Advice

"If you're planning to travel around the US this summer, be sure to check out the laws in every state you plan to visit and know whether they accept your state's carry permit."

-Overheard at the Range

Help!

Dear Readers,

I need your help! I began shooting less than a year ago, and soon found myself looking forward to weekly range visits. I started writing the ArmedCandy blog in order to share my learning experiences with other beginners. I had no idea that so many people shared my love of shooting and learning about guns. I am beyond excited at how our community has grown.

As a new shooter and trained designer, I have fruitlessly sought attractive, high quality gun gear that is smartly designed. I have ideas for range gear, a conceal carry line of clothing, as well as plans for fashion forward holsters specifically designed for the female body. I believe that these products will begin to fill the void in offerings for the gun toting female population.

I love writing the blog, but would now like to open an ArmedCandy online retail shop as an off-shoot of the blog. The shop will offer AC designs as well as products from companies and crafts people who are enhancing the female shooter's experience. Opening the shop first, will allow me to reinvest earnings in developing more and more products. I am currently struggling to pull together the funding needed to design and establish the e-store, set-up the order-fullfilment system, and produce a limited quantity of merchandise.

So I turn to you, as you have been so helpful to me in the past, how can I/we make this happen?


Thank you so much for your help!

ArmedCandy aka "Gabby"

©2012-GRM

Advice

"If you must lock your gun in your car, putting it under your front seat is not a stealth move."

-Range Employee (m/50s)

Hoster This (too)

Here is a holster made by an amateur leather worker and friend of my local range, Paolo Leardini. He began working with leather after an injury to his hand, and now, with a little help from his daughter, molds one of a kind holsters for discerning gun owners. He has created this pocket or purse sleeve for a S&W 642 or 442 revolver. It will protect your weapon as it rests next to your iphone and your car keys, while being so sexy you'll want to keep it with you everyday. I find the feminine details on this piece, wonderfully subtle, yet satisfyingly girly. Though I believe purse carry to be the least desirable carry options for anyone, sometimes our fashion choices just won't allow us to holster up. However, this sassy holster will do double duty when pocket carry is an option. The outer edge of the holster mimics the shape of a pocket keeping your carry revolver close at hand and positioned for quick gripping.

I was surprised to discover that this is Paolo's very first holster for ladies. He has, however, built many custom pieces for the gentlemen at Sandy Springs Gun Range. His work is all custom and may include all sorts of fun embellishments from rheinstones to parts cut from bullet casing. Though this holster is not, he has created soft linings with materials such as calf skin. Paolo has created a few more since finishing this one, and he is excited to show off his design growth.

For more information:

©2012-GRM

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	AC Makes a DIY Hoster

Holster This

My first goal in starting ArmedCandy, was to share my experiences as I learned the gun world. I figured that I couldn't be the only woman beginning this journey and seeking out the same information. As I went deeper, I noticed that all the techniques, products and mentalities for gunners, were based on how men had been doing things for years. When something didn't work for me, (like a holster that made my pants fall down) I was told that I would have to adjust. (ex. wear a "gun-belt", wear pants with a higher waistband, wear pants with pockets...) I may not be a serious fashionista but I give a fair amount of attention to my clothes and appearance and, not to be stubborn, but I like my style as it is. So, as a creative person & a problem solver, I am taking on the mission of finding better gun gear for woman.

Not only do the current offerings not appeal to my fashion sense, but they don't align with my ideas for concealed carry. For example, an "inside the waistband" holster (IWB) placed at 4 o'clock in my pants creates a very uncomfortable draw angle for me.

More...

An ArmedCandy Video

©2012-GRM

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	Shi*t Girls Say		Sh*t Guys Don't Say

Advice

"If you are considering concealed carry, first put pepper spray in your purse. This will give you practice at having something in your handbag that should be carefully guarded."

-Female Range Owner & Mother

Advice

"Your CCW shouldn't be the antique family heirloom that you hold sentimentally dear, it should be a weapon that will take a good amount of abuse."

-Gun Chat-Board Moderator

Hold my gun while I Rant

           The other day, I found myself watching a certain morning talk show. The show is hosted by two well-known women, and is produced in New York City. The women brought up the attached YouTube video. (A few days ago I posted this video on the ArmedCandy Facebook page, because I thought this was a clever parenting technique.) The conversation that transpired included statements similar to the following: One woman said to the other "Why did he have to use a gun?" The other woman continued, "...well, look at how he is dressed. Maybe it is part of his culture."

More...

Advice

"Get good at loading magazines, broken nails and all, before relying on a speed loader."

-instructor

Advice

"you should carry as large a caliber as you can..."

-range employee(m/60s)

Firepower Friday!

I stopped by the range today to accomplish a number of things, but I'll address most of that in another post. I just wanted to share a quick note about defensive ammo.

A few weeks ago I purchased two boxes of Winchester PDX1 bonded hollow points from Gander Mountian (great store! Check them out). They arrived quickly and with free shipping.

These rounds are not cheap, but they were recommended by a former cop & they are the preferred ammo of the FBI.

Today I shot a few rounds to see how they felt, because I imagined that there would be a major difference in the feel of 115 grains and 147 grains.

I am happy to report that they felt just fine. If I need to use them I now know what to expect. I will point out, though, that as I pulled the trigger I heard the sound of a cash register, in the back of my mind. No more wasting the expensive stuff for me!

©2012-GRM

Advice

"If you're going to carry pepper spray, buy two and practice. Would you carry a gun you'd never shot before?"-instructor (f/30s)

Who's that Girl (with a gun)?

Meet Meg: Pure ArmedCandy!Meg is one-of-a-kind. Not, one-of-a-kind because she's a girl working in a gun range, (we all know not to be surprised by things like that anymore). She's one-of-a-kind because, well, she's Meg. AND, if you asked her about her work, she might talk about the range but she, might just as quickly respond, "I do hair".  She is as surprised as anybody, that this is where she goes to work, but after more than two years at Sandy Springs Gun Range, the place is deffinintly her second home.

When she first considered working around guns, Meg admits, there was some fear and a minor anti-gun sentiment, stemming from a "hippie" upbringing.  However, Meg open-mindedly joined the team at Sandy Springs Gun Range and quickly learned the ropes.  

More...

Advice

"All-steel weapons need a bit more maintenance than others. Rub a little oil into the outer metal surfaces of your gun to protect it..."

-former marine

Advice

"don't arch your back..."

-instructors/friends...

Advice

"excess oil in your gun will collect dirt & grit..." 

-current police officer (m/30s)

Advice

"Lasers make for bad shooters. They are too unreliable, so learn to shoot well without them..." 

-shooting instructor/former marine (m/30s)

Ssshhh, we don't want to frighten the fellas...

I found this thread on a message board from North Carolina, last week. I guess they are on notice.

• SB wrote: i don't know if you guy's realize this, but in my observations of women shooters .. it seems that most women have a natural ability with guns .. i don't know how many times at the range i will see a NEW female shooter just take to it like a duck to water .. as long as the person teaching them isn't stupid and starts them off with a 45 or something .. also you will find that once they get over the "fear" they will generate to the larger calibers .. they carry smaller guns i think for the concealment factor .. of course that is only my take on it .. i bet some of the ladies here will chime in and prove "that once again SB is right!" ..

More...