Santa didn't bring me a .22; it's a .45

[MariaAZ]

He must've gotten mixed up because there's a Ruger P90 .45 ACP under the tree.



The local shooting range offers free ladies' night so I'll be going there soon. However, having never fired a handgun (let alone a .45) I'm worried about recoil and have some reservations about firing it. How are they as far as handling goes? I will want to see someone else fire it at the range before I pull the trigger, but I'd like to have a little insight first.

[Ed Norman]

Like I said in the 44 mag thread, borrow or buy a 22 handgun to learn with. You don't want to develop a flinch this early in your pistolero career.

[MariaAZ]

Ah, good advice. My post in the 44 mag thread was accidental (I didn't realize I was still in a thread)

[denaliguide]

FIRST CHOICE. Typically MATCH ammo is not quite full house, and someone may offer REDUCED RECOIL AMMO

FOR SURE a local handloader can help you, with Loads I like to play with, your basic bullet with just a few grains of powder, feel great to shoot

While I'd not start off with a .45 ACP, it IS what you have and you are an adult also. NOISE is the ENEMY so simply wear the best SOUND REDUCTION you can get and it will reduce "FELT" recoil to a minimum.

The other thing is it i IS a full sized gun and will have some weight to it that will dampen the recoil well.

Last but not least, TRADE the GUN for something you like. I have short arms, so I shorten all my stocks, so you must do the same, customize it for yourself.

Merry Christmas and Good Luck

Originally Posted by MariaAZ

He must've gotten mixed up because there's a Ruger P90 .45 ACP under the tree.



The local shooting range offers free ladies' night so I'll be going there soon. However, having never fired a handgun (let alone a .45) I'm worried about recoil and have some reservations about firing it. How are they as far as handling goes? I will want to see someone else fire it at the range before I pull the trigger, but I'd like to have a little insight first.

[Bearfootfarm]

Recoil with a 45 semi auto is not bad at all.
Wear ear protection, and get someone at the range to help you get started, and before you get through 50 rounds, you'll love it

[zant]

Please don't worry about recoil with your .45...I have taught handgun classes before and women MOST of the time come in with .380 or .38 because some GUY at the gun shop said they could'nt handle a .45...it's a crock-loosen up,hold pistol correctly-trigger finger hand squeezes front and back/off hand squeezes side to side.DON'T try to hold on with all your strength,just hold firmly and let it ride.More women get turned off/shoot wimpy calibers because of "fear".Shoot 200gr wadcutters to start.Rugers are great firearms.

[wigglesworth]

I have helped many a new shooters/womans classes and the BIGGEST issue I find is the noise! I would suggest wearing both plugs AND muffs at least at first to see how you handle that. Most guns are not brutal to shoot. I would see if there was a .22 ya could try out at the range first to get some basic ideas. I know I have lent many a gun on the range to a "newbie" ... do not wear a low cut blouse to help getting help though- if that expended brass flys out and lands in your cleavage all hell breaks loose


A .45 seems to be one of the favorites of the girls I teach personally both family and GF's and the GF's are all on the smaller size... I have a silver custom colt .45 they all seem to love- can I shoot that big sliver one again .... I love hearing that

[ace admirer]

hmmm the 1911 is my favorite,,,,but you did ok.

as a shooting coach....i would be careful of starting out on the 45....thats a fullbore heavy hitter...and as others have pointed out if you develop a flinch,,,,you will have that to overcome. not to discourage you,,,my wife is deadly with the 1911, but we start most people out with air pistols, then 22 pistols, then reduced load full bore, then full bore. i'm sure that there will be a full selection of pistols at the range. enjoy the trip, don't worry about the destination so much.

ok,,,so you,re going to shoot the 45 the first trip out, aren't you,,,,,,so here is my advise to you, flinching is your brains/bodies way of trying to protect itself from injury,,,in this case, noise, physical blow caused by recoil, physical blow caused by muzzle blast and the thought of the recoil...you must wear GOOD hearing protection, GOOD eye proctection, do not resist the recoil, let you whole body ride the recoil, enjoy the ride of the recoil,,its part of the experience. in other words, train your body that there is nothing to fear, its part of the ride, like at the county fair.

oh yeah, usless you are wealthy, you might as well start looking at reloading, and casting equipment....i look around for used loading presses....

ENJOY,,,,i never met a person that didn't like to shoot,,,if you eased them into the sport... that included all gun haters that i have had a chance to work with.

our mistake is in putting an obviously too heavy a hitter in the hands of a starter so we can laugh at the recoil it causes.....BAD for the sport.

[MariaAZ]

Thanks for all the input! I just about laughed 'til I cried at the image of expended brass and cleavage...

The Ruger was one of those "seize the opportunity" situations. DH wanted something larger than a .22 for himself anyways, and wants me to learn how to handle it too. I showed him this thread and after discussing it, I've decided to follow ace admirer's advice to start with something small and work my way up.

Originally Posted by ace admirer

ok,,,so you,re going to shoot the 45 the first trip out, aren't you,,,,,

Nope... after reading the wonderful responses, I'm going try something less-powerful first, so I can accustom myself to handling a handgun. I've only ever fired rifles (and actually never really had given thought to handguns before) so this will be a first!

[hillbillly]

my wife enjoys shooting our .45
and she's no amazon body builder.
she likes the .45 better than our .40
and even better than the 9 mm.

[Ed Norman]

You're smart to start out smaller. Not everyone develops a flinch from trying a bigger handgun too early, but the ones that do are stuck with that flinch for a long time.

[wigglesworth]

Originally Posted by MariaAZ

Thanks for all the input! I just about laughed 'til I cried at the image of expended brass and cleavage...

I have seen expended brass land in many,many unexpected spots over the years. It has happened to men and women and objects.

A hot brass stuck on yer cheek between your shooting glasses and the upper cheek hurts like heck, as does the brass down yer shirt etc...

The one where the brass flew right into the guys plumber butt made for an interesting dance...

and the Bra catch not only made for the dance but the aftermath of all the guys offering to look at the wound/burn to assess the injury and to kiss it and make it better...

[hillbillly]

YouTube

[Cabin Fever]

WIHH shoots a .45acp, revolver, it's her favorite. She will shoot my 1911s, but she likes the revolver even tho it has more kick then my 1911s.