Attention CCW Holders

[JohnMOhio]

I thought I would ask 5 questions based on our discussion of the Glock Stove Piping thread.

1.How many of you CCW Holders have actually taken an advance course in combat style shooting after you obtained your CCW Permit?

2.How many times per month do you practice, what is your method of practice?

3.Do you have any advance courses available in your area?

4. If you did take an advance course, what did they offer?

5. What was the most important thing you learned in the course that helped you shoot better.

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[joem]

Answer question #2. Practice eight ot ten times a month.

[Art]

#1 - I have taken several very advanced courses but I have the unfair advantage of having taken them during my law enforcement career.

#2 - I shoot several times a month but that is mostly bullseye and I do not consider that training in this area. I train seriously with my CHL pistol once a month. I carry using a hip holster under a photographers vest or coat. The first thing I do is draw from under a jacket or vest and fire the 5 "serious" magnum rounds in my S&W model 640. After that I fire off at least a box of generic .38 specials I practice drawing from under a coat or vest, reloading using speed loaders, shooting one handed with both left and right hands. I shoot mostly "Controlled Pairs" with some "Mozambique Drills."

#3 - Yes

#4 - N/A

#5 - N/A

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

I would ask a different set of questions
1. How many criminals take an advance course in shooting
2.How many criminals practice? (drive bys don't count)
3. How many criminals shoot at ranges longer than 6 feet? and if they do, how many of them hit their intended target?
4. With a handgun, how many crimintls use the sights?

[Art]

From the research I have been exposed to:

1. Most criminals have minimal training but about 5% - 10% are very highly trained, I mean SWAT team highly trained. Running into one or more of these characters can result in a very bad day as those FBI guys in Miami in 1986 found out.

2. See number 1.

3. Most do not shoot at distances longer than 6 feet but gang members often shoot at longer ranges. Because most of them do not train they do hit a high percentage of innocent bystanders.

4. Good question, probably very few. Of course in real police shootings that are under 10 feet most cops don't use the sights either. Most gunfights do happen under 10 feet. I usually don't practice past 10 yards when doing defensive firearms training. I also usually only pick up the front sight.

It is important to remember the bad guy will allways have the initiative and it is very important to be more highly trained than him/her. As John inferred, it dosen't take much to have more training than the average crook, but you must be able to get to your weapon under stress and employ it effectively against someone who will probably have the jump on you. Since this requires fine motor skills it must be practiced and practiced consistently.

[JohnMOhio]

What I am getting at is passing a CCW course and going to the range and putting holes in a target might give you misguided confidence. Knowing your surroundings, where not to take a shot and under what circumstances can all make the difference in you surviving or a bystander going down because you choose to shoot. Most every basic CCW class your shooting at an indoor range to the stall assigned to you at a stationary target. The first defensive move you make in drawing your firearm is to move and keep moving to cover. How many can really shoot on the move and shoot accurately? Your survival and those your trying to protect may depend on what you do.

What instructions have you given you wife to do should you find just the two of you in that situtation? How do you let her know what your about to do? Your not taught this in a CCW class. It will get you a license to carry and from what I have read and talked to others, that is about all.

That is what I was trying to find out with my questions and cause those that carry to think about further classes. It is not as simple as draw you handgun and shoot. It can get you and others killed.

[Howard]

I think you should ask the cops those questions, every time I read about the police shooting at a bad guy there will be several police shooting 20 or 30 rounds and only hitting the bad guy a couple of times it seems to be handling the stress of the situation is more important than practice.

[0311Shooter]

I don't think you could take enough courses to cover every situation or every scenario. If the SHTF, instincts will take over. One instinct that towers above all others is the will to survive.

One thing I can still do well is RUN like HELL. I know that it's my first line of defense. But lacking an exit, if my CCW is on me or handy (one in both my vehicles), I know to grab it and use it if absolutely necessary.

What one simply must do is practice grabbing it (remember the ABC program), holding it, and if an automatic, rack the slide (don't need ammo for this). If a revolver, practice grabbing it, cocking it (please, NO ammo), and pulling the trigger.

In the meantime, if it is not fired frequently (mine are not), clean it and re-oil. Rotate the mags, pull the ammo, and reinsert them. Keeps the spring loose and active.

Simple little tasks that should be done occasionally.

[John Cook]

I don't know if it made national news or not, but a "Gentleman" walked in on an AA meeting in Columbia,SC and produced a weapon and told the members to hand over their valuables. One member did as he was told and drew his weapon (CWP) and dropped the "Gentleman" with three well placed shots. The body is enroute to the Ohio area. CWP holder has not been charged as of this date. You can practice all you want,but you never know what you'll do until the moment comes. As Louis Pasteur once said,"Chance favors the prepared mind"

john

[Art]

[QUOTE= it seems to be handling the stress of the situation is more important than practice.[/QUOTE]

That is very true. It is also true that you will "play the way you practice." It is a fact that if you don't practice getting your weapon out of whatever you carry it in you will likely fumble and access it much more slowly under stress than when you are not under stress. This is especially true if you carry a holster that has a safety retention device of any kind.

One thing I am learning from this thread so far is that very few people, even "gun guys (and Gals") do actual practice/preparation for when/if the SHTF for real.