[demosthenes the elder]

Actually, you foul-tempered arrogant buffoon, simple mechanics supports the basic supposition that women SHOULD be better pistol shots than men.
1. Lower, wider center of mass = better, more stable weapon platform
2. Smaller blood vessels and lower distal extremety blood pressure = less fluctuation in the hands

Since almost all side-arms are well within the weight tolerance of the overwhelming majority of women, upper body strength does not become a factor, so the principle male advantage is meaningless.

Moreover, the psychologies of the two beasties are very different.
Many men get confused, thinking the gun has some strange relation to their genitals, and as a result do not listen as well to the range instructor, do not take as much care in lining up each shot, etc... Women do not usually have this problem.

Since my experience backs up the mechanical supposition (and, yes, loudmouth blackguard, I HAVE kept accurate records on this for the last 10 years, since becoming acutely aware of the phenomenon) and I have been told by every single range manager I have asked (over 30 such) that their experience closely parallels my own, I will very comfortably consider your opinion to be as worthwhile as the 3-day-old unflushed contents of a bar toilet.

[Thorondir]

Gee cripes, man. Try decaf next time.