Trying to help my wife shoot better.

[cbucher]

A few weeks ago I purchased a Taurus PT740 Slim for my wife. Today was the first day we have had a chance to take it shooting to see how she likes it. She is having an issue with shaking real bad right before she pulls the trigger. She says she is not nervous but we can't seem to figure out why she is doing this. She hasn't shot very much in the past so I am thinking maybe she just needs more time at the range. She does not have this problem when shooting the 22 pistol I plink with. I guess what I am asking is if anyone has had this problem and how can we get past it. She really wants to get her CHL, but she needs to be able to shoot better to be able to qualify. Any info would be appreciated. On a side note this little Taurus has a really long trigger pull before it engages.

[TLynnHughes]

A few weeks ago I purchased a Taurus PT740 Slim for my wife. Today was the first day we have had a chance to take it shooting to see how she likes it. She is having an issue with shaking real bad right before she pulls the trigger. She says she is not nervous but we can't seem to figure out why she is doing this. She hasn't shot very much in the past so I am thinking maybe she just needs more time at the range. She does not have this problem when shooting the 22 pistol I plink with. I guess what I am asking is if anyone has had this problem and how can we get past it. She really wants to get her CHL, but she needs to be able to shoot better to be able to qualify. Any info would be appreciated. On a side note this little Taurus has a really long trigger pull before it engages.

As a sister shooter, the best advice I can give is to get her into a class for and by women. Made a huge difference for me. I don't know where you are but Crossfire is located in the Dallas area and CompVest is in the Houston area.

T.

[cbucher]

Thanks for the response. I did a search early and saw the crossfire info. I think they are in Roanoke and we are in Irving so it's not too far. I will look into it further. Thanks again.

[Salty1]

I have a theory that was proven very helpful, 2 things guys should never do. Teach their wifes to shoot or drive a standard transmission. You are bound to argue about it. I left it to the professionals to teach my wife to shoot, now we really enjoy shooting together, if can help correct some minor grip problems she is having I do so with no problems. If she needed a tune up I would have a pro do it....

[Fire1141]

My .02. Another forum member, my wife and I went shooting. She was shooting her new glock gor the first time and couldn't hit the paper. My buddy watched her and wasvable to see that she was limp wristing. He told her to concentrate on the grip and she started shooting beautifully. I watched her and couldn't tell she was limp wristing, but he did. Just an idea.

[flintknapper]

A few weeks ago I purchased a Taurus PT740 Slim for my wife. Today was the first day we have had a chance to take it shooting to see how she likes it. She is having an issue with shaking real bad right before she pulls the trigger. She says she is not nervous but we can't seem to figure out why she is doing this. She hasn't shot very much in the past so I am thinking maybe she just needs more time at the range. She does not have this problem when shooting the 22 pistol I plink with. I guess what I am asking is if anyone has had this problem and how can we get past it. She really wants to get her CHL, but she needs to be able to shoot better to be able to qualify. Any info would be appreciated. On a side note this little Taurus has a really long trigger pull before it engages.

I would agree with the other folks who posted...that instruction should be deferred to someone else (preferably a good female instructor), but I also worry that you may have her a bit "over-gunned" (at least for the time being).

If she is not a seasoned shooter...then it is best to let her start out with a .22 or other mild recoiling weapon.

For those not "initiated"....the recoil from a .40 S&W in a lightweight pistol like the Taurus PT740....is akin to a small explosion in the hand each time the trigger is pulled. This can lead to "flinching" which often times shows up as "shaking" in anticipation of the recoil. Also, if your wife has small hands and the trigger has a long/heavy pull...she will probably have some difficulties there too. I assume she was wearing GOOD ear protection and shooting glasses as well?

Seek out good instruction, she will be more relaxed around an experienced professional and that person should be able to quickly spot any problems or vices.

Best of luck to both of you,

Flint.

[Crossfire]

Holding the grip too tightly can also cause shaking. And since a compact .40 has a pretty healthy recoil (especially for a new shooter), I bet she is giving it a death grip.

[canvasbck]

I have a theory that was proven very helpful, 2 things guys should never do. Teach their wifes to shoot or drive a standard transmission. You are bound to argue about it. I left it to the professionals to teach my wife to shoot, now we really enjoy shooting together, if can help correct some minor grip problems she is having I do so with no problems. If she needed a tune up I would have a pro do it....

When my wife developed a trigger control issue, I tried to give her some advice..........we argued. We later hired a private instructor who helped her out with the exact same advice I had given, verbatum.

Save yourself the pain and hire a pro.

[Yankee Girl]

Holding the grip too tightly can also cause shaking. And since a compact .40 has a pretty healthy recoil (especially for a new shooter), I bet she is giving it a death grip.

Had the same problem myself, when I realized what i was doing it resolved immediately. It also helped me to focus on the off-hand strength, and the shooting hand strength flowed from that.

[cbucher]

Thank you all for the responses. We will definitely be looking into some training for her. She really wants to improve her shooting and we both know that I am not the instructor for helping with this. She tells me she doesn't think the guns recoil is too bad, but I wondered that myself. Thanks again for the responses to this issue.

[CompVest]

Holding the grip too tightly can also cause shaking. And since a compact .40 has a pretty healthy recoil (especially for a new shooter), I bet she is giving it a death grip.

+1

[TLynnHughes]

Thank you all for the responses. We will definitely be looking into some training for her. She really wants to improve her shooting and we both know that I am not the instructor for helping with this. She tells me she doesn't think the guns recoil is too bad, but I wondered that myself. Thanks again for the responses to this issue.

When I first started shooting, that gun could have jumped out of my hand and whacked me upside the head and I would have looked at my husband and told him the recoil wasn't too bad. That's all part of that "husbands teachings wives to shoot" thing.

T.

[Piney]

I have a theory that was proven very helpful, 2 things guys should never do. Teach their wifes to shoot or drive a standard transmission. You are bound to argue about it. I left it to the professionals to teach my wife to shoot, now we really enjoy shooting together, if can help correct some minor grip problems she is having I do so with no problems. If she needed a tune up I would have a pro do it....

When my wife developed a trigger control issue, I tried to give her some advice..........we argued. We later hired a private instructor who helped her out with the exact same advice I had given, verbatum.

Save yourself the pain and hire a pro.

Best time and $$ spent-- My wife took a couple of classes. I was out of the picture completely. Funny how that seems to work-- same info from two diffrerent persons..... .

I'll also second the sugestion about locating a ladies only class/group.

[cbucher]

I was out of the picture completely. Funny how that seems to work-- same info from two diffrerent persons..... .

I'll also second the sugestion about locating a ladies only class/group.[/quote]

She has told me she would rather me not be there when she takes a class,lol. I have no problem with that at all as long as she gets what she needs to be more comfortable with shooting. Although I am new here this forum is the best I have come across. Thank you.

[randomoutburst]

I used to shake terribly before firing, and I figured out that I was anticipating the recoil and tensing up. I suggest letting her have some range time alone, as there's less pressure when you aren't with someone else...especially your SO! What helped me was loading regular bullets with some snap caps mixed in to each magazine. After a while I stopped shaking and was able to hold things steady.

I also think that shooting without my husband there helped a lot. I think highly of him and value what he thinks especially when on the range, but it seemed like too much pressure to shoot well while he was there with me. I love him dearly and it's not his fault, but it helped a lot to shoot some without him.

Of course, the gun I was using kicked like a mule - KelTec PF9. Once I got a heavier gun my tensing and shaking almost entirely disappeared. I'm still shaky through about the first magazine if I haven't been to the range in a long time, but that's just because I'm out of practice and have to "re-learn" not to flinch!