All posts tagged Defensive Shooting Skills

Gun holsters and gun sights

One thing that I have heard more and more lately during defensive training courses that I have sat in, is a warning about changing sights  on  your guns and making changes to the holsters you already own.   The infamous spinning handgun is something that is going to occur on your favorite CCW gun if you haven’t paid any attention to the friction you have on your holster.   Even if the gun can clear the holster, a slight angle alteration and the front sight will catch on the holster and flip forward as you try and pull it out.

I’m definitely not against replacing your gun sights, I’m actually all for it, XS gun sights are great defensive gun sights and putting Crimson Trace Laser Grips on your pocket gun or your new Ruger LCP is something that is working quite well for others and sometimes it really good to just be observant to others when it comes to guns and gear.  A small cut or notch on your gun holster might be necessary if you change your gun sights.

Top

Unconventional thought in defensive situations

I think most people expect to read about firearms, knives and pepper spray when it comes to using weapons in a defensive situations, but we can’t for get to think  about ways of using our body in situations to get away, or restrain an individual.   I’ve shown many people how to take a firearm away from someone, but that is only for people that have the confidence to do so.  I remember a few years ago there were was a lot of buzz about how easy it was to take apart a Beretta 92FS pistol and disarm someone who wielded it.   Well, it is easy to do that, but it’s even easier to drop a magazine on a Glock and pull the trigger on it and then it’s basically disarmed as well.

Verbal defense is probable the most important training that a shooter can employ.  I’ve taught people how to build confidence that they will know how to shout down an attack or trick a home invader to retreat, just by yelling “I have a gun”.  Knowing how to use every sharp edge of your firearm and your Blackhawk holsters even the magazine holders as blunt objects should give you things to think about when in a crisis situation.   Lots of firearms and tactical gear and accessories can be used for jabbing or bashing.

Top

Been playing with my 1911

No that is not a joke about something else,  but I have been shooting Glocks almost exclusively over the last year and it’s nice to go back to what I really love and have fun and not have to deal with the high paced tactical shooting programs that I have often had to deal with.   The 1911 still is King at the IDPA courses and that’s not going to change anytime soon.   There is something really addictive about the thunk of a 45acp round exiting a firearm and it’s not just the design, it’s the power that you can feel.   I will leave the ballistics debates up to the gun boards, but for knocking down steel targets, the 1911 is the ruler target drops.

I recently watched a video from Magpul Industries and Travis Haley mentioned that he did door knocking with a 1911 and actually used it in combat.   I’ve switched up to Chip McCormick magazines lately just to see if they are as reliable as the Wilsons Combat magazines that I have used for so many years. I just think its good to brush up on the #1 close up fighting pistol that so many Special Operations guys use.   The 1911 is still going strong in the military and the magazines and improvements have made it far more reliable than the original design.

Top

Don’t expect a do it all gadget on your firearms

I saw a recent night fighting test where they basically showed how night sights become useless as soon as a flashlight gets turned on and the glowing dots won’t help you in low light conditions depending on your flashlight gun techniques.   The whole flashlight thing on handguns is a debate in itself because there are so many things to consider.   There are flashlight retention devices like the Section 8 Tactical ultimate retention device that have helped improve grip and freeing up your hand to open doors or do magazine changes, but it is true that it’s not as steady as a flashlight mounted on the firearm.

Night sights are nice, but who would get into a shoot out in their home without turning on a light or using a flashlight?   One thing to consider are Crimson Trace Laser grips for home defense because not only can you tell depth of a target in low light you can also get better cover and still know where your gun is pointed.   There are some really good defensive training DVD’s coming out an Massad Ayoob will be going over using laser grips in home situations.   I highly recommend using lasers on home firearms as well as flashlights, I think those are far more practical and advantageous than using night sights.

Top

Fast holsters for self defense

Not everyone is going to win the IDPA National competition this  year, nor should we expect it, but there are several thousand people that are above average and stand out.    Not everyone that carries a firearm is training 2 times a week and ready for whatever fate is going to pop out of the bushes.   I don’t teach gun slinging when I’m teaching a class, but I expect people to be safe when using a firearm, and allow them to figure out how fast they need to be.   In all of the hostile confrontations I witnessed, there was never a need for a fast draw, you either slowly pulled the gun when the BG wasn’t looking or you ran for cover and moved.   Gun slinging can mean that both individuals shoot each other.

I do believe that one thing that gets over looked when people decide to choose a holster is at what angle and location can they draw a firearm fastest.   Gun depth in a holster is a big deal because once you start concealing a firearm under a shirt, if you can’t get your hands on it easily you’re not going to get it out quick enough.   My fastest and favorite is the Don Hume holsters called the Jit holster.   These ride a little high, aren’t locked in, and my hands and many of my students agree, that it is easy to grab.   IWB can be tricky because everyone thinks its just about hiding the gun, they forget that it’s also about how to get it out.

Top

Galco holsters, I thought I had the wrong holster

I’ve been on a holster binge lately and I’ve been  picking up whatever I can for the revolving CCW guns that I carry.   I have been trying to modernize my rotation with a few Springfield XD variants an a Glock 19 and a Glock 26.   I went back to leather holsters after shying away from them for a few years.  I had a bad experience with an Alessi Talon holster that was holding so much sweat that it ruined a Tauras T-85 38 special.   I skipped a monthly cleaning and found out the holster actually had a gew in it and the barrel was pitted.

I think the best CCW is really the IWB but I know not all body types handle it very well, last night I got an order in the mail and decided to try out the Galco holsters that were IWB.    The Galco Tuck-N-Go holster looked like a good thing for me to test out, but I actually thought I had the wrong holster after having so much trouble getting the gun into it.   The slide was actually racking when I put the holster in so I had to stop, after doing some research online, I’m over reacting a little bit and going to see if I can break it in a little more.  I’m not too happy with the fact I can’t really re holster the gun properly because it seems to cave in on itself.   I’ll give it test in a few days.

Top

Uploading magazines, single stack and double stack

I use to upload all of my guns until a bad experience occurred to me with several of my gun safe firearms.   I mostly buy used firearms and my Sig 229 in .357 sat in a gun safe loaded with 12+1.   I bought the gun  used and replaced all of the magazine springs with Wolff gun springs, did a range test, and then when the gun passed the range report, I loaded it up and put it away in the safe for 9 months.  Thinking that taking this gun to an IDPA match would be a good way of testing it out and making sure it was reliable, I just took it with me and give it a run.

I had another Sig 229 with me, but this was in 40 S&W and it was also loaded to capacity.   Needless to say, both guns failed on me.   I  have a Colt 1911 with 8+1 rounds of 45acp in a Wilson Combat magazine and it has never failed me.   The only problem I have with it is that I need to really make sure the magazine is seat properly because it barely clicks in.   All magazines have been downloaded by at least 1 rd and since then, all of the guns have passed range tests even after long term storage.  Be careful about what you read on the internet, uploading many guns for long periods of time will decrease reliability.

Top

Military handguns and gun grips

I know several first hand bitchin and moaning concerning both the 1911 and Beretta 92FS or both.   I rarely engage in these arguments because I am experienced enough to know that people have preferences and forcing someone to carry a firearm that does not fit them very well is not wise.   I expect that the military will eventually move towards an handgun that is more versatile as far as adjusting to varying hand sizes much in the way that the M4 Carbine is adjustable for various operators.

The guns that seem to have improved operator control with gun grip changes were the Sig family of firearms.   There is something serious lacking in the factory grips because in my humble opinion they feel too slippery and that is not something I think is good.   Every Sig that I have seen in a Defensive Training course had altered gun grip and everyone was using the Hogue pistol grips, wrap around, finger grooves or standard ones.   My Beretta 92FS felt smaller by putting finger groove grips on it and the Sig 239 I own feels like it’s suppose to, an extension of my hand.

 

Top

Securing firearms in a holsters is important…

But don’t forget about all of your other gear.    Many of my previous blog posts have mentioned that I regularly attend training seminars and trade shows and I see and feel lots of gun gear and accessories.    I’ve seen plenty minds changed with gun holsters once the physical stuff starts.   I’ve busted a few CCW in my life usually during the Summer months when they are sitting back on a lawn chair and I see a fully loaded Sig 220 magazine laying on the ground next to them.    Another one of my friends fell asleep on a long car ride and woke up with an empty pistol magazine pouch, it was being held by the guy sitting behind him.

Those sound like funny stories, but it should be a wake up for anyone that is CCWing.   Gun accessories on firearms should normally have loctite on them, but you can’t do that to keep your gun magazines in place.   Those cheap nylon magazine holders are actually very secure, but some don’t like the image of cheap Army surplus stuff.   Blackhawk holsters are known for their locking Serpa holsters, but the double stack and single stack magazines are outstanding.   I’ve never lost a magazine during training and they are easy to retrieve unlike something with a flap.

Top

Comfort vs convenience

There is going to be a argument with your body between comfort and convenience whenever you put on a holster.    IWB may work for you, but if you start carrying larger guns you’ll start to feel it pretty fast.  I have already seen guns go from carrying fat compact guns and transitioned back to a 1911 which is longer, but is thin and more comfortable to carry IWB.   If you are expecting to get into street combat then do something other than wear a concealment holster.   I have had years of experience in carrying guns IWB, but recently I’ve gone to pocket carry because I’m getting tired of feeling it when I’m out on golf course or batting practice.

There are plenty of custom holster companies for you to research, but you may spend a lot of money on a holster that doesn’t work for you and the best thing to do is go to a gun show or a gun shop that carries them and ask if you can try them on.  Galco holsters have a stow n go holster that is an easy fix for IWB concealment holsters.  If you don’t want to blow a ton of money on a holster look at Galco or Don Hume first.   There are belt loop, paddle and pocket holsters that are very reasonable priced.

Top
1 2 Page 1 of 2