anonimoose
New member
Shooters,
Anonimoose here -- first off, thank you all for taking the time to answer questions/provide guidance. I have been a frequent reader of TFL for a few years now, and while every forum has its share of...loose screws, the majority of expertise, insight and experience on here has been invaluable.
My question concerns the necessity to train for and around a manual safety/decocker. For background, I am a Marine stationed in Yuma, AZ. I am not an infantry grunt or a recon stud or some special ops commando -- just a plain-jane communications officer. Because of my job/position, I have sought to become very familiar with the M9 pistol, known in the civilian world as the Beretta 92FS.
I believe that familiarity/good practice is far more important than the caliber/specific traits of a firearm. Many of you all agreed a few years back, and I daresay most people on this forum would agree that a marksman who trains realistically and often with a .22LR is better prepared to use deadly force that the casual enthusiast who buys a .44Magnum hand cannon, fires off a few rounds, and considers himself "ready". Thus, I have grown very comfortable with the M9 and have developed quite a bit of muscle memory. Specifically, since I am/will be forced to carry the firearm on safe, I have practiced over and over again drawing the firearm from its holster and sweeping up with my left thumb to take the weapon off safe -- it's become an almost instinctual action. Moreover, I've become accustomed to (and learned to train around) the heavy DA trigger followed by the light SA pull.
The dilemma:
Because of this desire for familiarity/repetition of movement, I have refrained (with a heavy heart) from carrying (when off duty) any number of wonderful firearms -- from the Glock (DAO trigger, no manual safety) to HKs (the safety is opposite of the M9) to 1911s (SA trigger only; the safety-system is non-intuitive because I've gotten so used to the M9 safety). My rationale was/is that I didn't want to get used to one kind of manual of arms/muscle memory in my civilian concealed carry (like being able to just draw and fire as with a Glock), but then deploy overseas, be issued an M9, and forget to take the weapon off safe at the worst possible time because I didn't train for it.
My current carry weapon is the SW 6906...a wonderful firearm, but it's heavy, and any of the "modern" accessories that would enhance its defensive capabilities -- from extra magazines to frame-mounted lights to Crimson Trace grips to holsters -- are rare (the market just isn't there). Been reading some glowing reviews about the Bersa .380 -- yes, it fires a smaller round, but I'm willing to make that compromise to get CT grips (I think the training and deterrent value of a laser is priceless). Other than that, if you're committed to a "traditional" slide-mounted safety/decocker that you find on the M9...you've got other Beretta models (including the PX4), the Ruger P-series and the Walther PPK, and that's pretty much it!
So, after seeing that CT had a promotion and made grips for the Bersa .380, I was pretty much set on the Bersa .380 as a compromise carry piece. Both sootch00 and GunBlast had very positive reviews. But then I saw nutnfancy's most recent video in which he literally says that the ".380 ACP sucks", which seems to match some of the conventional wisdom out there that says that in a semi, 9mm is really the lowest you should go. So once again, like Natalie Imbruglia, I am torn.
My question:
1. Should I continue to insist on consistent muscle memory and train exclusively with the M9 manual of arms -- a slide-mounted safety/decocker (slide up to fire, DA/SA trigger, etc)? Stick with the third gen SW auto (no frills and all), and/or go ahead and "move down" to a .380 with the CT grips on a Bersa?
2. Should I abandon this desire to remain consistent and just get on board with the latest and greatest 9mm technology -- the KelTec PF9, Ruger LC9, Walther PPS, Kahr PM9, etc?
My apologies for the very long question. Thank you for reading, and thank you in advance for your counsel.
Very Respectfully,
Moose, USMC
Anonimoose here -- first off, thank you all for taking the time to answer questions/provide guidance. I have been a frequent reader of TFL for a few years now, and while every forum has its share of...loose screws, the majority of expertise, insight and experience on here has been invaluable.
My question concerns the necessity to train for and around a manual safety/decocker. For background, I am a Marine stationed in Yuma, AZ. I am not an infantry grunt or a recon stud or some special ops commando -- just a plain-jane communications officer. Because of my job/position, I have sought to become very familiar with the M9 pistol, known in the civilian world as the Beretta 92FS.
I believe that familiarity/good practice is far more important than the caliber/specific traits of a firearm. Many of you all agreed a few years back, and I daresay most people on this forum would agree that a marksman who trains realistically and often with a .22LR is better prepared to use deadly force that the casual enthusiast who buys a .44Magnum hand cannon, fires off a few rounds, and considers himself "ready". Thus, I have grown very comfortable with the M9 and have developed quite a bit of muscle memory. Specifically, since I am/will be forced to carry the firearm on safe, I have practiced over and over again drawing the firearm from its holster and sweeping up with my left thumb to take the weapon off safe -- it's become an almost instinctual action. Moreover, I've become accustomed to (and learned to train around) the heavy DA trigger followed by the light SA pull.
The dilemma:
Because of this desire for familiarity/repetition of movement, I have refrained (with a heavy heart) from carrying (when off duty) any number of wonderful firearms -- from the Glock (DAO trigger, no manual safety) to HKs (the safety is opposite of the M9) to 1911s (SA trigger only; the safety-system is non-intuitive because I've gotten so used to the M9 safety). My rationale was/is that I didn't want to get used to one kind of manual of arms/muscle memory in my civilian concealed carry (like being able to just draw and fire as with a Glock), but then deploy overseas, be issued an M9, and forget to take the weapon off safe at the worst possible time because I didn't train for it.
My current carry weapon is the SW 6906...a wonderful firearm, but it's heavy, and any of the "modern" accessories that would enhance its defensive capabilities -- from extra magazines to frame-mounted lights to Crimson Trace grips to holsters -- are rare (the market just isn't there). Been reading some glowing reviews about the Bersa .380 -- yes, it fires a smaller round, but I'm willing to make that compromise to get CT grips (I think the training and deterrent value of a laser is priceless). Other than that, if you're committed to a "traditional" slide-mounted safety/decocker that you find on the M9...you've got other Beretta models (including the PX4), the Ruger P-series and the Walther PPK, and that's pretty much it!
So, after seeing that CT had a promotion and made grips for the Bersa .380, I was pretty much set on the Bersa .380 as a compromise carry piece. Both sootch00 and GunBlast had very positive reviews. But then I saw nutnfancy's most recent video in which he literally says that the ".380 ACP sucks", which seems to match some of the conventional wisdom out there that says that in a semi, 9mm is really the lowest you should go. So once again, like Natalie Imbruglia, I am torn.
My question:
1. Should I continue to insist on consistent muscle memory and train exclusively with the M9 manual of arms -- a slide-mounted safety/decocker (slide up to fire, DA/SA trigger, etc)? Stick with the third gen SW auto (no frills and all), and/or go ahead and "move down" to a .380 with the CT grips on a Bersa?
2. Should I abandon this desire to remain consistent and just get on board with the latest and greatest 9mm technology -- the KelTec PF9, Ruger LC9, Walther PPS, Kahr PM9, etc?
My apologies for the very long question. Thank you for reading, and thank you in advance for your counsel.
Very Respectfully,
Moose, USMC
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