Posted: 5/26/2007 8:29:47 PM EDT
|
This question is primarily directed to the ladies in this forum, though anyone, male or female, with something useful to add is certainly welcome: Who runs the best female-friendly firearms training courses? If you could go anywhere, and cost wasn't an object, would you pick Gunsite? Thunder Ranch? Front Sight? TDI? Blackwater? I'm particularly interested in any first or second-hand experiences (either from attendees or husbands of attendees) of people who have taken a spouse to a major training school. And before anyone raises an objection, I'm not asking for inferior training, watered-down courses, or pink-pistols-and-flowers. I may be wandering into Mars/Venus territory with this question, but most women are wired differently than most men, and I can guarantee that my wife will never want to pick up another gun if she gets a Paris Island in-your-face experience when attempting to pick up some skills. She's no shrinking violet, but she's a professional woman with a low bullsh*t tolerance. Anyone? I yield the floor. |
|
Gila Hayes and Vicki Farnham are supposed to be pretty good, but I don't get the whole "women's" classes thing. I'd take a class from a man or a woman but it would be because they had something to teach me that I wanted to learn. Most instructors I've met go out of their way to be professional and courteous to everyone, and if anything go out of their way to be decent to the women. |
|
Perhaps I should have clarified... I wasn't necessarily looking for courses geared only towards women, but courses/schools that are accommodating in that regard. I was an instructor myself for a half-dozen years, and I found that most women were a delight to teach, and in some ways easier than some men... though it sometimes required a bit more patience on my part. I found (and I must stress that this is only my own experience/opinion) that most women listened to instructions better, and didn't have nearly the bad habits to unlearn. I'm sure most of the major schools are decent, and I realize that the information I'm hoping to gain in this forum will be strictly anecdotal. I'm simply wondering if any schools really stand out in anyone's experience. |
|
Gotcha. The only one of those listed I have any first hand experience with is Blackwater, and the instuctors there were very professional. She could maybe take a basic course someplace near you, or with one of the traveling instructors out there. As long as she understands the fundamentals of how her firearm functions and is knowledgeable enough to be safe on the range, she'll be fine. Have her find one, do a little basic background search to be sure there aren't any complaints about their methods or behavior and go from there. I bet she has a good time. 
|
|
GlockGirl26 has taken several classes at TDI. Feel free to solicit her input, not mine as I work for TDI. I am not trying to sell you anything, rather I understand your question as I have been there done that. GG26 and I have also spent time with Ken Hackathorn and Bill Jeans with no problems and good results. We see a a varying number of females each year. In truth, it is often easier to teach the female half. They have fewer pre-conceived notion and less ego and thus typically listen better than men do. There are some females who just do not feel at ease around a group of mostly men. Depending upon class and instructor time, we sometimes have a female instructor. |