Bring Enough Gun
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That was an old saying from a gun writer, referring to hunting African game. But, the flip side is also true.
Men love to overgun their wives. Guys who teach CCW classes tell me this all the time and I've noted it, too. Case in point...
I like the Hellcat. Reliable, fast sight picture, ergonomic, light and very high capacity in a very small package. Twelve rounds of 9x19 in a pocket pistol. My SIL's husband just bought her one.
It's the wrong gun. Like a lot of people who don't shoot as much as she should, coupled with the fact that the Hellcat is a small, but powerful small handgun, she flinches. Bad. Caught her on video shutting her eyes and dropping the muzzle a bit, while anticipating blast and recoil. She couldn't shoot a three foot group at ten yards.
Now, take away the Hellcat and substitute a Ruger SR22 (22LR).
The groups shrink to about four inches at ten yards and the video no longer shows the flinch. In short, she's not afraid of the weapon. Let me assure you, getting hit with a .22hp in the chest makes for a much worse day, than being scared by the noise of a 9mm.
Moral of the story? Just because you're enamored with the latest loudenboomer or the gun writer's darling, don't buy too much gun for somebody that may not be able to handle it.
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A .22 can do plenty of damage and is a fine choice for a carry piece. Especially if you can hit your target with it.
@mik Agreed! .22s are also more accurate due to the reasons Jolly mentioned. It takes practice to not flinch. Flinching is an involuntary muscle movement. You have to un-learn it. To un-lean it with a large recoil gun, you have to practice and keep practicing.
You pretty much un-learn the flinch after the first shot with a 22.
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Pretty sure my wife's got one. (Ruger that is.)
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@mik Agreed! .22s are also more accurate due to the reasons Jolly mentioned. It takes practice to not flinch. Flinching is an involuntary muscle movement. You have to un-learn it. To un-lean it with a large recoil gun, you have to practice and keep practicing.
You pretty much un-learn the flinch after the first shot with a 22.
@mark said in Bring Enough Gun:
@mik Agreed! .22s are also more accurate due to the reasons Jolly mentioned. It takes practice to not flinch. Flinching is an involuntary muscle movement. You have to un-learn it. To un-lean it with a large recoil gun, you have to practice and keep practicing.
You pretty much un-learn the flinch after the first shot with a 22.
That, and the person you are shooting isn't saying 'Meh, a .22...no big deal..'. Their reaction is 'Oh SHIT! That mofo just shot me and he's gonna do it some more!'.
