Four Famous Women in History Who Used Guns

Throughout history, women have stepped up in tough times, using guns for protection, survival, or fighting for what they believed in. While guns are often linked to men in stories of the Wild West or wars, many women handled them with skill and bravery. This article looks at four such women: Annie Oakley, Harriet Tubman, Calamity Jane, and Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Their stories show how guns played a key role in their lives, from entertainment to freedom fights.

Annie Oakley, born Phoebe Ann Mosey in 1860 in Ohio, became one of the most famous sharpshooters ever. She started hunting as a kid to feed her family after her dad died. By age 15, she was so good that she won a shooting contest against a pro marksman named Frank Butler, who later became her husband. Oakley joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, where she amazed crowds with tricks like shooting a cigarette from her husband's lips or splitting a playing card from 30 paces away. She used rifles and shotguns in her acts, promoting gun safety and teaching over 15,000 women how to shoot for self-defense. Oakley even offered to train female shooters for the U.S. Army during wars, though her offer was turned down. She died in 1926, but her legacy inspires women in shooting sports today.
Harriet Tubman, born around 1822 as a slave in Maryland, escaped to freedom and became a hero of the Underground Railroad. She made about 13 trips back to the South, guiding over 70 slaves to safety in the North. Tubman always carried a pistol for protection against slave catchers and to keep scared runaways from turning back. During the Civil War, she worked as a spy and nurse for the Union Army, even leading a raid on the Combahee River that freed over 750 slaves using guns and strategy. Tubman was tough; she once said her gun helped her stay focused on the mission. After the war, she fought for women's rights and lived until 1913. Her use of guns showed how they could be tools for justice and freedom.
Calamity Jane, whose real name was Martha Jane Cannary, was a rough-and-tumble figure of the Old West, born in 1856. She grew up in mining towns and learned to ride horses and shoot guns while scouting for the army and driving stagecoaches. Jane earned her nickname from her wild adventures, like saving people from dangers where she "brought calamity" to threats. She carried pistols and rifles, using them to protect herself in lawless frontiers. Famous for hanging out with Wild Bill Hickok, she joined Buffalo Bill's show too, showing off her shooting skills. Though her life stories were sometimes exaggerated, Jane was a real survivor who used guns to make her way in a man's world. She died in 1903, remembered as a bold pioneer.
Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet sniper during World War II, proved women could be deadly in combat. Born in 1916 in Ukraine, she joined the Red Army after Germany invaded in 1941. At first, recruiters wanted her as a nurse, but she insisted on fighting and proved her aim by sniping two enemies right away. Using a Mosin-Nagant rifle, she racked up 309 confirmed kills, earning the nickname "Lady Death." Pavlichenko fought in battles like Odessa and Sevastopol, surviving injuries multiple times. After the war, she toured the U.S. to rally support, befriending Eleanor Roosevelt. She became a historian and died in 1974. Her story highlights women's roles in modern warfare.
These women broke barriers and used guns in ways that changed history. From Oakley's showmanship to Tubman's fight for freedom, Jane's frontier spirit, and Pavlichenko's wartime heroism, they remind us that strength comes in many forms. Their tales encourage us to remember the overlooked heroes who shaped our world with courage and skill.
I used to teach Advanced Handgun Techniques and have found that many of my lady students - when taught correctly - were better shots than the men. Here in Roan Mountain we have young pre-teen ladies taking their first deer as soon as they're strong enough to hold a rifle. One of the 5000 reasons I married my wife was she demonstrated she could "put holes into holes" at 50 feet with her .357 shooting SA!
Keep it up, my friends. Train them young to NEVER be a victim.
PS, I have retooled one of my machines and can now cut thread om MP5 barrels - previously a factory-only job. Bring 'em!
As always - be safe out there!
Captain "African" Jon.

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