Shadi Khalil
New member
I shoot my carry guns everytime I go to the range.
CCW not "primary range gun"
- Thread starter johnwilliamson062
- Start date
guess its good to have 1 gun then. use it for everything. carrying, range time, HD along with the 12 gauge.
I don't see why you wouldn't want to practice with your carry gun. It would suck if you weren't used to shooting it if the time ever came you really needed to take a shot.
I don't see why you wouldn't want to practice with your carry gun. It would suck if you weren't used to shooting it if the time ever came you really needed to take a shot.
I don't get to shoot as much as I want. I do shoot my carry gun more than all other firearms put together.
I did make up for the lack of shooting a bit this weekend. I put about 300 rounds of good practice in this weekend. I even practiced weak hand shooting and moving while shooting.
I did make up for the lack of shooting a bit this weekend. I put about 300 rounds of good practice in this weekend. I even practiced weak hand shooting and moving while shooting.
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About the only really big issue that I can see here would be if one were to have a carry gun that had a safety that worked in the opposite direction as to their range guns.
My Glock doesn't seem to notice that I am "sweeping off a 1911 safety" as I am unholstering and getting a grip then preparing to fire. Neither do my revolvers.
I generally don't CC a semi which safety operates in the opposite direction as a 1911. Now that could be a bit more than just embarrassing! (I used to on occasion in the past, but have pretty much moved away from it.)
If an encounter were close enough that you did not need to see the front sight, it really may not matter. And if it were far enough that you were using the front sight, well then... use the front sight.
My Glock doesn't seem to notice that I am "sweeping off a 1911 safety" as I am unholstering and getting a grip then preparing to fire. Neither do my revolvers.
I generally don't CC a semi which safety operates in the opposite direction as a 1911. Now that could be a bit more than just embarrassing! (I used to on occasion in the past, but have pretty much moved away from it.)
If an encounter were close enough that you did not need to see the front sight, it really may not matter. And if it were far enough that you were using the front sight, well then... use the front sight.
I'll admit that during the last several months, I've shot my 9mm Para 1911 almost exclusively, because I was saving up .45ACP ammo for an Awerbuck course in August.
It's not like I'd never fired my .45s before, however.
Still, an "understudy" can be valuable. I try to keep proficiency with the .45 Gov't Models, but I do a LOT of shooting with the 9mm Para, Ceiner conversion kits, and Ruger 22/45s...
It's not like I'd never fired my .45s before, however.
Still, an "understudy" can be valuable. I try to keep proficiency with the .45 Gov't Models, but I do a LOT of shooting with the 9mm Para, Ceiner conversion kits, and Ruger 22/45s...
I think most people with a very small carry gun believe they are only going to use it against someone within a few feet and thus don't feel the need to practice with it. Not smart but together with the fact that it hurts their hands to shoot it and the ammo is expensive if available at all, I understand their thinking.
Maybe it’s just me but this whole CCW issue has me dumb fondled. I carry a CW9, mixed with FMJ and personal defense. Big enough to be enough and light enough to carry. Its point and shoot, get used to it. If you’re in a true situation trying to get that pocket pistol out of your pants is going to be a joke and you better be prepared to shoot through that fancy pocket holster. Oh, and you won’t have time to aim never mind find the red dot from your laser, $300 gun + $250 laser just nuts. But hey it’s just my opinion.
BoneDigger
New member
Well...
As some have said above, you need to shoot your defensive handgun enough to 1) be proficient with it, and 2) insure that it will function when needed. Now, with that being said, when some people say their handgun is not a "range gun" I think what they are saying it that it is a close quarters handgun and not particularly accurate beyond a certain distance. Most snubbie pistols and small autos (KelTec/LCP, etc.) fall under this category. But, they should still be fired so that you are familiar with them and feel confident in your abilities while using them.
I fire my Kahr PM9 every range session, but then the PM9 is fairly easy on the hand and fairly accurate. The LCP I once owned was not fun to shoot and although accurate out to 10 yards or so, wasn't a lot of fun to shoot at the range. It was not a "range gun."
Todd
As some have said above, you need to shoot your defensive handgun enough to 1) be proficient with it, and 2) insure that it will function when needed. Now, with that being said, when some people say their handgun is not a "range gun" I think what they are saying it that it is a close quarters handgun and not particularly accurate beyond a certain distance. Most snubbie pistols and small autos (KelTec/LCP, etc.) fall under this category. But, they should still be fired so that you are familiar with them and feel confident in your abilities while using them.
I fire my Kahr PM9 every range session, but then the PM9 is fairly easy on the hand and fairly accurate. The LCP I once owned was not fun to shoot and although accurate out to 10 yards or so, wasn't a lot of fun to shoot at the range. It was not a "range gun."
Todd
Those of us here or on other gun boards That have guns at home or carry for SD are the exception, not the norm. Most people buy a gun some test it, some just load it ,and put a way or carry. I see people every day at shop that I know that have a permit and never carry or even shoot. My own brother is one He can shoot at my house but he won't take time.
Yet it must be said in all fairness . That these people and others like them defend themselves every day some some place in America and they come out on top time after time. We seldom see where a permit holder or a home defender lost the fight.
Are we really any more prepared than the 70 year old woman who just dropped the BG with a 32 revolver That belonged to her dead husband and been in dresser drawer for last 10 years.
Do we really need to spend 1000's on some gunfighter school and ammo to do what people in all walks of life and ages have been doing for a 150 + yrs Point at BG and pull trigger repeat if necessary
We have become a nation that thinks we must have the biggest and baddest pistols and training or else we can't defend our selves Before the schools and all the mag hype. People did it and today majority of people defending them selves haven't had any fancy training .
Play games. Go to the schools Ask them for a written guarantee that you will never loose or be injured in a SD shooting Bet you won't get one
Yet it must be said in all fairness . That these people and others like them defend themselves every day some some place in America and they come out on top time after time. We seldom see where a permit holder or a home defender lost the fight.
Are we really any more prepared than the 70 year old woman who just dropped the BG with a 32 revolver That belonged to her dead husband and been in dresser drawer for last 10 years.
Do we really need to spend 1000's on some gunfighter school and ammo to do what people in all walks of life and ages have been doing for a 150 + yrs Point at BG and pull trigger repeat if necessary
We have become a nation that thinks we must have the biggest and baddest pistols and training or else we can't defend our selves Before the schools and all the mag hype. People did it and today majority of people defending them selves haven't had any fancy training .
Play games. Go to the schools Ask them for a written guarantee that you will never loose or be injured in a SD shooting Bet you won't get one
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troy_mclure
New member
when i carried my xd40sc i fired it alot, 21,000+ rounds thru it.
now that i have my kel tec p32 i have only 500 rounds thru it, but ive only had it a few months, and ammo for it is still scarce.
now that i have my kel tec p32 i have only 500 rounds thru it, but ive only had it a few months, and ammo for it is still scarce.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Michael T, you have a point. You haven't won me over, but you have a point.
My Range Guns are my Carry Guns, as I practice with what I carry.
Last year my "primary" off duty was a 3" Revolver. This year it's a Hi Power. Next year, I haven't decided yet. I practice with the "primary" and the BUG and very seldom take another handgun out to the Range. The exception to that is, if I am switching carry guns for the year. Then I will carry my carry gun and practice with the new gun to be carried until I make the transition.
It's not a scientific approach, but it seems to work for me.
Biker
Last year my "primary" off duty was a 3" Revolver. This year it's a Hi Power. Next year, I haven't decided yet. I practice with the "primary" and the BUG and very seldom take another handgun out to the Range. The exception to that is, if I am switching carry guns for the year. Then I will carry my carry gun and practice with the new gun to be carried until I make the transition.
It's not a scientific approach, but it seems to work for me.
Biker
I carry different guns depending on several different factors. However the gun I carry most does not get the most range time. I carry my Kahr PM9 most of the time. For anyone who is familiar it is understandable that this gun is not exactly a whole lot of fun to shoot. However I do agree that it is important to shoot the gun that you carry. Every time I go to the range I put probably around 25 rounds through this. I shoot probably another 50 through my xd .40 and call it a day. So I agree that it is important to shoot the gun you carry but I am not convinced it needs to be the gun you shoot the most.
CARGUY2244
Moderator
ccw weapon
ccw weapon:
function-save your life.
all your other weapons:
function-hobbies.
practice:
function-to become perfect.
why would you practice with any weapon as much as you do with your ccw?
you could invest an hour a week drawing from a concealed holster, doubletapping center mass and finishing off with a head shot, and still be too slow, or too inaccurate, if the moment of truth ever comes.
it's the difference between a tool and a toy.
ccw weapon:
function-save your life.
all your other weapons:
function-hobbies.
practice:
function-to become perfect.
why would you practice with any weapon as much as you do with your ccw?
you could invest an hour a week drawing from a concealed holster, doubletapping center mass and finishing off with a head shot, and still be too slow, or too inaccurate, if the moment of truth ever comes.
it's the difference between a tool and a toy.
orionengnr
New member
Every pistol/revolver I own, I carry. If it doesn't get carried and shot somewhat regularly, it gets sold.
That said, some get carried and shot more thatn others.
As KyJim points out, all of my 1911 work the same. Some weigh less, some have lasers or night sights. Practicing with one translates well into the other. I tend to shoot the steel 5"ers more than the alloy 3"ers (because I don't want to put a lot of wear and tear on the alloy 3" dudes), and I carry the lightweight 3"ers more.
Likewise with my revolvers. I shoot the K-frame M-18 (.22LR) more than the others due to ammo cost, but I shoot the carry revos as well. And I shoot the larger ones just as well as the .22. Same trigger, same ergos, it all translates.
I shoot my .22LR Ruger MKIIs most of all. The trigger is very similar to my 1911s, the mag release is different but everything else translates. Shhoting 100 rounds of .22LR each week helps develop/re-inforce fundamentals, and the price of .22 ammo allows one to do it frequently.
That is my opinion, anyway, and worth exactly what you paid for it.
That said, some get carried and shot more thatn others.
As KyJim points out, all of my 1911 work the same. Some weigh less, some have lasers or night sights. Practicing with one translates well into the other. I tend to shoot the steel 5"ers more than the alloy 3"ers (because I don't want to put a lot of wear and tear on the alloy 3" dudes), and I carry the lightweight 3"ers more.
Likewise with my revolvers. I shoot the K-frame M-18 (.22LR) more than the others due to ammo cost, but I shoot the carry revos as well. And I shoot the larger ones just as well as the .22. Same trigger, same ergos, it all translates.
I shoot my .22LR Ruger MKIIs most of all. The trigger is very similar to my 1911s, the mag release is different but everything else translates. Shhoting 100 rounds of .22LR each week helps develop/re-inforce fundamentals, and the price of .22 ammo allows one to do it frequently.
That is my opinion, anyway, and worth exactly what you paid for it.
overkill556x45
New member
I do most of my range work with my future CCW piece. I have shot my M&P out to 50 yards and my 442 out to 25 (but with poor results in the case of the 442). Heck yes I shoot my (future) CCW pieces a lot. I'd better be pretty darned good with them if I plan to stake my life on them.
I just got done cleaning up a Polish P64 in 9x18 as a pocket gun (once the SD holds the darned CCW class. I will have been on the wait list for ONE YEAR in about three weeks). I plan on buying a case of Silver Bear and blasting about half of it off before I decide to carry it or not.
Good practice is never a bad idea.
I just got done cleaning up a Polish P64 in 9x18 as a pocket gun (once the SD holds the darned CCW class. I will have been on the wait list for ONE YEAR in about three weeks). I plan on buying a case of Silver Bear and blasting about half of it off before I decide to carry it or not.
Good practice is never a bad idea.
Hi,
For some reason there seems to be a trend of thought that one can only shoot "really well" with one particular gun. I would like to disagree, and people that compete in pin-shooting and IDPA with multiple guns are likely to understand me and agree.
In a pin-shooting match I will start off with my 1911 (Pistol class) then shoot with my S&W 586 (revolver) and immediately proceed to shoot with my HP browning (9mm tip-over)and then back to whatever is the elim class in that particular day.
To those unfamiliar, when you shoot pins, you need to drive them off a 1M table - off the back of the table, so the real target you need to hit is the center of gravity of a bowling pin, which is un marked. you shoot from 8 meters and if you want to be competitive you need to train to shoot VERY fast and VERY accurately. added to that is the adrenaline rush of the competition, which affects you in a manner most similar to that of an encounter. one would think that a person will excell only with one particular gun, not so; it is clear that those who learn well and practice well end up shooting well, regardless of the particular weapon and class they are shooting. to give yo some idea, in the pistol class (usually shot with 0.45,10mm,9x21,0.40) you have 5 pins to knock, and a time above 6 seconds is not bad but wont get you anywhere close to the top, because for that you need to be below 5 seconds (national record is 3.53 seconds) with a 6 shot revolver you have 8 pins,( must do a manual reload- no speed loaders) and a good time is 10 seconds or less (including the reload)
Another example is a local chap who for many years ranked amongst the country's top IPSC shooters (national team), for those he had a couple of the space age guns that IPSC chaps love, in 9x21 and 0.45. Great competition pieces, not so much as carry guns. He always carried a Glock 0.40, and although he certainly practiced with it less than he did with his match guns, he could still shoot extremely well with it.
My point is that I believe that you do not necessary have to shoot mostly with one gun in order to shoot well, and that as long as you shoot well with the one you carry, and you practice with it enough to be proficient with it to the point that you are comfortable, there is nothing wrong with shooting more with other guns.
Brgds,
Danny
For some reason there seems to be a trend of thought that one can only shoot "really well" with one particular gun. I would like to disagree, and people that compete in pin-shooting and IDPA with multiple guns are likely to understand me and agree.
In a pin-shooting match I will start off with my 1911 (Pistol class) then shoot with my S&W 586 (revolver) and immediately proceed to shoot with my HP browning (9mm tip-over)and then back to whatever is the elim class in that particular day.
To those unfamiliar, when you shoot pins, you need to drive them off a 1M table - off the back of the table, so the real target you need to hit is the center of gravity of a bowling pin, which is un marked. you shoot from 8 meters and if you want to be competitive you need to train to shoot VERY fast and VERY accurately. added to that is the adrenaline rush of the competition, which affects you in a manner most similar to that of an encounter. one would think that a person will excell only with one particular gun, not so; it is clear that those who learn well and practice well end up shooting well, regardless of the particular weapon and class they are shooting. to give yo some idea, in the pistol class (usually shot with 0.45,10mm,9x21,0.40) you have 5 pins to knock, and a time above 6 seconds is not bad but wont get you anywhere close to the top, because for that you need to be below 5 seconds (national record is 3.53 seconds) with a 6 shot revolver you have 8 pins,( must do a manual reload- no speed loaders) and a good time is 10 seconds or less (including the reload)
Another example is a local chap who for many years ranked amongst the country's top IPSC shooters (national team), for those he had a couple of the space age guns that IPSC chaps love, in 9x21 and 0.45. Great competition pieces, not so much as carry guns. He always carried a Glock 0.40, and although he certainly practiced with it less than he did with his match guns, he could still shoot extremely well with it.
My point is that I believe that you do not necessary have to shoot mostly with one gun in order to shoot well, and that as long as you shoot well with the one you carry, and you practice with it enough to be proficient with it to the point that you are comfortable, there is nothing wrong with shooting more with other guns.
Brgds,
Danny
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I must admit that I don't practice with my main off-duty / BUG as much as with some of my other weapons. As Cartman once said, "Oh, I'm sure there's a reason...":
- It's an uber-light J-frame that will be damaged by too many of the gruesomely heavy loads I carry in it (when I do fire, it's mainly light loads followed by a few duty loads);
- It's punishing to shoot, and I don't think I need to train misery. When I do shoot, I'm conscious of the flinch ("Hi, my name is xxxx, and I'm a Flincher..."), and don't want to develop one;
- The tactical niche it inhabits makes the chance of needing a 25-yard shot unlikely. It's a belly gun, point shooting pure and simple;
- I realize marksmanship is a perishable skill, but I can hit a silhouette at 7 yards (by no means a given with this type of weapon), and that's the standard I want to achieve;
- I do fire it a few times per year, as mentioned before, with a box of target loads followed by the +P duty loads.
So there it is. Like most of my tactical decisions, it's kind of half-assed, but in my world it seems good enough, and hopefully I won't regret it, mene, mene, tekel and all that...
- It's an uber-light J-frame that will be damaged by too many of the gruesomely heavy loads I carry in it (when I do fire, it's mainly light loads followed by a few duty loads);
- It's punishing to shoot, and I don't think I need to train misery. When I do shoot, I'm conscious of the flinch ("Hi, my name is xxxx, and I'm a Flincher..."), and don't want to develop one;
- The tactical niche it inhabits makes the chance of needing a 25-yard shot unlikely. It's a belly gun, point shooting pure and simple;
- I realize marksmanship is a perishable skill, but I can hit a silhouette at 7 yards (by no means a given with this type of weapon), and that's the standard I want to achieve;
- I do fire it a few times per year, as mentioned before, with a box of target loads followed by the +P duty loads.
So there it is. Like most of my tactical decisions, it's kind of half-assed, but in my world it seems good enough, and hopefully I won't regret it, mene, mene, tekel and all that...
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