The GunGoddess Guide to Buying The Right Things for the New Woman Shooter

Every year, I see the same question pop up. Significant Others with the best intentions in mind asking the internet what kind of gun they should buy their sweetheart for Christmas. It seems like an innocent enough question, but it’s a lot more loaded than you might think.

Unless her gift list includes the EXACT model of gun she's wishing for (that she's tested out and knows she wants), PLEASE don't buy a woman her first gun.

Why on earth would I tell you to NOT buy a gun for your lady? Because guns are incredibly personal – the right gun for you is probably not the right gun for her, and choosing a gun by looks alone is just not going to cut it. There’s a huge risk that your choice won’t be right for her and that can make all the difference in the world when you’re trying to introduce someone to shooting. If she doesn’t like it or it’s hard for her to shoot, you’ve done the opposite of what you’ve set out to accomplish and she may never want to shoot with you again.

I’m not trying to talk you out of getting a gun for the female in your life, it just needs to be the one that works best for her, not the one the internet told you to buy her.

Instead of getting her a gun, get her a gift certificate that she can use to purchase the right gun once she’s had a chance to try a few out. And make sure that gift certificate includes an invitation to go to a range that has a rental counter so she can try several out side-by-side. Once she’s done that, she’ll have the confidence to know which gun is right for her.   

Now that I’ve told you what not to buy her, here’s what to put under the tree instead. These items make great present for any female gun owner, and she’s going to need them as soon as she gets her gun anyway, so you may as well get them for her now. Tuck that gift certificate for a gun in the same box as one of these items and you’ve got yourself a gift that’s going to make her very, very happy.

A Good Range Bag – She’s going to need someplace to put her gun and accessories when she goes to the range, and a quality range bag always makes a great gift (even for us seasoned shooters). Having a dedicated range bag is essential for every shooter and the choices in bags are better than ever these days. I’m a big fan of the backpack range bags, but any good bag will set her up for success. 

Eye and Ear Protection – You can’t shoot without them, so give her a head start by getting her a good set of eye and ear pro. For the ear protection, you can choose between passive and electronic, but I’d recommend an electronic set. It’s much easier to hear range commands and other things going on around you, which makes for a more pleasant range experience. For eye protection, choose any set that meets or exceed ANSI Z87.1 + safety standards.

A Gun Case – Whether she’ll be buying a rifle, pistol or a shotgun, she’s going to need a case for transport and storage. Gun cases come in all sorts of patterns and colors, so give her a chance to show off her personality by choosing something fun and colorful.

If you are set on getting the lady in your life some accessories for her new gun (That you’re going to let her choose), but aren’t sure what colors or styles are right for her, you can always pick up a Gun Goddess gift card, they’re available in denominations from $25 to $200. You'll receive it by email, and it’s in a format that’s printable for gifting in person