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12/10/2011

Safe Range-Time

As I've said, range-time is my favorite part of my week. However, Beware! Even if you are an expert, the person in the next stall, may not be... If we all follow the rules set forth by FateofDestinee, going to the range, will remain a fun & safe experience.

& a more comedic version:

This girl is great! way-to-go-Destinee

12/03/2011

Ammo

Lately, I have been hearing a lot of conversation about "Defensive Rounds" and how they are different from the bullets I use at the range. Here is an article I found, to help explain the matter.
Secrets for the Best Personal Defense Cartridge
By David L. Williams

Each piece of equipment we use for personal defense is a tool. And as with all tools, we have to consider the design and purpose of the tool and ensure we are putting it to the proper use to be effective. It’s possible to dig a hole with a claw hammer, but it’s not the most effective or efficient method. A shovel can put a nail in a board, but it’s not the best way to do it.

Left to right: full metal jacket round, traditional hollow point, and more modern personal-defense round with polymer tip.A handgun cartridge was designed to do one thing, but not what most people think. The term “knock-down” power is the most misleading term in personal defense. There is no handgun cartridge with the capability to “knock down” a man. I also submit to you that no handgun bullet in history was ever designed to knock a man down.

Throughout history, there have been two primary types of weapons:

  1. Impact weapons
  2. Cutting weapons
If we keep this in perspective, it will help us choose the best tool for our purpose in self-defense. Impact weapons are designed to hit the target with sufficient focused energy to destroy the target or stop the target from moving. A large-scale example is the MOAB, or Mother Of All Bombs. The MOAB uses explosive energy alone, with no shrapnel, to destroy targets.

12/03/2011

Handbag Carry 2

No way! really?! Wow! I don't believe it! Another great conceal carry purse company?
Believe it! These bags are awesome! A new web store just opened, Concealed Gun Purse & they're great, even if you don't carry!

12/02/2011

Fashionable Cases

Looking for even more style... +Bling! ???
As you may know, I get especially girly when it comes to my range gear. This is why I think I may have found a soul-mate in Kimberly Bortz, the owner of Bang Bang Boutique, LLC. The story of how guns became part of Kimberly's life is wonderful! Here is a sample:

I shot a gun for the first time in January 2004. You see, there was this guy I really, really liked. He was into shooting and said he would show me how. I was terrified, but said yes because I really wanted to impress him with how tough I was.

At the range, he laid out a
variety of guns before me – even though he patiently explained what each one was and what types of bullets it shot – it all went in one earmuffed protected ear and out the other. All I gleaned was there were semi-automatic and revolvers. I liked the revolvers more.

We both discovered that day I was actually a pretty decent shooter. All my shots stayed within the body outline of my target. If my aim was to impress my guy friend, it worked. He kept nudging the other guys in the range going “Check this out! This is her first time shooting!” Shortly afterwards, he dubbed me with the nick name “Bang Bang.”

In August of that year, my friend asked me out on our first real date. It was a great first date, the kind of night that you know is the start of something really special and someday you will tell your grandkids about.
Bang Bang Boutique has the "prettiest" gun gear I've seen
Stylish fabrics, lots of color choices and Swarovski crystals...what's not to love?
Bonus: custom crystal applications, just send them a design!

Need a designer to help you develop a logo? Email ArmedCandy

12/01/2011

Home Protection Practice

Shooting at the range is fun but if I had to protect myself, that's probably the last place I would be. One should practice with their weapon in order to prepare for an emergency in the home. The best way to do this and maintain your accuracy is with devices like these.


And here is some good practicing info:

11/30/2011

Color & Choices

Someone finally realized that us women use our accessories for self expression. So now we have a few more choices thanks to Ace Case Manufacturing LLC

11/25/2011

Style 2.1 -Holidays- One Stop Shop

The holiday season has arrived and if your shopping for a female shooter, the Gun Goddess website should be one of your first stops.

They have a little bit of everything, clothes, jewelry, gear...
Unless you want to shop around...?

11/18/2011

Pink Gear for a cause

I'm not sure why, but I feel the need to get VERY girly with all my range gear. I might buy something one color, but by the time it gets to the range, I have painted away the original color and bedazzled the heck out of it (more on that later). Most of the feminine gear I've found, has been the same as the black stuff for guys, but in a shade, I like to call, pepto-pink. As the shooting industry slowly realizes that woman are more than just "soft & pink", more well-designed products emerge.

Here's a source for shooting gear that benefits a great women's cause and looks good. Packing in Pink's gear is very cool and I can't get enough of their logo. It's hot pink, for a change.

11/17/2011

1st Club Meeting

We felt that there was no better way to celebrate an American holiday like Thanksgiving, then to exercise our 2nd Amendment rights.

(left to right) .22 Beretta & CZ 75B 9mm
Glock 19 9mm

11/16/2011

The Quest for Lady Friendly Holsters

I have searched for the best way for a woman to conceal carry, and though I don't think I have found the answer yet, here is the best place to start. This girl knows her stuff!

11/15/2011

Style 2.0

I've been wearing this necklace (left) for about a month now and have gotten tons of compliments; Mostly from gun toting friends & people at the range. What do you think?

I found a girl in South America who laser cuts acrylic and when I saw the gun she did in black, I asked her to make me a transparent one.

I have found others, in the US, who do similar necklaces (see the red and blue on the right) but they wouldn't make me a custom piece.

Here's the kicker...mine was less than $20, including shipping from Uruguay!

11/15/2011

Style 1.5




I will forever claim to be a "PC" but it's getting harder to say, since I now go everywhere with my iPad2 in tow.

As an act of defiance and an opportunity to show a bit more "gun love" I created this decal.

So far it has been well received.

11/15/2011

Style

As I have said, I am thoroughly enjoying my new hobby. It has cheered me up on a few gloomy days & it has brought into my life a number of new friends. I don't know that I will ever be comfortable with a holster on my hip, but I would like to find some other way of outwardly showing my interest in shooting (subtly) in my daily life.
It is not my goal to take on a dark and brooding (aka "Goth") persona. I also have friends who are less comfortable with guns and the discussion of guns, and I don't want to offend them. Therefore, I have gone in search of some style ideas that will express my enthusiasm without ringing out, like a gun shot.

My first idea was jewelry out of shell casings. If you run a search on Etsy.com, you will see that I am not the first to think of this.

I am somewhat uncomfortable with how many people are selling pointed pieces of crystal secured inside empty brass.

But these cufflinks are well done.

11/12/2011

Why I shoot

For me, shooting is not about being aggressive, being tough, or even about protecting myself. I have recently likened target practice to "solving a hard Suduko puzzle". When I shoot a good grouping it makes me feel accomplished, capable & skilled. I started out shooting the smallest round available and have been slowly working my way up. Each time I try something new, and handle it well, I feel great.
This is the grouping I achieved the first time I picked up a .40mm Glock, last week. As I've said, it's only been about 3 months since I started hitting the range regularly.

I have heard it said that woman make better marksmen... What are your thoughts?

11/11/2011

Guns Go Bang, Hearing Protection for Women

The first time I stepped in the range, even with my "earmuffs" in place, I was startled by the noise. Sometimes I still jump at the first shot from a neighboring lane. This is why we need hearing protection. Earmuffs are rated by the decible level they can block. The "passive" kind use padding to block noise and are generally given as high as a 27dB noise reduction rating, the "electronic" ones are more advanced and will have a higher rating. (dB = decibles)

Near total silence - 0 dB
A whisper - 15 dB
Normal conversation - 60 dB
A lawnmower - 90 dB
A car horn - 110 dB
A rock concert or a jet engine - 120 dB
A gunshot or firecracker - 140 dBsource

I have gotten pretty comfortable wearing these inexpensive earmuffs.
I also have these plugs, in pink that have served me well under my earmuffs and alone at an outdoor range.
I also have these double sided ones that I find are just OK.

A tip I learned: wearing plugs & earmuffs does not double up your noise reduction rating. (ie. 21dB plugs + 27dB earmuffs does not add up to 48dB)

Ear plugs will usually be insufficient for indoor ranges. The only earplugs I would trust in an indoor range are these custom silicone ones, but I am yet to try them, so if you have experience with these, please comment. I am also very interested in these becase lately I have been leaving the range with a head ache from my earmuffs squeezing my glasses into the sides of my head.

11/11/2011

A place to start

Is it safe to assume that women learn differently from men? I think one of the main differences is that we seek out as much information as possible before proceeding into a new activity. When learning about guns, this was my plan of attack.
One of the great resources I have found is a website called The Cornered Cat. The site is packed with great info and she also has a book for sale on Amazon. The focus is on a woman who wishes to carry concealed, but even if that isn't your goal, it's a helpful read. The author of The Cornered Cat has been informed of this mention of her book and was happily supportive of this blog.

11/10/2011

Welcome to Armed Candy



A few months ago I discovered a new hobby and I have now become an enthusiast. As a woman new to the world of guns, I have been warmly welcomed by a range and a select group of friends. However, when researching on my own I have found that information and options are limited. I will be sharing some of my research but I am also interested in discussing and hearing opinions on the topic of women & guns.