From Annie Oakley to Clara Barton, female shooters have been making marks in history for centuries. Their skill and determination serve as an inspiration for aspiring shooters all around the world. Here are ten of the best female shooters that have ever lived who have truly made their mark in the shooting world.
1. Annie Oakley (1860-1926)
Despite starting out as a poor farm girl, she became one of the most famous female sharpshooters throughout history. Her incredible skill and determination earned her a place in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show where she rose to fame. She was also known to shoot cigars out of the air with her rifle and competed in shooting challenges.
2. Clara Barton (1821-1912)
Not just an accomplished shooter, she is also known as the founder of the American Red Cross. She used her shooting skills to perform sharpshooting demonstrations for charity and even invented a new style of shooting gloves that could be used for all kinds of shooting.
3. Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919)
She was the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor in 1865 and is widely considered one of the most accomplished female shooters in history. She served as a contract surgeon during the Civil War, where she would shoot off-duty to pass the time.
4. Abigail Kincaid (1911-2006)
A competitive target shooter for over 50 years, she invented a trigger guard which revolutionized the world of shooting and gun safety. Her dedication to competition shooting led her to train with other greats like Annie Oakley and compete in matches all over the world.
5. Lillian Smith (1905-1994)
She made her mark in clay pigeon shooting, becoming the first female to ever win a national championship in the sport. Her career spanned more than four decades and she holds the record for most competitive wins by a female shooter.
6. Julia Bell (born 1944)
She is one of the top female skeet shooters in history and holds the record for most world championship titles with 16. She also holds the record for being on five US Olympic shotgun teams, making her one of the most decorated female shooters in history.
7. Linda Mintle (born 1952)
She is a world champion black powder shooter who holds the record for most world championship titles in the sport. She is also a pioneer of women’s participation in shooting, having won multiple world championships and becoming an inspiration to many female shooters today.
