My wife's first trip to the range

[bluto77]

My wife is not a gun person. She has only shot 2 guns 1 time each, and both were with me. One was a 20 gauge and the other was a .22 pistol. I was pressing her to try shooting the pistol, and at the time she absolutely hated guns. I tried to convince her it could be fun, but she just didn't like them. Finally convinced her, and she steps up and puts the one and only shot she took right dead in the center of the bullseye at 7 yards. She puts the gun down and says, "I don't see the point." That was at least 6 years ago. Fast forward to now. She doesn't mind guns, and actually likes that I have them around the house for protection now that we have kids. My birthday was earlier this week, and she knows how much I've been trying to get her to go shooting with me (I'm trying to get her to take a few lessons on using a handgun and get her CHL). So she told me she would go shooting with me. I've been going to the rifle range mostly, and she agreed to do that. I'm wondering if she is simply a natural shooter or just has the best damned beginner's luck ever. She has never fired a rifle before today. Here are the results from her shooting my LaRue OBR 5.56. After watching her beat up the middle of every square she was shooting at on the shoot n see targets, I got her to do one of elfster's 100 yard challenges.

As we drove out of the gate leaving the gun club she says, "Ok....I have a confession....I actually had a lot of fun. I didn't think I would have fun at all. I like being able to be good at it." She may be hooked!

LaRue OBR 5.56 18" barrel
IOR Valdada 3.5-18x50mm
FGMM 69gr SMK BTHP
Bench, Atlas bipod, rear bag
Wind 4 - 7
AVERAGE: 1.13
BEST: .646

This is the same rifle from my other thread. I've changed the color of the furniture, changed to the Magpul PRS stock, got the scope issues sorted out, and changed the trigger to the Giessele SSA-E. It was shot in this configuration for the first time today. She was doing so well, I didn't even get a chance to shoot one of the 6 group targets.

 

[Falsecrack]

That's awesome, man! And you're right in that she either has natural skills, or else the best damn beginner's luck ever. I hope she understands just how impressive her outing was.

 

[fd-defense]

It will behoove you to know that's actually a .423" group, not .646".
I would assume her average may be under 1", applying the same math..

 

[Bradu]

Very nice! I just recently got my wife into shooting and she seems to be enjoying it. It's good to get them into the hobby we enjoy but mine still won't let me buy another gun even though I tell her it's for her lol

 

[Temp9]

It will behoove you to know that's actually a .423" group, not .646".
I would assume her average may be under 1", applying the same math.

I'm assuming he zeroed the the calipers at .224" prior to measuring, so the .646" would be correct.

Regardless, fantastic shooting for anyone. Phenomenal for a beginner.

 

[fd-defense]

I'm assuming he zeroed the the calipers at .224" prior to measuring, so the .646" would be correct.

Regardless, fantastic shooting for anyone. Phenomenal for a beginner.

Yep, looks to be the case.

 

[Raptorx]

The real question is, did she like it enough to want to go back? Mine will go if I drag her down there but as to her wanting to go without being prodded, that's a whole different story.

 

[Delta4-3]

It will behoove you to know that's actually a .423" group, not .646".
I would assume her average may be under 1", applying the same math.

Maybe next time you should just post something along the lines of "Good on you for getting a woman into a great sport, and great shooting!" F&D has done enough to come off as assholes on this site without additional assholery.

 

[leadbullet]

your ammo budget just doubled, congrats.

 

[Absolution]

your ammo budget just doubled, congrats.

And, or a new rifle to the safe.

 

[eli polite]

That's great. My wife has been shooting with me for years while it is a blast and imbarising at times. She is a good shot. It puts a hurting on the ammo supply she starts pulling the trigger on her AR and its hard to get her to stop. So expect the cost of your range trips to double

 

[Name Enough]

That's great. My wife has been shooting with me for years while it is a blast and imbarising at times. She is a good shot. It puts a hurting on the ammo supply she starts pulling the trigger on her AR and its hard to get her to stop. So expect the cost of your range trips to double

My wife is also a great pistol shot and can hold her own with a shotgun. I hate it when she outshoots me at the range but it is also comforting to know she knows her way around guns and can hold her own. Her personal favorite is a Ruger GP100 with 38 specials for practice.

 

[elfster1234]

Dude! That is awesome! Looks like you got her hooked on black rifles now rather than black shoes. Awesome shooting too!

 

[800mZero]

Almost pisses you pff doesnt it! Took my never shot before g/f to the range with me. Within a few lessons she was evaporating cherry tomatos with my 222@100 Like Iit was no big deal.

Needless to say I made her my wife! She still asks to go to the range, and loves her wilson barreled AR.

 

[fd-defense]

Maybe next time you should just post something along the lines of "Good on you for getting a woman into a great sport, and great shooting!" F&D has done enough to come off as assholes on this site without additional assholery.

Purpose of learning firearms isn't for "sport".
And how you interpret the above as an insult or somehow derogatory is astounding.

 

[elfster1234]

Looks like you got a keeper with both the rifle and the wife. Its really nice to have someone in your life that likes to partake in activities that interest you. It goes both ways. Good for you my friend!

 

[bluto77]

And how you interpret the above as an insult or somehow derogatory is astounding.

What's important is I knew you didn't mean it as an insult. You were just trying to tell me that the groups were smaller than I thought they were, which would be a good thing because I could go back to my wife and tell her she had done even better than we thought (ergo, it would "behoove me"). No worries brother. No offense taken. I know what you were saying. However, I respectfully ask that you take any further discussion of that to PM, or at least out of my thread though.

Purpose of learning firearms isn't for "sport".

My knee jerk reaction is to disagree with this. The main reason my wife would be learning firearms is for sport. The main reason I know firearms and the main reason I'm so avid with them now is purely for sport. However, they can be used for protection, and a person would have to know how to use them before protecting themselves or their family with one. So I guess you could say that you don't learn them for sport, but I don't know how accurate that statement would be.

 

[bluto77]

Looks like you got a keeper with both the rifle and the wife. Its really nice to have someone in your life that likes to partake in activities that interest you. It goes both ways. Good for you my friend!

She's already told me that she wouldn't mind going to the gun club again and would go as often as once a month if I wanted her too.

 

[sentry1]

Hah, that's awesome! Every man should be so lucky as to have a lady who can back them up when the Zombie Apocalypse comes around.

I've recently had the good fortune of meeting a proper Southern gal whose daddy took the time to teach her about guns. The first time she saw my loading room, she fondly ogled my ARs and shotgun. We're having our first range day this week!

 

[problemchild]

Nothing better than a gal that goes shooting with you. I had to buy my wife a rifle so she wouldn't get bored. She shoots OK. She isnt as fast as I am but she does OK for a newbie. To be honest if a gal doesnt shoot I wouldnt marry them for all you single guys still out there.

 

[eli polite]

Ladies have better fine muscle controll than men giving them a distinct advantage in the shooting sports.

 

[Graham]

Ladies have better fine muscle controll than men giving them a distinct advantage in the shooting sports.

Hmmm...Are you saying that if we measure their skulls we could even develop a theory about whether they are genetically superior to men?

 

[Absolution]

I wouldn't take it that far. However woman do tend to take their time and also LISTEN! Which though training they tend to do and be better. Vs. men who has the biggest you know what.

 

[bluto77]

My wife isn't all that athletic, she doesn't have the greatest hand to eye coordination, and as previously stated, she isn't the biggest gun fan in the world. However, she is a CPA, and she likes to get complex things "right" and likes for everything to work out perfectly (think, the financials perfectly balanced at the end of the month). I could see her eyes lighting up as she saw that she was "doing it right" and it was working out for her. Prior to shooting this target she shot at the 25 and 50 yard line. Probably 15 shots at the 25 and 20 shots at the 50 yard line. Not really shooting groups but just picking spots on the target and shooting at it a few times. She shot one 4 shot group at 50 yards that was probably .25. I was pretty impressed. I could see her eyes light up when she saw that she had put all the holes in the right place. I think this kind of shooting really fits her personality pretty well. And she must have some kind of natural ability to boot. I don't know. Can't explain it. It's not like she shot just one isolated 3 shot group that was sub MOA. This was a whole target full of legitimate 5 shot groups! I'm happy for her and all, but it is a tad bit frustrating to know how much time and practice I've put in to be able to consistently shoot in the .9 MOA'ish range.

And then there's the obvious thing that none of the snipershiders have pointed out, and that is the rifle. I mean....it is a LaRue after all....and even my wife can shoot sub MOA groups with it, and it was her first time to shoot a gas gun!

 

[ksthomas]

Women ARE naturally better shooters than men, for a variety of reasons. Their scores in competition show this, time and time again. Men and women used to compete against one another in the Olympics and other International matches until somewhere around 1972-1973. We had a US shooter by the name of Margaret Murdoch, and many of the International male competitors complained that she was "taking all the trophies." That's the genesis for the gender separation in this game.

Shooters like Nancy Tompkins, Michelle Gallagher, Sgt. Sherri Gallagher or MSG Julia Watson will remind you of this, should you ever wind up competing against them

 

[Pester]

B77, that is awesome and congratulations on getting her more accepting of firearms. The more women shooting the better for all of us.

I know my wife seems to be a more natural shot than myself and she has horrible vision. I wonder what makes it easier for them.....

 

[ArmaHeavy]

Bluto,

Congrats to you and your wife. Now might be the time to teach her about reloading if she doesn't already.

 

[lte82]

Now I'm going to wait for your "Why my wife now needs her own gun safe" thread, or the "My wife shot all of my FGMM at the range without me" thread... =)

 

[elfster1234]

LOL. She does have some natural talent. Those are some damn good shots for someone new behind the rifle. Larue or not.

Now I'm going to wait for your "Why my wife now needs her own gun safe" thread, or the "My wife shot all of my FGMM at the range without me" thread... =)

 

[rpdg14]

That is wonderful and awesome. Don't forget the next time she wants you to shopping you can't complain, lol

 

[Graham]

Shooters like Nancy Tompkins, Michelle Gallagher, Sgt. Sherri Gallagher or MSG Julia Watson will remind you of this, should you ever wind up competing against them

Don't forget Vikki Gaddie.

 

[yetigoode2]

Great to get family involved. Nice shooting.

 

[Monmouth]

That's great she did so well and you both enjoyed the outing together. For you, not so great, because you now know a possible consequence should you really really anger her

 

[mikenewgun87]

ill be your wife if you let me shoot your Larue!!!!

 

[bluto77]

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice rifle and all, but probably not THAT nice!

Glad to see someone pulled this thread up. I've done one round of handload testing, and I recently obtained a Giessele Hi-Speed Nat Match to replace the SSAE I had previously installed. I've been a little side-tracked with life for a few months, and I can't wait to get back out there with that trigger and find a solid load. Maybe then I'll be able to compete with some of these guys and their out of the box Rock River's (ELFSTER!)