Carry Lessons

[Guest 0down]

After I got my carry permit, the most important lesson I learned in class was how much I didn’t know. The myth that a gun was a magic shield that will protect me wherever I go was quickly dispelled. After countless hours on the range, practicing and studying at home, and in training here are a few thoughts…

Your choice of equipment is secondary to state of mind. A fight that you avoid is a fight you win. When out in public, be aware of your surroundings, note who is around you and what their focus is. Learn the Cooper Color Codes, it is important. How many times have you heard “he came out of nowhere� The truth is that criminals do not have the power to materialize, or become invisible. Here is a excellent article by Tom Givens on the subject.

http://www.teddytactical.com/SharpenBladeArticle/4_States%20of%20Awareness.htm

Training and practice is far more important that equipment. If you visit many gun boards on the Internet, you will hear countless debates between Glock vs 1911, 9mm vs. .40 vs. .45 ad nauseum. Get professional training whenever you can and you will shoot faster and more accurately. Shooting skills are extremely perishable. Those skills you learned in class will rot very quickly if you do not practice them. Classes give you new skills and practice lets you keep them. The difference between serious calibers (9mm and up) and brands of ammo become insignificant if your training allows you to make more and better hits.

Your gun has sights for a reason. Unless you can smell their breath, use the sights.

The difference between a 9mm and a .45 is about 1/10th of an inch. Well, if you can draw and get three hits with a 9mm in the same time it takes to get two with a .45, which is the better choice for you? Your caliber choice should be based on what you can accurately and quickly shoot. With that being said, use the largest caliber that fits this description.

Pick a brand of carry ammo, test it, and then stick with it. Some guns don’t like specific ammo. Pick one, shoot a couple hundred rounds to confirm it goes bang every time in your gun, and carry it. All quality factory domestic modern hollow point self defense ammo will do the job. Some say a couple hundred rounds is too expensive to test, its not. Know now instead of wonder later.

Pick a gun, test it, and then stick with it. Many people seem to have a different gun for every day of the week. Pick one, shoot the hell out of it, and know for a certainty that it is reliable. If it is not, sell it and get one that is, or have some one fix it. Then shoot the hell out of it, and know for a certainty that it is reliable. Carry guns will get banged, scratched, worn, and dirty. Get over it and see it for tool it is. Carry extra magazines. If something goes wrong with the gun it will probably be the magazine.

Practical shooting is important. Go to your local range and participate in IDPA or similar shooting sport. It is a lot of fun. It is a good way to test your gear. You will get to shoot under a little stress. You will practice important skills that you normally won’t get to. Do not confuse this with training. It can be practice if treated as such.

I am sure there are many gems I left out but feel free to post you own. I would love to hear your thoughts.

[Guest Hyaloid]

Great post

[Guest db99wj]

Great post, B. I got a guy hired that will be able to close my branch and me leave earlier on Friday to hit up those IDPA matches, he starts in March. I won't be able to take the big class with Yeager, but I do plan on taking fighting pistol classes.

[TGO David]

Something that my grandfather once told me after I got my carry permit years ago still echoes in my ears today: "Don't start carrying your balls around in that holster."

Very simple, sage advice. The day that carrying a gun makes you feel 10ft tall and bullet proof is the day that you need to get things back into perspective QUICK before someone else does it for you.

[Guest Shay VanVlymen]

Wow. That was a post I could have written myself. Great stuff!

Tungsten,

Spot on. I have said before, "You gun is not a toy, testicles or talisman." Don't let your mouth write checks your gun has to cash. We preach avoidance, deterrence and de-escalation. I can’t see carrying with any other Mindset.

[Guest Len]

Good words everyone. Its all about mindset -have the right attitude, the right training, and the right perspective. The best gun fighting skill you can ever have: AN OPEN MIND (a willingness to learn and keep learning, even a LOVE of learning.)

Interesting thread, all.

-Len

Edit:

Shay says: "We preach avoidance, deterrence and de-escalation. I can’t see carrying with any other Mindset."

Amen, brother. Amen.

[Guest jackdog]

Hey odown. Great post and with the exception of use your sights unless you can smell thier breath. Get some good training on point shooting . I can garuantee you that from ten yards on in you can hit well using point shooting. the time it takes you to get a sight picture will allow a point shooter to put a round or two in the target. It takes a lot of practice, but it is well worth while. With that one exception I totally agree with your post.

Jackdog.

[Guest GlocKingTN]

This is all good advice!

[towerclimber37]

thats why this is the best gun forum in tn. IMHO...