Since I didn’t want to necropost, I thought I would put what I was going to post in the 5 year old topic in a new one:
Some advice I can give for those that have never owned or shot a firearm:
Responsible owners follow the four rules of responsible firearms ownership.
Regardless of what a gun store may tell you, handle a lot of different firearms. Your first, should feel comfortable in the hand and be a good balance between a range and carry option. Otherwise, you won’t care about it. It’s an extension of your arm, so it should feel that comfortable. Ask the store clerk, their armorer, or their gunsmith if your choice is capable of dry fire training.
Spend at least 3-4 weeks absorbing the manual, and how to field strip your firearm. You should also practice a check and clear drill every single time you pick up any firearm, or one is handed to you (even if it’s yours). The one I use is:
Release the magazine (to remove any potential loaded magazine)
Operate the slide all the way to the rear of the firearm and release (to remove any potential round from the chamber)
Operate the slide all the way to the rear and lock with the slide stop (to verify the chamber is clear and to inspect the chamber, slide, frame, and extractor for damage)
Release the slide by using the slide lock or by pulling the slide to the rear of the firearm until it returns to the front (also called, into battery).
Owning a firearm is a commitment to training and care. Part of the 4 rules is to “Always know the condition of your firearm” which I use in place of the common “treat your firearm as though it is loaded at all times.” Part of knowing the condition is checking the loaded or unloaded state, but also it’s ability to function properly. You may need it to defend yourself one day. This is typically done using field stripping, check and clear drills, maintenance, and dry fire exercises. All pistols should allow for this type of training and some will warn you in the manual if it is not suggested.
Be prepared to fail at first. People will usually get discouraged after their first time at the range. Remember that the first time you shoot a firearm your body is going to react in a way you do not expect. Start with a single round in the chamber and work to the goal of another. Move only as fast as you are comfortable with. Most RSO’s (Range Safety Officers) might have time to help correct some bad habits if the lanes are not full, but what would really help is to find groups that meet to help you get acclimated to the environment of the range. Sometimes that can be a sportman’s club, or a conservation club. Check your local area for events or venues.
Finally, these are the 3 videos I recommend every new (and seasoned) shooter watch to help learn how to shoot from a better perspective:
The most important - once you decided to own the firearm and perhaps even carry it - have respect to it. It’s a tool, the same as knife or hammer, but more powerful. You don’t mess with it, you don’t play with it… you learn how to use it.
Using / carrying the firearm process consists of two factors - physical and mental. And you must train and practice both. There are no shortcuts. Physical part teaches you how to press the trigger (easy stuff), mental part teaches you what to do before, during and after pressing the trigger to get desired results.
Once you understand it you can proceed with everything what is in first post.
Well, said. I would only add that adrenaline is going to seriously affect the mental part. It’s worth knowing that, as well. The important part is to build that foundation with respect, care, and training.
This also can be controlled.
For me it took around 18 months to learn how to control my emotions. I didn’t do it to be “a stone cold killer” but it helped to take any emotion out of equation during shooting process.
Proper, isolated and straight thinking about process and outcome made be a better shooter and person.
I still have no idea how will I react taking civilian’s life… but at least I’m prepared .
I strongly recommend to train mental part twice as often as physical part.
Everybody knows how to pull the trigger … but only few know how to press the trigger correctly.
You would be surprised how many people don’t realize the importance of ergonomics so that is made as simple and natural as possible. A dangerous encounter is not the time to make sure you are holding your tea cup with your pinky out.
Good write up. One thing I would like to add that many people don’t think about is that firearms are not for killing people. They are for stopping someone that is a threat. Killing is a last resort if that is the only way to stop someone from murding.
Yeah, that’s true. The first time I tried it was my Prodigy (since it came with one). Since it’s slaved to the front sight I can just present and it’s there.
An important refinement many folks miss:
(1) When releasing the slide with a loaded magazine (to chamber a round) always pull back and release or use the slide lock; never hold onto (ride) the slide back into position. Let it slam into place. This ensures a clean load of the round into the chamber.
(2) When releasing the slide on an empty gun, no round in a magazine or no magazine, always hold the slide and ease it back into position. This reduces possibility of damaging the gun from the impact without a round as part of the mechanism.
The above guidance has been in a few Wilson Combat videos on YouTube, including by Massad Ayoob, and in his classes.
To practice the release in dry fire, use snap caps or dummy rounds in your magazine.
It is a good idea to go to a range and rent the firearm you are interested in purchasing. Have a qualified instructor with you if needed. This will help you determine if the firearm is a good fit for you
This point is not specifically inserted to help a new owner, but it is an undeniable truth.
Most of the gunners here are GUNNERS. We own, we train physically, we train mentally, we learn everything we can about our weapons, shooting scenarios, what to do and when, yadda, yadda, yadda…Most of us can recite the owner’s manual for our particular EDC complete with how many commas or periods are on a given page. WE KNOW IT. We know that if we are in a SD or HD situation, we have what it takes to stop the threat.
Not everyone will be able to do this. You can have all the training and the best equipment, but when push comes to shove, you might not be able to do it. Not even if it is your life against theirs.
Taking a human life is not something a sane person does just because. It causes extreme mental anguish because it is such a horrific act. A person can be the best game hunter with lots of trophy pictures of this deer or that wild hog or whatever, but when the prey is two legged, their brains might vapor lock. It happened to a kid I was with when we took our vacation to the sunny beaches of Iraq back in ‘91. He had all the training and equipment everyone else did, but when it came time to do the job he was trained for, he curled up in a ball and cried. His brain could not handle what he was tasked to do. He did not have what it takes.
I, like so many others here, have what it takes to do what is required to protect my own life and the lives of my family and others in need. I know I do because I have done it, and I have the scars that won’t go away.
Several years ago, I had the privilege of seeing Dave Grossman’s lecture, “The BulletProof Mind” in person. Since then, Ive listened to it multiple times via YouTube. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
