Women are arming themselves — millions of females now have carry permits and female gun ownership is up 77% since 2005. What factors should women consider when choosing a handgun for self-defense? What are good choices for a lady’s defensive handgun, suitable for concealed carry? Is a self-loading pistol better than a revolver? In this article we include two videos focusing on handgun options for females. The videos cover six key factors: function, size, weight, ergonomics, reliability, and concealability.
Classic Swiss Precision — the Sig P239
The single-stack Sig P239 is an ultra-reliable, compact pistol with a grip suitable for smaller female hands. Weighing 25 oz. in 9mm, it is slightly heavier than polymer-framed handguns, but that may be a good thing. During my handgun training days, this Editor found most women shot the Sig P239 better than Glocks, with more control over recoil. This is a hammer-fired pistol with decocker but no separate safety. There are many other good handgun options for concealed carry — some smaller, thinner and lighter, but the Sig P239 provides a good benchmark for reliability and accuracy. Shown is the .40 S&W model. We prefer the 9mm Luger version. Photo Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0.
Choosing a Self-Defense Handgun — Ladies Explain the Options
Not Just a Guy Thing — Half of New Gun Buyers Are Women
According to the Wall Street Journal, over the past few years, “Close to half of all new U.S. gun buyers since the beginning of 2019 have been women.” And the percentage of female gun owners overall has increased dramatically. Here’s an interesting statistic — according to an NSSF survey, the percentage of gun owners who are female has increased dramatically. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has documented a 77% rise in female gun ownership since 2005.
And now nearly one-quarter of American gun owners are female. According to statistics from the NRA, around 23% of women in the U.S. own guns presently, when just 13% did in 2005.
The vast majority of first-time female gun buyers acquire a handgun for defensive purposes. However, the statistics also show that many new female gun owners are also getting involved in sport shooting and/or competitive shooting. An interesting TWAW survey shows that 76% of female gun owners are over 45 years of age, and most are married or in a serious relationship.
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Shoot Like A Girl is proud to announce that the Sea To Shining Sea Tour will hit the road in early 2022, bringing a mobile range to locations across the country. This organization is dedicated to educating women and their families about the importance of firearms safety. The Shoot Like a Girl’s signature semi-tractor trailer, fitted with state-of-the-art firearms simulators, will allow attendees to gain experience in handling and shooting handguns, long guns, and compound bows. The experience is FREE for participants.
Stops on the 2022 Sea To Shining Sea Tour include:
Dallas Safari Club Expo (Dallas, TX) – January 6-9, 2022
SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range (Boulder City, NV Restricted) – January 17, 2022
Cabela’s (Fort Worth, TX) – February 5-6, 2022
National Wild Turkey Federation Convention (Nashville, TN) – February 17-20, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Spanish Fort, AL) – March 5-6, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Bossier City, LA) – March 19-20, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Little Rock, AR) – April 2-3, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Olathe, KS) – April 23-24, 2022
Cabela’s (Grand Junction, CO) – May 14-15, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Reno, NV) – June 4-5, 2022
Cabela’s (Springfield, OR) – June 25-26, 2022
Cabela’s (Tulalip, WA) – July 9-10, 2022
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Mountain Festival (Park City, UT) – July 21-24, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Auburn Hills, MI) – August 6-7, 2022
Cabela’s (Columbus, OH) – August 20-21, 2022
Cabela’s (Hamburg, PA) – September 3-4, 2022
Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR Event (Bristol, TN) – September 15-18, 2022
Bass Pro Shops (Morgantown, WV) – October 1-2, 2022
Cabela’s (Round Rock, TX) – October 15-16, 2022
Cabela’s (Glendale, AZ) – November 5-6, 2022
What To Expect
At any Shoot Like A Girl event, guests 16 years of age or older can train with handguns and long guns under guidance from certified female instructors. The mobile range features a state-of-the-art, military-grade firearm simulator which provides realistic recoil, impact, and sound feedback. Archery coaches will also be onsite to assist guests with shooting bows. Outside the range, at the Shoot Like A Girl gun counter, visitors can handle non-firing firearm samples, including revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, shotguns, and rifles. Additional products will be on display, including optics, conceal carry bags, holsters, TrueTimber camouflage gear, SABRE pepper spray products and more. More information about Shoot Like A Girl’s mission, partners, and event schedule is available at ShootLikeAGirl.com.
“Shoot Like a Girl” long-sleeve shirt from Savage Infidel.
Check the ShootLikeAGirl.com Website for Mobile Range 2022 Travel Schedule.
About Shoot Like A Girl
Shoot Like A Girl is committed to growing the number of women and their families who participate in the shooting sports by empowering them with confidence. The Shoot Like A Girl semi-tractor trailer, utilizing InVeris Training Solutions state-of-the-art military grade firearm simulator, travels to cities all across the United States. This allows attendees to shoot pistols, rifles, and bows in a fun, safe, and comfortable atmosphere. The event is free to each guest thanks to Shoot Like A Girl’s corporate partners.
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A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG&AG), the firearm industry’s first large-scale chapter-based women’s organization, recently hosted its 9th Annual National Conference. The sold-out event took place at the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex near Palisade, Colorado, from April 27 through May 2, 2021. More than 600 AG&AG members, sponsors, staff, and friends were in attendance.
“Last year we hosted a very successful Virtual Conference, but we were unable to meet face to face, give hugs, and cheer for success,” says Julianna Crowder, AG&AG’s Founder. “This year, with RISE 2021, we welcomed diverse and enthusiastic women, aged 12 to 77, who each have unique goals for self defense and recreational shooting sports. It is an honor … to share in their journeys and guide them along the way.”
Conference attendees included roughly 450 members from 96 AG&AG chapters in 35 different states. Participants were able to choose from 250 training classes run by 54 of the nation’s top firearms educators. Training classes ran for 3 days, with an additional 2 days of lectures and leadership workshops. The event also included a Vendor Day with 49 brands, including GLOCK, CZ-USA, Walther, USCCA, XS Sights, Primary Arms, Stag Arms, Heckler & Koch, U.S. Law Shield, and others. “The firearms industry is not only providing superior products for women, but also providing opportunities for training and helping our members grow in skill and confidence,” says Robyn Sandoval, AG&AG’s Executive Director.
U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert was also on site to welcome the attendees to her home state of Colorado. This was the first AG&AG National Conference to be hosted outside of Texas.
Cameo Shooting and Education Complex was the ideal location for the event. With 20 live-fire bays, numerous field classrooms, a sporting clays course, and a 2003-yard rifle range, AG&AG was able to provide a wide variety of training classes. AG&AG even brought Heligunner to the Cameo Complex, so attendees enjoyed aerial gunnery adventures. Registration for AG&AG’s 2022 National Conference, entitled CELEBRATE 2022 opens September 1, 2021. The 2020 Conference will also be held at the Cameo Complex in Colorado. Learn more at AGirlandAGun.org/conference/.
About A Girl & A Gun
A Girl & A Gun (AG&AG) is a membership organization whose events are successful stepping stones for thousands of women entering the shooting community by fostering their love of shooting with qualified instructors/coaches. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in self-defense, and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has members in all 50 states and hosts recurring Girl’s Nights Out at more than 200 ranges throughout the USA.
A Girl & A Gun (AG&AG) is a club by women shooters for women shooters. With a network of instructors and affiliated ranges, AG&AG operates training clinics and competition events throughout the country. For more information, or to learn how to join the group, visit AGirlandAGun.org. Follow AG&AG on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.
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To help the shooting sports thrive, we need to introduce new participants. And now is a great time to bring a new shooter to the range — the NRA promotes May as Mentor Month. This month, make a commitment to enlist a new shooter. You’ll be helping the fight for the Second Amendment, PLUS you can get a chance to win valuable prizes in the NRA Mentor Sweepstakes.
Tips for First-Time Range Sessions with New Shooters:
1. Start with rimfire — bring a .22 LR rimfire pistol and rifle if possible.
2. Shoot a variety of targets, both paper and steel. The satisfying “clang” and movement of a hit on steel provides “instant gratification” that can make shooting more fun.
3. Invite a buddy AND his spouse. It’s great to get couples involved in the shooting sports — we need more lady shooters. And there’s evidence that women learn faster than guys!
4. Be sure to bring good ear and eye protection for yourself and all guests. We recommend ear-plugs under muffs for maximum sound protection.
The NRA Mentor Initiative is designed to bring new participants, of all ages, into the shooting sports. The aim is to expand interest in firearms, and foster hunting, competitive shooting, and support for Second Amendment rights. CLICK HERE to find a range near you. On that page click the “Places to Shoot” button and type in your Zip Code.
Former NRA President Pete Brownell states: “May has been designated NRA Mentor Initiative month. We are calling on … NRA Members [and] the firearm community, to find someone who has never fired a firearm before, take them to the range and help them put their first rounds on target. It’s been my experience that within minutes of the safety briefing, a lesson on marksmanship and the first pull of the trigger, all of the preconceived notions and media-fueled biases melt away…”
The NRA has a good resource for mentors (and their students). The NRA’s A Guide for New Shooters contains essential safety information and range etiquette instructions. You’ll want to download this PDF to share with your trainee(s).
Click photo to download PDF Guide for New Shooters.
The NRA offers helpful, short videos for new shooters. This video covers safety basics, with a focus on indoor pistol shooting. We actually prefer to start novices at an outdoor range, shooting .22 LR rimfire rifles. Indoor ranges tend to be dark and noisy. The outdoor experience is more like a day at the park.
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Casting Call for Season 6 of Love at First Shot!
Preparation is underway for Season 6 of the NRA TV show Love at First Shot. For the first time ever, the producers have open casting for the show — so you could become a cast member. All interested lady shooters are invited to apply to join the cast of Love at First Shot Season 6. Here’s the trailer for Season 5, so you can see what’s involved:
Watch Love at First Shot Season 5 Trailer (Plenty of Action):
So if you’ve ever wanted the opportunity to shoot with NRA Board Member and Team Smith & Wesson Captain Julie Golob, now is your chance! In keeping with the spirit of the show, the producers are looking for ladies 18 or older who are relatively new to the shooting sports: “Participant must be considered a novice in regard to firearm skills. For the purposes of Love At First Shot, a novice is one who has never before fired a firearm, or who has received basic firearm safety training but, outside of that, has had minimal training. The novice must not actively compete in shooting sports or shoots less than 100 rounds of ammunition per year.”
Open casting is taking place from March 1 to March 31. Applicants must submit the application plus a photo and video and be available for filming on the 2019 dates. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2019 at 9 pm ET. Learn more and apply now at nrawomen.tv/love-at-first-shot!.
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While the majority of competitive shooters are male, some of the very best shooters are female. Competitive shooting is one sport where men and women do compete head-to-head at the highest level. You won’t see that in tennis, or cycling, or basketball, but in shooting, it’s not unusual to see a talented lady on top of the podium. There still are gender-based classifications in some shooting disciplines, but in F-Class, NRA High Power, and Benchrest women can and do compete on a par with men. These talented ladies have proven themselves capable of winning National and International Championships against all comers.
To celebrate the skills and talent of lady shooters, Shooting Sports USA recently created a great article showcasing 50 of the most talented female shooters in the USA. This list includes Olympic gold medalists (in shotgun and air rifle), Pistol champions, Palma rifle shooters, PRS competitors, and 3-gun specialists. Here are some of the 50 notables from the list. CLICK HERE to see the whole list.
Kim Rhode: One of a few household names on this list, Kim Rhode and her Olympic bronze medal performance in Rio last year made her a six-time Olympic medal recipient. Kim has won an Olympic medal on five continents. Additionally she won the Women’s Skeet Final at the 2016 ISSF Shotgun World Cup Final in Rome, Italy. She plans to “definitely [go] for Tokyo in 2020. If Los Angeles gets the bid for the next one, (even if they don’t) I’ll probably go to the 2024 Olympic Games. There’s no reason for me to stop at this point.” Kim was recently elected to the NRA Board of Directors. Editor: Kim is a once-in-a-generation shooter; we support her work with the NRA.
Ginny Thrasher: This Olympic gold medalist needs little introduction. Quietly arriving on the scene after years racking up smallbore and air rifle victories, Ginny Thrasher arrived at West Virginia University and made history. Not only did she win the smallbore championship at NCAA in 2016, but her performance at the Rio 2016 Olympics started a media frenzy. Winning the first U.S. Gold Medal of the Games will do that. Prior to glory on the international stage, Ginny was winning NRA smallbore championships as a member of Northern Virginia’s own Junior Acorns team.
Lena Miculek: The daughter of master shooter Jerry Miculek, Lena burst onto the competitive shooting scene in 2005 with five consecutive Sportsman’s Team Challenge Junior national titles. Moving on to 3-gun, by 2015 she had an astonishing 89 percent win rate. Lena was the 2016 NRA World Shooting Ladies Champion. Recently, she traveled to Russia to compete at the inaugural IPSC World Rifle Championship, along with her mother Kay Miculek, Ashley Rheuark, and Maggie Reese. Lena and Team USA’s women’s team won Gold in the women’s Open division, and Lena won a second Gold Medal as the Ladies Open Division Individual Champion.
Lanny and Tracey Barnes: Both highly decorated Olympic biathletes, the identical Barnes twins have been on the World Cup circuit for over a decade. At the age of 18, they made their first World Junior Championship team and medaled in the World Junior Championships the next year. Lanny competed in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, and Tracy competed in the 2006 and was an alternate in 2010. Lanny posted the best U.S. finish in 16 years in 2010 with perfect shooting. These days, the twins compete in 3-gun and Sportsman’s Team Challenge—and also are serious hunters.
Kirsten Joy Weiss: Before making great trick-shot videos on YouTube, Kirsten Weiss was a smallbore rifle champion, winning high lady and second place overall at the NRA 3-position smallbore nationals in 2012. Remarkably, Kristen shot the any sight match with iron sights, while many of her fellow shooters were using scopes. For those new to rimfire, Weiss says, “It is almost always better to start with iron sights rather than a scope. Scopes can be a crutch, but interestingly enough they can also help in developing bad habits if your fundamental marksmanship skills aren’t developed yet.”
Nancy, Sherri, and Michelle — The Tompkins/Gallager Clan
There are three more ladies, champions all, who should be included in the Top 50 list. We would definitely add Nancy Tompkins, and daughters Sherri Gallagher and Michelle Gallagher to this list. Nancy and Sherri are the only two women in history to have won the National High Power championship. Michelle Gallagher has won the Long Range National championship and she also serves as the coach of the U.S.A. F-Open team at the 2017 F-Class World Championships. Nancy Tompkins has rightly been called the “First Lady of American Shooting” and rightly so. You won’t find a nicer person, or a more talented shooter. Sherri, currently with the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute Team, was an ace shooter with the USAMU squad who earned U.S. Army’s Soldier of the Year honors in 2010.
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According to the Wall Street Journal, over the past few years, “Close to half of all new U.S. gun buyers since the beginning of 2019 have been women.” And the percentage of female gun owners overall has increased dramatically. Here’s an interesting statistic — according to an NSSF survey, the percentage of gun owners who are female has increased dramatically. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has documented a 77% rise in female gun ownership since 2005.
Kim Rhode: One of a few household names on this list, 
Ginny Thrasher: This Olympic gold medalist needs little introduction. Quietly arriving on the scene after years racking up smallbore and air rifle victories, Ginny Thrasher arrived at West Virginia University and made history. Not only did she win the smallbore championship at NCAA in 2016, but her performance at the Rio 2016 Olympics started a media frenzy. Winning the 
Lena Miculek: The daughter of master shooter Jerry Miculek, Lena burst onto the competitive shooting scene in 2005 with five consecutive Sportsman’s Team Challenge Junior national titles. Moving on to 3-gun, by 2015 she had an astonishing 89 percent win rate. Lena was the 
Kirsten Joy Weiss: Before making great trick-shot videos on YouTube, Kirsten Weiss was a smallbore rifle champion, winning 
