New Shooting Partner

[BruceP]

After almost 26 years my wife finally also became a shooting partner today. Yesterday she had something happen that made her decide she wanted to learn to shoot.
Today I loaded up (in the car) my Ruger MarkII, Taurus 85, Colt Python and my Contender with the 22lr barrel.
At the range I started her a 10 yds. with the mII and let her shoot a couple of clips from a rest, then put up a new target for offhand. After a few rounds and a few reminders to concentrate on the front sight she was doing pretty well. I then loaded the Python with some wadcutter target loads. Again a cylinder full from the rest and switch to offhand and again she was shooting well. After several rounds just to see what would happen I had her shoot at the 25 yd steel swinging target (I think 8") offhand. She rang it with all 6 shots. When I told her how proud I was of her she said that was easy, there was no small dot to  have to aim at. So far all shots had been single action so when we were down to the last 4 rounds I had her shoot double action at the 10 yd paper and again not bad shooting. I could not find the Taurus and thought I had left it at home until just after she had fired the last 38's then I found it in a side pocket of my range bag so no shots fired with it. We did a few more clips through the mII at the 25 yd steel and  she put several more hits on the 8" and also the 6" swingers. We then went to the bench and both shot the contender a little.

BTW: I think I may have lost my 4" Nickel Python.

Bruce

[Mikey]

Bruce:  sorry about the Python, but I don't think you could lose it to a better shootin' buddy.........

[spruce]

Well, looks like you'll be carrying more guns and ammo to the range now, and spending more time at the loading bench!  All well worth the effort though.
My wife was raised in the city and had been a "no guns in the house" type of person before she met me.  After seeing my conglomeration of guns she realized that would no longer be an option!  After a while she expressed an interest in learning how to shoot.
 
Like you, I started her out with a .22 pistol and rifle and then a .38 w/wadcutters.  Like most women who have never shot she was easy to train and quick to learn.  After a few range sessions she was watching me shoot my 1911 one day and asked if she could try it.  I explained that recoil was more than she had been shooting and to just take a firm grip and try a round or two.  She tentatively fired off the first couple of rounds then blasted thru the rest of the magazine.  Then said "Wow, that was fun! Can I shoot some more?
 
Now, when she goes into a gunshop with me I cringe a little bit when I hear those words "Oh, look how pretty this one is"!!!

[BruceP]

Mikey you are correct, and at least I can still shoot it too.
It's amazing how you can put a woman around even things that they know little about and they can still pick the most expensive.

Spruce, My wife has never been opposed to guns in the house she has just never shown much interest in shooting herself. She woud even go to the range with me at times.  It's kind of funny while I tried to show her a "proper" two hand grip I kept looking back and seeing this grip that looks more like you would hold a baseball bat. She has small hands and can almost get both hands on the python that way. I did tell her that we would have to work on her form. Even though she was using her form of two handed grip she shot well. I will work her up through some stouter 38 load and maybe low end 357's. I've been wanting a good 9mm to practice with and that might make a good gun for her so I may have to get more serious in my looking. I will for sure need some more 38 brass and some more bullets.

Bruce

[Clodhopper]

Yep, I taught my wife to shoot and lost a really nice 3" J frame smith and my M94 trapper in .45 colt as the result of it!