Hi! I'm a long time "wanna learn to shoot & own a gun" girl, but I've never done it

Now is the time ladies!  2012 was the year of the woman in the firearms industry, but 2013 is the year of the woman doing more with her training and education.

Events like Girl’s Night Out, Breakfast & Bullets, Target Time and Clinics are an economical way to get in some meaningful practice, meet other women with similar interests, and most importantly bond in community!  These events are stepping stones to help you figure out what you like and dislike about your gun, how to shop for guns and ammo, and  introduce you to quality educators who offer the kind of training classes you need a civilian and a woman. 

So what kind of training should you look for?  “Ninja squad” classes are fun and all, but there is a practical application we must have for our everyday life.  You need to know how to find your front sight, press the trigger and follow through until the threat has stopped…. and keep your cool.  Each facilitator with A Girl and A Gun Women’s Shooting League has resources for instructors in your area, if she is not already an instructor herself.  

2013 Media Day at the Range (SHOT Show)

My 2nd year attending SHOT Show was completely different from my last year (my eyes were glazed over with new and exciting products and opportunities).  This year was full of meaningful networking and dinner meetings, one social event, several interviews, plus walking the floor visiting vendors I want to do business with and the realization that I was still missing a lot and need a better plan next year.  

Media Range was very different this year.  I was among the invited Media and was able to attend with a select group for the morning session allowing us more time to visit with Vendors, get our questions answered and pictures taken.   Yes I got my picture with Gunny and had a great interview with him, I did get to test drive a few new guns coming this spring and see some really neat stuff.  BUT it was so cold that day, the misery factor was extremely high, and I didn't shoot every gun like last year.  

I am smitten with the Rhino 200D mdae by Chiappa.  This Defense revolver is easy to conceal because it offers a thinner profile. The flat cylinder grants maximum comfort. and the barrel is aligned with the bottom most chamber which is the key component to Rhino's low recoil.   "The position of the barrel lowers the center of gravity and yields a centerline of the bore more in line with the shooter's arm allowing for the most natural "point ability" while engaging a target. This characteristic also drastically reduces both recoil and muzzle flipwhich insures subsequent shots to be on target faster than ever before. The reduction of the recoil allows for the use of ultra light alloys to be used in the construction of the Rhino minimizing any adverse effect. The flat sided cylinder design of the Rhino reduces the typical revolver profile allowing greater concealment. Featuring both double and single action characteristics, the single action is actuated by a hammer cocking device that engages the unexposed hammer to prepare to fire." quoted from their website.

Warning: the low position of the barrel requires a specific grip style, please view instructions in the manual section.  Ask me how I know? Mr. Chiappa and I were so busy in conversation that when I picked up the gun to shoot, he didn't see my grip and the first shot my thumb felt the blast.  It stung really bad and I instantly new I had gripped that gun wrong.  

My next carry gun will be the Springfield XDS 9mm.  I know, I know I am the Glock Girl.  All true and I LOVE my Glocks, but this baby will fit perfect in a Flashbang or in a pelvis holster while still fitting my body size and shape.  There was no recoil as compared the same version in .45 ACP, and I am girl who shoots guns with no safeties because my muscle memory is trained that way.  It meets all my requirements when I am shopping for a gun:
Grip, Size & Weight, Able to Conceal, Price.






Having a light or laser on your self defense gun is always a topic of discussion.  I personally don't use lasers on my guns, but I do LOVE the Viridian Green Dot product line, and if I did ever use a laser it would be this one.  I also like the lights they have that are small and compact, nice for a carry gun.  New this year they have developed a holster line that works specifically with their laser/lights and turns the laser on when you draw from the holster. Here is a link for the light I am diggin! http://www.viridiangreenlaser.com/viridian-ctl-tactical-light

The HIGH LIGHT of the day was meeting Kim Rhode 5 Time Olympic Champion in Shotgun Sports.  She is the most down to earth gal, so sweet and really genuine as she gave us tips on shooting and demonstrating the awesome TrAAcker shells that Winchester has introduced.  When working with new shooters having instant feedback makes a huge difference in their progress.  For pistol shooters it is hearing the "pa-ting" of hitting the steel... for Shotgunner it is seeing the clay break apart.  But when the clay doesn't break apart and you have no idea how far you missed it, it can be very frustrating.  The TraAAcker aides the student to see their "miss" and make corrections.  Really cool!  

Tom Given's Rangemaster Instructor Course

After a full week at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to take the Rangemaster Level 1 Instructor course in Tucson.  It was on the way home to Austin and at the perfect time!

I have taken several classes as a student, but always tend to look at them from the instructors perspective on what I can add to my own knowledge tool box and pass on to my clients.  I was questioned recently on my life experiences (or lack there of since I have never been a victim of a violent crime or confronted with deadly force) and why I was qualified to be a firearms instructor, or even have an opinion on use of force issues.  I didn't entertain that question because I know who I am, what I know and why I do this job.  But is did inspire me to never have that question asked of me again, I want people to be able to look at my resume and be confident in who I am as an instructor, what I do for our shooting community and hopefully I will NEVER have a personal testimony of being a victim as part of that resume.

I had heard the written and qualification course was very challenging, that Tom's standards for his students are higher than that of the FBI, that I would have a ton of homework and have to teach a class.  I was extremely nervous on Day 1, but so excited to be a sponge.  I took 25 pages of typed notes!  I have been an instructor for almost 5 years for the TX Concealed Handgun License and teaching new gun owners in level 1& 2 skill sets, so I knew I was going to know some of the material presented.  What I was looking for was a fresh approach on how to present that material... and that was delivered as promised!  I am a civilian, I teach to civilians, and having the correct civilian perspective is vital.  I got all of that from this class and so much more.

Tom and Lynn Givens are the nicest people!  They run a very organized class, and the emphasis on safety was paramount.  I am not going to give a blow by blow after action report because I think if you are interested in taking the class you should have the opportunity to experience the way I did, from a fresh set of eyes and the surprise of several light bulb moments.

This course draws a wide variety.  In  my class there were several LEO and Military Instructors, and few like me that were teaching to civilians.  There were people who had never taken a formal training class even as a student (which kind of surprised me, but I guess it you want to be an instructor this would be as good of place as any to figure that out) and those that have years of teaching behind them.  I can say all of us learned something.

So good news.. I passed with a 95% on the written and a 92% on the shooting.  I was hoping to do a bit better on the range, but I was exhausted after SHOT show and had brain overload on everything I had just learned in the last 3 days.   I will take the 92%.