Advice for Women Interested in Purchasing a Firearm

I had never really been interested in owning a gun before I met my husband. We had just moved to Las Vegas and he was concerned about me being safe at home while he was at work. We were at a discount store doing some shopping one day. I went my way to look at clothes. My husband went his way to look at the firearms.

After around a hour we met back up and he had a gift for me. It was a .22 caliber, pearl handled, semi automatic handgun. A semi-automatic contains cartridges in a "magazine" located on the grip of the gun, which holds the ammunition. I thought it was so cute and little. It was just perfect for me. So we headed out to the range to do some practice shooting.

The first thing I noticed was it was very hard to aim, and I could barely hit the outer edge of the target. It was cheaply put together and did not have a lot of firing power. It was inexpensive and obviously sold well because of its look. Any gun is powerful if used at a close enough range. But would this gun actually protect me against an intruder?. I did not think so. I decided to search on.

My second purchase was even worse than the first. It was a used Russian revolver. A revolver holds ammunition in a cylinder located directly over the trigger. When I went to the range to try it out I noticed that when I lifted it to shoot, it was heavy and bulky. I took aim at the target and fired three times. I missed the target every time because of the weight and kick of the gun. That however was not the worst of it. The blast was incredible and for half a hour I had problems hearing. For a week after the incident my hearing was fuzzy to say the least. I quickly returned the gun to the store. I had learned two lessons from that purchase.

Bigger it not necessarily better. If a gun is too big and doesn't fit in your hand correctly, you probably are not going to hit your target. Also always wear ear plugs while operating any fire arm. Especially when firing older used models.

I finally selected a nine millimeter, semi-automatic, handgun. Depending on the size, they can hold from ten to 17 rounds. More than the six to eight rounds the revolver holds and it is much easier to load. I have no trouble hitting a target with this gun. It fits comfortably in my hand and although it is loud, it does not hurt my ears.

There are so many choices when purchasing a gun. So many different manufacturers and makes. I can tell you what I like. But when it comes down to it, you have to decide for yourself. So if you are a female interested in owning a firearm search around. Beware of buying used guns and make sure there is a clear return policy if you do decide to purchase one.

Immediately after purchasing the weapon, go directly to the firing range and practice. Learn all the features of the gun. It is a great idea to buy a gun cleaning kit. The gun will perform better when properly cleaned. This insures against jamming or misfiring.

I believe that if a woman feels she needs added protection, there is no reason for her not to buy a firearm. Just follow the safety guidelines. I have been a gun owner for ten years now. I have never had to use it. But I do feel safe and secure knowing that if I need it, it is there. As always keep your firearm up and out of the way of any children.