Considering picking up a firearm for the little lady

[jwdominick]

So, the wife is considering actually trying this hobby out. She 100% green to this, and still quite nervous about the whole thing. I have a nice little Millennium Pro that I was considering starting her out with, but it has a bit of recoil and I am now thinking I should start her out with something the the .22lr category. At least until she is comfortable handling them. I've seen quite a few decent reviews on the Walther p22 and Frontiersman had one in pink camo last week when I stopped in. With her Birthday right around the corner I am considering trading in the Mil-Pro for something like the p22 for her.

Any opinions on my thoughts here? Those of you who have introduced your wives/GFs to the firearm world how has it gone?


My intent it to graduate her up to something a bit bigger down the road, maybe even get her into carrying. But I know I have to take things slow for her. Until then a little .22 will fun to shoot, and having 3 daughters, one turning 14 soon it can be used by all of them.

[JustPlainT]

I think the Walther P22 or Sig Mosquito would be excellent choices for training, recreation, or practice to eventually migrate to a carry/defensive pistol.

I personally prefer the Mosquito, but the choices are purely ergonomic for me and not necessarily an issue on the P22's part.

I got my fiancee shooting with my Mosquito, and we'll soon be migrating her to a defensive pistol as she wants to get a permit to carry.

[Ron Burgundy]

I think starting with a .22 is a great idea. They are cheap, cheap to feed and a ton of fun. If she doesn't pick up the hobby, you'll be happy to keep it. I think .22s are a lot less intimidating for first time shooters.

I have a Mark iii 22/45 which I think is one of the best, affordable .22s out there. It is way more accurate than I am. I put a cheap Primary Arms reflex on the rail which makes shooting pop cans a lot more fun and is really easy for new shooters before they figure out sight alignment.

[Erud]

I picked up a P22 around 5 years ago or so for this same purpose. At the time I had a 14 year-old daughter, 13 year-old step-son and my 5' tall wife. The size is great for small hands but I can still shoot it comfortably as well. I know there were some problems with the very early ones, but they seem to have been worked out and mine has always been reliable and capable of good accuracy. I mainly shoot CCI Standard Velocity through it(I have lots of it) but tried a couple of other brands when it was new just to check. All worked fine. My wife has since claimed it as "her gun". I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I were in the market for something like it again.

Good luck,
Erik

[SSBotanyBay]

My wife's first handgun was a Ruger SR22. She loves it.

[wrench]

You didn't say where you are located, but I'd give a call to Bill's, and see if they have any of their 'Intro to firearms for women' classes coming up.
They have got some very competent instructors, (not saying you're not, just saying), and she'll get started out on the right foot.
I think everyone should have a .22 pistol, but I'd try to find a Ruger MkIII or Browning Buckmark-both of these are quality pistols that will last for your wife, your daughters, your grandchildren...you get the idea.
Have her hold a few and see which one she likes.
Good luck!

[tman]

Trade the MilPro, but let HER pick her gun.

I was no where near my wife when she bought her first handgun. We'd been married ten years.

She brought home a Browning Buckmark. She then subsequently bought her own Bersa Thunder, XD SC, and Kimber Ultra Carry, O/U Shotty, and bolt action deer slayer.

I have NEVER picked out any of my wife's firearms for her.

[jwdominick]

Lots of good responses, Thanks! I'll try to reply to those that I can.
Tman; I considered letting her pick something out, but I was also thinking with her knowing nothing about firearms, it would be best it I picked something I know I liked and once she is comfortable, let her have a shot at picking out a model of her choosing. That way I can keep the .22 for plinking if she graduates and then the kids can use it as well.
Wrench; Bills is close to work for both of us, so likely we'll make a lunch date or two in the coming weeks to get in there and have some fun. We live in the NW metro so we have inrange as well.

SSBotanybay; The Ruger mentioned above and the Sig JustplainT are also on the short list. Thinking the M&P22 may be as well.

I work down the block from Frontiersman, planned to stop in and handle a few during lunch today. I just hope the mad rush that has been the last week or so has died down a bit so I can actually get to the counter without being shoulder to shoulder.

[bstrawse]

For what it's worth, I own 2x Walther P22's for training - they are great little pistols. Mine have been awesome.

B

[XDM45]

So, the wife is considering actually trying this hobby out. She 100% green to this, and still quite nervous about the whole thing. I have a nice little Millennium Pro that I was considering starting her out with, but it has a bit of recoil and I am now thinking I should start her out with something the the .22lr category. At least until she is comfortable handling them. I've seen quite a few decent reviews on the Walther p22 and Frontiersman had one in pink camo last week when I stopped in. With her Birthday right around the corner I am considering trading in the Mil-Pro for something like the p22 for her.

Any opinions on my thoughts here? Those of you who have introduced your wives/GFs to the firearm world how has it gone?

My intent it to graduate her up to something a bit bigger down the road, maybe even get her into carrying. But I know I have to take things slow for her. Until then a little .22 will fun to shoot, and having 3 daughters, one turning 14 soon it can be used by all of them.

Sounds like a plan. A .22LR is a good way to go, but do let her pick out her own gun, and if she wants a different caliber, cool too. One thing I would recommend is a basic pistol class and someone to teach her good technique on grip, aim, shooting, safety, etc. I love my Ruger Mark III 22/45, but in a way it's a dangerous gun for technique because it's so easy to shoot, you must be extra vigilant towards remembering to use proper grip and technique or else when you go to shoot a larger caliber weapon, it can be a bit much. I purchased my Ruger and my XDm at the same time, so I've always shot both when I go to the range, so I can only imagine what it'd be like for someone who only (or mainly) shot a .22LR and not other calibers.

My wife isn't into guns, she's tried both mine, and wants to try a revolver, thinking maybe she'd like that. My plan is to take her to Bill's, let her rent a few guns and then go from there.

[tman]

Tman; I considered letting her pick something out, but I was also thinking with her knowing nothing about firearms, it would be best it I picked something I know I liked and once she is comfortable, let her have a shot at picking out a model of her choosing...

I work down the block from Frontiersman, planned to stop in and handle a few during lunch today.

Your logic is flawed. It doesn't matter how much YOU like the gun. It doesn't matter if YOU handle several at Frontiersman. If you push her into something that SHE doesn't like, or doesn't really want, she won't shoot.

A better solution is to have her meet you at Frontiersman, and stand back while THEY help her check the guns out. You can be there to "help."

[jwdominick]

My wife isn't into guns, she's tried both mine, and wants to try a revolver, thinking maybe she'd like that. My plan is to take her to Bill's, let her rent a few guns and then go from there.

Yeah brought a neighbor to Bills last week as he wanted to try a lc9 out, he ended up getting turned off on it after using it though and bought a 24/7.
Problem is with range guns is often times they are well used and dont always perform the best in my experience

[The Lance]

I got my future wife a glock 26 because I love her and anything short of a glock wasn't good enough.

[jwdominick]

I got my future wife a glock 26 because I love her and anything short of a glock wasn't good enough.

typical glock owner response

[selurcspi]

I got my future wife a glock 26 because I love her and anything short of a glock wasn't good enough.

Smart man, when she hates it, he can claim it and buy her whatever she wants and he's added 2 guns to the collection