Dragging my wife out to the range tomorrow to pop her gun cherry - she's never shot a firearm ever. Which should she shoot first out of the list? I'll get her to take a few shots with all of em but which one shall be the first?
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Which gun to shoot for complete gun n00b?
- Thread starter G4Y4HK
- Start date
In time, she'll be a good shot I know it. Wish I had a gold pimp piece like this.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU4eKFKBGCI
paulleve
NES Member
None of the choices provided. Most are loud or have some recoil*, which aren't the way to intro people to our world. When I've brought newbies to the range in the last five years I always start .22 LR. The one everyone loves is the S&W MP 15-22. It's low recoil, low noise, and easy to operate. They can hit targets easily and experience the fun factor of the range. They leave wanting to come again, which is when they can try some of the options on your list.
* The FV-SR has no recoil and isn't loud, but is has a higher power scope which is not good for learning ranges, such as a max of 50 yards!
* The FV-SR has no recoil and isn't loud, but is has a higher power scope which is not good for learning ranges, such as a max of 50 yards!
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Start with the .22 but have the AR there as well.
Handguns are difficult to shoot accurately for most people so it’s an option but rifles will give more positive feedback. Also, bring giant ass targets. I have full size FBI silhouettes so even if my wife sucks with a handgun, inside 7 yards she can shoot em in the ear and the nuts and it’s still fun. 6” bullseyes aren’t your friend here, yet. Reactive targets (clay pigeons, fruit, something that gives a response) are also great.
Foamies inside over-ear hearing protection will keep the concussion from the 5.56 minimal.
I thought my wife would be recoil averse but she’s quite the opposite. .22LR isn’t fun for her. AR’s and .44mag out of a lever gun are her jam. Have options for your wife and feel her out. Shotguns are good for a few rounds but Obviously start small but I find many women want more of a thrill and perhaps some bragging rights.
Handguns are difficult to shoot accurately for most people so it’s an option but rifles will give more positive feedback. Also, bring giant ass targets. I have full size FBI silhouettes so even if my wife sucks with a handgun, inside 7 yards she can shoot em in the ear and the nuts and it’s still fun. 6” bullseyes aren’t your friend here, yet. Reactive targets (clay pigeons, fruit, something that gives a response) are also great.
Foamies inside over-ear hearing protection will keep the concussion from the 5.56 minimal.
I thought my wife would be recoil averse but she’s quite the opposite. .22LR isn’t fun for her. AR’s and .44mag out of a lever gun are her jam. Have options for your wife and feel her out. Shotguns are good for a few rounds but Obviously start small but I find many women want more of a thrill and perhaps some bragging rights.
paulleve
NES Member
Scopes have eye boxes and potential focus issues, so newbies have more easy fun with red/green dots. Remember, you want her to have fun so she'll be happy about future purchases!
If she is not picking the gun then you've already f***ed up. Even when I brought new women out to shoot I would have a conversation with them and give them a selection of a whole bunch of different things they wanted to try while telling them how everything works and answering all their questions. If she's not invested in this in some way it's not going to be a great experience.
Get her some instruction preferably with somebody that's outside of your household unless you're actually qualified to do this. But if you were you wouldn't have asked this question, so there's that.
Get her some instruction preferably with somebody that's outside of your household unless you're actually qualified to do this. But if you were you wouldn't have asked this question, so there's that.
45collector
NES Member
Definitely the .22 to start. I have a bunch of .22 short, long and LR for starting newbies off with a single shot iron sight .22 rifle that's older than dirt. Still a tack driver too.
Every good shooter learns on a .22LR bolt action.
chris_1001
NES Member
That’s how I learned.
45collector
NES Member
Oh hell yeah bring some soda cans out there too. Paper gets boring.
fencer
NES Member
The United States Marine Corps would beg to differ
LTCRN
NES Member
10/22, MK I - IV, or 22/45 to start. All have low recoil and are accurate enough to reduce fear and instill confidence in any and all new shooters. This will help in getting them to want to move up the caliber and shorter barrel chart. I usually let any new shooter advance if THEY want to during the second range trip. Before leaving the house, I also try to find the pistol(s) that best fits THEIR hand. Also, the shooting / NRA safety rules and range safety rules are constantly reinforced until I feel, and they demonstrate, full understanding of them.
VTski4x4
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There is a bunch of good advice in this thread, but I'll add another point. Don't do the above.
Bringing new shooters and having them shoot a bunch of different guns is pretty common, but it is often a bad idea. If you have someone who has never shot, but is interested in guns from movies or video games, then it can be a good experience to let them try stuff. But for someone who is less interested, and more apprehensive, trying lots of stuff just makes things more complicated and intimidating without adding value.
Plan to start with a rimfire rifle, and then if that goes well move either to a centerfire rifle or a rimfire pistol. Often, one or two guns is enough for the first trip. At most, you might do rimfire and centerfire for both rifle and pistol, but for many beginners, those four guns is too much for the first day.
Keep in mind, besides having the experience of shooting a firearm, the most important part of the first day is learning and practicing firearms safety.
And get a decent quality full sized rimfire handgun. You need one if you are going to work with new shooters. Some new shooters have a good experience starting with a 9mm, and some don't. But everyone does fine starting with a rimfire handgun and then moving up when they are ready. Some people are ready for centerfire after two magazines of rimfire, and some people aren't ready until their third or fourth range day. If you don't have a rimfire handgun, you are not properly prepared for this endeavor.
Varmint
NES Member
Since the goal is obviously to have her never return, I vote Mossberg.
Do you have a Browning Hi-Power? Have her try racking the slide a few times to warm up.
MisterHappy
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Not about what gun, but whatever you are going to use, go over the features and handling AWAY from the line, like in the clubhouse, or at home. The added distraction of the mag dump on the next lane, and the .458 Win Mag on the one next to that, will not enhance the important info's transmission.
Good shooting
Good shooting
Well stated. Even as an experienced shooter I bring one or maybe two guns to the range to focus on the little details. Overcomplicating things is unwise.
OP your poll isn't a noob gun user list. As has been said, start out with 22lr, the Ruger Mk IV and 10/22 are great for this. I like the idea of a low power scope on the 10/22. I did go with a 22/45 with suppressor for one of my girls, she doesn't like loud so I thought it would help, in the end didn't matter.
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