Bangels Profiles June 23, 2012

Here is our second installment of Bangel profiles.  What I think is so cool about this is seeing all the different skill levels and involvement from these ladies.  There is someone here we can all relate or aspire!

Karen L., a certified NRA instructor from Florida who thinks it is wonderful to learn from other women who shoot.  She is a big fan of Steph from Sons of Guns and enjoys target shooting with one of her four pink firearms: 380 and 38 Chic Lady, Mosquito 22 and a Mossberg 22 rifle.  She started shooting at age 44 on a double date with her hubby and another couple.

Joyce L. picked up shooting at age 50 and stopped only five years later.  Now, just shy of her 65^th birthday she is picking her firearms up again with no plans to stop!  She was first introduced by her husband, but the second time around she is hitting the range with her son.  She owns an S&W 38 and a brand new Sig Sauer P238 with pink hand grips which go well with her pink ear protection!  Some extra items she keeps in her range bag include Purell, extra clips, tissues, lip stick and chap stick.  As a retired Construction Cost Accountant, she enjoys Bingo, BUNCO, hand and foot cards and going out to lunch with the various ladies clubs she belongs to.

Jenn got hooked on shooting after a coworker let her shoot his Kimber 45.

Jenn M. is a professional landscaper who grew up with non-shooters, but when she moved to Montana and wanted to try it.  A construction buddy brought his Kimber 45 to work one day so she could shoot it, and she was hooked.  A member of the Big Fork Gun Club, she enjoys going to the pistol range, shoots clays and practices long-range rifle for hunting.  She has two memorable moments in hunting – once when she dropped her first deer with one shot and the other when she made a poor shot and had to track a deer for 5 hours and 3 miles.  “It brought home the power of what we do when we hunt” she states.  Jenn has an enviable collection of firearms which include a Mossberg 410 (her favorite), a Winchester 100 308, Browning A-Bolt 25-06, Taurus PT145PRO; Charles Daly 20GA side-by-side, and is having a custom AR15 in 6.5 Grendel made as I type.  When she is not hunting, she enjoys her dogs, gardening, cooking, hiking and motorcycling. 

If you are a lady who wants a chance to be featured and to be notified of new products and discounts, submit your own Bangel profile here: http://www.bangbangboutique.com/bangels.html

Hello Bangels

A Bangel (Bang + Angel = "BANG - JEL") is a women who shows confidence and style on and off the range.  She does not settle for the basics - she strives to express herself in everything she does.

A few months back we thought it would be great to know our followers’ story with firearms: how they started shooting, what gun they liked the best, and who they are outside the range.  We have received over 30 applications so far.  Each week we will feature the stories of 2 – 3 ladies.

Bang's Bangels receive a special newsletter, discounts and are the first to hear when new products are available.  If you think you have what it takes to be a Bangel , you can submit your application here – provide as much or as little information as you want. A picture earns you bonus points with a bigger initial discount code and we may use your picture on our web site and blog.

With no further ado - introducing our first three Bangels:

Jennifer K. a hotel manager from Michigan got into shooting because her then boyfriend, now husband introduced her to firearms.  She now belongs to the NRA and the MichiganCoalition for Responsible Gun Owners (MCRGO).  She owns a PK380 and enjoys target shooting.

A Small Range bag is a great option for the ladies like Jamie who are looking to carry her own gear to the range.

Jamie B. is a student working on a BA in Psychology and lives in Modesto, CA.  When she is not studying, she is working for a large grocery store chain.  Jamie is fairly new at shooting, being recently introduced to the sport by her husband.    She owns a Bersa Thunder 380 and a Ruger LC9 and says most people are very surprised that she is a gun owner.   Jamie is excited to get her own range bag so she will no longer have to share with her husband.  She carries the basic: gun, ear and eye protection. When it comes to women participating in shooting, she says: “I think it is great that women are more involved with shooting sports. I think all women should learn how to shoot. It is empowering and as a woman, I feel that I want to know how to protect myself if ever needed.”

Mandy in action, complete with her awesome pink holster belt!

At 28, Mandy V. (pictured above) was encouraged by her husband to learn to shoot for her own protection.  Now she actively participates in USPSA matches wearing her pink range belt and pink Hand GunRange Duffel that Bang Bang Boutique had custom made for her!  Mandy’s most memorable moment as a firearm owner was her first USPSA match and she admires Travis Tomasie.  When not shooting, Mandy is a CT tech in Alabama.  She owns a Glock 26, AR15, and her favorite, an STI Edge.  Mandy encourages more women to pick up the sport, stating “There aren’t enough of us!”

Mandy's bag is the one featured in our webstore!

USPSA Action Shooting: At The Firing Line

The day of my first USPSA match, I was pretty nervous.  Would I remember all the rules?  What if I miss all the targets?  Could I actually do this? 

I was pretty intimidated since there are so many people there who have been shooting for years.  But the thing I had to remember - is each on of them had showed up with butterflies in their stomach at their first match too.   Even the top shots started somewhere.  A couple of the experienced shooters shared with me what their first matches were like and that help to ease my concerns.

My husband and I showed up at about 7 am and we were put right to work setting up the courses.  One thing I learned right away is to pack a pair of working gloves.  Between setting targets, lifting tables and spray painting no shoot zones - your hands will thank you.  Getting there early has its benefits since you get time to examine each stage before the match begins and talk with other shooters on the best way to approach each one.

Each of the six courses had been designed by one of the members of the Southern Arizona Practical Shooters.  A lot of time and thought goes into the course design.  Above all it must be safe.  Second it has to offer challenge by providing the shooter a balance of accuracy, power and speed.  Since no one wants to shoot the same stage twice each one must offer something different.

Each stage had instructions.  The shooter has some flexibility on how they can approach the course, but starting positions and other criteria may be specified.  On this day, one of the stages required the shooter to remove their firearm from a briefcase on a table.  I also heard of another set up that required the shooter to punch in 911 on a calculator before beginning the course.  These obstacles are designed to mimic real life situations.  Although they may sound simple, in the heat of a competition it can be a bit more complicated and could add time to your score.

The competition begun about 9:00 and I was place on a squad with Deb and her husband Gary.  Since I was the newbie, I shot last.  This gave me the opportunity to watch how the other shooters approached the course and to think about how I would tackle it.  Each time I went through a stage either Deb or Gary coached me.  Between the nerves and the newness of it all I really needed it.  They both reminded me to keep safety first as well as critique my stance, grip and other ways I was shooting.

Gary helping me navigate this stage

I have a tendency to shoot low and to the left.  Try as I may to fix this, it still haunts me.  During practice, we discovered if I aim high, my accuracy improves.  So as I approached the fist stage, Deb reminded me to aim for the targets heads.  I did, but perhaps a bit too well.  I missed every single target!  Oh well, at least from this point out all I could do was improve.  After I calmed my nerves I vowed to slow down.

My shooting did improve from there.  On the next stage, I hit every target including a reactive swinging target and a row of metal disc.  I really like shooting down metal targets.  The highlight of the day though was plinking off every disc off the Texas Star without running out of ammo.

Deb Ferns coaching me through the Texas Star

All in all - my competition was a great experience.  I met some of the greatest people and loved feeling like I was a part of a team.  Then there is the "bad ass" factor as I sauntered around with my pistol and ammo on my hips.  My inner Laura Croft was beginning to emerges (aside from the times when I hit said pistol or ammo on a post or door frame I was passing by - my inner dork is strong).  My husband noticed that I seemed to be 3" taller and projecting a lot of confidence.  He was proud of me even when I missed all the targets - congratulating me on attempting something that is new and that some people would be to scared to do.

Me, feeling pretty tough and confident.

Helpful Links:  A Guide to Your First USPSA Match