If I'm ever going to learn to hunt, I'd better learn to shoot. I've been wanting to learn for many years, but with my lack of gun safety education and training, I've held it off. I've had a few chances to just fire a gun in someone's backyard, but it didn't feel right.

I figured the proper way to go about it at my age is this:
1. Education - learn safety, proper gun care, and the state laws. Know any good books to start with?
2. Training - practice shooting with an instructor, if possible. It is customary for gun classes to supply a novice with a weapon for practice and education, or do I have to bring my own?
3. Purchasing (if I get that far) - figuring out which model would be best for someone of my build (female, 5'5", 115 lbs., is that even a factor?), and what I'd be using it for. What would be an "entry-level" model?

What do you think? Am I going about it in the wrong order?

I'm not a gun owner, but I've dabbled in quite a few hobbies and know learning curves very well. I'd suggest taking a little bit of hands-on training first, and that will help you with the education part. It helps put everything into context. Then when you've finished your book learning, go back to the training, trying different guns that you've read about. Then when you've decided which gun you like best, buy it.

I would contact your local chapter of BOW (Becoming an Outdoors Woman):

http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/

These programs are taught for women by women, so there is none of the stress that a male instructor might engender (sorry about the pun.)

Shooting, hunting (rifle and bow), and fishing are just some of the courses that are taught. I imagine it would be an excellent place to make new friends as well. You will have a ball. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Regards, Vince

Oh yeah, I check the BOW site often for activities in my area. It's too bad that lately they are all 200+ miles away! As soon as they have some in my area again, I'm definitely going.

In that case the first thing I would do is sign up with your State Division of Wildlife Resources (or the equivalent) for some hunter safety classes. These deal mainly with gun safety, hunting regulations, and ethics, which is not a bad place to start. Eons ago when I took it they even delved into wilderness survival a bit. Depending on your state law it may be mandatory for hunting anyway, but even if it isn't that's where I would begin. I had to supply my own weapon (I used a Savage rifle/shotgun combo) but I'm sure they will let you know what you will need.

You may also try contacting the NRA for some of their gun safety courses.

Regards, Vince

Although you've already received some good advice here, I'd venture to guess that the vast majority of us who shoot were taught be a friend or family member who's been shooting for awhile. I started when I was 5 shooting cans in a river with my dad.

You should be able to find a "10 Commandments of Gun Safety" or something similar online without any trouble. Take those principals to heart, then grab a shooter and ask them to take you plinking. Go out and shoot some cans. That's about the best way to learn the mechanics of a gun, figure out which stances work best, how to align your sight picture, etc.

If you're thinking of purchasing a gun, you'll want a .22 rifle. Cheap ammo, no recoil, quiet (relatively) report. You can get a single shot, bolt action, lever action or semi-auto. Though the single shot, bolt and lever action rifles will be more accurate and force you to take your time, a semi-auto offers the added capability of a marginal home defense weapon. I'd recommend the Ruger 10/22. It's an affordable, reliable standard first rifle and can be endlessly customized if you should ever need or want to.

Christina,

I tell you this with an awful lot of years experience under my belt as a police firearms instructor - DON'T go shooting with a friend that "knows how to shoot." Bad mistake. Find yourself someone with training and experience as a firearms instructor to learn from. Practice makes perfect is the biggest misnomer out there - only perfect practice makes perfect.

By finding yourself a "professional" instructor up front, you'll learn to properly apply the fundamentals of marksmanship - without picking up bad habits that a "professional" will have to correct later...

My absolute best wishes to you...

M

Christina,

Luckily you live in the great state of Virginia, where your hunting/shooting rights are protected by the State constitution.

I'm not sure what part of the state you are from, but the following course sounds like it's exactly what you're looking for:

Womans Instructional Shooting Clinic. Includes rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloader and the Refuse to be a victim class. To be held on April 30th in Centreville, VA (which I think is near Arlington/Fairfax). Call Katie Biggs @ 703-719-6165 for info. This class is sponsered by the NRA and is for women only.

I hope this helps.
Take care, George

Virginian,

There is no emoticon to discribe how I'm feeling, thanks to your post!!!

That class is PERFECT and EXACTLY what I'm looking for, AND close to where I live, but... that's my wedding day!

I might still be able to shoot on April 30th, though, especially if the groom decides not to show up! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The wedding list
Kate Bush

No, I'll never give the hunt up,
And I won't muck it up.
Somehow this is it, I knew.
Maybe fate wants you dead, too
We've come together in the very same room,
And I'm coming for you!

Do you think I'd ever let you
Get away with it, huh?
He swooned in warm maroon.
There's gas in your barrel, and I'm flooded with Doom.
You've made a wake of our honeymoon,
And I'm coming for you!'

'All of the headLines said 'Passion Crime'
'Newly weds Groom Shot Dead
'Mystery Man.' God help the bride
She's a widow, all in red,
With his red still wet. She said--'

I'll put him on the wedding list!
I'll put him on the wedding list!
I'll get him and I will not miss.

Now, as I'm coming for you,
All I see is Rudi.
I die with him, again and again.
And I'll feel good in my revenge.
I'm gonna fill your head with lead
And I'm coming for you!

And when it's all over you'll roll over
The butt of my gun:
One in your belly, and one for Rudi.
You got what you gave by the heel of my bootie.
Bang-bang--Out! like an old cherootie,
I'm coming for you!

'All of the headLines said 'Passion Crime:
'Newly weds Groom Shot Dead
'Mystery Man.' God help the bride!
She's a widow, all in red,
With his red still wet. She said--'

She sure got him on the wedding list
I'll got him on the wedding list!
I'll got him and I will not miss.
I'll put him on the wedding list!

'And after she shot the guy,
She committed suicide.
I'm coming, Rudi!
'And later, when they analysed,
They found a little one inside.
'It must have been Rudi's child.'
I shot, I shot, I shot him honey!
'Never mind, she got the guy.'
He hit the ground, Rudi!
'An eye for an eye.'
Ashes to ashes...
'Eye for an eye.'
I hit him, hit him
Rudi!, Rudi!
I'm coming coming coming honey
'Eye for an eye.'
Rudi!

The NRA does many safety classes. I went through two as a kid, one in school (yes school) and another through a "Grange" which is some sort of group that is part of the Methodist Church both before I was 18.
Then buy a .22, they are cheap and ammo is cheap. I used to sit empty pop/sode cans on a board and shoot them until I ran out of bullets, then would wait for dad to buy me another box of bullets and shoot some more. Then once you have put some time behind that .22 you begin to get a feel for what you do and don't like about it and can use that to make a good choice when you look for your bigger gun(s)

Check out

http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/basictraining.asp
Check out the first steps courrses

Marcy

Christina,

Glad to help out. There is another womens instructional clinic on April 24th in Marriottsville, MD, but it is pistol only. The contact info is Roxanne Byczkowski @ 410-875-0664. Even if you can't make it to either of these courses, I would call the contact people because they probably run the courses every month or two.

Good luck with your quest.

Take care, George

Christina:

I do find it mildly curious that you post questions about how to shoot just prior to your wedding day. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So do I, Bountyhunter! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Then again, if you knew my relatives on the guest list, you'd understand why! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the laugh, though!

Christina:

Well listen; if something should "accidently" happen to your husband after you are married, and if he should have a large life insurance policy in your name, PM me, as being of Italian birthright, I can be very consoling. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I couldn't agree with you more. I have many years experience shooting non-professionally much of which is even competative shooting and I still dread the thought of teaching anyone else. As a matter of fact the ONLY person I have ever agreed to teach is my wife and that was only because she would not heed my advice regarding professional instruction. This is the best advice I have seen. Nothing is going to be nearly as effective and safe as professional instruction, particularly when given by someone with a background as a police or military instructor.

The NRA course covers safety well, but probably won't spend as much time as you like on hands on practice, however, it is a good place to start. Most NRA instructors should be able to provide guns to learn with.

After you have ingrained the 4 laws of firearm safety, get yourself a .22. You can buy brand new Ruger 10/22 rifles for >$200 or MkII pistols for >$350, buy lots of .22 ammo and shoot, shoot, shoot.

or as John Ross says (http://www.john-ross.net/newbies.htm)

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE STILL READING

If you have little or no shooting experience but have decided gun skills are a requirement for your disaster/contingency prep, or for your general peace of mind in life, do the following:

If you haven&#8217;t already, read my book Unintended Consequences. If this offends you as a money-making gambit on my part, get it from your library, on interlibrary loan if need be. This book gives some insight into the required mindset, as well as providing a lot of gun info in the guise of an entertaining thriller.

Go to a real gunshop.

Buy a Ruger 10/22 rifle with twenty spare magazines (they&#8217;ll have to order them) and a Smith & Wesson .22 revolver. There are several models of S&W .22s; go to a gun shop and handle them all. Get the one that feels best in your hand. If you have large or small hands, ask the salesman about aftermarket grips (I like the wooden Hogue Monogrip) and try them out.

Buy one full case (Five THOUSAND rounds) of .22 long rifle ammo. Make sure you get ammo with 40 grain PLATED bullets--some of the cheapest promo ammo is unplated and will lead-foul your barrel.

Get hearing and eye protection, and some good gun lube, like Break-Free CLP.

All the above stuff should cost you about $1000.

Find an outdoor spot with a hillside where you can safely and legally shoot.

Find someone who is known as a competent and safe shooter to help you get started and keep you from learning bad habits, like putting your finger in the triggerguard when you pick up the gun. Call the local NRA office for a list of certified instructors.

Get an array of ecologically-sound targets that will move or break when hit. I like Ritz crackers because they&#8217;re cheap, biodegradable, and break when hit. Acorns and pinecones are good, too. So are scrap chunks of pine 2x2s and 2x4s.

On a weeknight, while watching television, load all 20 of the Ruger rifle magazines. They hold ten rounds each. On Saturday or Sunday, shoot one carton (500 rounds) through the rifle and another carton through the pistol, always at targets that do something (like break or hop) when you hit them. Switch between the guns every 20-50 rounds. If you start in the morning, you will finish by late afternoon. If you prefer, shoot 250 rounds through each gun on Saturday and then again on Sunday. If you can&#8217;t go through 500 rounds before lunch, you&#8217;re not trying.

Place your targets no farther than fifteen feet away for the rifle, eight feet for the revolver. When you get so you never miss a fist-sized target at this range, don&#8217;t change the distance, change the speed. See how quickly you can hit ten or six targets. If you start missing, slow down a little. After you&#8217;ve shot half your quota, take some more deliberate shots at 30-50 feet. Notice how the bullet hits in a different spot at different distances. Go back to closer targets. NOTE: DO NOT always cock the revolver to shoot it; pull the trigger double action at least half the time. It is definitely harder to shoot accurately this way, but this is how you will be shooting a revolver in a defensive situation with a close-in assailant, so this is the way you want to do a lot of your practice.

Repeat the above exercise on the next four weekends.

In one month you will almost certainly be several orders of magnitude more proficient than you were before you walked into the gunshop, and a better shot than a sizable fraction of the police officers in this country.

If, after the first week or two, you find this effort a chore, take your guns, spare magazines, and remaining ammo back to the gunshop. You will lose about $250.

If you finish the month excited about your newly earned skills, looking forward to your next shooting outing, and needing more ammo, congratulations. You are now a member of the gun culture. Revise your budget to include $20-$400 per month for ammunition, depending on how much of it is low-cost .22s and how much is more expensive calibers. You are now ready to include more powerful centerfire arms appropriate for defense in your shooting education.

Hi, Christina,

You have already received some very good advice on how and where to learn to shoot guns. If for some reason those approaches don't work, you might want to try the following:

1. Do a search of both the Internet and the yellow pages for shooting/gun ranges/clubs. Contact all that are convenient for you. Ask if they have any programs or instructors for learning how to shoot. If not, ask for any suggestions or referrals they may have.

2. Contact your state's department of fish and game, game and fish, conservation, or natural resources. Ask the same questions as above. If you still do not have any leads, ask for referrals to hunter safety classes. Contact the instructors in the hunter safety program for leads. If nothing else, the hunter safety classes provide a good survey of the information re hunting, guns, conservation, survival, and a wise approach to enjoying the outdoors. The handbook is a pretty good survey of these aspects of hunting. You will also need to take a hunter safety class before you can get a hunting license.

3. Contact the National Rifle Association for the above information. They also have some excellent written materials on hunting and shooting.

4. Visit the ranges in person. Look for any bulletin boards where peoples might post notes re sale of items or services for. Also inquire about any instructional or competitive programs for juniors. Those instructors and coaches may be able to help you.

5. Local sporting goods and gun shops might be able to provide leads.

6. Contact your local police or sheriffs office for the information.

7. Check with your nearest Boy Scout office/store. Determine who are the merit badge counselors for Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting. Ask the counselors for leads. You might want to look at the pamphlets for these merit badges. They can be helpful for beginners. These booklets survey their respective subjects.

You will get a wide variety of responses. Some of them should help.

It is desirable to take instruction from NRA certified instructors. The curriculum should cover guns, ammunition, shooting, safety, proper handling of equipment, and a discussion of applicable laws.

A good way to try using a variety of guns is rent them from the ranges. Many ranges, especially indoor handgun ranges and some shotgun ranges rent guns for use at the range.

As you learn more about shooting, you will have a better idea of what guns are appropriate for your needs. Your teachers can help guide you. If you absolutely cannot get any help without providing your own gun, consider starting with a bolt action rifle in caliber .22 Long Rifle, or a shotgun in 20 gauge. Your body dimensions are of course factors in the proper fitting of yourself with a gun. A gun is a tool which must fit you well, and which you must be able to handle well if you are to shoot it ably. Don't buy a gun that does not fit you and feel good in your hands. I definitely recommend that you not make any elaborate or expensive purchases of before beginning shooting.

Good luck,

John

Rkt88edmo:

What the blazes is the "&#8217;" all about?

I can't discern any prohibited words that match the context in which that gobblydegok is being inserted, or were you trying to pass some sort of virus?

Bountyhunter

That's just the html code of an apostrophe in the extended UNICODE character set on the PC. You get that when you write it in MS-Word and then cut-and-paste it in. Microsoft in their infinite wisdom considers that a better looking apostrophe and inserts that instead of the ' that you typed.

Goatrider:

Well that is one more reason I am glad I use Wordperfect or Star Office in my word processing.

Bountyhunter

I'm so glad I asked the questions here. You are all a great collective resource. I'm going to print this thread and refer to it often!

Judging by his post I'd guess that you don't need a firearms license in the states. If you want an ultimate home defence weapon check out the 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5 or Enfield L85A2.
Hey nice to look flashy at your funeral than like you took on a gangster whith a stubby revolver.