Most people are wary of recoil when first introduced to the shooting sports.
This is understandable, since it is talked about a great deal in the popular gun magazines and blogs. But I have found that noise and flash are more unsettling to the new handgun shooter than recoil.
Let us face it, it simply is not a natural act to hold on to something that makes the sound of thunder. In fact, the perfectly reasonable and natural reaction is to drop the damn thing and run screaming. I think that firing a handgun with calm grace and accuracy is a triumph of the thinking and civilized mind over the primitive. But first we have to conquer the gibbering monkey that is trying to screw things up.
One of my most recent students was a very small woman, with teensy hands. I started her out on an autoloader chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge, as I do for everyone, and gradually introduced her to full sized duty guns firing the more potent 9mm Parabellum or .38 Special. The idea is to get them used to the less intimidating report of the .22 before going on to something more suitable for defense. The large steel frames of the duty guns damp out recoil, so the 9mm still feels about the same as the .22. It is just louder, after all, and the student can concentrate on controlling the handgun without having to worry about uncomfortable or excessive muzzle flip.
But the fact that my student has small hands was a problem. The grip of the L-frame revolver and double stack 9mm was too large for her hands to comfortably span. She didn't like the larger guns, and wanted to try something smaller. Specifically she wanted to give my .38 snubbie a go.
After I let her get used to that for awhile, I suggested that she hang a speed loader pouch off of her belt and give that a try. She had a lot of fun with that.
I purchased this gun with an eye towards using it in my course, as I have done with all my firearms. It might have a short barrel, but it is still a medium frame revolver constructed of steel instead of a light alloy. It also damps out recoil, but the shorter barrel means that there is a great deal of muzzle flash from unburned powder with every shot.
This is problematic, because I wanted to increase her comfort level with noise before working on flash. She was flinching pretty badly with every shot when she was on the 9mm and full sized .38, so I thought that it would just get worse if she also had to contend with a flashbulb going off in her face with every shot.
But the student sometimes moves at their pace instead of mine, and there was really no reason to keep her on the other guns. So I uncased the snubbie and watched her load it up.
She loved it! Perfect fit for her, it seems. The flash actually seemed to increase her confidence in some way, made her feel more in control. Sometimes it works out that way.
The next day we tried out the various carry methods available. It seems that she didn't have any pants loose enough to slip the .38 inside her waistband, not because she was pudgy but because she was so small and slim that there just wasn't enough room. Shoulder holsters are uncomfortable because her ribs are too close to the surface and she gets bone bruises, ankle holsters are out because the same thing happens on the boney knob over the foot.
Looks like she will have to use paddle holsters or belt slides, where she can keep the gun outside of her pants and on her belt. That started another round of problems because she favors jackets that only go down to the waist, so she really doesn't have anything in her wardrobe that will cover the gun.
We're going to have to go back to the range so she can try a J-frame snubbie. If she is comfortable with the lighter and smaller revolver, then we can probably get it inside her waistband and problem solved!
If not, I'm going to buy her some pants with two extra inches at the waist. That and some suspenders. I doubt she will appreciate the fashion statement this makes, but that won't be my problem.
Comments (6)
You might consider a Kangaroo holster for her. My wife has one, and it is her favorite. Basically a canvas belly band with a single elastic suspender on the gun side. Fits a variety of guns, fits a J-frame nearly perfectly.
Posted by Sevesteen![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.hellinahandbasket.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 27, 2008 10:07 AM
Posted on November 27, 2008 10:07
One thing that sometimes helps on the flash is different ammo; some powders seem to produce a lot more than others.
Couple of years ago got a box of Remington hollowpoint 9mm to try out, that had more flash than any other I tried; shot well, but the flare at the muzzle was downright impressive compared to the others.
Posted by Firehand | November 29, 2008 12:34 PM
Posted on November 29, 2008 12:34
OT: I remember your post about the cops in combat getting shot while looking for the brass bucket.
Something related to that may have happened to cops in Bombay.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/article14086308.ece
Posted by Steven Den Beste![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.hellinahandbasket.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 29, 2008 9:26 PM
Posted on November 29, 2008 21:26
I reload for my .357 Magnum specifically for a large flash and bang. Using feather light 110 grain bullets pushed by a large amount of Blue Dot powder, the report itself is enough to send small children scurrying away, but the recoil is nonexistent considering the 6" Dan Wesson absorbs most of it.
It would be an interesting experiment to watch someone shoot .38 Specials out of it (which literally sound more like a thud than a bang) then switch 'em over to my "Sound and Fury" loads which have the same kick, but are exponentially louder, and see how they react.
Granted, this is a thought experiment and not something I'd actually do since I'd hate to scare a new shooter away.
Posted by Robb Allen | December 1, 2008 8:41 AM
Posted on December 1, 2008 08:41
"It would be an interesting experiment to watch someone shoot .38 Specials out of it (which literally sound more like a thud than a bang) then switch 'em over to my "Sound and Fury" loads which have the same kick, but are exponentially louder, and see how they react."
Depends on the person doing the shooting, of course. But I would like to note that one of my early students actually dropped her .357 snubbie when she first loaded it up with Magnum loads during a low light exercise.
After that, I always took steps to prepare the student for the flash. No one ever dropped their gun again, and it seems to decrease the natural nervousness that they feel when trying something new.
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | December 1, 2008 8:53 AM
Posted on December 1, 2008 08:53
You know, I can't honestly say I can ever remember seeing any muzzle flash except in extreme low light situations. I also don't tend to have a flinch problem. Guess it's because I grew up shooting the BB gun first, next to people shooting everything from .22lrs and UP (WAY up), and I came along slowly, and as needed
Pistols are interesting for me, as I can count my number of chances to shoot them on my fingers and toes (I live in NYC - getting a permit - haha). That said, the last 4 times I've been out pistol shooting (2 different owners) I out shot both owners.
One was the first time I ever shot a 1911a1 - boy I like that gun. Loaded the magazine, demoed the manual of arms with the pistol unloaded, stepped to the line with a Q target at 25 yards, and shot all 10s, 5xs. Handed the gun back to the owner, and nonchalantly said "Nice pistol" (while inside saying - I couldn't do that again if I wanted, and shaking my head), and walked off the range
Needless to say, I got a few looks
Posted by kg2v![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.hellinahandbasket.net/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 1, 2008 5:03 PM
Posted on December 1, 2008 17:03