Walking onto a shooting range for the first time can be intimidating, especially for women. There are typically no other (or very few) other women around, the equipment is unfamiliar, the terminology sounds like another language, and suddenly everything feels awkward.
That’s where A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League has focused on making a difference. Since its founding in 2011, A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) has grown into one of the largest women’s firearms training organizations in the United States. What began as a small effort to create a welcoming environment for female shooters has evolved into a nationwide network of chapters, training programs, competitive shooting opportunities, and educational events designed specifically for women.
Created by Women, for Women
A Girl & A Gun was established with a simple but powerful mission: to provide women and girls with a safe, supportive path to develop skills, responsibility, and independence through firearms training and competition. The organization emphasizes not only marksmanship, but also personal growth, confidence, and self-reliance.
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Unlike many traditional shooting clubs, AG & AG focuses heavily on creating an environment where women feel comfortable asking questions, learning at their own pace, and building skills without fear of judgment. The organization’s leadership often describes the community as a sisterhood built around education, recreation, competition, and community, the four pillars that guide its programs and events.
Today, the organization includes hundreds of chapters across the country and serves women ranging from complete beginners to highly accomplished competitive shooters and firearms instructors.
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More Than Just Range Time
At the local level, AG & AG chapters host regular meetings and training events designed to help women improve their shooting skills while connecting with others who share similar interests.
These chapter events often focus on firearm fundamentals such as grip, stance, trigger control, sight alignment, and safe gun handling. The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed and supportive, making it easier for newcomers to gain confidence while experienced shooters continue refining their skills.
Each chapter is led by trained female facilitators who serve as mentors, organizers, and ambassadors for the shooting sports. Chapters are expected to host regular events and encourage participation in both local and national programs.
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The organization’s reach extends beyond monthly range sessions. Members have access to educational resources, virtual events, leadership development opportunities, and specialized training programs throughout the year.
Training Beyond the Basics
One of the reasons A Girl & A Gun has continued to grow is its commitment to offering training opportunities that go far beyond introductory firearms instruction.
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The organization’s annual National Conference attracts hundreds of women from across the country for several days of professional instruction, hands-on training, and networking. The event brings together top firearms instructors, industry experts, and manufacturers while providing participants with opportunities to improve skills in multiple shooting disciplines. Recent conferences have drawn hundreds of attendees, making it one of the largest women-focused firearms training events in the country.
In addition to its conference, AG & AG hosts a variety of specialty programs, including:
- 3-Gun University and Fall Fest, focused on multigun competition.
- Clays Extravaganza, celebrating shotgun sports.
- Sniper School, dedicated to precision rifle shooting.
- DRIFT Academy, which focuses on vehicle-defense scenarios and personal protection.
- Combatives Camp, emphasizing self-defense skills, mindset, and realistic scenario-based training.
These programs allow members to explore disciplines they might never have considered while developing practical firearms skills and confidence.
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A Gateway to Competitive Shooting
Competitive shooting has become an increasingly important part of the AG & AG experience.
Many women who begin by attending local chapter meetings eventually find themselves participating in practical shooting sports such as USPSA, IDPA, steel challenge, sporting clays, and multigun competitions. The organization has played a role in introducing thousands of women to competitive shooting environments that can otherwise feel intimidating to newcomers.
A Girl & A Gun has also helped break barriers within the competitive shooting community. The organization made history by fielding all-female squads at major IDPA national championship events, demonstrating that women shooters could compete at the highest levels while supporting one another along the way.
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Empowerment Through Education
While firearms training remains the foundation of the organization, members often describe the greatest benefit as something less tangible: confidence.
Many women join because they want to learn self-defense, become more comfortable around firearms, or participate in shooting sports with friends and family. Along the way, they gain confidence that extends beyond the range.
The organization’s leaders and instructors frequently emphasize that firearms training is about more than learning to shoot. It is about personal responsibility, preparedness, self-reliance, and developing the confidence to tackle challenges both on and off the range.
That emphasis has helped AG & AG attract women from a wide variety of backgrounds, professions, and experience levels.
The Future of Women in the Shooting Sports
The growth of organizations like A Girl & A Gun reflects a broader trend within the firearms industry. Women continue to represent one of the fastest-growing segments of firearms ownership, training, and participation in shooting sports. Organizations that create welcoming entry points and supportive learning environments are helping drive that growth.
For many members, A Girl & A Gun becomes more than a shooting club. It becomes a community of mentors, training partners, and friends who encourage one another to learn new skills and push beyond their comfort zones.
Whether a woman wants to become a more confident gun owner, compete at a national championship, improve her self-defense skills, or simply spend time with like-minded people at the range, A Girl & A Gun has built a place where she can do exactly that.
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