Do women ever go shooting by themselves or in a group of just women?

I have been going to the same range for the last 26 years and have never a woman or group of women not being escorted by men.

The ones that are there seem to be pressured into it by there husband, father, or boyfriend.

I live in a not so populated area and the range is 12 miles out of town. Maybe that has something to do with it.

I ask this because of the threads in GD about women feeling uncomfortable here at AR-15.COM

I sometimes wonder if guns and gun talk turn alot of men into such macho asshole know-it-alls that the only thing accomplished is driving people away from a good clean pastime.

I prefer to shoot alone, and take my time and enjoy it. Nice low pressure relaxing day.
I usually go alone to the range, unless I am teaching or with family.

I don't have a problem going alone, and often do....  However, here in CA anyway, there is a wonderful feeling of community among the men in the shooting centers, both the trap/skeet ranges and the indoor ranges, and they universally exlude women whom they have not directly brought themselves.  Therefore, it can get somewhat lonely hanging out in the lobby, waiting for a booth to open up, and seeing everyone else stand off to the side.  Here in CA, the men are NOT very friendly to any woman that I have seen walk into a range.  In fact, I have seen a few women walk in, ask a question of the person, always a man, behind the counter, about help with a gun, or suggestions on what to do...you know, newbies?  The person behind the counter was almost always so rude, that I have seen all of them walk out, probably never to walk back in again.  

I know women who don't feel comfortable going in by themselves and prefer to go with a man because that is the only way they can get someone to answer their questions and pay any kind of attention to them.  

Again, it may be different in other states, or other areas outside of So. California, but here, the attitude of men towards newbie women shooters is so rude and condescending, that many women just don't get into shooting altogether.

I have gone to the range more by myself than with a companion.  Many times, after I meet with clients in the suburb the range is located I will stop by, rent a handgun, buy 50 rounds and fire for 45 minutes before my next appointment.
However, it is kind of funny when I find an empty shell or two in the pocket of my suit jacket when I go to my next appointment.
The guys that work and shoot at the club have turned out to be very respectful.

i've been to the range by myself, with no problems whatsoever...

but i often go with my SO and company of male friends...i'm usually the only woman on the rifle range...the instructors at the range are always welcoming..

and if a question comes up about reloading, ballisitics, or other, my SO is the first to say "Don't ask me, ask her..she knows more about this stuff than all of us here combined!"

now i don't know about all of that, but i have never felt uncomfortable at the range or on this website...

it is unfortunate that there are places that treat women so poorly..i mean really, here is an INDIVIDUAL who wants to learn more about shooting...is it not our responsibility, whether man or woman, to assist and help to educate these people??

I usually go to the range with my husband.  We enjoy shooting together, and we usually go to the NRA range.  Before I met him, I went to the range with my male friends who could shoot better than I could and who were good enough to teach me some things, so that I could improve my skills.  I don't know any women who shoot, though I see women at the range sometimes.  Today, I was the only woman other than one of the range officers that I saw there in about 1 1/2 hours.  I am sure that none of my male friends ever treated a woman badly at the range, and I know my husband hasn't either.  I have never gone by myself to the range, but I might if I wanted to go and my husband could not go.

When I go to the range, I see a variety of attitudes from men who very nice to assholes who don't want women around.  The assholes almost always seem to think that they are God's gift to the shooting sports and they are rarely  very good.  I am fortunate to have friends that shoot and to have some knowledge from my own experience, primarily military experience.  I have found that some of the men who work at ranges and/or gunshops are not very knowledgeable, and they are usually the ones who are condescending and rude.  I guess they don't like it when not being able to answer a simple question makes them feel stupid.  The ones who are knowledgeable are usually helpful.  Unfortunately, these poor attitudes are running off potential firearms enthusiasts.

I was at a gunshop/range in Chantilly, VA and asked to look at an AR-15 that was in the shop, and I was very disappointed that the woman who was working there, was rather rude and condescending to me.  It was very disappointing to see a woman who seemed knowledgeable about firearms with this kind of attitude.  Fortunately, this was my only negative experience with a woman firearms enthusiast.  I have found that most women who shoot are very helpful to other women.

I have never seen a woman work in a gun shop.

I will admit that I have never gone to the range by myself, but that's because I know just enough about firearms to be dangerous.  I am learning lots, but don't feel comfortable enough to go alone.  QS would keel over if I announced that I was going to the range by myself.  Added to that is that fact that there are virtually no ranges nearby that I would feel safe going to.  There is an indoor range in the next town over, but it is a "good ole boys" hangout and I not would go there if it was the last legal place to shoot on earth.  There is also a public pistol range not far from here, but I have seen too many instances of unsafe handling there.
Marian

There are a couple of gunshops in Woodbridge, VA (a suburb in Northern VA of Washington, DC) that have a woman or two who work there, Dawson's and Shooters Paradise have women who work there.  I haven't spoken to them enough to know how knowledgeable they are about firearms, but all of them seem to be nice.  I do most of my shopping at another gunshop, Virginia Arms in Manassas, VA.  The staff is very knowledgeable and I really like the way that they treat the women who come into the shop.  They are very respectful and helpful.  They are never condescending or rude.  I have no issues with either of the shops in Woodbridge and I've made purchases in those shops.  In fact, I sometimes go to the range at Shooters Paradise, but I prefer Virginia Arms for the excellent service, prices and customer service that I receive there.

i dont go to public ranges very often and just once do i remember seeing a woman shoot alone, but i think she was a cop or a competitor. but i did see a young woman working at a gun store, once, never saw her again, but she seemed to know a bit about guns and was a friendly person.

the same problems women have at ranges or stores, are also the same problems you will have as a young guy (under 27) or a complete newbie no matter what age. some people that work these stores are just JERKS, with a holier than all attitude. screw them!
what they are doing is simply keeping shooting sports a "good ole boys club", and destroying the future of potential life long pro-2nd shooters.

i mean ive seen a 40yo newbie at a gun store where he was sold a S&W Sigma 9mm for "BEAR PROTECTION".
unfortunately if you want any respect at a range or store then you gotta know more than they do, which sometimes isnt too hard.

I have found the most wonderful gun store!  I am really very excited, since if you read my first reply to this topic, you will see that I have NEVER had a good experience in a gun store.  Well, I can now say that I have.  Stevenson Gun Country in Burbank is awesome, and they even have a woman working there who is absolutely wonderful.  I went there this weekend with my mother...and she is pretty new to shooting.  She walked in and asked the woman if she could see the pretty guns....I just LOVE her!!!

Anyway, both people working the counter were wonderful, and the woman really knew her stuff.  I am so happy to finally find a place like that, with no attitude.  Their prices are very good, and the staff is wonderful.  I can see myself driving all the way up from San Diego to shop there, since I'll be moving down in a month or so.  

It is very sad about the rest of the SoCal shooting population.  I hear so many of them complaining about how their rights are being stripped away, yet they don't see how their attitude is preventing the kinds of people who could keep our rights alive from even getting into the sport.  I know many women and liberals who would love to get into the sport, but are scared and intimidated by the attitudes of those already here.  

I would think that a gun shop would have more success selling to women if it did not have that "good ol boy" atmosphere that many women and men find unpleasant.

Kind of like some of the car repair shops around here. I know women that have had such bad experiences at car repair shops that they will not take their vehicles to any repair shop. Their husband, boyfriend, father or whoever has to do it for them.

Not to hijack the thread or anything.....but.....I'm so thankful that my best friend is not only an awesome woman, but also an amazing mechanic!  She's taught me a LOT about my car, enough so that I can do a lot of my own maintainance AND can't be taken to the cleaners by auto repair shops.  I actually did have a repair shop tell me once that I needed to have my muffler bearings replaced....yeah right....but if Robyn hadn't taught me all about my car, and how it worked....for all I knew, they were telling the truth!

Ah, Blue Ridge Arsenal...don't feel bad, they've been rude to me too!  I don't think they're gender biased on rudeness.  

I shoot at the NRA quite a bit myself; I was there Sat. Night, and it was almost all couples.  I've seen many solo ladies there as well, but I would imagine the NRA is probably the exception to the rule.  

It's not just women who have trouble with getting decent treatment at gunshops. I've been to several that I would never go back to. I may not know everything there is about guns but I know quite a bit. I've been to those gunshops where they treat you like a complete idiot and heaven forbid you ask a question.

I was looking at a Daewoo once and I said it was a nice rifle except for the fact you can hardly find spare parts for it since they aren't imported anymore. The guy behind the counter told me that there are tons of companies out there that manufacture parts for that rifle and its the main battle rifle used by the US armed forces in Iraq right now...lol Some people are complete morons and will try and tell you anything to make a sale.

Then again I've been in some gunshops where the people are knowlegable without the arrogance and helpful unlike some others.

I can't comment on gun ranges since I've never been to one. Luckily my parents own a 35 acre farm where I go to shoot and I can spend all day out there, shoot up to 100 yrds and not have to worry about unsafe gun handlers all around me. Guess not everyone is that lucky.

I have no problem going to the range by myself, or a gunstore for that matter. The stores around here know both me and my husband. As far as being turned off of this sight, not at all. I just don't post unless I feel I should put my .02 in.

THIS THREAD IS USELESS WITHOUT PICS!

Doesn't matter if I'm with my friends (who happen to be guys) or by myself at the range.  Fact is they know me and if I go on a weekday they just tell me to be careful and have fun.

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