Made a convert today

[awp101]

The Boy has had a steady girlfriend for a while now. In fact, it's looking more and more like I can refer to her as the FDiL (Future Daughter in Law). She knows I shoot and The Boy has tried to get her to shoot with him a couple of times but all he has is a 9mm and it "scares" her.

She came out with us today and I started her off with a Single Six loaded with .22 Shorts (after the obligatory safety class and a short history of the single action and .22 of course ). I fired it once to show the lack of report and recoil and had her fire off the remaining 5. Then I loaded it with .22LR, fired one to show the difference between the Short and LR and had her fire off the remaining 5. She was pretty excited over actually shooting a real firearm.

Next I loaded it up, made it safe and set it on the bench. I pointed out to her that as it was, it was not going to jump up and attack anyone. Nor was it going to cause her or anyone around us to run amok. It was simply an inanimate object with no decision making capabilities. All decisions would be made by the person holding it. From that point on she seemed to "get it".

She wound up trying the Single Six, High Standard M100 and 1911 with the .22 conversion. The Single Six was clearly her favorite with the HS second. The 1911 was being picky so she didn't enjoy it as much. The last thing she shot was the CZ452 which she enjoyed as well.

For a first timer, she did pretty good. Shooting offhand she hit the paper more often than not (started at 5yds and she moved it out to around 15-20yds) and she kept the 25yd plate ringing fairly regularly. I wasn't worried about groups but she did a respectable job and I sure wouldn't stand in front of her!

It was a good couple of hours in the oven, I mean at the range, and I'm hoping it sticks with her.

[NewbieAKguy]

Well done! And if your hunch she'll be your FDL, that'll be much easier when/if the youngins come along .

[ltorlo64]

Well done. My daughter would love for me to get a revolver for her to shoot. Those Rugers look pretty good and are reliable.

[old Grump]

Slow and easy is the way to go. Builds their confidence and gains a little more respect for the 22. Had my nephew out shooting my 10/22 at 100 yards today and in spite of the wind he did a real respectable job. I have been having him shoot my Savage single shot bolt action 22 with iron sights at 50' off hand and not letting him use a scope or a rest and it paid off. The more new comers we can get in the fold the better for all of us.

Now you need to get your boy to looking seriously at some 22's.

[arcangel]

Good job on helping her get comfortable with shooting. Most noobs dont understand where or how to get started and it shows when they pick up a gun. Having someone explain and show whats right is really a good feeling for both. My GF's sister never shot a gun before so we took her shooting, she shot my G19 and after a few rounds she was very comfortable, she didnt like the .45 though.