My Wife...

[steveoh]

The other day I was plinking in the back yard. QB-79 sprung a leak and so I took out the Diana 350 Magnum Compact Pro, and started having fun while getting a good work out cocking that beast.

Wife asks if she can try it out. Hmm, sure, here you go I said. Explained how to cock and load, where the safety was, some safety do's and don'ts etc. shoots a few times, hands the rifle back to me and I continue my fun.

Yesterday morning I am outside and notice the target is gone from my backstop. I ask her if she's seen it, and she says she threw it away. The she says you didn't hear us shooting last night? Huh?!?

Turns out she and her friend shot my Diana while I was entertaining the friend's 3 year old (my little pony and tinker bell , ugh!).

So I ask my wife if she'd wiped the rifle down after using it. She says no and then I explain why this is important. So I go check the rifle out and wipe it down. I break the barrel to wipe any other metal that may have been touched and find she's put the rifle away cocked.   Double Arrrrgh!

On one hand I'm happy she's shown an interest in air guns, but on the other hand I'm hugely annoyed that my precious 350 magnum has been abused.

Beginning to think I'd better order up a replacement for this now abused 350 magnum.

I'm thinking an M-Rod.

Steveoh

[kj]

perfect opportunity to get a new rifle...lol

[Geoff]

cool beans .. hopefully you did not yell at her for those things.  small issues that did not damage the rifle.

time to get her one of her own and show here the 1 .. 2 .. 3's

[joel w]

And maybe a locked gun safe after that.

[Alibert]

perfect opportunity to get a new rifle...lol

...or a new wife?   

[Gertrude]

cool beans .. hopefully you did not yell at her for those things.  small issues that did not damage the rifle.

time to get her one of her own and show here the 1 .. 2 .. 3's

Agreed absolutely 100% !
 Do not be mad at her.
 She has shown an extra- "ordinary" intrest in your hobby. Cherish that, and support that.

She did not hurt your 350 with just one night of cocking. (yeah,... I know some will claim it to be bad),... but a spring is not going to be  significantly damaged in that little of time. Get over it,... or if it really bothers you that bad, order another spring, and never cock it until you are less than 5 seconds from pulling the trigger.

Beyond that, look at the GOOD thing you have going here,.. your Wife WANTS TO SHOOT WITH YOU !
 I'd waste NO TIME getting a gun set up specifically for her... and certainly not a springer.
Why ?
 Because the last thing you want is for her to have a basic interest in enjoying the sport,.... (she is probably NOT going to be "into it" quite as much as we usually are),... and then have her make a honest mistake and get hurt, beartrap a finger, or something worse.
Make it fun for her, and don't expect her to become an expert on every detail. (That's your job).

 With that in mind,.. choose a gun for her that fits her level of interest and her level of understanding it's operation.
A PCP might very well be the best choice. Possibly a Disco or comparable rifle.
 or maybe a Co2 from Flying Dragons, or a 22XX carbine build-up.
Why ?
Because She has already been exposed to your springer... This means she already "has it in her head",... to cock it, load it, and fire it. That seems simple. Right ?
 Chances are,... a multi-pumper will seem like "too much work" for a single shot. (maybe not,.... I don't know her).

The thing that is important is to choose a platform that she will enjoy,.. and that you can EASILY teach her the basics for being safe with it. The first thing you need to teach her,.... (after the safe handling, of course),... is that when she is shooting,... (and when she has finished the shooting session),... is to verify that the gun is NOT loaded and NOT cocked.
 The easiest way for her to do that, is to simply point it at the ground and fire it, as the last thing she does before putting the gun away.
 So just teach her that,
 "Honey,... your doing great,.... I'm so proud of you,... I can't tell you how much it means to me that we can enjoy this together,... and it is really, really, really, important to remember,.... the very last thing you do before putting your gun away,... is to point it down and pull the trigger. "
 "btw,... I got something for you while I was at the store,... here's some pellets,... here's some targets,.... and they need someone to put some holes in them",....
 "The Pizza is getting delivered in about 45 minutes,... LET'S SHOOT ! ! !"

[UCChris]

I agree 100% with Ron. I would get her a CCS 2400 carbine. Have her customize it! Make if fun for her. I would say the 2400 because of it's inherent one hole accuracy, ease of use, and simplicity. She can have fun being really accurate and it's really easy to use. Also, it's incredibly easy to take apart and clean and mod. Maybe she would like to tear it down and work on it. I don't know, I haven't met her. Just some thoughts.

[Not The Brightest Bulb]

Beyond that, look at the GOOD thing you have going here,.. your Wife WANTS TO SHOOT WITH YOU !

Much better than wanting to SHOOT AT YOU, Hmmmmmm! that may come later. 

[Petey]

Beyond that, look at the GOOD thing you have going here,.. your Wife WANTS TO SHOOT WITH YOU !

Much better than wanting to SHOOT AT YOU, Hmmmmmm! that may come later. 

+1

Support that interest....It makes it so much easier to buy more AG'S..

[Trenier]

Support that interest....It makes it so much easier to buy more AG'S..

You got that right 

[bbv13]

She didn't hurt your rifle but you should make sure she understands how dangerous a spring air rifle can be. There's videos of people getting the end of their finger pinched off on youtube. Make sure she knows not to let go of the barrel when cocking and loading and go over all the safety information you can find.

After that I would take her shopping for air rifles and get yourself another one while you are at it

Bryan

[Bicycleman]

I was thinking the Air Arms S510 TC air rifle.  And when she is not out shooting it, you might give it some exercise too.

[vadalejrfan]

Or you can buy your wife a nice QB78 W/ thunbhole stock and set it all up for her with bulk fill from my ten lb. co2 tank and then she will leave you and out of spite take the gun with no way to fill it and divorce you. Oh those are the days, true stoy by the way.

[robert w]

spend more time with her and show her what she did wrong but don't jump her case over it. you might drive her away from the sport . encourage her all you can

[ray in wi]

Ron, your response was brilliant!! Dinner guns shooting. Not necessary in that order
Regards
Ray

[Bryan Heimann]

I wish my wife would shoot with me.  Getting her to shoot is pretty tough.

[SnoValley]

My wife likes to shoot, so I got her a CZ200s. now she wants to try a season of FT.
I'm a lucky guy!

[Oldgringo]

I wish my wife would shoot with me.  Getting her to shoot is pretty tough.

Yep, mine will go with me ....sometimes.  Getting her to shoot is another matter.

[Bryan Heimann]

She doesn't understand the satisfaction of shooting "just a pellet gun."  If we were going out to shoot a shotgun or something it's easier to spark her interest.  She hasn't got to the stage where you get satisfaction from shooting, period.  She has to have a big, loud thunderstick to have fun.  Maybe if I had a magnum breakbarrel and some alloy pellets- but then she prolly wouldn't hit anyhing!

[Bob H.]

Steveoh,

I started air gunning this year, my wife has always shot with our son and me.  She enjoys the competition and prefers shooting to feeling left out. Anyhow, this spring for her 61st birthday, I bought for her a QB 78 in .177 and a 4X Leepers 'scope.  She enjoys that combination and out shot me again yesterday afternoon.

I think she may get a B50 for Christmas with a 4-12X 50MM 'scope, she is a south paw.  When she puts her butt on the ground and her elbows on knees, pay attention, it's not safe to hide in  a beverage can.  She hasn't discovered field target, yet.

BobH.