER, I just got a stellar deal on my Rock River Arms AR-15 and she took one look at that thing and became a fearful child hippie. She's still interested in firing the pistols, but the AR-15 is really freaking her out. She said it just looks mean and she's scared. She understands it is irrational, but I just KNOW she'll love it if she can just fire it. Any suggestions from yoots on how to get her through it? Should I even try?

Bring it to the range, and shoot it yourself after you have shot some of the other guns you have that she likes. Do not ask her if she wants to shoot the AR until after she sees you shoot it and can see how little recoil etc it has. Then offer to let her shoot it, if she says no do not pressure her. Rinse and repeat and within a range trip or two she'll shoot it.


My wife has shot most of my guns and has a few of her own now, she even does the occasional steel shoot!

We should have a couples shoot at BPR or Bills sometime!