Wife, Shooting and CHL

[Valk]

I took my wife with me to purchase my last piece this past weekend, to the place I took my CHL test.

She is the one who suggested “we” needed a CHL after returning from our second trip to Phoenix. We have always taken a weapon with us when we traveled in Texas and to Florida.

As we walked to the front door gun shop/shooting range, we could hear the booms from inside. I wanted to show her the indoor shooting range. You can view it from gun shop without going inside. Since the shooting had stopped, I asked if they would allow me to take her inside. They gave us hearing protection and I took her inside to the last lane. As I was showing her the three shooting distances, someone fired a round. I don’t know what the guy was shooting, but you could feel the concussion. She let out whooo and wanted out of there.

She said she may not be ready to go through the test. I failed to consider some tragic events that had happened to her. She had received an accidental bullet wound to the abdomen many years ago (not on my watch). It is something we have only spoke of one time since we have been married 25 years. She has also been robbed during the time when we lived in Friendswood and later League City (late ‘80s to 2000). I had bought her a .38 after the robbery. She managed retail (department stores) and still does even though she doesn’t have to work.

I tried to get her to look at pistols before we went into the shooting range, but she was only interested in what I was purchasing. It could have been a 105 howitzer and she would have supported that. She is the most even keeled person on the planet. She is also beautiful and there is a glow about her, no doubt from her heart. I am a very lucky man.

P.S. She is waiting for a female relative to go take the test with.

[74novaman]

I'm sorry that your wife experienced a traumatic event in her past.

A couple of observations from someone who did things the wrong way with their wife and would like to help others out, if you don't mind me sharing....


New shooters are going to prefer outdoor ranges. They're not as loud, stuffy, and tend not to make you feel "boxed in" like indoor ranges do. I love indoor ranges for what they can provide (A/C, lack of sunburn, etc) but outdoor ranges are much more "newbie" friendly in my opinion.

In addition, please consider 2 things if/when your wife decides she's ready to try shooting.

1) Consider professional instruction (preferably from a female instructor). A man teaching his wife how to shoot can actually increase her stress level, since she wants to do well for you.

2) Start her out on a .22 rifle or .22 pistol. Loud, sharply recoiling guns like subcompact 9mms, airweight .38s and .357s, or even softer shooting guns like .45 1911s can make a new shooter decide shooting is not fun, loud, and painful. Start off small, like you probably did as a kid.


This is all coming from someone who first took his fiance who had never shot a gun to an indoor range and let her shoot a compact 9mm (I had shown her how to work the safety on my similar gun in .45, and so went with familiarity over comfort).

Long story short, she cried and I felt like the worst man in the world.

We've subsequently been to an outdoor range where she shot a .22 pistol and a couple of rifles. She's still not a pistol fan, but she's pretty good with a lever action rifle in .357 now.

I hope everyone who hasn't done so yet is able to learn from my mistakes and introduce their spouses to the fun that is shooting in a better way.

[Valk]

Good one, thanks!

I've been trying to get her computer skills up, but have failed miserably over the same amount of years.

[RPB]

I still prefer outdoor ranges
smells better-less lead to inhale
quieter-less reverb
just more pleasant

[Sangiovese]

I'm sorry that your wife experienced a traumatic event in her past.

A couple of observations from someone who did things the wrong way with their wife and would like to help others out, if you don't mind me sharing....


New shooters are going to prefer outdoor ranges. They're not as loud, stuffy, and tend not to make you feel "boxed in" like indoor ranges do. I love indoor ranges for what they can provide (A/C, lack of sunburn, etc) but outdoor ranges are much more "newbie" friendly in my opinion.

In addition, please consider 2 things if/when your wife decides she's ready to try shooting.

1) Consider professional instruction (preferably from a female instructor). A man teaching his wife how to shoot can actually increase her stress level, since she wants to do well for you.

2) Start her out on a .22 rifle or .22 pistol. Loud, sharply recoiling guns like subcompact 9mms, airweight .38s and .357s, or even softer shooting guns like .45 1911s can make a new shooter decide shooting is not fun, loud, and painful. Start off small, like you probably did as a kid.


This is all coming from someone who first took his fiance who had never shot a gun to an indoor range and let her shoot a compact 9mm (I had shown her how to work the safety on my similar gun in .45, and so went with familiarity over comfort).

Long story short, she cried and I felt like the worst man in the world.

We've subsequently been to an outdoor range where she shot a .22 pistol and a couple of rifles. She's still not a pistol fan, but she's pretty good with a lever action rifle in .357 now.

I hope everyone who hasn't done so yet is able to learn from my mistakes and introduce their spouses to the fun that is shooting in a better way.

Excellent advice.

[function12]

Get her to the PSC Range ladies day. Free and don't have to be a member. For ladies only and taught by ladies. First Sat of every month.
http://www.psc-range.com/index.php/psc-ladies-program" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Valk]

Get her to the PSC Range ladies day. Free and don't have to be a member. For ladies only and taught by ladies. First Sat of every month.
http://www.psc-range.com/index.php/psc-ladies-program" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank You!

[Teamless]

Get her to the PSC Range ladies da

This, and as you are close to The Arms Room (I assume that was the indoor range you went to) , and as others have said, use an outdoor range, I am a member at PSC and would be happy to take you and your wife out there for safety instruction, as well as shooting instructions.

I have a few different calibers, from .22 to .380 to 9mm
the .22 is a good starting weapon, no kick, very low sounds (with ear muffs) vs the .380 or 9mm.

send me a PM if you want to try to get together, if necessary, I can also try to bring my wife with us, if she would feel better.

thanks

[TLynnHughes]

Get her to the PSC Range ladies day. Free and don't have to be a member. For ladies only and taught by ladies. First Sat of every month.
http://www.psc-range.com/index.php/psc-ladies-program" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Excellent idea. Does Donna still do that?

Donna left the program about a year ago. I do the majority of the teaching for the Ladies Program but we have a team of five ladies who either instruct or assist. Would LOVE to have her join us for the Ladies Program. We're safe, we learn a lot and we have a good time.

Just FYI - no Ladies Program the first Saturday of September because it's Labor Day weekend. We'll be back at it the first Saturday in October!

I hope to see her out there!

Tracy

[Divided Attention]

If I missed you saying where you are - I apologize, but if you are on the north side there are a couple ladies groups. We would love for your wife to join us!

[Valk]

We no longer live in the Houston area.

It does an old heart good to feel that the people of Texas and the members of this board, welcome any chance to help someone they don’t even know.

We do miss the area…. except the traffic, my job, exorbitant HOA fees………..

Thank you again!

[fickman]

I opened your thread right as my wife walked by to offer me a cup of coffee. I directed her attention to the screen and said, "Look! Finally, a thread about wife shooting."

It got the standard groan response with a forced fake laugh, which I always accept as a sign of a successful pun or one-liner.