Firearms for women

[hardheadjarhead]

Firearms for women:

Pros and Cons?

What kind of training to receive?

What kind of firearm? Shotgun? Pistol? Carbine? What brands? Caliber?

Do you carry them or stash them strategically in the home?


How do you integrate firearms into your total self defense package...including your martial arts training?

I noticed in other threads that a number of women carried. I'd like to see their opinions and the opinions of some of the men.


Regards,


Steve Scott

[TheLady]

Since I live in Canada, I'm not allowed to carry - concealed or otherwise. I'm also not allowed to "stash" them in my house unless they're under lock and key and kept separate from the ammo. Not much help in a home invasion, huh?

On the up side, I do travel and have been fortunate enough to get in some training by Russian Spetz, a former Navy Seal and a former Recon Marine so far this year :-)

I think you should train on as many firearms as possible, with as many calibers as you can, to see what fits you. There's no use having a gun if you're afraid to use it.

My training has been a little different, to say the least :D

In Russia, we learned to field strip an AK, hold it properly when not at alert, drop to the ground, shoot and move, cover an area quickly & to do rolls with it. We also did some drills for point shooting handguns, evasion and shooting while evading. May not be anything I'll ever use, but it certainly opened my eyes to what a trained professional can do! (You'd think that you could shoot someone standing 5 feet away with no problem but you'd better think again...some of these guys can drop to the ground, c ock their weapon on the way down & have a bullet in your brain before yours goes whistling harmlessly over their head.)

My training in the U.S. was a little more conventional (live ammo has a tendancy to do that, I think!). How to hold the carbine properly, sighting, trigger control, and how to enter a room with a handgun.

I think the biggest lesson I've learned from all this training is that it doesn't mean you're going to win just because you have a gun - and it doesn't mean you're going to lose just because the bad guy has one.

Janice

[TonyM.]

When I managed the firearms department of a sporting goods store about every other week a woman would inquire about handguns for self defense. Using my legal perogitive as a licensed dealer I would not sell them a firearm for defense unless they were sober, (some weren't) reasonably calm and agreed to enroll in a firearms safety course.
Calibers and models would vary with the size and ability of the person. I would not recommend a single action auto for a nervous twitchy person. Double action only auto or revolver. For a fairly calm person a decocking model auto is fine. Nothing with a regular safety to fumble with in an emergency. Nothing with less juice than a 38+p or 9mm, preferably 357 or 40s&w if they can handle it.

[Ceicei]

Originally posted by hardheadjarhead
Firearms for women:

Pros and Cons?

My husband and I go hunting, so it is a different situation.

However, there is a lot of mental preparation that comes with handling a firearm for self defense purposes, whether in the home or away from home.

If a person does not feel they are capable with a firearm to shoot another person in self defense, then perhaps having a gun may not be ideal defense method.


What kind of training to receive?

As much training as possible to understand when and when not to use deadly force and to keep up with changing State laws. My husband and I both have concealed carry weapons permits.

We obtained our self-defense firearms training with a police lieutenant as our instructor. Where I live, instructors are only required to be state certified to teach concealed carry courses; they do not have to be in law enforcement in order to instruct.

I chose my instructor because he has a very good understanding of State laws and could tell me what to expect after a shooting incident if I ever have to use a firearm in self defense. He has discussed the ramfications of deadly force, about different situations (in home, away from home, with children, without children, parking lots, etc.) He also makes sure we get practical, hands on training with guns to understand how they function, correct our handling mistakes, dispel misconceptions, environmental awareness, and capitalize on our strong areas.

I practice shooting at indoor and outdoor ranges, and also out in distant fields.


What kind of firearm? Shotgun? Pistol? Carbine? What brands? Caliber?

Our self defense guns are Glock 26 9mm and Glock .45 ACP. We used to have Ruger 89Ps but I found them difficult for me to handle, so we sold them.

We also have a few Winchester rifles and a shotgun. The rifles and shotgun are used for hunting purposes. We do have a pellet pistol for fun target shooting.


Do you carry them or stash them strategically in the home?

I carry mine in an IWB holster when I go out. If I'm home, I try continue to wear it as I dislike having it in a purse. If I need to take the firearm off, it is stored in our gun safe. I make sure that any gun is either in my control or in the safe because I have four children ages 11 and under.

My two older children (sons) have handled our guns and gone shooting with us. They are aware of what guns can do. They also know what to do if they need to use a gun in self defense.


How do you integrate firearms into your total self defense package...including your martial arts training?

Guns are not ideal for close quarters (hand to hand range). I use martial arts for close quarters defense.

However, if I perceive my family's lives are threatened wherever I am, I will use a gun. Its a last resort.

- Ceicei

[Nightingale]

I'd like to get a gun...

but I'd never rely on being able to reach it.

[KenpoTess]

I have a nice Mini Firestorm.. 40 S/W that shoots 10 rounds and is a great firearm for women.. Here's the stats

CALIBER:
9mm / 40S&W
OPERATION:
Semi-Automatic
ACTION:
Double Action
OVERALL LENGTH:
6 1/2"
HEIGHT:
4 1/2"
WIDTH:
1 1/2"
BARREL LENGTH:
3 1/2"
WEIGHT:
24.5 oz
SIGHTS:
White Outline Drift Adjustable Target Sight
SAFETIES:
Manual, Firing Pin, Decock
FINISH:
Matte, Duo-tone, and Satin Nickel
GRIPS:
Anatomically Designed Polymer Grips


Firestorm Site (http://www.firestorm-sgs.com/mini.htm)
I have been trained in long guns and handguns and since Seig works midnights, and we live in a city, I feel I could protect myself with a firearm, should the need arise.
I also keep a shotgun in my bedroom.

WV law permits anyone who can lawfully possess a handgun to carry an unconcealed handgun.

Tess

[mandirigma]

Check out Teaching Women to Shoot by Vicki Farnam and Diane Nicholl. Vicki has been an authority on the subject, and a pioneer, for several years. Her book is a great starting place.

Be safe. :asian:

[MA-Caver]

Firearms for women:
I noticed in other threads that a number of women carried. I'd like to see their opinions and the opinions of some of the men.
Regards,
Steve Scott

Alrighty then here's mine.

Pros and Cons?
I think that with proper training and the right attitude a gun would be an excellent SD weapon for a woman. Considering that most attackers outsize (typically) most women, a woman needs all the advantage she can get. Especially if she isn't recieving MA/SD training or is simply caught off guard as it sometimes happens.
However if a woman is jittery about handling a gun then she shouldn't. Some can be trained to get over the jitters and others cannot. A gun isn't effective if a person is ascared to use it.

What kind of training to receive?
The best possible training available in their area that they can afford.

What kind of firearm? Shotgun? Pistol? Carbine? What brands? Caliber?
Some rifles and shotguns are simply too unwieldly for most women unless it is designed specifically for women or a person of their size. Pistols (and we are speaking Self-defense weapons... not hunting right?) are probably the best. Best brands? Well, again it falls within their price range and the most they can personally afford. I have personal preferences (Ruger, S&W, Glock, etc.) Far as caliber it should be as large as the woman is comfortable in using. I've fired .50 caliber Desert Eagles (awesum gun...but) found them to be just a tad too big for even me. .45's are the same for me. I've found myself to be more effective "target-wise" with a good ole 9mm. This and smaller calibers should suit most women (I think).

Do you carry them or stash them strategically in the home?
Personally... nope. Don't own one ... yet :wink2: The weapon(s) I did own I always carried on my person unless I was at home and then it was stashed within easy reach.

How do you integrate firearms into your total self defense package...including your martial arts training?
Heh, if I can use a gun I will. If not.. then....

:asian:

[Athena]

i remember seeing a thread a while ago about whether or not women's self defense classes are worthwhile. i'm pretty sure one guy said "don't bother with them, learn to use and carry a gun." big con for me: i'm under 18. another big con: universities don't allow students to carry weapons, so even when i am 18 it won't be of any use to me. even if it were legal, i can't imagine myself carrying a gun with me everywhere, whether in my car or on my person.

i'm sure i could use a gun if necessary, assuming i'd had the proper training. but the idea of actually carring a gun is so outrageous to me that i would never have access to one, and therefore wouldn't anticipate it being any help to me in a self-defense situation. training would be useful if an attacker had a gun and i were able to strip it away from him, but i really don't know how that works. for all i know shooting a gun is like riding a bike (you don't lose it), but i kinda doubt it. if nothing else, though, even minimal experience would help the victim in that case. (s)he would be more calm and confident after taking it from the attacker, but (s)he wouldn't actually have to be able to shoot it on target.

[Quick Sand]

At work in the summers I fire blanks for an 1867 Snider-Enfield Rifle. I can handle that fine but I don't know if I could with real ammo in it. With a blank there's no kick-back.

I'd really like to take a course to learn to handle and fire guns just for the sake of having that knowledge. I have no intention of ever owning a gun but it can never hurt of have extra knowledge,