A good MBR for a female

[Cimarron]

I am looking for a long gun for Mrs. C. I thought one in .223 would be appropriate for her, and since I have a rifle in the calibre already that would work out as far as using the same ammo.
The only thing she has told me is that she "doesn't like the looks of my black gun." Of course she refuses to even try it. I have shown her different types at gun shows and on the net, but she mostly seems disenterested in going further. I think at this point I should narrow the search down because she probably never will. Then I would just have a small selection that she would have to choose from.

Sooooo any ideas?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Rossi Single Shot in 223 for a more traditional non scary look and lighter weight. It can also be broken down and put in smaller containers/bags.

[Cimarron]

@Matt: Well since starting this thread I have been in 'negotiations' lol. She has decided to handle the AR and feels that a high cap mag wouldn't be too tactical ..
I'm wearing her down brother ...Muahahahaha..

[Lowdown3]

My wife learned most of her rifle shooting on an AK. A friend offered her an AR to shoot at a shoot/BBQ one time. She looked at me after shooting it and said "hey that's not that bad." I told her blasphemy was not acceptable in our relationship and if we were muslim she would be in a world of hurt now ;)

I showed her some of the manipulations on the weapon and said "know how much you hate to clear jams? This gun jams a lot and is a PITA to clear."

Her reply- "oh well, that sucks, I'll stick with my AK."

My wife- as practical a choice as my weapons ;)

[Cimarron]

My wife learned most of her rifle shooting on an AK. A friend offered her an AR to shoot at a shoot/BBQ one time. She looked at me after shooting it and said "hey that's not that bad." I told her blasphemy was not acceptable in our relationship and if we were muslim she would be in a world of hurt now ;)

I showed her some of the manipulations on the weapon and said "know how much you hate to clear jams? This gun jams a lot and is a PITA to clear."

Her reply- "oh well, that sucks, I'll stick with my AK."

My wife- as practical a choice as my weapons ;)

I have only put maybe 30 rnds through an AK and it wasn't mine, so my experience with them is minimal. My biggest concern with a heavier gun and calibre was the weight and recoil.
Does this not affect your wife?

[Klayton]

She doesn't like the black gun look?

Try this:



Fires the .223 :)

[1Admin]

Cim- no not really. It's not that large of a caliber and if you break them early of the tendency to lean their bodies way back aka "get away from the gun" stance, and instead teach them a more forward positive- "nose over toes" aggressive stance the slight recoil won't be any problem. It has worked with 80 lb. 12 year olds.

[Cimarron]

Cim- no not really. It's not that large of a caliber and if you break them early of the tendency to lean their bodies way back aka "get away from the gun" stance, and instead teach them a more forward positive- "nose over toes" aggressive stance the slight recoil won't be any problem. It has worked with 80 lb. 12 year olds.

Thanks for the tip 1Admin. This along with a suggestion Matt mentioned in an e-mail I think she (and me) would be better off with some rifle classes by an instructor.

Our conversation has been changing quite rapidly with what's going on in the world, and our 'security' preps is getting a closer look. Even to the point that Mrs. C. take over the AR and I move into something of a bigger calibre-(223 is my largest). My knowledge of 'arms' has been a real detriment so far.

I appreciate every one's input.

[runtothehills]

Thanks for the tip 1Admin. This along with a suggestion Matt mentioned in an e-mail I think she (and me) would be better off with some rifle classes by an instructor.

Our conversation has been changing quite rapidly with what's going on in the world, and our 'security' preps is getting a closer look. Even to the point that Mrs. C. take over the AR and I move into something of a bigger calibre-(223 is my largest). My knowledge of 'arms' has been a real detriment so far.

I appreciate every one's input.

Check out the new Ruger Gunsite Scout .308 rifle! They claim, this is the best rifle if you could only have one. Tactical, home defense, and hunting. It's not all black and scary! lol! It's short and light to carry. I think they have 5 and 10 round mags for it. It has alot of good reviews. I'm going to get one, when I get the cash. Here is a youtube video to check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MxHesF_V_g

[rice paddy daddy]

Cimmaron, instead of me suggesting a specific rifle, let me just say that she needs to buy into the idea. Let her make the choice for best results. Don't try to thrust what you think is best upon her, let her make the choice.
When my wife wanted her very own shotgun, we went to the store and she inspected, shouldered, and examined a variety before deciding on a Remington 870 Youth Model.
Perhaps the biggest thing I detected in your post is this - does she have the mind set to be able to take someone's life if need be?

[Cimarron]

Rice Paddy Daddy-
That's a 64 dollar question right there that I would like to answer: Yeah sure she would, no problem....But honestly, I really don't know. She's not shy of rifles, her family is country people. She grew up shooting 22's at target, varmint and a few times squirrel hunting with her Dad.
A little story about her family. They were broken into one time and the thug got into a window and only made it into the next room and then left (they think something made him run off). Well, they called the law and did the statement and paperwork. Then they (her parents) sent the kids off to school, drove the family car down to the neighbors walked back home and loaded a shotgun and deer rifle waiting for the S O B to come back and deal with him...all of them thinking this a natural thing to do....

Her and I have spent some fair amount of time discussing 'situations' and she agrees to added security.
I guess the root of my problem is with her idea of guns.
"Any of them can put some one down." "Why do we need so many different guns?"
The best way to counter this, that I have found is: "guns are like tools, you wouldn't use a screwdriver when you need a hammer would you?" Maybe not the best analogy but one she is coming to understand.

I guess I could take her to the gun store and let her pick something out..I'm just not sure that what she would pick would be a smart decision is all..I do agree with you about her "buying into" a rifle. She picked it, that's the one she wanted, not the one I picked and made her use.

[Lowdown3]

Excellent points RPD!!!

I shouldn't have jumped the gun either (pun intended).

I started my wife off with a Ruger 10/22 for rifle and a Ruger MKII for pistol training. I never regretted it. She was 19 at had never shot anything before.

Confidence is what you want to build right now. If you don't have a 10/22 and a MKII, well you prolly need one of each anyways ;)

Let her just HAVE FUN and be safe at first.

I've watched a lot of guys screw up when teaching their wives shooting. It's usually goes like this "here baby, shoot this here gun" as he hands her a 12 gauge. She fires it once or twice and is totally turned off on it.

Now I think it varies from one hubby to the next but the stupid idea on the 12 guage is usually "well then she don't have to AIM." RIGHT! The rounds will magically go where she wants them to go! Duh! How stupid of me, I should have known that!!

Don't "push" her. Make it fun family time, not boot camp.

I've taken a few friends wives and taught them how to shoot. Normally I tell the hubby- "the best thing you can do to help- is keep quiet." That's not a "I'm better than you" statement, it's a truth wherein the woman normally gets frustrated easy trying to please the hubby.

Some of the really tweeked ones, you have to ask the hubby to go and do something else. I've watched women refuse to even hold a gun around their husbands. So you ask the husband to ride to the store and get some drinks for everyone and then you work with the wife. 99% of the time she does fine and builds some confidence.

Just like with a kid, when she does good- give her lots of praise! "Man! That was awesome for a first time! I wish I would have done so well the first time I shot!"

NOT- "well your grouping here is to the left, SEE what I told you about your grip..."

That stuff will come in time. As she gets more CONFIDENCE, then you slowly start adding in instruction- "hey you know what, I should have mentioned this before, if you change your grip just a little bit like this here, it will help."

I should have wrote all this before, I should have assumed she was a new shooter, sorry.

[Klayton]

I am a firm believer in breaking someone into the gun world.

Let me tell you a story, if I may, back when I was not a leader in the military and just another sheep following directions, I had this neanderthal of a platoon sergeant. Well, we had one female soldier that could NOT qualify with her M16 (ya she probably got "helped" in basic training). Well his idea of helping our new female soldier was to take her to the rod and gun club on post, rent a 30-06 (with scope mind you) and have her "get use to the recoil". Well as you can imagine that really screwed her up, she came to work Monday with a huge black eye in the shape of the scope's eyepiece. Well it took me over a month of practice weekends to get her to even not flinch when pulling the trigger, and about a month more to have her consistently shoot the four principles, and she finally at the end of the third month she not only qualified, she scored sharpshooter (barely-hehe).

Point is, just like you wouldn't give your son a 454 Casull to learn handgun basics, dont give your lady friend a high powered rifle to learn rifle skills.

My final point, a .223 is more than enough rifle to do almost anything for survival, if you have the money yes a .308 (or my baby .338 federal) is really nice for the 500yd "large deer" kills...

[rice paddy daddy]

Cimaron, half the battle is won - she already knows how to shoot, and you seem not to be cursed with the macho factor.
I have discovered it's very hard to coach one's wife in shooting, luckily my wife has both the basics and the mindset to destroy in self defense. She has already proven her coolness by killing two diamondback rattlers and a cotton mouth in our yard using my late Dad's Colt Model 1903 Automatic 32 Caliber. She has since upgraded to her very own 38 Special.
The NRA offers training by female instructors. So does the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision, perhaps your state agency does as well.
Gently suggest she accompany you to the range to try out your rifle, "just to see if she likes it." I have found that many people at ranges wil let someone try out their firearms, I have offered to do so to people who express an interest in my guns. Maybe, just maybe, this will work in your favor.
Good luck, my friend. Keep us up to date.

[Benn Gleck]

I agree with using .22's for someone just starting out.

One alternative to an AR is an AK 74. I have one and it's one of the softest shooting rifles I own. Ammo is pretty cheap for it right now too.