Oh I don't know the light whispy wind sound over your head and the dull thud as the bullet beds its way into the sand bags behind - Ahh those were the days...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Interesting analysis. I suppose my spouse or my children would never have the occasion to visit a neighbor or friends house that might also happen to own firearms. What if they innocently find a weapon open/exposed/unsecured?

What then?

There's a book called freakonomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics) that presents information saying that a swimming pool is more likely to kill your children than a hand gun...

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Training, education and a healthy respect is the answer - whether it be for a swimming pool or proper/safe firearms awareness.

True but sometimes for people who are still learning a locked door is the best solution.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I can control what happens in my home. I still find significant value in education and training for those instances where I cannot control the environment, such as at a friend's or neighbor's home.

There is also the issue of whether or not my spouse will be comfortable in using a firearm to protect herself when I'm not home. Education and training would begin to increase her comfort level, followed by practice and a funtional awareness of the types of firearms on hand. The kids will be educated in the same manner when/as apporpriate.

So, one vote for NRA. Any other practical advice, or better yet....experience with either program?

You might consider buying an Air target pistol. It is a good & inexpensive way (about 10 bucks for 500 pellets) to practice at home and pretty fun really. Mostly you would want to shoot targets at 33 ft or less so you might be able to set up a range in the basement. I think it is a good way to get new shooters confidence in handling a gun and "old" pros a way to sharpen their skills. Just a suggestion.


Sig. http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/SIG_Sauer_P226_X5_Full_Metal_CO2/2176
Colt
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/colt-government-1911-pellet-gun.shtml
Beretta
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/beretta-fs92-co2-pellet-gun.shtml

Is the manual of arms the same? I can't see air pistols having all the same safety's.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I think I like this one better:

http://www.pyramydair.com/p/izh-46M-match-air-pistol.shtml

Yeah but that doesn't look like a real gun at all.

Most pistols are available in .22LR or can be fitted with a .22 kit. IMHO that's the way to go. The weight, recoil, and sound is somewhat smiler to a centerfire round.

New shooters are going to develop a flinch, so you need to start training that out, .22 is the perfect round to do this with.

If your into 1911's GSG makes a fantastic 1911 replica in .22LR, its mostly steel and made in Germany. The safety's are all correct as is the weight. For $300ish you can't get a better training tool than that.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Gotta disagree with any comparison between .22 air guns and a centerfire round. A .22 air gun has a tiny kick. About like a .22LR in a rifle.

Still, the sear release is pretty similar, if you have a decent gun. Crosman 2240 is OK for a cheap .22, just don't leave it sitting for long periods with a cartridge in place or you will be sorry.

And I don't care what an airgun looks like, if it's made for accuracy. I care how it feels in my hand, how the sights line up when I'm holding it, and how it shoots.

I do have a CP99, and it's a lot of fun. But not too accurate.

Yeah but I'm not talking about airguns, the OP was trying to help his wife on real guns.

That airgun you posted is in no way smiler to say a Sig P226, G17, or 92FS.

For what it costs to buy that airgun you can buy a .22LR kit for the Sig, and train on the same frame with all the same controls, sounds, and smells. So transitioning to a 9mm is a bit less of a jump. Accuracy isn't so important for new shooters, they need to learn to be comfortable with the firearm.

The problem I see with new shooters is they can develop a flinch. They get scared of it, and that needs to be trained out. The first time I handed my friend my 1911 he did ok with it because he was a big guy, but my other friends girlfriend did horrible with 92FS because she was afraid it was going to come back and hit her. Now with a .22 she liked it because it didn't really kick and was pretty quite, it allowed her to get used to firing a pistol without being intimidated.

Rifles are even worse, any .30cal and up bolt gun, will cause just about anyone to flinch and their are various drills you can go through to train out of it.

Trigger control and flinching cause the vast majority of accuracy problems.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'm of the opinion that new shooters are happier with more accurate guns -- and sand bags. That way, they see that it is actually possible to hit the target. Experience with a decent target gun will help with the real thing, and mostly for the reason that you mention.

I agree that .22LR is a great cartridge for beginners. And for everyone else. I really enjoy shooting those out of a pistol.

What others should know:I originally bought it to provide a way to practice presentation and trigger pulls when not able to get to the range with my 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP pistols. I have a set up that allows a quick practice session using a metal pellet trap and 9" x 7" targets. I have found that using a slow fire, aimed technique shooting mainly for accuracy, I am able to get accurate shots (best groups are all 8 pellets in 1 inch NRA air rifle target off-hand at 10M) from 14 magazines (clips) on a single CO2 cartridge. Fast fire cuts back on the number of shots pretty quickly. I also tend to start at 10M and shoot the final 6 mags (clips) at 7 yards for practice similar to the regular range. I HIGHLY recommend getting the Air Venturi speed loader that will allow the QUICK loading of 7 mags (clips) at a time. I've discovered by shooting a lot of different pellets, that the RWS Hobby gives me the best balance of accuracy for the dollar and they just so happen to be the only pellet I've found that works perfectly with the speed loader (ALL others would have several pellets that would try to go into the holes upside down and cause a delay in the process). After shooting A LOT of pellets through the Beretta, I still enjoy using it and highly recommend it as a way to keep your handling, aiming, breathing and trigger skills sharp.

Have you ever shot one of those? Nice gun. If your in the market , look at a used FWB 65. One fine pistol.