Triggering Confidence: A First Rifle Experience at GO WYLD

When Sarah signed up for the rifle class at GO WYLD, an annual women’s weekend hosted by wildHERness, it felt more like a dare to herself than a fully confident decision. She had always been curious, maybe even admired the idea of women who could handle firearms with ease—but that wasn’t her. At least, not yet.

Leading up to the event, she was a nervous wreck. The idea of shooting a gun brought up a whole mess of emotions: fear, uncertainty, and even guilt. She’d heard horror stories about recoil. The loudness of guns, especially on indoor ranges, had always made her uneasy. “You don’t have to do this,” she told herself more than once. But something deeper kept her grounded—maybe it was curiosity, or maybe it was the quiet hope that she could surprise herself.

She took deep breaths. And she kept showing up.

GO WYLD provided exactly the kind of space Sarah didn’t know she needed—a women-led, ego-free environment where questions were welcome and pressure was nonexistent. From the moment she stepped into the class, surrounded by supportive instructors and equally eager women, she felt something shift. It wasn’t immediate, but it was real. She wasn’t alone in her fear. And in that community, she felt brave enough to take the first step.

The variety of rifles available in class allowed her to ease in. Starting small, each new shot helped chip away at the fear that had built up over years of uncertainty. When it came time to try the AR-15—the gun that had caused her the most anxiety—she hesitated. But one shot was all it took. “This is fun,” she thought, almost in disbelief. What once seemed intimidating now felt like a doorway to confidence.

Pulling the trigger for the first time felt symbolic. “It was like I was free of something that had been weighing me down,” Sarah reflected. “I felt light, but strong.”

Her target groupings? Not bad for a first-timer. Maybe a little high on the paper, but she was proud of every single hole. She had walked into the range overwhelmed by the idea of guns—and walked out not just having handled one, but enjoying it.

The impact ran deeper than marksmanship. Sarah left the GO WYLD weekend with more than a new skill; she left with a sense of personal power. Her fears, it turned out, weren’t as accurate as they were loud. “I realized I’m capable of so much more than I gave myself credit for. I can take care of myself. I am capable.”

The weekend gave her something else, too—permission to dream bigger. She now has goals of practicing at the range regularly, eventually purchasing her own rifle, and embracing a more self-sufficient lifestyle. But even if those things take time, she says she’ll always have this experience to remind her what’s possible.

Sarah had been offered opportunities to learn before, but never felt confident—or emotionally supported—enough to say yes. That changed at GO WYLD. “There is so much healing in community,” she said. “We lifted each other up. We watched each other rise.”

For Sarah, the rifle class wasn’t just about firearms—it was about facing fear and realizing it didn’t get to be the final voice. She hopes other women considering it will let themselves feel scared for five seconds, then take a breath and take the shot.

Her gratitude for the instructors, the facility, and the other women in her class runs deep. “I’ll never forget how they made me feel—like I belonged there, even before I believed it myself.”

We’re also incredibly grateful to Savage for loaning us the rifles that made this class possible. Their support gave participants like Sarah access to a variety of high-quality firearms in a learning-focused environment. Partnerships like these are critical to creating empowering, low-barrier opportunities for women to step into new skills—and discover new strengths.

GO WYLD gave Sarah the space to transform. From “I don’t know if I can do this,” to “I did this.” And now, she moves forward—more confident, more capable, and more free.

To learn more about wildHERness and the educational opportunities they provide, visit wildHERness.org or find them on FB (@wildHERness) and IG (@_wildHERness_).