Have you ever been caught in that awkward situation when someone is

talking to you about a particular subject you know next to nothing about? And, of course,  that person expects you to know as much as he does? And then you feel a bit sheepish and nod your head as if you understand but in reality you’ve totally spaced out and your thoughts are darting between whether to eat that two-day-old chocolate souffle in your fridge and if mimicking  a “Single Ladies” remix clip over and over qualifies as a work out video?

We have all been there, right?

And for the record, it doesn’t count. I’ve tried. It’s the heels. Can’t do a darn thing in them unless you’re Beyonce, apparently.

So if this ‘feeling silly’ thing is such a common occurrence, why do we let it get to us? Especially when we get that “you should know all about this” look and tone of voice on the subject of firearms? I mean what stiletto-savvy chick knows about retractable stocks and gas piston upper receivers off the top of her head? Come ON! It’s confusing and technical and just flat overwhelming…. particularly when you are brand new to the subject.

Here’s a little tip from a Girls’ Guide favorite, Champion Shooter Julie Goloski: “There is more information out there on guns than there is on cars!”

Whew! THANK YOU!!! What a relief! So nice to hear that from an expert!!

I’ve gotta be honest- that first paragraph describes most of my experience at the SHOT show. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the show. I met some truly amazing women and had a great time learning about the industry. That said, I felt like and IDIOT half the time! And for the record, I may not belong to Mensa, but I’m no idiot.

Sadly, I think many of us feel that way around firearms. We feel stupid (which we’re not) and a little embarrassed (which we shouldn’t), and all of that makes us want to throw our hands up (yes, that’s a Beyonce reference) and stay away from guns altogether.  That experience at SHOT solidified my goal of eliminating these obstacles through Girls’ Guide to Guns.

So in order to achieve said objective, I say screw embarrassment, I’m just gonna start asking. It’s the only way to learn, right?

So…Here goes nothin:

My friend Eric and I were talking shop in the office and he was explaining what he did to customize his hand-built AR-15. This is one intimidating gun, in my book. That fact, of course, only makes me want to shoot it more. He told me about the “Gas Piston Upper Receiver” that he added to the gun himself.

“Um… the what??”

Yeah, that was my first thought, too. And so I asked him. And then he answered. And I learned something. And it was awesome. Funny how that works, ain’t it? This ‘asking’ thing might work out after all.

Awesome Eric shared this link with me to help me better understand what a gas piston upper receiver does. Evidently this special part increases efficiency within the firearm and “eliminates Heat, Carbon build up and Gas Leaks which can have an adverse effect on the operating system. The biggest issue being HEAT. A weapon’s first priority, must be RELIABILITY.” (from the Ranier Arms website) All of these things are useful if you are, say, in a desert war zone.

And just to give a girl a visual, Awesome Eric sent over this video which explains not only the gas piston upper receiver, but SO much more about how semi-automatic weapons work. Take a gander for yourself:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Helpful, right?

See what a difference a question can make?!

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I’m always so excited when I get to pick up a new gun. I look at my new purchase in awe thinking, “Wow, this is MINE”. This time the newest member of the family was a Mossberg 510 mini shotgun. It’s my first shotgun and it will be perfect for me and to teach my kids with as well. As I look at it, all I can think about is taking it to the range, but it’s about ten o’clock at night now and the range won’t be open until 10 am tomorrow.

It’s exactly this feeling that I want to see other female firearms owners experience. What I have seen after taking women to the range and speaking with others is that some women have a tendency to hold back on how they feel about owning and shooting guns (at least in this part of the USA). It’s almost like they feel they don’t have the right to really own one or a place in that world — I don’t know why, but I imagine that it has something to do with shooting not being a “feminine” activity. That it’s not OK to express an interest in things that are loud and make really big holes in the target. But after speaking with the women who have come shooting with me, I learned they quickly realize how empowering and fun it can be, too.

The days of the quiet, polite female who takes a back seat in a man’s world are long since gone, but society’s stereotypes die hard and there are still those who might view certain sports and activities as masculine. I wasn’t raised this way, in fact, in my family all the kids were treated equally regardless of gender. My brother took his turn washing the dishes and cooking dinner, and my sisters and I put in our time mowing the lawn and helping my father with projects in the garage. My parents always told my four sisters and me that we could do anything we wanted, and they stood behind us all the way. I never would have thought I couldn’t own, handle, or even build guns if I put my mind to it and wanted it badly enough. It took me a while to realize that not everyone is as fortunate as we were.

I find it interesting to read about strong women who stand out and do things that are not considered “ladylike”. For example, on July 4th, I read the story of Sonya Thomas, who at 5 feet and 105 pounds has become a competitive eating champion. She gets up in front of crowds of spectators and beats her male competitors time and time again, often to the jeers of the audience and sometimes with a barrage of garbage raining down on her. Say what you will about the gross out factor of competitive eating, the fact that Sonya walked into a stadium full of Philly fans to compete in the 2005 Wing Bowl where she was touted by the crowd as the “feminist villain” shows that she has a confidence that is admirable. This past July 4th she won the annual Nathan’s hotdog eating contest in the newly created women’s division.

And then you have someone like Bonnie, a 70 year old grandmother who found a man had broken into her New Hampshire home undressed, and was sitting at her kitchen table eating a meal from her refrigerator. She was rightly concerned about the safety of her grandson asleep upstairs and grabbed a bat and starting beating the man until he left the house. Bonnie told the media, “I don’t want anyone to ever think they can hurt my family and get away with it. You have got to take care of yourself,” she says, “You’re not weak, be strong. There’s always a way to protect yourself. Use it.” Exactly. Now that is a woman who has confidence in herself, and it showcases that no one should ever feel the need to hold back when protecting themselves — male or female.

These are two different women, who feel comfortable enough with themselves to act outside what can be considered acceptable for women in our society. They are two women who are not afraid to draw on the confidence they feel inside themselves and do what feels right for them. I understand it can be hard to walk into male dominated environments, like a gun shop or shooting range, especially alone. This is one of the reasons I decided to become a firearms instructor. I enjoy introducing students, and especially women, to the world of firearms.

Once women make the decision to go for it and enter the range, I find many are afraid to handle the gun because of a fear they might break it. So they handle it gently, like it’s fragile or irreplaceable. Don’t be afraid to handle your gun roughly ladies! (By this I mean don’t pick it up like you would a newborn infant). A 9mm handgun can withstand twenty five thousand pounds of blow back pressure (psi) when you pull the trigger; believe me, even if you are at the gym every day, you can’t duplicate that kind of power. It’s actually better not to assist or baby your gun when chambering a round. Rack the slide and let it fly forward. Really get to know your firearm, touch everything on it and know how it works! Please be safe though and follow all safe gun handling rules including making sure it’s unloaded first. The gun is just a tool to get the job done, it’s no different than many other tools you will use on a daily basis. And it’s your tool. Whether your goal is to send some rounds down range at a piece of paper for fun or to gain some experience in order to keep a gun for self defense, like any other tool you own, knowing intimately how it works will allow it to work best for you.

It doesn’t matter if you want to shoot in pink earmuffs, or you buy a rifle DuraCoated in a purple camouflage pattern — in fact, bedazzle your gun case if you like, because it only matters how you feel inside about shooting your gun. You are just as capable and probably more responsible, than the guy in the next port. Don’t assume he knows any more than you do. Don’t misunderstand; my goal is only to encourage women to have confidence in their own ability to handle a gun. I have been the recipient of much encouragement and support of male instructors and gun owners.

I look at shooting as my time to relax so I often enjoy shooting alone. It’s at least as good as a visit to the spa. I have to clear my mind and turn off my phone to concentrate on what I am doing, especially if I want to shoot well. But I know that sometimes it’s easier to go with a friend.

My favorite experience was taking a friend to shoot who was sure she just would not be able to do it. Yes, of course she thought it was great that I could but there was no reasoning with her. It was too complicated, too much recoil, too much unfounded fear that she could never protect herself — that it wasn’t her job, her right, her responsibility to do so. After she fired the handguns, and very well I might add, I convinced her to shoot the AR-15. After the first round, she just paused and then looked at me. “Wow,” she said, “that felt great. I can do this. I feel so empowered.” Hello, and welcome to my world. Remember ladies, it’s your gun, don’t be afraid of it. Own it.

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It’s good to live in a society where you can dial 911 when you need help. You know that at some point, law enforcement, an ambulance or the fire department will show up ready to assist you in whatever ways they can. The only question you may have is, “What do I do until help arrives?”

Sometimes, you only have a few seconds to decide what you are going to do in an emergency situation, and those few moments can
mean the difference between life and death. In some life-threatening situations, you have the ability and responsibility to protect yourself, and you should take full advantage of your own right to safety and survival. There are many people who will be completely willing to take advantage of you if you let them. You need to be prepared for self-defense. Gun ownership and training in the use of that gun can be your answer.

Natalie Instructing a First Time Shooter - Photo By Jack Nischik

First, where do you start the search for the right gun? Don’t forget that one of the most important items to have in your personal arsenal is knowledge. Think about your goals and reasons for purchasing a firearm. Are you looking for a gun for yourself or your significant other? Some guns will fit a man better than a woman and vice versa. What do you want to accomplish if you have to fire your gun? Do you want to stop an intruder or attacker in his tracks? If that’s the case, you will want a gun that is accurate, a trait found in larger pistols. Do you want to carry your gun with you? If so, a smaller gun will be lighter in weight and easier to conceal, but remember that you will also need to acquire a concealed carry permit. Another issue to consider when purchasing a gun is the reliability of the firearm. You need your gun to work for you whenever the moment arises. Be open to arming yourself and your spouse differently so that you both feel comfortable using a gun. A great place to find guns for men and women are online auctions. It’s nice to know that someone has used the gun you are considering purchasing because they can give you the particulars and history before you buy it. Some auctions cater to both men and women, realizing that they will have different needs.

Another consideration when choosing a gun is the caliber. A smaller caliber will usually be faster and have greater accuracy in repeated firing, but will suffer in energy and force. A larger caliber has a tendency to damage the target more severely. When firing in self-defense, you will want to stop your target by inflicting enough damage. Keep in mind that some bullets do a better job of penetrating further into the target than others. It may be helpful to purchase your gun from a source where you can also purchase the needed ammunition. Again, go to an auction for a terrific selection in guns and ammunition. You will find variety and pricing that fits your needs and budget, and you will have the opportunity to shop on your own time and for your own needs.

After you’ve found the best gun for you, get the appropriate training. A great gun that fits you well cannot compensate for lack of training in how to use the gun at the right time and in the right place. Your gun can give you security once you’ve taken the time to learn about it. Don’t skimp on knowledge. You want your gun to save your life when you need it to, not get in the way. When you remember that your gun is for your protection and you are the one who is accountable for its use, you will be much closer to your goals of being a responsible gun owner who is capable of self-protection.

Photo By Jack Nichik

About the Author: Tammy Anderson is a wife, mother, school teacher and gun enthusiast. She lives in Texas with her family.

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Healthy Vision for a Lifetime of Shooting

For many new female shooters, shooting quickly becomes a favorite hobby, and oftentimes a lifelong sport. In order to be successful and tear up the target, however, shooters rely on crystal clear vision. Here are some things to look out for when it comes to your vision, and ways to ensure that you’ll be seeing clearly and shooting well whether you’re in your 20s, 40s, or beyond.

Healthy vision at any age:

The best way to maintain healthy vision at any age is to get a regular eye exam. Other ways to maintain healthy vision are to eat a balanced diet, refrain from smoking, get lots of exercise, and wear sunglasses.

Anti-Impact Glasses from Packing in Pink

Eye protection is absolutely essential when shooting. Every shooter has different vision needs, and there’s no shortage of choices  in lenses and styles on the market today. Shooting glasses, shooting goggles and safety glasses all have different looks and benefits. Each shooter’s selection depends on their vision needs, age, safety requirements, shooting environment and even the type of gun they’re using.

What to watch out for in your 20s and 30s:

Nearsightedness

The eye’s cornea directs light onto the lens, and the lens focuses the light onto the retina. In an eye with perfect distance vision, the relaxed lens will focus a distant object on the retina. In a nearsighted eye, however, the relaxed lens will focus distant objects somewhere short of the retina. A nearsighted person can usually focus on close objects, but distant objects are fuzzy. Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the most common solutions for nearsightedness.

Farsightedness

In a farsighted eye, the relaxed lens will focus distant objects somewhere beyond the back of the eye. Distant objects will appear fuzzy, and closer objects will be even fuzzier. Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the most common solutions for nearsightedness.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism results when the cornea is not perfectly spherical in shape. The result is a “lopsided,” somewhat cylindrical sphere that does not focus all of the light rays entering the eye onto a single point on the retina. This means that objects at all distances will appear somewhat blurred.  Astigmatism can often occur in conjunction with nearsightedness or farsightedness, but people with perfect distance vision can also have astigmatism. Eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct for astigmatism by focusing light rays on a single plane.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS)

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) may occur from using a computer for long periods of time. To minimize the effects of CVS, make sure the lighting in the room is adequate to avoid glare from the computer screen, and position the screen so that your head is in a comfortable position.

What to watch out for in your 40s and 50s:

As we age, our eyes progressively lose the ability to focus over the full range of vision from far to near. This happens to everyone, regardless of regular distance vision correction, and takes place gradually over time. The cause is presbyopia, a condition in which the eye’s crystalline lens becomes increasingly inflexible.

The eye’s cornea directs light onto the lens, and the lens focuses the light onto the retina. In an eye with perfect distance vision, the relaxed lens will focus a distant object on the retina. When we are young, the lens can change shape (increase curvature) to focus on objects at closer distances. The closer the object, the greater the curvature required. The ability to do this is known as “accommodation.” As we age and the eye’s lens becomes increasingly inflexible, its accommodation declines. Most people first notice a difficulty in adjusting between distances around the age of 45, and by the time they are 65, they will have lost virtually all of their accommodation.

Presbyopia

To overcome presbyopia, many shooters rely on multifocal lenses such as bifocals, trifocals or progressive lenses. Many other shooters switch between multiple pairs of glasses throughout the day. Fortunately in today’s age of modern medicine, there are various ways to overcome presbyopia, such as special adjustable glasses, night vision, scopes and other optical sighting devices.

Glaucoma

While there are several types of glaucoma, the disorder usually occurs from a buildup of internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP). This increased pressure damages the eye’s optic nerve, disrupting the transmission of visual information to the brain. This disrupt in transmission of visual information can cause a decreased ability to see at the edges of your vision (peripheral vision). Progressive glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness. Glaucoma surgery, lasers, medication and eye drops are the most common solutions for glaucoma, depending on the severity of the disorder.

Cataracts

The eye’s cornea directs light onto the lens, and the lens focuses the light onto the retina. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. Cataracts occur when the protein in the eye’s lens clumps together to cloud a small area. Cataracts can grow larger over time and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see. Cataract surgery, bifocals, magnification and other visual aids are the most common solutions for glaucoma, depending on their severity.

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD or ARMD, is the degeneration of the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for the sharp, central vision needed to read or drive. Macular degeneration can be either dry (non-neovascular) or wet (neovascular). Neovascular macular degeneration refers to the growth of new blood vessels where they are not supposed to be. The dry form is more common than the wet form, and the wet form usually leads to more serious vision loss. While there is no cure for age-related macular degeneration, there are treatments to delay its progression. By looking out for these vision conditions and protecting your eyes, you’ll be seeing clearly and shooting well at any age.

About the Author

Caitlin is a shooter who works with Superfocus, the makers of an adjustable focus lens for presbyopia that is popular amongst shooters. She is also a member of Steve’s Angels, the moderators of the Superfocus Staying on Target community for shooters overcoming age related vision changes. The Staying on Target community and OnTarget blog provides information and commentary on shooting, aging and vision and is located online at https://shoot.superfocus.com/.

@SuperfocusShoot

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As we recover from all the fun of this year’s events we thought we’d share some highlights and insights with you.  We have lots of video to upload over the following weeks, including interviews about female-centric product lines with Browning, Beretta, SHE and several others.   There were more products and information in that convention center than we could possibly ever see over a short 4-day conference, but we brought plenty back to share with you.

The firearms manufacturers are beginning to understand that female shooters are a force to be reckoned with. We saw new lines of products for women from manufacturers including Walther, Taurus, and Tru-Spec among others. We’ve gotta hand it to these manufacturers – they are making a serious effort to cater to the ladies, which is a very good sign that the new female shooter movement has momentum.  We found clothing cut specifically for women that will be offered in non-pink colors (though pink did reign supreme at the show), and many of the firearms have smaller grips and/or softer recoil for our hands and shoulders.  There were plenty of solid concealed carry options for women presented at the show, too. We at GG2G are loving this new trend.  Keep it up, gentlemen!

We were privileged to be the subject of an interview for the NRA News and a post on the NRA Blog.  We also caught up with Karen and Jessica of the Women’s Tactical Association.  We’re huge fans of this organization.  They are doing some super cool training to keep police and armed citizens safe and we are thrilled to be involved with them.  We’ll have an article on them up soon.  We also had a chance to spend some time with our good friends at GunUp.com.  These folks are set to corner the market of online firearms information, social networking, and marketing.  Head on over there to sign up and see what we mean.  While checking out some high tech gear at the LaRue Tactical booth (recommended by our good friend Brad Thor), we got a chance to chat up the Governor of our favorite State, Mr. Rick Perry of Texas.

And what SHOT Show would be complete without spending some time with our old friends like the lovely Julie Goloski-Golob and the fabulous Kim Rhode? We met countless other fantastic folks who we are very excited to work with in the near future including OutdoorBlog.net, The Mako Group, Freedom Arms and Fabrique National Herstal among many more. And a special shout out goes to two male members of Team HK who are super supportive of us – you can catch them sporting our gear while they’re competing on the range this season.

In other news – if you are a single female like me and happen to be able to get to the SHOT Show, you’ll be on prime real estate.  This is a place where you can catch plenty of eye candy along with the latest in gun technology.  The male/female ratio definitely falls in our favor.  What can I say?  I like a man in uniform, even if he’s wearing civilian clothes!

We’ve got much more to tell you over the next few weeks about the newest and latest products at SHOT, so be sure and check back often!

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Amtrak lifts ban on guns

By Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY

Amtrak will allow passengers to transport unloaded guns on trains, reversing a decade-old ban in place since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The ban lifts Dec. 15.

Travelers can check firearms, including hand guns, starter pistols, rifles and shotguns, and up to 11 pounds of ammunition, at any train station that offers checked baggage service and if the travelers’ itinerary includes a train with a baggage car. Most big city train stations, including New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington, have checked baggage service.

The gun prohibition “was an overreaction” after 9/11, said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who proposed lifting the ban as part of a 2010 appropriations bill.

“The rule was not based on any facts or any reality, and was frankly punitive toward sportsman, hunters and gun owners,” Wicker said. “Amtrak was unable to accommodate hunters and sportsmen. They were forced to choose only air travel.”

The new rules bring train travel in line with air travel, where passengers are allowed to check firearms in an airplane’s baggage compartment, Wicker said.

Story continued Here.

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• Shop around - you’ll get different perspectives from different shooters, and every once in a while, there’ll be a woman behind the counter!  You also never know what kind of bargain you might run into!
• Try before you buy - asking a male or female friend for advice on which handgun to shoot is a great starting point, but you’ll likely get as many suggestions as people you ask.  So definitely head to a range where you can try out a variety of types of guns and figure out what fits you.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions – look, we admit going into a range or gun shop can be intimidating.  Either go in with a variety of questions already in mind, or be sure and ask plenty you think of while you’re there.  If you get any pushback, then say thank you and move on to the next shop.
• Check out a gun show - in some instances, when you go to a gun show, you can get a good deal on a gun; but only do this if you have a specific gun in mind to purchase.
• Function >>>> Fashion – yes, it’s hard for us to admit, but this is one instance where looks don’t matter.  Function in a firearm is the most important thing to look for. Sure, it’d be fun to have a pink gun, but when it really matters, how your gun looks is not as important as how it works and, more importantly, how well it fits you.
• Have enough & the right type of ammo – we don’t mean the right caliber, but the right function.  There are multitudes of different types of bullets for each gun; make sure you buy the right ones for what you intend to use your gun.
• Gun safety – we talk about gun safety a lot on here, but make sure that you take precautionary measures if anyone but you will have access to your guns (think: kids).  There are all sorts of safes and locks out there you can use, but be sure and get what will be best for you.

Thanks to Jennifer Kendall, the task now seems much less daunting. Read on:

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Laura Browder published the definitive work on the subject of ‘Women and Guns in America’ just a few short years ago. So definitive, in fact, that the phrase just happens to be the subtitle to her book.

Her Best Shot: Women and Guns in America is filled with examples of historical women who pioneered both America and the legacy that we now hold dear as firearms fans.

Over the course of what’s left of the month, we’ll be plowing through this book to bring you our favorite lessons gleaned from Browder’s skillful stylings.

For now, we highly recommend you pick up a copy of the book for yourself!

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