Such a cute finished product! Be sure and send us photos of yours, too!

• 100 empty shotgun shells
• 100 count string of Christmas lights
• 15′ round wire floral wreath
• red ribbon (approx. 2″ wide and 20′ long)
• floral pins (the pins are shaped like staples, but the legs are about 1-1/2″ long)
• glue gun
• bow of choice

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Beretta was incredibly generous with loaning us these amazing guns to review over the weekend. I like to call it our Beretta Buffet.

Lacey shooting up another Storm!

Shooting a .50 cal for the first time! SO exciting! (Photo by Barb Baird – I think)

All the girls (minus Julie Golob- she took the picture) in our Beretta ball caps.

Shooting skeet with the Beretta Xtreme Unico. (photo by Shelley Rae)

Shelley and Marti checking out Shelley’s lovely AR-15.

The lovely Barb Baird (Women’s Outdoor News) loading up a magazine.

Destinee shooting some video. Can’t wait to see it!

Loading up the .50 cal! More to come…

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If you’ve been looking to purchase a firearm for concealed carry, as many Americans are doing, you might have already noticed that there are a lot of different firearms on the market which are supposedly idea for the purpose. While it’s true that many people carry many different handguns and the vast majority of them do so successfully, some handguns offer certain advantages over others.

Especially if you’re new to firearms and don’t currently own one which might be suitable for home defense, you’re probably already considering the possibility that your new concealed carry handgun could also serve as a home defense weapon. Alternately, you might be looking for a home defense firearm first – keep in mind that even if you’re not completely sure that you want to carry a handgun outside your home, it might be a good idea to keep that possibility open.

Pistols, rifles, and shotguns are all viable choices for home defense - but only pistols may also be used for concealed carry.

Most people need some time to get used to the idea that they're carrying a gun.

Pistols, rifles, and shotguns are all viable choices for home defense – but only pistols may also be used for concealed carry.

Many people buy different firearms for these purposes, and they aren’t wrong to do so. In fact, handguns are inferior to shotguns and rifles from a technical standpoint. But with the purchase of additional firearms comes additional costs – not only the cost of the weapon, but also the cost of the different types of ammunition used for handguns, shotguns and rifles.

In addition, more time must be spent maintaining proficiency with different types of firearms. Most people enjoy shooting if they’re introduced to it responsibly, but not everyone can take the time to shoot a number of different firearms on a regular basis.

Using one firearm for both carry and home defense, then, is not an unreasonable course of action. But which handguns fit the bill?

Firearm Size and Caliber

Buying a handgun for concealed carry only works if you actually carry it. Primarily, there are two factors which could negatively affect your desire to continue – or start – carrying a handgun. These are the physical characteristics of the handgun and how much recoil it has.

For the first period of time after you start carrying a handgun, you’re probably going to be uncomfortable simply because of the presence of a handgun on or near your body. It takes a little time to get used to the idea.

However, if the handgun is too big or heavy, it will cause unnecessary physical discomfort. It might also be a little too obvious, or cause “printing” – the outline of the handgun might be visible through your clothes. Therefore, it’s best to avoid unnecessarily large or heavy firearms for concealed carry purposes.

Large handguns are easy to shoot, but not easy to conceal.

That said, you don’t really need to go to the other end of the scale – tiny and extremely light firearms.
Small firearms in major calibers – or even small firearms in general – can be difficult to control. Most people won’t be able to get a good, positive grip on the weapon, and reduced firearm weight combined with a relatively large, fast projectile will always result in stout recoil. These factors combine for an unpleasant and sometimes unproductive shooting experience. Avoiding the use of the firearm because it’s not fun to shoot won’t do you any favors if you have to use it to defend yourself, and you might end up disliking it so much that you don’t carry it at all.

The tiniest firearms are often the hardest to control.

So a sensible course of action for concealed carry is something that’s not too large and heavy, but also not too small and light. Something you can get your hand – or hands – on, and something that you’ll actually want to shoot.

Specific Firearm Models

Perhaps the most obvious example of the type of firearm which fits this bill are the compact and subcompact offerings from Glock and Smith & Wesson – specifically, the Glock 19 Gen 3 and Glock 26, and the Smith & Wesson M&P and M&P Compact. The largest of these is the standard M&P, which is similar to the Glock 19 in length but has a longer grip; the smallest is the Glock 26, although the M&P Compact is very similar in size.

Those who are familiar with Glock model numbers will note that I did not mention the .40 S&W versions of the compact and subcompact Glock. The G19 and G26 are both chambered in 9x19mm, which is an excellent all-around defensive cartridge. It is easier to control than its slightly larger competition, offers a higher magazine capacity, and is also cheaper to buy.

The M&P models are, of course, available in 9mm as well. Compared to the Glocks, they offer the advantage of being more adaptable to right- or left-handed use, as well as an interchangeable backstrap system which allows the user to better fit the pistol to the size of their hands. In addition, the M&P may be disassembled without pulling the trigger, which may be an important feature to some.

A midsize handgun such as a Glock 19, along with a flashlight, is a good choice for self defense, both inside and outside the home.

Glocks offer the advantage of being on the market longer. They have a larger and more robust aftermarket support base, as well as the availability of all manufacturer spare parts. Also, the Glock trigger is regarded as being superior to that of the M&P, although neither comes with what could be considered an excellent match or target trigger. Finally, with stock barrels, Glocks in 9mm are often found to be more accurate than the M&Ps in that caliber, although the differences are likely to be minor and both pistols are liable to be more accurate than most shooters.

Depending on the size and shape of your hands and body, one of these pistols might be a better choice for you than the other. The Glock 26 and M&P Compact are definitely a little easier to conceal, but the Glock 19 and M&P are a little easier to shoot. I highly recommend going to a firearm range that rents handguns out for a nominal fee and shooting each of these pistols – as well as any others you might be interested in – in order to determine which one is the right choice for you.

Each of these firearms would also serve well in a nightstand or small bedside gun safe in addition to being useful for concealed carry. The Glock 26 is the only outlier in that it does not have an accessory rail for the attachment of a weapon-mounted flashlight, but the others do allow lights of various sizes to be attached.

Other Important Factors

Whether you choose to buy a weapon-mounted light or a handheld light, it’s critical that you identify your target before you shoot. The lights in your house might be out or the switch too far away, so take the extra step of buying a good flashlight and keeping it near your firearm. Additionally, night sights are a good option for a home defense or concealed carry firearm.

Regardless of the firearm you end up buying, be sure to practice regularly with it, and educate yourself on the laws regarding self defense in your area. Don’t fret too much about the model or caliber of the handgun you buy. It’s far more important that you know how and when to use it.

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Earlier this week, I decided it was time. Time to take my curiosity and desire of shooting into my own hands. I’ve loved shooting

The lovely and talented Miss Hope.

ever since riflery class in summer camp back when I was 10. But unless it was camp, or a guy friend of mine who owned guns and
could take me out, I didn’t have a clue where to go. Or what to do. And I was scared. And felt stupid. And years passed in between shooting, so every time felt like the first time.

“Can you just go to a shooting range with no knowledge of guns?” I asked myself . “How will I know what to do?” “What if I feel like a total idiot?” “I wish I could find some guy to take me out and show me what to do.”

This has always been the situation. I’ve always wanted to rely on guys or someone else to show me how to do something that I want to know, but I’m scared about. And this time, that’s where I decided to change the story. I decided it was time to take on the
responsibility myself. I want to learn dammit…and I’m GONNA, whether you’re with me or not.

So I clicked around and did some research and found Girls With Guns (https://www.gwgsi.com/), who had a beginner’s handgun course FOR ladies, taught BY ladies. SCORE!

Amazing instructors at https://www.gwgsi.com/

Easy…right?

Well, it scared me still. “What if I sucked?” “What if I was intimidated at the range?” And all those messages replayed in my mind like a record. I woke up in a panic the day after I bought the ticket for the course, and daydreamed about how I was going to call in
sick. And this continued up until the morning, when I went to the range.

But I did it…and this is what happened after:

It was 2 pm, on a sunny but not too hot Sunday afternoon. I pull out of the range parking lot, on to a windy road, and then finally to the main road that led to the 210 freeway. Country music on. Windows down. And I could not have felt more…ALIVE.

For the past four hours, I had been at a beginner’s handgun course. Taught for women, by women. The instructors were two police officers. Nice, charming, funny, and totally badass. The rest of the girls that were there ranged from a trio of sisters who all owned their owned guns and had gone shooting with their husbands many times before, to the Australian woman who had never seen or touched a gun and was kind of scared them.

Sally getting her shoot on with Girls With Guns Shooting Industries.

By the way…this woman was the best shot of the entire day.

We shot 9mm, a .357 revolver, and a 12 gauge shotgun. We learned safety, and proper handling, and proper shooting. And I learned more that one day than I had ever learned in all my other times shooting – combined. And I felt grateful for this class, and proud of myself for going.

Leaving the range that day, all I could do was picture my future revolver sitting in my car. Shiny. Nice. In it’s case. Feeling badass. Feeling feminine. Completely competent. Unafraid.

And as I was driving along, wind in my hair, smile on my face, I realized I learned four things from this experience:
1) Guys aren’t the only ones who can teach you how to do things that guys normally do.
2) Don’t rely solely on others for your happiness. Must take matters into your own hands.
3) What you want, wants you, and there is always a way to find what you need.
4) Shooting guns, and being safe about it, is totally awesome.

What are your beginner shooting stories? What was it like the first time you went to the range alone? What life lessons have you learned from shooting? Leave a comment below and share your stories.

From one Gun Girl to another…I salute you.

Sally Hope, The Unconventional Traditionalist, is a Blogger/Love and Life Coach who loves hot-pink lipstick, guns, crosswords and cowboys. A former Rockstar (https://youtu.be/jpgCAkSHxNQ), she has taken her show from the stage to the road by traveling around the US in an RV while coaching her clients and inspiring people to live their own Rockstar Lifestyles. Her latest obsessions include traveling, country swing dancing, motorcycles, LOVE, chips and salsa, and adventuring. Whatever it is you are wanting in your life, she will help you get there faster. You can find her at her website (https://sallyhope.com) or her Facebook page (https://facebook.com/xosally) Twitter (https://twitter.com/sallyhopesays) or getting ridiculous on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/sallyhopesays)

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While I grew up in a household with guns, I am not, nor was I ever, a hunter. Don’t get me wrong. I like meat. A lot.

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Do you want to know the secret to a good marriage?  Here is one tip: “It’s not what you say, it’s what you don’t say that keeps you together”.  Take my husband, Michael, and I for instance.  When we decided to get married we talked through many scenarios to make sure there were as few surprises as possible.  We knew we wanted to work hard, have kids and buy a house…with no guns. Yes, I was never going to allow a gun in my home, especially a home with children in it.

It’s not like I’d had a bad experience with guns. Society taught me that guns were wrong.  I’d heard every anti-gun argument out there without ever getting the other side.  I didn’t want them anywhere near my child or me. One would think that Michael, a veteran of the Marine Corps, would’ve had something to say about that, but he didn’t.  He kept quiet.  At that time, we were living in New York City and Michael knew it would be ridiculous to argue since it would be next to impossible to own a gun in NYC.  He probably also knew that the more he pushed, the more I would pull away.  Let’s face it; once you put a stake in the ground, you don’t want to move it.

In 2004 we made the trek to Los Angeles where we bought our first home. This was the first time in my adult life that I lived in a home instead of an apartment and I’ve got to say, I was a little nervous.  I wasn’t sure I liked living so exposed.  Plus, now we had a little boy that we both wanted to protect.  Shortly after we moved in, a man came to our door requesting some gasoline.  Being a New Yorker, I was overly suspicious and denied his request for me to take him to our garage where he could look for something to help start his car.  But I was worried that I was being an unfriendly neighbor since he claimed to live on our street and had a little girl that just died (all BS by the way).  Michael knew better.  As I turned to get his attention with my hand on the door, he positioned himself in a spot where the man could not see him and put his finger to his mouth so that I did not alert the man to his presence.  If the man had tried to force his way in then Michael could always use the element of surprise…but not a gun since I would not allow it.  A few months later, a neighboring house was robbed.

I didn’t feel comfortable and I don’t like being uncomfortable in my own home.  Michael knew it and suggested he get a gun.  We talked about my concerns and he explained to me the steps he would take to keep it safe and inaccessible to our son.  I thought about it for a long time and made a decision to trust my husband.  I was confident that he knew what he was doing and it was important for him to be able to protect us.

Now, you’ve heard the saying,  “Guns are like tattoos.  You can’t have just one.”  Well, it’s true.  So, several guns later, I could say I felt safe.  But was I being responsible?  What if Michael was out and I needed to protect my son and myself?  What good would a gun do me if I didn’t know the first thing about shooting it?  Plus, I was really enjoying all those shooting shows on TV like Top Shot and Sons of Guns.  Maybe it was time to exercise my 2nd Amendment right.

Mother’s Day seemed like as good a day as any to learn how to shoot.  Michael packed up the truck and we went to the local indoor range with two of my best girlfriends. They had been shooting most of their lives and were always up for some shooting—the perfect support group.  It wasn’t the first time I ever fired a gun so I can’t say I was scared (although it does take a moment to get used to the noise of the surrounding guns and one of the main reasons I would suggest shooting outdoors for the first time.)  I had some difficulty with the sights for I have a blind spot in my right eye.  Michael did an excellent job of explaining gun safety and the basics of shooting.  I no longer feared guns and wanted to become a shooter.  I thought I should have my own gun so that I could become proficient with it.  Michael gave me the gun I shot that day, a Smith and Wesson M&P.  Since then, we have been shooting several times.  Instead of date night at the movies or a restaurant, we often opt for a couple hours at a range.  I learn more each time and I improve with each shot.  Of course I do, I have a great teacher.

Maybe women look at guns differently than men?  I know there are women out there that grew up around guns and don’t have the same fears.  I also know that there are many women that have never even seen a real gun let alone shot one.  Maybe we want to feel secure enough in our relationship or ourselves before we allow such a huge responsibility into our lives.  There is a lot of trust that goes into firing a loaded weapon and you need to make sure your relationship can handle the responsibility.

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Let the contest begin! Lightfield Less Lethal and Girls Guide to Guns  want to hear your stories and see your photos. Here is how it works:

1) Send in 1-3 photos of you and your shotgun.

2) Answer one, two or all three of the following questions questions in a paragraph. Please keep it under 500 words.

• What do you love about shooting?
• What does shooting mean to you?
• Why and how did you get in to shooting?

Send all entries to natalie@girlsguidetoguns.com

The top three winners selected by Girls Guide and Lightfield will find their photos and stories posted on this site and they will receive a gift box of Lightfield Less Lethal ammunition*. Be sure and check out the Lightfield Less Lethal website to learn more about their products.

Contest ends Tuesday, 12/13/11. Winners announced on or before Friday, 12/16/11.

*in states where shipping ammo is legal

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By Annette D.

Yes, I’m a female and yes, I have a firearm… several in fact. Should I look or act a certain way because I own and shoot a firearm? No. Then why do people act the way they do when they find out?

I got a call yesterday from a businessman I work with on and off.  We’ve never met, I live in the Northeast, he lives out West.  We worked together for a few months and then he changed gears and didn’t need my services for the time being.  I’d get a call every few months to check in and keep in touch.  Life was good.

Yesterday’s call was apparently prompted by my Google+ profile picture.  It’s me firing at a target.  “Your Google profile picture, is that you?”

The picture in question..

Me: Umm, yes.  Him: With a gun?  You have a gun?  Me: I have several firearms.  Him: Why.  Me: Because I shoot?

I changed the subject back to business and a few minutes later he mentioned that he wondered if it were smart for me to use a picture “like that” on a public profile.  I was polite, as I was hoping to do more work for him in the future, but REALLY? Is it that bad? Am I missing something? I explained that my Google+ profile is used mainly to keep in touch with other firearms enthusiasts that I’ve met on various forums and I don’t use it to solicit business, not that I would be worried that my profile picture would hinder that.  My work speaks for itself. Then I get this…”Wow, between the gun picture and your Skype picture, you must be some kind of a control freak, no?” My Skype picture is me on my horse.

Is this the photo of a control freak?

At this point, I felt the need to be less polite than I had been during the conversation because I now no longer cared if I work for him again. My answer was simply, “I have a horse, and I have firearms, I do not see what one has to do with the other, nor do I see where you’re going with this, or how it would affect our working relationship. We have a business relationship, my personal life is none of your business, nor is your personal life any of mine.”

I’m a proud NRA member. I’m a proud American. Why are people so phobic of firearms and those of us who choose to own and enjoy them? You don’t want one? That’s your choice! I happen to enjoy mine, so leave me alone. He ended up asking me to look into something for him, but I’m not at all sure now I want to even deal with him again.

Is it because I’m a woman? Would a male associate of his even be questioned? Just the fact that he felt the need to bring it up (twice) upsets me… anybody ever have anything similar happen to them? How did you deal with it?

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