Weird stuff happens. Always obey basic rules

Firearm Training
21

The first class i took they will set you up for a malfunction because they load the mags or volunteer. So they can set you up? I saw this over 90 % of the time when a rifle AR-AK malfunctioned everyone turned the ejection port up so they could see inside, which was the opposite we were suppose to turn the port down and re rack no bang lock her back? Training is never finished?

2 Likes
22

Welcome to the family and god bless you.

2 Likes
23

Welcome to the community, @James483!

3 Likes
24

Great message glad you posted it
Following the basics is a must

4 Likes
25

I had a ND with a 1911 once, and only once. Took a chunk out of the concrete about 2 feet in front of my toes. It both scared and embarrassed me. I packed up and went home for the day, but I remember the lesson to this day. Always keep your weapon pointed in a safe direction.

4 Likes
26

With a broken extractor you can pull that charging handle a dozen times and chances are the round is not going to be removed from the chamber. You must visually inspect the chamber before dropping the hammer whether one sees a round eject or not.

3 Likes
27

You handled it perfectly explaining to him in detail what happened and what should’ve been done. You’re lucky to have a son that likes to train like that with you.
An experience like that has a way of searing its way into one’s memory

2 Likes
28

Welcome to the community, @Hank3!

1 Like
29

Note I am NOT criticizing your “Home” procedure here.
It sounds “Safe”.
But if you do not feel confident in keeping a round in the chamber - at home - you
probably need more training.
1 - Gun fights happen “Really” fast - at “Light Speed”
The 2 seconds it takes to chamber a round can be the diff btwn Life and Death.
FBI Data/Rule of 3’s - most gun fights are:

  • Inside of 3 Yds
  • Last 3 Seconds
  • Fire 3 Rounds

2 - Not to mention - in home - Racking the slide may give away your location/position.

One solution - Keep your “House gun” in a holster to avoid an AD by trigger press.
For more safe gun handling techniques I recommend find an IDPA match near you, you can usually go watch
free and talk to people, for free, who “Really” Do know proper “gun safety/handling”.
Me - State and DHS Certified Firearms Instr.

3 Likes
30

I suspect it would take longer to kick my door open than it would for me to rack a round. Probably take longer for me to unholster the firearm also.
I don’t leave a round in at home as there are cats here, and mine weighs about 3x or more lbs. than the trigger pull, and if she stepped on the weapon when it’s on my desk, it is conceivable that she could fire it. I really doubt she could benefit from training on that subject. Furthermore, I don’t always have pants on at home, so I can’t really have the firearm on my person at all times when I’m at home. I do take it with me to the bathroom though, so there’s that.
As for giving away my location, I live in a condo, think 2 bdr. apartment, and there’s only one entrance. Standing in the doorway, you have the ‘livingroom’ on the right and the kitchen on the left, both wide open. In front of you is a hallway, with a clear view all the way to the back bedroom. The bathroom and my room are off the hall on the right. Not really anywhere to hide, as the walls are tissue paper and plaster.
Again, kicking the door open will give me enough time to grab either my handgun or shotgun and rack a round in. I live in my room, and don’t use the livingroom at all, although I do use the kitchen. When you add in that I’m pretty much a cripple, and need a cane to walk, my options are fairly limited. I figure I could lean against the door frame to use the shotgun, but for the handgun, my entire body will be exposed before the gun comes into play, simply because my room is on the side of the hallway to where my right side comes out of my room first to face the door.
Just the way it is.

EDIT: I do want to make clear I’m not disparaging anything you said. More training is always a good thing, and there is no doubt about that. I just wanted to point out that ‘home safety’ is situational at best. Where I live there’s my roommate/landlord, his itty bitty kitty, my monster cat and me. That’s it. in the years I’ve been here, there has been 3 visitors. My best friend came over once, and twice I’ve had medical professionals come in. That’s it. No kids, and no other visitors. Thus, I don’t feel the need for a lock box, trigger lock or gun safe.
I just try and balance ease of access with safety - don’t want kitty blowing a hole in my computer.

3 Likes
31

It took me a while til I felt comfortable with a round in the chamber. Blood thinners made me feel vulnerable. Now I not so afraid. I’m safe. It’s safe. I have 4 safeties on my gun.

1 Like
32

Always had one in the tube, at 1st had firearms with manual safeties, next decockers, now whatever

1 Like
33

Good that you have thought this thru to the extent that you have.
You are more astute/aware than most.
Many/“Most” people Don’t.

Some other thoughts - based on your situation - again for your “Consideration”:
“Pistols” with Safeties - Opinions vary widely here but from a LOT of experience
I learned it depends on what you practice with. When I practiced with a safety on my
gun - it became an automatic-move to click it off “on the draw” ie no time lost.

Lights:

  • You dont want to turn on All your lights - you don’t want an intruder to see “You”.

  • The one thing - for sure - you need is a good Tactical Light - With a Tail-Cap switch.
    They are "Very’ handy for many uses.

  • Streamlight and Surefire are good ones. A lot of Cops and SWAT use.

  • Both are Pro-grade. I have probably 5-6 of them here.

  • Even Better a Gun-Mounted light. Say minimum 300 lumens.

For an intruder situation:

  • You “MUST” ID whoever it is coming and try to Not let them see you.

  • Note with a good gun-mounted-light you can point it down at the wall toe-molding/floor interface

  • and usually see/ID what you need to in a hallway. Same using a hand-held light - Say “FBI Hold”.

  • You can usually get enough “Splash” to ID who is in the hallway.

  • So “Not” pointing the gun level ie toward a wall/straight down a hall etc while searching.

  • So an AD will Not go thru your front door and outside.

  • And you don’t want to point a gun at a friend coming down your hallway.

  • If you have someone living below you - point at your ceiling/wall interface when searching.

  • In Actual Defensive Shooting - ie The “Real Thing”

  • Strange things happen to your mind and body - that you “should” learn and practice-for

  • to have a good chance to defeat a determined attacker.

  • IDPA Matches allow for Accommodation and Allowances for the Disabled.

  • It is more like Gun Fight Practice than a Competition.

  • So “some” of the stress of a real fight is present.

  • If you have never had to practice that way - it is well worth it to check it out.

  • You will learn some CQB - Close Quarter Battle Tactics. Good for Home Defense.

  • OR have a Certified Defensive Pistol Trainer come to your home and train you there.

  • You can find some on the NRA web site.

  • Or meet someone at an IDPA MATCH - They will usually know who trains in your area.

  • Talk to the local IDPA match director - he will know.

  • These matches are usually sponsored monthly by a local gun club. See the web site IDPA.

  • Note - just getting a Permit is good but is NOT - “Real Training”.

  • Also - look up wall-penetration tests for 00 Buck and 9mm - Utube - its about the same.

  • 1 - “00 Buck Round” is equal to 9ea - 9mm rounds all the way thru ALL Sheetrock walls.

  • I have seen 9mm go thru 5 walls+

  • Both will go thru “ALL” your walls and perhaps All your neighbors.

  • Even HP rounds.

  • So - Study/Consider - NOW your Safe Lanes of Fire considering your neighbors.

Some, In Home, “Tactical” Defensive Position/Shooting:

  • Full “Book Cases” can make good bullet stops - maybe against your bedroom wall facing the LR.
  • Stay behind it and fight from there. Make them “come to you” down a narrow hall way.
  • While “you” are mostly “covered”/protected by the book case - loaded full.
  • Only expose just enough of “only” your upper body so you can get a shot or 2 off down the hallway.
  • Don’t “crowd” the wall - back-off the corner at least 1 arms length. Only expose your gun barrel and your right eye.
  • Don’t stick your gun past the wall/corner where someone can grab it.

Another option - for you - might be to stage a gun in the Kitchen and 1 in the Bed Room.

“I” stage a Revolver in my shower in a ZipLoc bag, and have a loaded AR in the corner - hidden.

  • Consider a Short Barrel Rifle (Say 5",7" Barrel) or PCC for your Home Defense gun.

  • In the AR Platform you can chamber a round and have the Safety ON

  • But click it off really fast - as part of your actual shooting move.

  • Practice some and it becomes “Automatic”. But the Cat cannot do it :slightly_smiling_face:

  • Even with training :slightly_smiling_face:

  • MUCH easier to handle and shoot than a Shotgun or Pistol and a Lot more capacity.

  • “Hearing” if you DO fire a shotgun or pistol in your home - you will NOT be

  • able to hear “Anything” for say 5min + , how do I know? :slightly_smiling_face:

  • So you will not be able to hear what 911 is telling you if you call them -

  • Solution? - I now keep Electronic Ear Muffs by my gun -

  • They enhance normal hearing but suppress gun shots.

  • end

4 Likes
34

Be careful.

I said the exact thing,
 with training and practice you automatically disengage the safety on the draw and no time lost

and it was distorted into 'you should not handle firearms on ‘autopilot’ (which is a totally different thing
 and mindless, without thought.)
 claiming my comment showed being unsafe.

1 Like
35

Had this exact same thing occur to me in basic training. Got a really good chewing out from the Drill Sergeant (when they were still allowed to yell profanities at imbeciles like me) but when he realized it actually was the weapon and not the idiot behind the trigger he apologized.,.but of course I did something else stupid and had to ‘drop and do 20’ before anything else. Great times
I miss those days.

2 Likes
36

My cats know how to use my pistols :slightly_smiling_face: . I think they’re planning to cash in on the life insurance policy though :open_mouth:

1 Like
37

Don’t let anyone tell you different.
Your physical moves to your gun, draw, present etc. must be practiced to the point they are Automatic

  • (except/“up too”) the trigger pull. The Shoot - No-Shoot Decision Point.

In a “Real” Confrontation you need most if not all your mind (Brain processing power) to concentrate on what is happening and how do I avoid or stop it.
Is this a deadly threat ?, how many are there?, does he have a gun, knife, do I have time to respond, ???
do I need to use deadly force, can I just leave/escape, can I get to “Cover”
,
 ??? on and on.

Since most attacks are usually ambushes - You are typically Not going to have time to “Think” about the mechanics of how to get to your gun, position hand, draw, keep finger off trigger, bring gun to what position, etc etc.
Your brain will already be overloaded with - is this a deadly attack? Should I respond, Find Cover 1st, etc etc.

All those physical moves must be well practiced ahead of time/“Automatic”/on “Auto Pilot” so your mind can concentrate on whether to shoot or not or evade, escape etc.

Otherwise you can go into “vapor Lock” and freeze up or fumble it etc. with information overload to your brain that
has already been traumatized by being under attack.

Of course if you are already being “Shot-At” it can often make these decisions easier.
( ie “My” typical past experiences.)
Been “Shot At” a few times.

Usually 1st - if possible - “Move”, find “Cover” and shoot from there.

6 Likes
38

Indeed.

I have carried for over 30 years, and have also been involved in firearms training and was an armorer.

The issue about ‘automatic with training and practice’ which is what I stated, and to explain that there is no time lost during the draw when there is a manual safety (some people think there may be lost time)

and the other ‘community member’ decided to alter that and use a different word ‘autopilot’ (which means without thought), and make false accusations regarding unsafe firearms handling. Words matter, words have meaning, and I still say that individual had the intent to cause problems.

I agree with you, just pointing out
 be careful, there are others that might be ‘offended’ by your comment


2 Likes
39

Thanks for the warning.
I may have to look for another term to describe Muscle Memory for Speed and to Free Up your mind for Critical Thinking.
I teach the “Draw” to a Defensive Position as a 5 step process.
Then tell the student, in a light hearted way to, “Now go home, practice those exact moves 1000 times and come back and see me”. Then go on to cover most of the standard XCQB Defensive Positions.

1 Like
40

Here’s just a thought for your situation. Why not invest in a wheel gun? This way your watch cat wouldn’t be able to accidentally send one downrange and even if it was to knock it completely off the desk, almost all revolvers now have a falling block safety system that prevents hammer strike firing. Then you would always have one in the chamber and solve the issue with your guard cat all at once!
Stay safe, train often, let those you love know it very often!

3 Likes