Canada's National Firearms Association - NFA, National Firearms ...

One of the fastest growing
demographics in our
recreational firearms
community is lady shooters.
Firearms being the great
equalizer, our lady shooters
have put to bed the myth that
they are the ‘weaker’ or ‘fairer’
sex. Most instructors will tell
you that they far prefer female
students to teach, as they make
for better pupils, are more
attentive, have less bad habits
to unlearn and generally have
better hand-eye coordination.
lady shooters, when introduced
to the sport properly can excel.
Just look at women such as
Smith and Wesson’s, Julie Golob,
10 time U.S. Practical Shooting
Association National Champion;
Canadian born, Susan Nattrass, sixtime
Olympian and triple medalist at
the 2006 Commonwealth Games in
Melbourne, Australia; and Germany’s Sonja Pfeilschifter,
Women’s Olympic Rifle Shooter. These are but a few of the
women who compete on a professional level in shooting
sports. Before these ladies became champions, they all
started with little or no firearm experience. As they were once
new to firearms, you now have the opportunity to become
knowledgeable and skilled with them as well.
Here’s what I’m recommending for you to get started in
the shooting sports. Start by looking in your phone book or
on the web for local shooting clubs and ranges. See if they
offer beginning shooters classes for women and recommend
this idea to them if they don’t. Seek professional firearms
instructors, they will teach you the latest techniques and help
you shoot safely. It is easier to build on a foundation of good
shooting instruction than to erase bad habits that may get
you, or someone else hurt or worse. Professional instructors
will also provide you with a list of starting equipment you
will need for the course. In some cases the club or range
will provide you with the equipment and firearm you will
need for the class with your course fees. Women only classes
will allow you to feel comfortable and ask questions without
feeling intimidated. Remember, the only bad question is the
one not asked. You are there to learn to shoot, so get your
money’s worth and have fun doing it.
If you need to bring your own equipment, here is a simple
list of things you will need. Purchase or borrow one pair of
hearing
protection, either
earmuff style or foam ear plugs. I recommend
the earmuff style as they will be reusable and easy to put
on and take off as needed. There are many styles and colors
available and even electronic options that offer enhanced
volume while speaking and noise reduction while shooting.
It is very important to wear your hearing protection while
shooting or around others who are shooting. Exposing your
ear drums to high decibel levels of noise will damage your
hearing. Using your equipment properly will protect your
hearing and help you concentrate on shooting, not flinching
from the noise the firearm makes. Prices begin at $15.00 and
up and can be purchased at most sporting goods stores. I
would suggest buying the best quality you can afford, as they
will last for years with proper care.
Also, be sure to purchase a pair of proper safety/shooting
glasses with poly carbonate lenses. These lenses are impact
resistant and in the rare event of a mechanical failure of the
firearm or ammunition, your eyes will be saved. High quality
construction safety glasses offer a good value if properly
rated and come in many styles and colors. They can be
purchased at any good home improvement store. I suggest
a wrap around style with dark lenses for daylight and clear,
yellow or amber lenses for indoor ranges. The prices for good
eye protection will run from $20.00 to $35.00 for a basic
pair. Never skimp on safety equipment. You wear them for
protection and they can be replaced. You must always wear
your eye and ear protection while shooting; you get only one
set of eyes and ears, and they can’t be replaced.
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If your budget doesn’t allow you to attend expensive shooting
classes don’t let that stop you. You may have more alternatives
than you know. Many Canadian gun clubs are now running
regular BOW classes (Becoming an Outdoorswoman) free
of charge or at a nominal fee. If that fails, chances are you
already know someone who shoots. Don’t be afraid to ask
them about their sport, or if they could recommend someone
to help. Just be sure the person you choose is someone you
trust and with whom you feel comfortable enough with to
teach you the skills you will need to shoot safely and well.
Once you have found your teacher, you need to decide upon
the best venue for your impromptu classes. If using restricted
firearms, you are limited to only approved ranges and clubs.
Ideally you want a safe venue, with proper backstop, that is
absent major distractions so that you may concentrate fully
on the task at hand. Ranges tend to be busiest during the
weekends and are often loud and full of distractions for a
novice shooter. Range rules may also preclude needed oneon-one
instruction demonstrations, etc. while the firing line
is hot. Check with range staff or execs to see when the range
is the least busy. You’ll learn far more quickly if you are able
to leave the distractions of the world at home, thus enabling
you to soak up the information that’s being presented to you.
Now your chosen instructor will no doubt bring all the tools
of the trade with them, like targets ammunition and shooting
gear, but the one most important thing is the firearm you will
be using. Not everyone has an arsenal of firearms to choose
from, but I would suggest you buy or borrow a small caliber
rimfire revolver such as a .22lR. Rimfire .22lR revolvers
are relatively inexpensive and the ammunition is cheap and
plentiful. They are also easy to load, shoot and unload and
do not offer much in the way of noise or recoil (the upward
force caused by the ammunition firing inside the pistol) to
distract you while shooting.
If a rimfire firearm is unavailable, my second choice would
be a full size center fire revolver, these usually have a 5-6”
barrel, and are relatively easier to hold and control, especially
when firing reduced power loads. Avoid compact and subcompact
pistols as they are harder for beginners to master. I
would also stay away from semi-automatic pistols for now
until your shooting skills improve. Semi-automatics are
generally more complex in their operation and require more
training to handle and shoot properly.
When starting out, you don’t necessarily have to hit the range
for your very first lesson. Allow yourself enough time to learn
the basics and enjoy yourself. Preparation helps and you
can learn many techniques at home. Using dummy rounds
(ammunition that does not contain powder or primers), you
can learn safe loading and unloading procedures and even
move on to more advanced techniques such as dry firing. The
latter should only be attempted using an empty and doublechecked
pistol! Dry firing is an important exercise that aids a
student in developing a proper shooting grip, as well as with
target acquisition and trigger control. Students may become
intimately familiar with the firearm, which will serve to
enhance their confidence on the firing line. When it comes
time to shoot live ammunition, always allow yourself time
to learn and enjoy your new hobby. Rushing around is not a
productive way to learn to shoot and will cause mistakes and
can be costly.
Your first trip to a firing range will most likely be as a guest
of your friend or instructor. That may work for the shortterm,
but don’t hesitate to check out local shooing clubs
in your area and choose one that best suits your needs.
Your instructor’s range may not be the best fit for you. If
you’re using non-restricted firearms, such as a .22lR rifle,
remember to obey all provincial hunting regulations and try
to find a safe practice area, with a good backstop.
In terms of shooting conditions, a cool, sunny day is
preferable but weather doesn’t always cooperate. Wear
appropriate clothing for the weather and bring along water
and snacks. Take at least one 15 minute break per hour to
refresh and hydrate as needed. About two hours is a good
start, but you may be having so much fun you don’t want
to stop. Time passes quickly on the firing line and it is very
easy for a two-hour lesson to turn into a full day’s excursion.
The more time you spend shooting, the more comfortable
you will become. But comfortable can be dangerous if you
forget the basic rules of firearms safety.
1. Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are
ready to shoot.
3. Always keep your firearms unloaded until ready to use.
Other good rules to follow:
1. Know your target and what’s beyond it.
2. Treat every gun as if it were loaded always.
3. There is no such thing as an accidental discharge, only
negligent ones. See rule number 2
Now these rules may vary widely, but the message is the
same and when you stop obeying them, someone gets hurt.
Remember, shooting is an acquired skill that takes time
to develop. I have seen women and men get discouraged
because they can’t hit the bull’s eye from the start. You must
learn the basics, and as you become better at those, the rest
will follow suit. A good instructor watches you shoot, not
necessarily the target, so they can make improvements and
suggestions as you learn. They watch for certain signs and
www.nfa.ca January - February 23