How much training? And of what sort? Before....

There's always a contrarian in every group. Always the nay-sayer.

Look around and do your research and between that and common sense you'll find that quality firearms, firearms with a solid reputation, will typically command a higher price. You get what you pay for. Same with ammo. Get the stuff that you see doesn't suffer from poor QC and gives you misfires or tend to suffer light primer strikes.

Of course, you could always settle for the cheapest made pistols and buy someone else's re-loads at a gun show. Its all up to you. The rule of thumb is for a quality firearm you should expect to pay around $500 or more.

But, as I said, get the best you can afford and what's within your budget so that you get something that will run and you can carry with confidence.

Good holsters and gear is important. But you don't want to spend $300 on a gun and then buy a $150 holster for it. That's sort of like buying a $1000 saddle for a $10 horse. Best of luck. You sound like you've figured it out for yourself.

I buy my suits in Brooks Brothers. I could buy them at Wal Mart, right? After all, a suit's a suit. No?
 
Armedleo I assume your comments are directed at me. You represent the "buy the best" crowd very well. Using your suits as examples, there are many good options between Brooks Brothers and Walmart. I do not have to spend $1200+ for a suit, or $500+ for a pistol to buy a quality product. I have many thousands of rounds through the pistols that I have carried and trained with for years. The guns have been flawless. I have guns that are more expensive as well.

I do not advocate for buying the cheapest anything, generally speaking. I certainly wouldn't use, buy or recommend anyone else's reloaded ammo. That is always the argument made though. OhioGuy there are many choices. Do not get caught up in the elitist hype. As I said earlier, try a variety of weapons, talk to trusted, experienced and knowledgeable shooters, and buy what you are most comfortable with.
 
Thank you for your compliment in describing me as elitist. Quite true. My work ethic, professionalism, and accomplishments (I am also mentioned recently in two national bestsellers, one made the NY Times bestseller list), and have been featured on John Walsh's TV shows, have set me head and shoulders above the rank and file. Of this I am proud. But there is much to be said for mediocrity, of which I see you too represent quite well. And this too is good because without it I couldn't possibly be elitist.
 
Armedleo I am a big fan of excellence. Most elitists are only superior in their own judgement. Whether or not that describes you is not relevant to this conversation. I have little tolerance for those who judge others by their economic, social, racial, religious, academic or any other arbitrary measure. Your credentials don't impress me anymore than your insistence that you are superior to me, or anyone else. I care more about your character. The jury is still out on that.
 
training is a never ending endeavor.
get some sort of professional training at least once.
practice, practice, practice.
 
People with various skill levels have successfully defended themselves. People with various skill levels have also failed to successfully defend themselves

Being successful basically means that you were able to solve your problem with the skills you had available. But if your skills are not up to the task, you will have an unhappy result.
Click to expand...

I think Frank has the right of it in here somewhere. Though I will add a couple points in:

A) The person who knows and is aware of his or her own skill level is most likely to survive. For instance I do not carry 117 rounds of ammunition, three different pistols, and various other "essentials" on a daily basis. Why? Realistically I do not envision any scenario where I would actually get to round #117 (or for that matter round 17) and still survive. Because I understand my own limitations there are some encounters (and areas) I simply do everything I can to avoid.

B) There is a limit to what training can teach you. The famous quote is "its not how hard you hit its how hard you get hit and keep moving forward" or something close to that. Until you are being shot at (and possibly hit) its hard to predict how one will react

C) I find it amusing when training is limited to firearm training. Engaging a competent and determined opponent within acceptable self defense ranges (let alone multiple opponents) likely means you will end up fighting at contact distance. You better have good firearm retention skills and you better have skills beyond your firearm.

My grandfather never had formal self defense training outside of the military and that training was not focused on self defense. If I was "going to war" in that I "expected" to need to defend myself and decided to go anyways he would be towards the top of the list of people I would want with me.
 
You do need some training in firing a hand gun, you had a young guy class to drive a car, way back when, yes?

A CCW class, with a competent Instructor is a good start. Being as the FBI have returned to the 9mm, after a few years with the .40 caliber, starting with the same caliber, not a bad idea. AS the FBI with more resources than we lowly Citizens have, picked Glock, not a bad pick, G26, or as I have done for years, Glock 19, with night sights.

That's a start. IDPA as a sport, use your carry gun, and holster, again a cheaper option, and fun.
 
Everything I've purchased from Brooks Brothers was trash. For $1200 I can get a custom suit made. Irrelevant as that is to the conversation.

OP, how much first aid training have you received? People spend thousands on firearms training 'to protect their family' without spending a dime on medical training that has a much broader application to safeguarding yourself and those around you. OTOH, there are apparently those here who carry a CAT tourniquet on their persons or at least in car at all times(which I frankly didn't believe when first claimed, but I have since met someone in person who does in fact always keep one close), so some people do take it seriously.

Basic martial arts training is much cheaper than basic firearms training, is relevant to some ancillary skills such as retention, maintaining balance, movement, and stress control, and can help when a firearm is not close at hand. Sparring may not be the same as getting shot at, but a few kicks to the head will teach one to stay on their toes.
 
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