Fellows, my first wife was a classic "problem lady" to teach to shoot: a petite little gal, highly intimidated by muzzle blast, absolutely terrified of recoil, because she KNEW it was going to hurt her, and generally didn't like guns anyway, anyhow.
It tooka while to work it out, but I came up with something that she actually came to enjoy. Here was my logic:
1. Handguns were out. She was never going to practice with one enough to become competent. That left rifles, carbines and shotguns.
2. Rifles were out because self defense situations simply don't occur over most of the ranges a rifle is designed for, and even light rifles tend to have a lot more penetration (read 'neighbor kid's bedroom') than is necessary.
3. Carbines were out because they have less penetration and range, but still a lot more of both than needed. Too much more than the reduced recoil and noise justified.
That left shotguns. Here's how I handled it: First, I got her a medium weight 20 gauge for minimal recoil. Then I stoked it with the lightest skeet loads I could lay my hands on. At self defense distances, the birdshot will act like a solid slug on animal targets, be they on two or four legs. But the birdshot won't go through much in the way of neighborhood walls, though they could be rough on any at close distances.
But the big trick was twofold: A pair of GOOD earmuffs to reduce the noise, which would have been painful without them. And I taught her to shoot it FROM THE WAIST, not from the shoulder. The difference in percieved recoil is astonishing! You can shoot a shotgun painlessly with one hand that will kick the snot out of you from the shoulder. Two hands are even better, and that's what she uses.
That long barrel makes an aiming device plenty good enough for 'across the room' or 'down the hallway', especially on a man size target. I made a game of bouncing tin cans from 15 or 20 feet, which she could do with ease after a few practice shots. And because the gun didn't hurt her shoulder, the recoil ("jump") didn't bother her after she got used to it. And with the muffs, the noise wasn't a problem either. She actually came to enjoy practicing.
Result: A tiny lady with a BIG gun that she wasn't afraid of, knew how to use, and still not endanger everyone inside a mile or two. And at close range, that skeet load will be devestating if she ever needs to shoot it: There won't be any of this business of some doped up jerk taking half a dozen 9mm's before he drops. It'll be "BLAM" - thud! and "911 Operator? Please send the police and an ambulance to ... "
kbmoly
