*
math is your friend here.

"stick an 18-inch slug barrel on that 12 gauge", said archimedes.

*

Kathy should really try a firearm that has been built for her size. Measure from the crook of the trigger finger to the nest of the shoulder (by the collar bone and neck.) and use that measurement to have a proper sized stock ordered. Calibre is also very important to assess what the "kick" will be like. My wife is of smaller stature as well and we mated her with a 6.5 x 55mm Swedish Mauser for it's flat shooting, low recoil and multi-grain versatility. It is the same type of rifle many biathlon shooters use and is know for hard-hitting accuracy. I know it's just a suggestion but a tailored suit always fits better and looks nice!

So THAT'S where Kathy went. Was still poppin by the OLD blog.

"Of course, I got to kill stuff right away."

Shirley Douglas would be the one that got away, then?

"Dammit my bloody arm is totally screwed up! Is there something that isn't your bicep or your tricep, because that is what I've messed with. I could barely lift a fork to eat just now. Luckily, Arnie's mom left behind some no-name Absorbine Jr. so I'm stinking up the place while I wait for the painkillers to kick in.

Ow.

Last thing before I sign off: in real life, could I get away with something like this, at least until they invent guns for girls? Please? What do girls do in the army?

Ow."

Girls and Boys in the army who act like this aren't of much use to anybody. They count pairs of socks in supply. Maybe.

Get familiar with a out a Glock, Kathy.

And stay safe!

*Ahem*

Having shot with precision handguns (Rugers) in a former life, I'm here to say:

"Mass is your friend."

We used to allow women to shoot itty-bitty handguns at the range, lo those many years ago, so that they could understand why we say this.  After getting beaten up by recoil, we'd then hand them a pistol or semi-auto of the same calibre but much greater mass.

"Hey!  The recoil's not nearly so bad on this one!"

Uh, yeah.  Big guns aren't just for looking macho.

The youth sized guns that Kathy referred to, will usually work quite well for smaller statured people, both men and women.

Kathy might want to check out this new Beretta semi-auto low recoil 12 guage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s13Y7SKrFls

Kathy once you get your paperwork you totally have to get an superhero outfit, a molestor van, a sidekick with a speech impediment, and start solving crimes in your spare time.

I don't know if it's still available, but back in 1992 I bought a Mossberg .410 pump action called the "Home Defender" that is lightweight and easy to use. It's not a gun to use for hunting (as the name suggests, it's for self-defense within the home) but it's a great gun to learn on.

Kathy, you are getting hotter.

Please take a moment to view the current girl of my dreams.

Gunner Girl

Your life will take an upturn and you will be noticed more by real men. If you want to have an easier time with your gun handling, try pretending it's a liberal.

Awwwww poor baby...did its widdle armsies get all tired swing the big ol' evil guns???? ;-)

Hey Kathy. My wife is a little taller than you maybe 5'2" but she can shoot pins all day with the Colt python I bought her.....and she managed to find the strenghth to wipe our butts on the trap course with her clunky old Ruger red lable over under scattergun.

Better pump up if you want to play with the boys ;-)

WLMacRedux:

Hey willie boy, have you considered dragging your wife's ass off the range for ten mins., to give you a b.j.?

Cuz you always sound like your really could use one.

Kathy, you need to ease up. I carry a Benelli Super Black Eagle, it's not that heavy and it shoots like a dream. If your arms aren't up to it, work out. Forget that .410 advice above, 12 gauge or bust.

John,

You need to buy their calendar:

http://www.tacgirls.com/

Va-va-BOOM! Heh.

there are lighter options available south of the border but you have to bring them in under the seat of the jag ala Dorothy Joudry.

Kathy, you think that pump shotgun sucks now, wait until they give you live ammo. ~:D The meaning of the word "recoil" will become plain to you. As will the that of the word "flinch".

Don't shoot the 30 caliber bolt rifle prone first thing. See "recoil" and "flinch". Also "OW!" Start standing or bench rested, THEN shoot it prone after you get used to the idea.

That thing that hurts in your shoulder is your superspinatus tendon. Its the thing that holds your elbow up in the air at that weird angle. If you don't hold your elbow up like that you can't hit jack from the standing position. Lift some weights and ice it when it gets sore. Pretty soon you'll have enough strength to shoot one handed.

All kidding aside, A) you ROCK! and B) lots of women I know (in the States) shoot big ass assault rifles and pump shotguns as if they were bean shooters. If you can hold it up, you can shoot it.

Gee I don't know - my Mom had a cute little automatic that wasn't hard to lift at all - magazine held about 8 rounds as I remember. I never saw her use it (it was intended to kill *humans*, after all) but no doubt in her hands it was convincing.
She used to keep it in with the kitchen silver.

"WLMacRedux:Hey willie boy, have you considered dragging your wife's ass off the range for ten mins., to give you a b.j.? Cuz you always sound like your really could use one."

Along with your desire to be a hot shootin' woman, you also know what men need and WANT!!

To quote the phantom, "you Rock"

Kathy, the best advice I recieved in Basic for keeping the finger off the trigger until you intend to use the weapon is to think that you are always pointing a weapon, well you point with your index finger, continue doing that. That will lay it right over the trigger guard until it is time to fire. Seventeen years later it still sticks with me, even on the paintball field....LOL.

WLMR, it would appear that Kathy is offering...

I think women should run the world (do they now?), because they would only pretend to like each other face to face and claw each other to death behind their backs. We wouldn't need guns then. But we wouldn't have guns either, or TV's or microwaves or electricity or steel or....

Some of you had better be careful , comment wise ...... she's armed now , and not just with a pen . Still I wonder if this isn't some kinda AoSHQ reaction to her poverty essay a few weeks back , if so , someone hide the vodka .

Trust Iberia to have nothing useful to say, and to say it in the most insulting possible way.

You sir are no gentleman.

iberia said

"WLMR, it would appear that Kathy is offering..."

yes she is, in fact it is your service she is offering, being your manager and all!!!

You're a fool kate. You should be shot and pissed on.

ok4ua

Were you sent here from rabble.ca?

That is the kind of thing people would say who dwell in that asylum.

We here like Kate and don't like people who would want her shot. You can apologize now.

Kathy,
Yeah! Good for you for becoming familiar with guns. My wife shoots a 20 ga. Beretta semi-auto in the youth model, she has no trouble with the recoil and she really enjoys seeing clay targets burst in the air. She has discovered shooting the crap out of targets is a most satisfying feeling and if you have a chance to come to Dallas, she will take you skeet shooting.

I have been involved with shotgun instruction for years and succesful shooting is much more technique than strength. Kathy, all you have to do is use a gun that fits and take your time, and have fun.

Years ago I learned to shoot a .22 rifle. I was all of about ten and it was heavy even in a prone position. Being a .22 it had next to no recoil so I was not at all prepared when I shot a shotgun in the direction of ducks. Nor had I a clue when I was firing a pistol on a range.

Now I do and so will you.

We don't have guns at our house at the moment - a three year old armed with a Henckle cleaver is plenty scary enough thank you; but when the boys are older I suspect we may.

Largely because my partner grew up around guns in the wilds of Saskatchewan and just likes 'em.

Regarding that "Leo Harvey Oswald looking bolt-action rifle": One of the four police officers who searched the book depositry building and found a rifle in a room on the sixth floor, was named Officer Seymour Weitzman. He, and the other three cops, all identified the rifle as a Mauser. They were all told to change their identification to a Mannlicher-Carcano. Weitzman replied: "I know my guns- what I saw, was a Mauser!" (Weitzman, and two of the other cops, were finally convinced to change their statements- one cop refused...........
But wait- Kathy wants a gun that shoots 'magic' bullets?

I'm just wondering who Kathy's targeting: the crummy neighbours or know-nothing, loud-mouthed commenters?

They did invent guns for girls hence the M16 and all the 5.56 wussification.

I honestly figure if everyone was using 7.62 there would be fewer deaths by suicide bombers, what a wus, :)

I saw a video once where a US soldier must have pumped 30 rounds into a car without it stopping I think 7.62 would. If one life is saved it's worth it!

Man in Germany I carried a Carl Gustav and an FN C2 for months. Once a 50 Cal for over a click. Few can ever claim to have humped that. I think the Brit word yomping sounds better. Then someone took Carl at 30 lbs to lighten my load and gave me a pansy 10 lb FN C1 as a sidearm.

years ago I took my then 7 year old daughter out to sight some rifles, we set up a target for her to shoot a 22. I sent her to show and tell with the target, the most controversial show and tell for the politically correct - guns , bullets and targets are bad, but taken your daughter instead of your son, priceless.

If Ma Barker could use a shotgun, so can you! Anyone know where Kate can find a 34 Ford V-8?

Everyone should have a gun. Just like good ole America. Lynch mobs. We need them too. "American woman stay away". "We don't need your ghetto scenes we don't need no war machines".it just makes me sick to think you idiots could be ruling sask. That's scary!!.

"My wife is of smaller stature as well and we mated her with a 6.5 x 55mm Swedish Mauser for it's flat shooting, low recoil and multi-grain versatility. It is the same type of rifle many biathlon shooters use and is know for hard-hitting accuracy."

Not to be too nit-picky, Jan, but .22 calibre rifles have been the standard in competition biathlon since the 70's. The funny thing is (and this is where relevancy to the discussion comes in), I looked up the weight of the Mauser (8lb 13 oz) and it comes in at under the old 10 lb Anschutz I used to carry around. Mind you, that gun was OLD...

Lt's do it for Devine and Mulroney!! The power of common sense.

Everyone please keep up your interesting suggestions......frankly I think that part of the problem is that the long barreled, heavier pump shotguns get relegated to the training courses while the light and snappy ones are kept close to their owner's bosoms!

I'm sure that Kathy will get a thrill out of firing a CZ 858 (which looks alot like an AK47) in 7.62x39, and might take well to the 6.5x55. There is a wide array of older Husqvarna rifles that are very light and ergonomically designed to minimize the effects of recoil, whether in 6.5x55 or heavier offerings like 8 or 9.3mm. Worst case scenario, she could just stick to the M1 Carbine.

There's no shortage of shotgun offerings available, and I suspect that she'd greatly enjoy a nice side by side, or one of the lighter repeaters like the Franchi Model 48. The Bantam offerings of the Mossberg 500 shotgun in 12 or 20 gauge will also serve the dual ends of peace through superior firepower and comfortable fit.

Finally, there's all sorts of .22 rifles that will remain a joy to shoot, so we should simply celebrate the diversity of firearms choices in the free world, rather than despair over the weight of one or two trainng guns that were retired from active use to intimidate new firearms candidates!

Oh and while we're at it, you can get an unrestricted pump shotgun in Canada with 8.5 to 14 inch barrel lengths.....