Tips for ladies wanting to shoot

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The shooting community is welcoming and friendly and there are clubs all over the country for ladies. By joining a club there’s a real sense of community and a ready-made support network of friendly and welcoming women in place. It’s not unusual to feel slightly apprehensive about starting shooting, but knowing there are other ladies in the same situation is such a good feeling, leaving you to get on and have fun and enjoy all of the excitement that the sport brings. 

Ladies’ shooting clubs are there to welcome you and support you in getting into shooting  plus there’s always lots of friendly chat and plenty of good times.  

People will have all sorts of opinions about the gun you should use. Take some expert advice. Learning the hard way by injuring yourself  using a heavy 12-bore with the incorrect cartridges that has not been correctly fitted, is an experience I am certain you would rather not wish to experience.

 For a lady, a 20-bore is generally easier to handle and better in terms of weight and recoil. A good cartridge helps too and there are excellent low-recoil shells on the market, which are perfect for a 20-bore. That said, there is also nothing wrong with a 12 Gauge shotgun also using lower recoil shells, and having been properly fitted.  

It boils down to trying  various guns to see what is too your liking. 

Women tend to listen more and don’t think they are good at the beginning, which gives them an immediate advantage. It is more common for a woman to be right-hand, left-eye dominant, so many should shoot from the left shoulder from the start. A good instructor can help orientate you with all of the necessary know how when you begin shooting. 

A course of six lessons taken over six to eight weeks will cover all the shooting basics. Search out a shooting instructor who treats you like a client who wants to learn to shoot well, and not as a girl who wants to have a few shots. Women’s specialist shooting courses are run by the BASC and many local clubs.  

Having a gun correctly fitted to you will transform your shooting. For women, the most important thing is that they need a higher comb height (The part of the stock your cheek is placed on, on the stock) because of their higher cheekbones. It is particularly important when you achieve the higher comb height that the gun is not too high in the shoulder pocket. This is why you often see ladies with a Monte Carlo stock, which features an elevated comb to lift the cheek higher while keeping the heel of the stock low.

“Almost all the mass market guns are produced for Mr. Average and ladies do not fall into this category as they have smaller hands, higher cheekbones and a different physique. These guns can be made to fit, but you need to use someone who knows what they are doing.”

This is one of the key tips for women shooters. Once you have a gun that fits then become confident with it. Spend time learning how to mount consistently. Remember that good muscle memory needs 2,000-3,000 repetitions. Find a club where you can take your gun and practise on your own. Although daunting at first, it will instil confidence. 

Practice makes perfect.

A safe Shot will always be respected and welcome on a clay shooting or game day. It’s more important to show you know how to be a safe shot rather than a show off. If you have had the right instruction from the outset, then safety should be second nature. Always be muzzle aware, i.e. where the muzzle is pointing at all times.

Sometimes it is worth watching other people at a shoot to see what good form/ etiquette looks like.

When you are shooting at the clay club or in the field, you need clothes that work. Weather can always be a factor but using a common sense approach and being comfortable are most important. Casual shooting at a Clay pigeon shoot is very different from A country shoot. Assuming a first time shooter is going to start at a clay club, the following would be practical.

Comfortable walking shoes and even wellies in winter.  Jeans or comfortable trousers and weather depending light blouse, top or even T shirt and a body warmer/gilet are most commonly used. A cap or comfortable hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. Winter time would necessitate a comfortable coat but bear in mind a very thick coat is going to affect your gun placement and mounting. A light weight down or fibre coat is ideal.   You can always layer up with multiple thinner layers.   

By all means dress to impress when you arrive and come back for lunch in more fitted styles, but make sure you have the full range of movement when out with the gun.