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!