> I suspect that the more that women get the message that it's
> OK to be good at chess, mountain climbing, math, etc., the
> better they will get at those things.
It's been my experience that women can do better at things that men believe they should "just know" but actually aren't taught, because they take the time to learn rather than approach the issue as a know-it-all-and-can't-admit-that-they-don't. Your experience with firearms may fall into that category. Driving is another.
> My daughter is having a pretty good time in first year algebra
Have you taken her to the range yet?