Reader MBH writes:
As an innocent 16-year-old, I thought my senior boyfriend hung the moon. To hear him tell it, he did. I had no idea he would forcefully take something that could never be given back. This is a scenario that plays out in many high schools, colleges, within relationships and in many social settings across the country, involving both men and women as victims. Sometimes it happens out of the blue by a stranger and sometimes by someone the victim thought and hoped could be trusted. However, we have options that can help guard against such situations . . .
I’m no longer angry at what happened to me when I was in high school. I firmly believe it shaped who I am today. However, I can guarantee it will not happen again. Though I live in a rural area with low crime, I made the decision several years ago to ensure my family and I will not become easy targets for evil . . .
I was raised in Wyoming. I began hunting rabbits when I was a child, graduating to hunting elk in the Bighorns near Sheridan when I was twelve. My handgun experience was limited. So when I decided to buy a handgun for self-defense and defense of my family, I had to start from scratch,
I bought my first semi-automatic handgun in 2015 after months of research and visiting with my law enforcement friends. I purchased a GLOCK 19 Gen 4. I’d held several different brands and models; the GLOCK “felt right.” It’s light weight and easy maintenance appealed to my Western values. (Unfortunately, we don’t have any ranges in my area where you can rent and try out a gun before purchase.)
From the first time I took it to the range, I fell in love. The recoil was perfectly manageable. The handgun was very accurate and consistent; my ammunition fed beautifully. The GLOCK’s size offered a slight challenge for concealed carry on my small frame. Given the circumstances, I opted for cross-body purse carry. While I was extra vigilant when carrying my purse I knew that I’d need to purchase a smaller handgun for on-body carry.
A close friend, who is a former law enforcement officer, told me GLOCK was releasing the single-stack G42 in .380. I purchased one from Cabela’s and began the search for an ideal holster that would fit my body type. While that search continues, I have enjoyed becoming more accurate with the G42.
Initially, I had failure-to-feed issues with the G42. Research revealed that other shooters had similar issues due to ‘limp-wristing’ the gun. Initially, my ego wouldn’t let me admit the possibility. I’m a “strong ranch girl.” I eventually swallowed my pride and decided that I probably was shooting with a softer grip, more than likely from a subconscious, incorrect decision that “smaller gun meant smaller grip.” After following a GLOCK armorer recommendation to add a little bit of grease to the slide rails. I went back to the range.
There is a saying that “GLOCK likes it rough.” True! I tightened my grip. The G42 ate ammo like a champ. I fired both cheap full metal jacket ammo and my higher quality hollow-point ammo. No issues what-so-ever. Now I have a trustworthy weapon to carry daily, and hope I can find the right holster to make a great trio of security between myself, my G42 and holster.
There are many ways to ensure that we do not fall victim to someone who wants to inflict harm upon us or someone we care about. It is our duty as responsibly armed Americans to help others become educated about firearms and other forms of protection, so that we can prevent rape, sexual abuse and other forms of victimization.
On “Glock Wristing”, I think that some of us who are not competitive shooters will ride the recoil a bit instead of fighting it. I know I did this a bit until I started shooting the .44 DEagle, where a failure to maintain a rock-steady grip would cause a failure to eject or failure to feed due to the gun not cycling completely.
It’s not just a GLOCK thing. All small .380s (in my experience) want a “Gorilla Grip” to cycle properly. Her observation that psychologically one might think “small gun = loose grip” is definitely a problem. Perhaps this should be addressed in a “Tips for NOOBS” article?
I’d say that a solid maybe. There are lots of guns that will jam up when fired straight out of the box. And light polymer guns especially need a firm grip. A couple good cleaning / shooting combos will typically break in a firearm enough that it will be reliable – provided proper spec ammo is used, and the gun is within spec, and proper form is used.
Weak range ammo and a gun straight out of the box that hasn’t been broken in does not make for a reliable combination. Weak range ammo that’s 100-200 FPS slower in a pistol or 300 FPS slower in a rifle can play havoc with the reliability of a semi-auto.
Its also a S&W thing. My M&P 9mm Pro with lightweight 147gr handloads will FTE/FTFeed if you dont practice good mechanics. My son and ex-wife had all kinds of problems until I pointed out their mechanics issues. They tightened their grip, and stiffened their wrists, the problem disspaeared
I have had the problem before with a Glock, which is why I don’t carry a Glock. But I had no problem at all with a Ruger LCP, and it don’t get much smaller or lighter than that in .380. If I have to change my life in order for a gun to work at all, the problem is with the gun. I can say that for absolute certain because a gun is basically always designed for me to want to buy it, and any question of something as silly as “limp-wristing” can easily be resolved with a revolver, so make the damn gun WORK, or forget selling it to me.
I load mine with Inceptor ARX. The G42 gobbles it up, hits dead on at 10-15yds, and is still the softest-recoiling 380 I’ve ever handled. It’s one of those useful pistols I’ll never let go.
Oh yeah, and not to ignore the main point of the article–I got sidetracked by a cool photo of a great pistol. You arose from a negative life event, took charge of your life, and found a way to ensure it never happens again. I applaud you! When my daughter grows up, I will do my darnedest to ensure she has every resource available to take the same measures.
Good for you. I’m sure we all hope you never have to use it outside the confines of the practice range
“I’m a “strong ranch girl.” OOOOOHHHHHH the sexiest line EVER.
In love with my 42. No sex abuse in my past, and got hands bigger than Trump’s ego, but the 42 is a winner in my book.
But then again, so is my 17, 19, and 26.
Easiest pistol I’ve ever used for one-hand drills. It just locks in there perfectly.
No 43?
She mentioned that when she started looking for an on-body carry gun that Glock had just come out with the 42.
I respect your strength and admire your courage. It’s terrible what was done to you, but it’s admirable that, as a result of that, you chose to prevent yourself from being victimized again. Kudos to you.
The G42 has had cycling problems. I bought one for my secretary and it would just not feed, whether it was me or her shooting. I sent it back and it was returned in a week. They replaced the slide stop, the ejector, and the mags. Runs like a top. Check your magazine number at the bottom back. No number or 01 and it’s a first gen magazine that Glock will replace. Should say 02. Don’t know what they changed on the mags, but it works.
Just a question..can we stop white washing things…when its rape..call it rape. Abuse is something less. In my mind, calling rape sexual abuse is a pc attempt to whitewash it. The side effect, for lack of a better word, is making the rapist seem less vile and repulsive, and deserving of death.
If its just me that thinks this way, well, perhaps I`m a bit more odd then even I realize…
I agree with you completely. Watering down the names of violent crime is just a way to make the perpetrators seem less dangerous than they are. All rapists and child molesters should be put to death Instead of letting them out to destroy more innocent lives.
Not death. Just casterated with a blow torch, its arms chopped off and blinded
Well, definitions need firming up in a lot of ways. The reverse, for example, where it is almost impossible to have consensual sex without the services of a Notary anymore, essentially EVERYTHING is rape, even within a marriage, if a woman decides to stick it to a man.
Hard thing to do putting yourself out there like that. Good on you.
Thanks for the post.
I enjoyed reading about your triumph over life events, and your journey to take charge of your self, inspiring.
As far as all small guns needing a firm grip, I disagree. I deliberately do limp wrist testing on my carry guns and my TCP cycles as loosely as I can hold it.
Great article, and I’m very impressed by your courage and practical response to a terrible situation.
I admire you MBH. No law should limit the ability of a woman to fight back. No ccw permits needed. I think wemon should also get a discount on firearms, ammo and martial arts training. My girlfriend will never have it happen to her again either.
“No law should limit the ability of anyone to fight aggression. No ccw permits, period.” Every person should be free to find the tools, services and training that suits their needs and budget, without robbing anyone else to do so. And anyone can volunteer to help others pay for it, of course.
There, fixed it for you. 🙂
The ideal outcome of a violent, potentially lethal attack on anyone, not just women, is the death or great bodily injury to the attacker at the hands of the intended victim or their guardian. Maybe even a “good guy with a gun” bystander.
That, my friend, is real equality.
She can call it what she wants. It’s her experience to deal with. It’s ours to deal with as we are her sisters and brothers. We can make sure it stops happening by calling out our friends who think women are men’s receptacles. As parents we can teach our boys to respect themselves and others. We can teach our daughters to respect themselves and others. We can teach them to not give up their thoughts to someone else. We can talk back to ads that portray women as possessions. Call yourself out if you think a woman is supposed to do what you say whether it be over finances or your new truck. 🙂
Thanks to all of us for taking responsibility for our own protection and supporting each other!
RF, next time suggest you advise writers to close with the punch:
This
“I’m no longer angry at what happened to me when I was in high school. I firmly believe it shaped who I am today. However, I can guarantee it will not happen again.”
At the very end would have made this a total killer short article.
Great article! Now I want a G42 just because.